GETTING TO PORT MCNEIL / TELEGRAPH COVE

Our expedition (both the 3 Day and 6 Day tours) embarks from the tiny coastal village of Telegraph Cove, located about a 20 minute drive south of Port McNeil on the north-eastern side of Vancouver Island. Port McNeil is located roughly 380 km (225 miles) from Nanaimo (a four to five hour drive). Please note that the ferries can get quite congested during the summer months, so we advise you to get an early start on your "travel day" and enjoy the drive up.

Camping is available at the campsite at Telegraph Cove Resort (1-250-928-3131) or prior to reaching Telegraph Cove at Alder Bay Resort (1-250-974-2039) or you can elect to relax at any one of the number of B&B;s, motels/hotels in Port McNeil (a complete listing of accommodations will be forwarded in our "Expedition Information Kit" upon receiving your booking). We strongly advise that you make reservations well in advance for any accommodations during the summer months. Since the expedition begins bright and early in the morning (8:00 am) of the first day of the trip, we suggest that you allocate the better part of the previous day for travel.

Getting there by air:

Kenmore Air has a scheduled float plane flight from Seattle to Port McNeil ($205 US - each way) during the summer months and can be reached at 1-800-543-9595.The closest airport is located at Port Hardy (half an hour drive northwest of Port McNeil) and there is a shuttle bus to Port McNeil which meets incoming flights. North Vancouver Air services Port Hardy from Vancouver on a daily basis. They can be reached at 1-800-228-6608, or from the Vancouver area call 278-1608. Pacific Coastal Airlines also services Port Hardy; for reservations and information please call 1-800-663-2872 or from the Vancouver area call 273-8666. Airfare including tax is about $300 CDN return.

Getting there by car:

In order to get to Vancouver Island with your car, one must take a ferry across from the mainland. There are several options:

Horseshoe Bay (minutes north of Vancouver) to Nanaimo

Tswwassen (south of Vancouver) to Duke Point (minutes south of Nanaimo)

Tswwassen to Victoria

Port Angeles (located on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State, USA) to Victoria.

Washington State Ferries

Most of the major car rental agencies are represented on Vancouver Island and Vancouver and can usually be contacted directly from where you live via their various 1-800 numbers. We've found the one of the most economical to be Rent-a-Wreck 1-800-327-0116 (don't let the name fool you...all vehicles must be 100% mechanically OK & usually are only 1 yr. old as opposed to the brand new models of the Big Guys). Many people opt to rent a vehicle on a weekly basis if they are flying in to Vancouver, Seattle, Nanaimo or Victoria. This allows for flexibility and stop-overs while getting to and from Telegraph Cove. Parking is available right by our launch site at Telegraph Cove for a marginal cost and is both safe and practical.

Getting there by bus:

Port McNeil is serviced from Vancouver on a daily basis. Please call Maverick Coach Lines (604) 662-8051. The cost is $79.45 one way, $154.85 (CDN) return and includes all taxes and round trip ferry transportation. For service from Nanaimo or Victoria, call Island Coach Lines at1-800-318-0818 or (604)-753-4371. Quick Shuttle Service provides regular transportation from Sea Tac airport in Seattle to the Sandman Inn in downtown Vancouver. A one way fare is $38.00 CDN, return fare is $68.00. For more information please call 1-800-665-2122.

Car pooling:

If you are driving to our embarkation point and would like to share the trip up with someone else who is participating on the expedition, let us know. It's a great way of economizing and makes the trip up that much more fun. Also, if you are considering renting a car, you may find that there are others on the same trip who are in a similar situation...