This half day trip is an excellent way to enjoy the snow and Cypress mountain without waiting in long lines or having to hire expensive equipment. It is a great way to learn how to snowshoe and experience a "floating" on the snow. The trail was varied but generally manageable, I recommend wearing proper winter shoes and having a small backpack with water as winter weather can be very dry. My tour guide Nafees was easy to chat with and had plenty of local knowledge. Nafees took really nice photos and had plenty of funny stories.
Advanced Hike & Photography





At a glance
- Duration
- 6h 30min
- Price from
- $139 / person
- Location
- Vancouver Island, Canada
- Rating
- 5.0 / 5 · 37 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 6
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Nature PhotoHikes
- Meeting point
- In front of Starbucks at the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Vancouver.
Description
Drive the scenic Sea to Sky highway to Squamish for this 4 hour hike. Not for beginners, the steep ascent takes you through forest & waterfalls, leading to amazing views of mountains and ocean. While you're at it, learn photo composition with your smartphone or DSLR. Complimentary photos taken.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Drive the scenic Sea to Sky highway to Squamish and back
Not for beginners, the steep ascent takes you through forest & waterfalls, leading to amazing views of mountains and ocean.
Visit the iconic fall after our hike
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We can pick you up from your accommodation in downtown Vancouver, east Vancouver or Burnaby, or you can meet us in a central downtown location.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Advanced Hike & Photography take?
Advanced Hike & Photography lasts about 6h 30min. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does Advanced Hike & Photography cost?
Prices start at $139 per person for this Vancouver Island experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Advanced Hike & Photography for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. We can pick you up from your accommodation in downtown Vancouver, east Vancouver or Burnaby, or you can meet us in a central downtown location. Pickup points include Rosewood Hotel Georgia.
What languages is Advanced Hike & Photography offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 6 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Advanced Hike & Photography worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 37 verified reviews; it is run by Nature PhotoHikes.
Reviews(37)
Nafees was an amazing guide. He explained the landscape on the way to the mountain and once there, he was a great guide. This was the most difficult hike I had ever done so I was a bit nervous but he made me feel comfortable and explained specific helpul techniques for the ascent and decent. I never felt rushed, and I learned a lot from Nafees. We had fun conversations and it was a great experience overall! Highly recommend!
My partner and I had an incredible time on the snowshoeing tour, and we can't recommend it enough! Our guide, Nafees, was absolutely amazing. He was so welcoming and made sure we felt comfortable from start to finish. Nafees was incredibly informative, sharing fascinating details about the area, wildlife, and the history behind the tour. He made sure we understood all the directions and helped us along the way, ensuring we had a safe and enjoyable experience. We truly felt taken care of and left with great memories. Highly recommend this tour for anyone looking for an adventurous and educational outing!
My friend and I were so very glad we did this tour! Nafees was communicative in advance (we made some changes) and incredibly informative throughout the snowshoe trek. He was kind, accommodating, informative, and made the day so, so enjoyable. Even with the fog, the trek was gorgeous and well worth the trip outside of the city!
This was my first time snowshoeing and Nafees was amazing! His knowledge of the area made the tour even more enjoyable and I felt like I learned so much within a few hours! He also brought me to a secluded spot with a beautiful view of a waterfall! There was no one around which made it even better! The giant trees around were also spectacular! I haven’t seen this contrast between snow and green tall trees anywhere else in the world. Really beautiful! Highly recommend this tour! Thanks so much Nafees!
This was my husband's second time doing this hike with Nafees as he was so impressed with him as a guide when he first did it two years ago, so when we were planning a vacation to Vancouver with some friends, he wanted us to have the great experience that he had had. Nafees did not disappoint. From ensuring that we were prepared with everything we needed to know ahead of time and what to bring with us the day of, Nafees's communication was great. Picked us up from our Airbnb, took us to get food to take on the hike as we ate lunch at the top, was a wealth of interesting information about the history of the area, which made the drive to and from Vancouver fly by, and on the hike itself he gave great tips on how to best approach the various stages of the hike as well as tips on taking amazing pictures. I can't say enough about how gorgeous and impressive the views were, and because of Nafees's detailed knowledge of this hike, he made sure that we didn't miss a singe amazing site or view, and took lots of pictures of us along the way. We are not inexperienced with hiking, but have found that having a guide for more challenging hikes almost always makes for an even better experience than doing it on our own. This time was no exception and we were happy to have booked with him. We all very much enjoyed everything about the day, and if we return, will absolutely schedule another hike with Nafees.
We aren’t regular hikers and this hike is definitely a challenging one (if not, the most challenging we’ve ever done). If it wasn’t for Nafees, we would’ve definitely turned around so many times. He was so calm, reassuring, and patient with us. He showed us many hiking tips and tricks and entertained us with lots of Vancouver facts and photo tips. The best part of any hike is usually the view at the top and this one was totally worth it! But there were also many great views just on the way to the top. Nafees was an excellent guide and extremely accommodating with our pick up/drop off locations (saved us an extra Uber ride). This was a very memorable part of our Vancouver trip.
*** Highly recommend *** I'm a local who wanted to learn more about iPhone photography while adventuring and this did not disappoint. Nafees was clear about the expectations of the hike, provided tips on how to navigate different terrain, and made lots of stops to ensure we were comfortable & hydrated. The photography tips along the way were great - lighting, depth, angles, portrait, wide lens, contrast and tricks specifically for iPhones. He took pictures of the group and allowed us to practice on each other.
Outstanding day…stunning vistas and a very strenuous and somewhat technical hike. Rafees was truly excellent and very experienced. My son and I really enjoyed the entire day.
The daytrip was very well organized. Nafees is a very experienced hiker who knows al lot about the environment, area and hiking in general. The atmosphere was energetic, the views amazing. I absolutely recommend this tour!
Compare similar tours in Vancouver Island
- Lowest price: Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria — $17
- Best rated: Victoria Guided Food and History Tour — 5.0 (2,258 reviews)
- Shortest: Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria — 1 hour
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Advanced Hike & Photography | 6h 30min | 5.0 (37) | $139 | |
Victoria Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos | 3h 30min | 4.9 (2,765) | $156 | View |
Victoria Whale and Wildlife Cruise | 3h 30min | 4.9 (2,348) | $137 | View |
Victoria Guided Food and History Tour | 2 hours | 5.0 (2,258) | $83 | View |
Victoria Zodiac Boat Whale Watching Adventure | 3 hours | 4.8 (1,092) | $148 | View |
Whistler Tour from Vancouver + Sea to Sky Gondola + Shannon Falls | 10 hours | 4.8 (1,022) | $152 | View |
Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria | 1 hour | 4.7 (984) | $17 | View |














