See British Columbia by Seaplane

British Columbia offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world - and some of the most rugged. If you want to see the gorgeous, still unspoiled interiors of British Columbia, the best way is still the way pioneering bush pilots have done it for more than half a century: by seaplane.

The seaplane dominated the early days of aviation when airports were few and far between. Put pontoons on an airplane and suddenly any calm body of water became a landing field. Since then, seaplanes have gradually faded out of use in most places - but not in British Columbia. Scattered among its mountains are hundreds of glacial lakes, and tiny inhabited islands dot the Georgia Strait. Seaplanes remain a critical means of transportation in British Columbia - the only connection to the outside world for some remote locations. They're a piece of aviation history that's survived to the present day, and they're waiting for you to come along for the ride.

The major seaplane tour operators in lower British Columbia are Harbour Air Seaplanes and West Coast Air. Both fly out of both Vancouver and Victoria. There are also several smaller companies, such as Hyack Air and Atleo River Air Service that offer charter packages. Most of these companies offer regular scheduled service between Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle and other locations like Tofino on Vancouver Island. But they also offer a wide range of tours, from quick sightseeing hops along the coast to longer flights into the interior.

The seaplanes you're most likely to ride in are made by de Havilland Canada. The most common models are the Otter, the twin engined Twin Otter and the Beaver. The Beaver in particular is a real piece of Canadian history. First built in 1947, it's been the seaplane of choice for bush flying throughout Canada for decades. The Beaver can carry up to six passengers. The single Otter can carry 14 people and the larger Twin Otter can carry up to 18.

What kind of tour you take will, of course, depend on your interests and your budget. Aviation is never cheap, but most operators offer short seaplane tours over Vancouver that can cost as little as $100. If you've more to spend, you can choose a tour that explores the Gulf Islands, or one that takes you deep into the mountains and sets down on a remote lake for a lakeshore picnic.

Most operators have also partnered with other regional attractions to offer packages that combine your seaplane flight with an adventure wherever you land. These can include trips that connect you to whale watching or sport fishing expeditions, to a remote forest trailhead for hiking, to wine tasting tours of island vineyards, or even to a scenic railroad that lets you fly out and take the train back through the mountains. If you're looking for a more authentic taste of bush flying, try the Mail Run and ride along on a circuit that stops at various remote communities along the rugged Sunshine Coast.

If you have a specific adventure in mind, the smaller operators will help you design your own charter package, based on an hourly fee for the airplane and pilot. They can also suggest destinations depending on what you're looking for.

Wherever you go, it's a remarkable experience to come in over a lake or bay and actually set down on the surface as the engine roars and you feel the pontoons slicing through the water - perhaps surrounded by unbroken forest in every direction. There are only a few places in the world where you can still experience this kind of aerial adventure. And no place offers nearly as many options for seaplane touring as British Columbia. If you're visiting Victoria or Vancouver and want to get off the beaten path, a seaplane is the perfect way to escape.