Vancouver Island Slow Trip in 2 to 3 Weeks - Itinerary

Two weeks is minimum for this wildly scenic island nearly the size of Taiwan, minus 23 million residents and the convenience of a round-island rail network. A rental car -- equipped with winter tires between October and March -- is a must for this 2200 km itinerary stretching from the Island's southern tip to the northern end of the highway, and from the Salish Sea to the rugged Pacific Coast.

Day 01: Vancouver - Nanaimo (Ferry) - Sayward - Port Hardy
Day 02: Port Hardy - Coal Harbour - Quatsino (Mail Boat) - Alert Bay (Ferry)
Day 03: Alert Bay
Day 04: Alert Bay - Port McNeill (Ferry) - Telegraph Cove - Campbell River
Day 05: Campbell River - Strathcona Provincial Park - Campbell River
Day 06: Campbell River - Comox/Courtenay - Milner Gardens - Qualicum Beach
Day 07: Qualicum Beach - Lighthouse Country / Little Qualicum Falls - Qualicum Beach
Day 08: Qualicum Beach - Wild Pacific Trail - Ucluelet
Day 09: Ucluelet - Pacific Rim National Park - Tofino - Ucluelet
Day 10: Ucluelet - Pacific Rim National Park - Ucluelet
Day 11: Ucluelet - Nanaimo - Ladysmith - Chemainus - Victoria
Day 12: Victoria
Day 13: Victoria - Kinsol Trestle - Duncan - Cowichan Bay - Victoria
Day 14: Victoria - Sooke - Victoria
Day 15: Victoria - Vancouver (Ferry)

(Optional)
Day 16-21: Day-trips within and around Victoria
- Seaside Walks: West Bay Walkway, Inner-Harbour Pathway, Dallas Road
- Brewery Hopping: Phillips, Vancouver Island Brewing, Hoyne, Driftwood ...
- Museums: Royal BC Museum, Maritime Museum, Craigdarroch ...
- Quaint Shops: Chinatown, Market Square, Public Market
- Gardens: Butchart, Abkhazi, Horticulture Centre
- West Shore: Hatley Castle and Garden, Fisgard Lighthouse, Esquimalt Lagoon

If you have even more time, consider:
- Fisherman's Wharf followed by whale watching tour
- Sooke to Port Renfrew