Reviews
Please feel free to read our testimonials online on TripAdvisor Canada, Google or Facebook. Click on the TripAdvisor icon at the bottom of the page to be taken to our page. Here are some of the review over the past number of years.
Jennifer Leslie, November 2024: We had the most amazing tour of Ireland with Into the wild, the bikes were excellent, the accommodations very comfortable and the extras, ie. food and entertainment made this bike trip the best we have ever experienced! We enjoyed an incredible variety of landscapes, villages, cultures and music. The guide’s knowledge, attitudes and passion for this special country was totally contagious:) Highly recommend this company!!
Margaret Weigers Vitullo, July 2024: We went on an all-day hiking and biking tour yesterday with Into the Wild (Lynn Valley for the hike and Pitt Meadows for the bike ride, with lunch at a farm to table cafe in between). We enjoyed it so much we booked another full day tour over to Victoria for today! Our guide was top-notch - uber competent, friendly and fun, great with the tweens on today’s trip, and careful to moderate things so the whole group had fun. The bike gear provided was high quality and in great shape, and the scenery incomparable. Two unforgettable days! Highly recommend. (BTW - if you can, book your tour direct with Into the Wild from their website, not through a third party that will take a big commission.)
Richard Vitullo, July 2024: Paul was a terrific tour guide, enthusiastic and informative. We did a morning hiking tour at Lynn Valley in North Vancouver and then a bike tour in the afternoon in Pitt Meadows. It was so much fun, and beautiful, that we signed up for another bike tour the next day on Vancouver Island to Victoria. Highly recommend!
Agnes Choy, Feb 2024: Recently, we went on a ski trip to Manning Park, provided by Into the Wild, as a group of over 30 university students. It was absolutely amazing from start to finish. Our tour guide, Paul, with his easy-going and friendly disposition, instantly put everyone at ease. He was also very easy to talk to, and any last-minute changes were not a problem at all. Despite the size of our group, Paul effortlessly managed to create a warm and inclusive atmosphere, ensuring that each participant felt valued and looked after throughout the journey. Whether it was providing guidance on the slopes or offering assistance with equipment, Paul was always there to help. Highly recommend their services to anyone seeking a top-notch travel adventure! Our ski trip was an unforgettable adventure filled with laughter, camaraderie, and a cherished memories for all of us. Thank you Paul :)
Gearoid Walsh, July 2023: My wife & I visited B.C from Ireland for 3 weeks in July’23. Paul, from ‘IntotheWild’ arranged a bespoke 5 day, self-guided, bike-packing trip on Vancouver Island, followed by a road trip (via rental car) through the Rockies to Calgary. This was a bucket list holiday and no stone was left unturned to ensure we had a fantastic trip. He supplied us top of the range Norco gravel bikes, bike bags & essential kit for the Vancouver Island trip. We kept these gravel bikes to the end of the road trip. The overall planning, expert advice (& encouragement), daily bike routings, variety of accommodation (Hotels, B&B’s, Hiker Huts etc.), recommendations for eateries & bars, hikes & trail rides were faultless. Throughout, Paul stayed in touch, ensuring all was well and we had a blast ! Paul’s enthusiasm and shared excitement for our adventure was infectious and this trip (and Paul) will live long in our memory. Gearoid & Mary
Jack Quinn, 2023: Our large group organized a skiing trip through Into the Wild trip to Revelstoke BC, without doubt the most relaxing time ever! Paul collected us in Downtown Vancouver and dropped us straight to the front door of the hotel. He was so considerate and had a loads of amazing recommendations for us during our trip. Our amazing package included a downtown hotel which was walking distance to restaurants & bars in Revelstoke! Friendly service and time efficient through the trip. Will be booking again for next ski season.
Tom C, written November 8, 2024: This snowshoe tour with Into The Wild was absolutely stunning! Our guide, Paul was amazing – super knowledgeable and friendly, making sure we were all set for the day. Even though it was early winter conditions on the trails (as it is still only mid November), the higher we got up the mountain the deeper the snow got. The trail felt like stepping into a winter wonderland, with breathtaking mountain views and quiet, snow-covered forests all around. It was the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation, with plenty of time to soak in the scenery and take photos. The tour is great value for money and they also supplied hot chocolate and snack to keep us warm and full of energy. Highly recommend for anyone looking to get our of the city and rain to experience the magic of winter in Vancouver. I’ll be back for more summer adventures for sure!
Trek277313, written June 4, 2024: Paul and Armand could not be better guides. We spent 5 hours on a private bike tour around Vancouver hitting all the hot spots and our specific destination requests. Very personable, knowledgeable and entertaining. Highly recommend if you want a personally curated experience in a breathtaking city. Plan to return to do one of their multi day tours!
Scenic38723424615, written December 16, 2024: This snowshoe tour with Into The Wild was such a great experience! The hotel pick-up was super convenient, and everything felt well-organized from the start. The guide was awesome — sharing cool facts about the forest, winter survival (if caught in an emergency), and interesting tidbits about the Vancouver area. One of the highlights was sipping hot chocolate surrounded by the quiet, snowy woods — it felt like a little moment of magic. The whole trip was a perfect mix of adventure, learning, and just enjoying nature. Highly recommend it if you're looking for something fun and memorable to do in the winter!
Rose O, written August 19, 2023: Our group did an 8 day cycling trip from Vancouver to Banff. It was wonderful! Paul has an amazing ability to plan such great activities . We are not an easy bunch to please and have a wide range of abilities. He managed to plan rides that covered us all from the hard core cyclists to myself ( a beginner). The scenery is beautiful. In addition to biking we went hiking, kayaking and zip lining. I cant recommend Paul and his company enough. I liked it so much that I cant wait to schedule another trip.
Kathryn, written July 20, 2023: An amazing day spent discovering the surrounds of Vancouver. Our guided hike through the canyon was so beautiful with the added bonus of interesting facts and stories from Paul’s extensive knowledge and experience. Riding through the blueberry farms was definitely a highlight. Thank you Paul for such an incredibly enjoyable day.
Excellent day trip outside of the city!
Our family of 6 adults enjoys a good outdoor adventure, so we were thrilled with our experience on this tour with Paul.
We were picked up from our hotel and were provided with transport throughout the day (which can be half the battle in Vancouver). Paul took us through our hike in the Lynn Valley and provided us with a lot of colorful and informative commentary that we thoroughly enjoyed. We learned a great deal from him and really enjoyed his time with us.
The lunch stop was one of our favorites on the whole trip, a gem outside of the city near the Pitt Meadows where the biking portion of the tour took place. We were invited to order what we wanted from the menu and the bill was taken care of. It was a beautiful summer day so we ate outside with a gorgeous view, but there are plenty of accommodations inside as well.
The biking portion of the tour may be one of my favorites to date. The path was very easy and open. The flat land and widespread horizons allowed our 10-person group to spread out at our leisure and take our own paces. It was a beautiful and rewarding ride through a farmland area we may never have known about in a city known for its urban and mountain areas.
Sam Clarke from Atlanta, Georgia - Visited in June 2019
Only The best
All I can say is Paul is AMAZING!! This wasn’t just the best bike tour and individual you could have serving you and showing you around Vancouver it should be your only choice! We contacted Paul last minute and he accommodated a private tour for my wife and three children ranging from ages 12-6 for a half day around Stanley Park, Granville island, the science center, Chinatown, I mean all of Vancouver. The cherry on top is when your oldest has no desire to take “another” tour and tells Paul our guide at the end that that was the best thing he’s done in Vancouver and made it so fun for them! Can’t say enough about this company, honestly words can’t convince you to choose them over some of the others, but I promise you! Just do it! You won’t be disappointed!
Justin from El Paso, Texas - Visited in June 2019
into the wild tours are great!
“This tour was amazing! We were visiting Vancouver from California (Bay Area) and it felt like we never left home with Paul's care and guidance. It was very easy to communicate with the tour guide and the instructions of where to meet up, the plan for the day, and local recommendations were always readily available. Further, we felt safe the entire time and had many great laughs that will turn into lifetime memories. I highly recommend Paul and his tours!”
Marquise from Sanfrancisco, Califonia - Visited in February 2019
SO Much fun on 2 wheels!
“Just finished up a 3 day Vancouver Island trip with Into the Wild and am looking forward to the next outing! Paul is a great host who goes out of his way to ensure each guest's needs are met. He is knowledgeable and easy going and selected top notch amenities for our trip, from our hotels and restaurants to planned stops to explore what the area offers. Even with the less than spectacular weather, the overall vibe was positive and focused on safety and fun. And the bike was a quality bike and was very well maintained, making for an overall enjoyable adventure. I had a fantastic trip because of all of this and will definitely ride with him again!!”
Joe from Red Dear, Canada - Visited in September 2018
Vancouver Island by bike
“Great day from start to finish! Picked up at hotel, group transferred to ferry where we fit our bikes. Road our bikes right onto the ferry so we were the first ones off! Love the small tour size--great to chat and make new friends for the day. I signed up for the tour as a single person, and I was not the only one so don't worry! Paul is a terrific and kind guide--the group rode together nicely and it never felt like one's riding ability was poor. We rode along at our own pace (while keeping up with the group), and Paul's riding ability was so strong that he could navigate the group to give you tips to climb a hill or put a chain back on. Stopped for lunch at a cute cafe, then continued to wine tasting on top a hill. Relaxed on a beach for a few minutes before heading back to the ferry. You can work hard on the bike! Much is off roading, with beautiful views of the water or local farms. I learned some very interesting things about the Vancouver area and its history, Paul is a wealth of info. Before booking the tour, I was in contact with Paul to share my concerns about my flight later that evening--he could not have been more accommodating in coming up with solutions. Highly recommend the tour for a respite from busy downtown Vancouver and great conversation!”
Danielle from Charlotee, North Carolina - Visited in August 2018
best tour ever
“I would 100% recommend the 5 day multi tour without any hesitation. Out of the 5 weeks I spent in Canada It was absolutely the best 5 days I had.
Every place we ate had fabulous food and there was definitely no shortage of bus snacks along the way. Each nights accommodation was beautiful!
The scenery along the way was stunning and never became repetitive- Paul definitely put a lot of planning into ensuring that each day the bike ride was different, and that you got to see the best parts of BC. Paul went out of his way to accomdate everyone on the tour and to make sure we were always having a good time. Dont hesitate to book its absolutely worth your while!!!”
Bianca from Melbourne, Australia - Visited in July 2018
Paul’s Magic
“We just returned to California after a week on Vancouver Island on two of Paul's bikes. He set us young foggies up for the perfect week of food and cruising. Have you ever stayed in a cabin about 20 feet above an ocean inlet with the wood stove burning bright and the smell of cedar and pine all about? We have. Have you sat in a hot tub in a very mild rain watching the Olympic Mountains while the wind is whispering through the trees. We have. Have you eaten fresh halibut (as in caught early this morning) drinking Okanogan whites? We have.
Paul made it all happen. He knows where to go , to stay, to eat. He might even know where to dance all night too but I'll take gliding along the flat bike trails of Southern Vancouver Island going Into The Wild.”
Hugh from SanFrancisco, California - Visited in June 2018
Sure to have fun
"A full day, with pck up At 7.30am, to catch the ferry at 9am (1.5 hour crossing). Then we set off for a good ride through to lunchtime. Paul ( our guide) is hugely personalable, and makes spending time 'with a stranger' very easy. He's knowledgeable about the area, and the region and explains various aspects of the route throughout the day. After the lunch stop at a hearty but relaxed restaurant stop ( with gift shops on site), you then head off alongside beaver and elk river and onwards to either the vineyard or cider tasting. You're cycling for about 50-60k, in the saddle maybe 3.5 or 4 hours I think, so you need a good level of fitness to enjoy this day. Return ferry departs at 5pm. There are full facilities on the ferry. Lots of fun and highly recommend. All in all the day is about 12 hours. Great value for money, and Paul was an excellent host and guide."
Rebecca from Jersey, The Channel Islands - Visited in October 2017
Great multi day Tour of BC
"This was a great taste of some of the best of BC via bike. Paul and his crew were great at taking care of our small group of riders. Great food. Great views. Really great people. Oh my gosh, the views from the rides were amazing and Paul has hand picked the routes, the accommodations and the food.
This is an "everyman" tour that most people who are reasonablly fit can do and enjoy. If you're looking for a training camp or a posh vacations with castles, this isn't for you. But if you are looking to really take in the scenery, smell the fresh air, have a good time and chat with new friends, this is your tour.
Paul has something unique and special here. I look forward to see how he grows this tour and his company. I wish him the best. I would definitely do another tour with him."
Patty from San Francisco - Visited September 2017
Fabulous trip to Lynn Canyon and pitt Meadows cycle
"We had a great trip with Paul. He is likeable, friendly, and gregarious....just perfect to lead a trip. He coordinated with information well beforehand with directions on how to meet up and we were picked up promptly. A short drive to Lynn Canyon and the suspension bridge and then a gentle stroll through the forest where some saw a bear inthe distance! Paul carries bear spray just in case! There are some steps to go up at 2 stages in the walk otherwise easy walking. A drive to Pitt Meadows followed with a lovely selction of salads and cold meats to make rolls with fruit and muesli bars as well, not o mention the water!
The bikes were in all in great condition and easy to ride and it was a 20km journey but gentle with hardly any gear changing necessary. All the group were happy with the trip and we would recommend it! Paul has any easy way with all the group."
Cathy and Ken from Christchurch New Zealand - Visited August 2017
For all ages: Nature for the Adventurous soul
"Paul has a real passion for B.C., and it comes through in this excellent tour! I was travelling solo to Vancouver for the first time, and wanted a guided introduction to the hiking and biking trails around the area. Paul went above and beyond to share his knowledge of the area and make the tour as enjoyable and exciting for everyone as possible. Vancouver is fortunate to have access to so many great nature areas nearby, and it was a real treat to see some of the best hiking trails I could imagine just minutes away from downtown. The swinging bridge and swimming pools were both very memorable, and the trails were so well maintained they blew me away (well done, Vancouver!). The hike is easy enough for walkers of all abilities (yet exciting enough that the experienced hiker will appreciate it), and Paul will easily accommodate everyone on the tour without making anybody feel out of place. He then drove us out to the foothills of the Golden Ears mountains and treated us to a very well stocked picnic lunch (seriously, I was impressed)! Then he unloaded several styles of bikes (mostly a combination of cruisers and gravel bikes) and we set off on an easy spin along the many gravel paths that surround the area. Highlights include excellent views of both lake and mountains, as well as a stop to pick some fresh, ripe blackberries! He was willing to adjust the length and pace of the bike ride according to the groups' abilities, although the paths are fairly pancake flat, so riders of all ages should be able to enjoy the ride.
I cannot say enough good things about this excursion. It was definitely money well spent. I look forward to booking a multi-day outing with Paul in the future! I highly recommend this day trip if you're the sort who is fairly active, loves nature, and loves meeting new people. You won't be disappointed."
Alisha from Ohio USA - Visited August 2017
BICYCLE RIDE ON VANCOUVER ISLAND
"We are six guys from Germany, make a bicycle trip every year, this sommer we made a trip of 8 days on vancouver island. Paul Taplin from Into The Wild organized our tour perfectly. He workes out the route, booked the hotels and gave us many wothful tips, we were in contact with him every day. We missed meeting bears, but beside it was a great tour, great trails, good hotels, great meals in the night, a lot of fun."
Johannes from Germany - Visited August 2017
great hiking and biking tour
“I organized a bike tour for my friend from Germany and myself with Into the Wild Cycling Tours. The booking process was very easy, and Paul communicated with me quickly and efficiently.
Paul picked us up at my residence in the morning. He had a large van/bus with the bikes in the back, and enough comfortable seating for all his guests. We first drove to Lynn Canyon and went for a hike. Due to an incident under the bridge - we were forced to do the tour the opposite way around - which was not too bad. The hike is not difficult, but not entirely easy either as there are some hills to climb up and down. We ended up at the falls where we took pictures. Paul was very knowledgeable about where he was taking us, and provided us with gems of information along the way. He also made sure to help take photos of us at the falls and on the bridge.
We then drove to Pitt Meadows where we started a ride on one of the dykes. Paul's bikes were good quality and very well maintained. He made sure that all his guests were fitted properly and provided clean helmets for everyone to use. He also made sure there was drinking water for each of the bikes. He brought a very nice lunch and snacks for all of us, which we ate before we went on the bike ride part of the tour.
The ride itself was easy - on the flat part of the dyke - and not incredibly long - about 20 kms. We stopped at several points to take a break - which was nice. Again Paul was very knowledgeable and friendly throughout the tour. He knew where to stop for a bathroom break - at a very nice village market along the way - as well as the best spot to pick and eat wild blackberries.
This trip is excellent, and provides visitors to Vancouver with other views of the areas around Vancouver - not just downtown. Paul is courteous and very professional. It was a pleasure to take this tour with him. I hope to try out his other Vancouver Island tour sometime soon.
Paul dropped us back to our home at the end of the day. The trip lasts all day, and is great value for the cost.
I highly recommend this tour with Paul and Into the Wild Cycling Tours.”
Natalie from Vancouver, Canada - Visited July 2016
