Overseas Study Tour to British Columbia, Canada 2027
Over 14 days, we will explore the best southern British Columbia (BC) has to offer, from the Canadian Rockies to the temperate rainforests and Pacific coast of Vancouver Island. The tour will combine forestry, heritage, culture, wildlife and outstanding scenery, with a focus on climate change adaptation and sustainable forest management.
Monday 6 to Monday 20 September 2027
This itinerary has been put together by Chris Reynolds, Tree Species Silviculturist, and Christopher Williams, RFS Chief Executive who together will lead the tour. Visits will involve a good amount of walking, mostly on established tracks. Please note, there is no option to have support vehicles to aid members on this tour.
| Day 1 Monday 6 |
ARRIVE IN CALGARY – Arrive in Calgary and settle into the Blackfoot Hotel. An opportunity to meet fellow delegates before the tour begins. |
| Day 2 Tuesday 7 |
CANADIAN ROCKIES – We will take the day to drive over the Rockies to our first destination, the town of Golden. We will travel through Banff and Yoho National Parks before arriving in Golden for a three-night stay. |
| Day 3 Wednesday 8 | GOLDEN – Golden nestles in the Rocky Mountain Trench and is surrounded by 3 mountain ranges, and six national parks! We will be introduced to Canadian forestry and all that it entails, and have time to explore local culture. |
| Day 4 Thursday 9 |
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| Day 5 Friday 10 |
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK to VERNON – We will see Glacier National Park with its alpine scenery and ancient forests. We will enjoy the Forest Trails in Mount Revelstoke and around Canyon Hot Springs before arriving in Vernon for a two-night stay. |
| Day 6 Saturday 11 |
VERNON – The city of Vernon is one of the largest in the region and so has lots to offer including local vineyards. We will visit a major tree nursery and explore the dry interior forests of BC, with Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir. |
| Day 7 Sunday 12 |
TO VANCOUVER – Travel west to Vancouver for a three-night stay, with time to explore the city’s urban forest. |
| Day 8 Monday 13 |
VANCOUVER – We will explore urban and commercial forestry, including visits to the University of British Columbia’s Forest Sciences Centre and the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest where we will discuss the many challenges facing forestry in the region. The visit will include an opportunity to see one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world. |
| Day 9 Tuesday 14 |
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| Day 10 Wednesday 15 |
VICTORIA – Early ferry to Victoria, Vancouver Island. The day will be spent exploring Victoria, the capital city of BC. Highlights will include the Butchart Gardens, the Inner Harbour, Thunderbird Park and Beacon Hill Park coastal forest. |
| Day 11 Thursday 16 |
VANCOUVER ISLAND – The island is covered in temperate rain forest, and we will see most of the main conifer species we are so familiar with in British Forestry.
Visits will include the famous Kinsol Trestle railway bridge, the BC Forest Discovery Centre in Duncan, the McLean Mill National Historic Site, Port Alberni and Cathedral Grove. In Port Alberni we will tour a paper mill before travelling to Ucluelet, Tofino. Here we will visit the Pacific Rim National Park and see the special temperate rainforests, visit the Ancient Cedars Loop trail and the Kwisitis Visitor Centre. |
| Day 12 Friday 17 |
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| Day 13 Saturday 18 |
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| Day 14 Sunday 19 |
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| Day 15 Monday 20 |
DEPARTURE – Return to Vancouver by ferry via Rathtrevor Beach Park and continue onward travel. |
This study tour includes:
- 14 nights accommodation with breakfast the following morning
- 12 evening meals, including tips/gratuities (two not planned so you can explore elsewhere)
- 11 lunches
- Coach transport for planned study tour excursions
- Ferry tickets to and from Vancouver Island
- Local Tourist Taxes, Annual Parks Canada Pass, Entrance Fees, Activities and visits included in the tour.
- Tour leaders – Chris Reynolds, Tree Species Silviculturist, and Christopher Williams, Chief Executive, RFS.
- A dedicated Manager/wildlife guide from Greentours Ltd
- Study Tour Booklet
Not included:
- Flights and transfers to and from the airports
- Evening meals on two evenings and one lunch
- Alcoholic beverages
- Your personal insurance
- Visas
Price
- Single occupancy rate: £7,375.00 per person (one person per room).
- Double occupancy rate: £5,940.00 per person (based on two people sharing a room).
Booking Process
Our Overseas Study Tours sell out very quickly, this year we have decided to ‘draw names from a hat’ rather than sell places on a first come first serve basis. For your name to be added to the draw, you will need to register your wish to attend on this form and agree to the Terms and Conditions (below).
If you are a couple or have someone you wish to room share with, please add both names to the form so that you can be ‘drawn’ together.
Actions with timeline
- Closing date to register your interest is 14 August 2026.
- Registered members names to be drawn from the hat and successful members will be informed by email on 19 August 2026.
- Successful members to pay £500.00 non-refundable deposits (per person) by 30 September 2026, and if available email copies of valid travel/health insurance documentation – see insurance paragraph below for specific insurance requirements.
- RFS HQ to invoice final balance payments in May which are to be paid by 4 June 2027.
Terms and conditions
Eligibility – all participants must be RFS members at time of application and during the tour.
Payment – a non-refundable deposit of £500.00 per person is due 30 September 2026. The balance is to be paid by 4 June 2027.
Insurance – all participants must be covered by insurance preferably when the non-refundable deposit is paid. Copies of valid travel/health insurance documentation should ideally accompany your deposit due by 30 September. Your insurance must cover you fully against cost of cancellation by you, medical care and repatriation should you become too ill to continue your holiday, and must cover you against the cost of air evacuation from the mountains should sickness or injury necessitate such a course of action. Please read your policy carefully and take it with you on tour. It is your responsibility to ensure the insurance cover you purchase is suitable and adequate for your needs. We do not check insurance policies but do require confirmation that you have it.
Tour Operator – RFS are working with Greentours who have been specialising in natural history holidays for 21 years. The ticket price is based on quotes obtained from Greentours and currency rate at time of going to print. We reserve the right to amend the price due to changes in exchange rates or other circumstances beyond our control.
Change of Programme – RFS reserve the right to change the itinerary and duration of all excursions if necessary.
Passport – for people travelling on a full British Citizen passport; to enter Canada, current rules state your passport must be valid for the length of your planned stay. If you’re travelling through another country on your way to or from Canada, check the entry requirements for that country. Many countries will only allow entry if you have at least 6 months validity either side of travel. Check here for requirements: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/canada/entry-requirements
Visa – you may need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) to travel to Canada, check here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/check-visa-eta.html
Accessibility – due to the nature of our itinerary and locations, travel will be by coach, with some long journey times. You will need to be able to manage long journeys and be able to walk the routes planned. Please note, we will not be able to provide a support vehicle to aid members on daily excursions, you will need to be fit and well in order to participate.
Tour cancellation – Should the tour have to be cancelled by Greentours Ltd, including within the 8 weeks of departure date for reasons of ‘force majeure’ (circumstances such as, but not limited to, war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear activity, disease, fire or adverse weather conditions) you will be offered a full refund (excluding insurance) of all monies paid by you. Please note expenses relating to a delayed return due to strikes of natural disasters are normally the responsibility of the airline concerned.
(July 2026)
Photo: Banff National Park – Sergey Pester (Unsplash)
