Butchart Gardens Tour: Scenic Victoria Exploration
4.8
286 Ratings
Vancouver
Embark on a scenic tour of Victoria, British Columbia, exploring its historic landmarks and the breathtaking Butchart Gardens. Discover the beauty of Vancouver Island and indulge in the serenity of themed garden displays.
Duration: 14 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Canada Place - Please meet us at Canada Place for a fun-filled daytrip to Victoria. Your bus and tour guide will be waiting for you.

  • Tsawwassen - A 45 minute drive from downtown Vancouver to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. While we are waiting to get on the ferry, enjoy the little ferry terminal market.

  • Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada - Enjoy a 90-minute “cruise” to Vancouver Island. After about 40 minutes, the ferry enters Active Pass and you will cruise through the Southern Gulf Islands, a popular vacation spot for locals.

  • Victoria - As you arrive in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, you will visit the top sighting locations. Starting at Mile O, Ogden Point, Empress Hotel and Historic Chinatown, including the famous Fan Tan Alley and shops.
    Later, enjoy free time to explore on your own or book one of our optional activities.
    Whatever your purpose for exploring Victoria today, our guide is ready to assist you with suggestions on the best restaurants, top breweries, shops and hidden gems.

  • The Butchart Gardens - Visit Butchart Gardens: a National Historic Site covering 55 acres and showcasing over 900 species of plants.

  • Swartz Bay BC Ferry Terminal - Relax as we cruise back to the Mainland this evening, explore the outside decks and views.

  • Canada Place - Once we arrive at Tsawwassen Ferry terminal, our coach drives off the ferry and we head back into Vancouver. Arrive back in Vancouver at approx. 9:30 pm

What's Included
  • Great discount on optional activities
  • Roundtrip Ferry aboard BC Ferries
  • Deluxe coach transportation
  • All fees and/or taxes
  • Onboard entertainment & commentary throughout
  • Admission to the Butchart Gardens
  • Experienced, friendly, and fun Driver-Guide
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuity
Additional Information

Regarded as one of the splendid cities globally, Victoria serves as the capital of British Columbia and is situated on the splendid Vancouver Island. It is renowned for its historic attractions including the Empress Hotel, Parliament buildings, and the stunning Butchart Gardens. The journey from Vancouver involves a scenic ferry trip from the Vancouver mainland, passing through the Gulf Islands to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island. From this point, you will undertake a driving tour to Victoria, featuring the cityscape of Victoria which includes the Inner Harbour, The Fairmont Empress Hotel, Mile 0, and the traditional Chinatown. There will be leisure time to discover downtown Victoria freely. Additionally, you will visit the globally recognized Butchart Gardens which exhibit 55 acres of themed garden displays encompassing a Japanese Garden, Italian Garden, and Rose Garden. Conclude your day with a tranquil return sailing via BC Ferries, leading you back to your tour’s starting point.

  • Guests 16-18 years of age may travel on the trip without a parent or guardian but MUST have one present on the departure day to sign the waiver forms held by the tour guide.
  • Anyone 15 or younger must have a parent or guardian travel on the trip with them.
  • No booster seats available.
  • The tour still operates when it rains and no refunds will be given within the 24 cancellation policy.
Location
Vancouver Cruise Pier
Canada Place
Please meet us at the covered benches, in front of the Vancouver Convention Centre, next to the Flyover Canada Ticket Booth, 15 minutes before departure and meet your Discover Canada Tours guide (wearing bright green). Your guide will be guiding you to the correct bus.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(286 Ratings)
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Seniorcoupletogether
Mar 6, 2024
Beautiful memories - Collected beautiful memories. Worth the money and the efforts. Do not miss the garden. Appreciate the efforts made for restoration and conservation at the time when environmental awareness was so low.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Seniorcoupletogether
Nov 7, 2023
A must enjoy trip. Worth the efforts and money. - An absolute days of beautiful nature, lots of history and interesting anecdotes relaxed and fun filled itenary. Thanks to our tour guide Ian for making a beautiful trip more memorable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jsw002020
Nov 4, 2023
Tour of Victoria by Kim - Kim was great. She provided a lot of good information on the bus, but did not talk the entire time. She personally took us around, or showed us where to go, when we were off the bus. 10 out of 10 for sure. Kim was an excellent guide and also very easy and pleasant to talk to!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Donna_b
Oct 18, 2023
Beautiful - Our ferry ride to Victoria and Victoria itself was wonderful. Great scenery and somuc( to see. But hart Gardens are absolutely amazing, just beautiful grounds, gardens, flowers and plants. It is a must when visiting.
Review provided by Viator
Rosiog615
Oct 13, 2023
Great trip - Great trip. Was easy to get to & from each stop. Our driver Zac was knowledgeable gave us some history . He was awesome!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Akram
Oct 9, 2023
Perfect one day tour - Excellent, efficient tour , our tour guide (Kim) was so friendly, funny and knowledgeable, she took us as many as places possible in a one day tour, really enjoyed the Victoria , it’s really worth to see , such a beautiful place, highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Olgayarema2021
Oct 5, 2023
Amazing trip to Victoria - It was just amazing trip to Victoria! Love the garden and the city as well. Our guide was great, she explained everything very well and gave so much tips of the trip. Love it
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dianaso7537ju
Sep 30, 2023
The gardens are a must - The museum in Victoria is small but totally recommended, and the Butchard Gardens are awesome! 🙌🏼 Incredibly beautiful!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lynn_h
Sep 30, 2023
Matthew Paugh was by far... - Matthew Paugh was by far the BEST tour guide I have every had, ANYWHERE! We spent at least 12 hours with him on our tour of Vancouver, Vancouver Island and Victoria as well as the famous Butchart Gardens. Matt is a wealth of knowledge and educated us on MANY things throughout the day, from small to big in importance! We had a wonderful time and would HIGHLY recommend this tour and Matthew Paugh, if you could get him as a guide! Kudos to Matt!!
Review provided by Viator
Miketaylor
Oct 7, 2023
Too much in one day. - I think this trip tries and just about succeeds to get the best of Vancouver Island in one day. There is a lot of time spent on the bus, the driver / guide was good and had plenty of information to pass on. The first surprise was that despite being told to meet for a start time of 0800 hrs at the Vancouver cruise pier, on the Waterfront, the ferry service to Vancouver island leaves from the BC Ferry terminal at Tsawwassen a 40 minute drive to the south and dependent on traffic / roadworks, and time to kill/ waste when we got there. The ferry left at 1000hrs and arrived 90 minutes later. There was then another 40 minute drive to get to Victoria our first sightseeing stop at 1230hrs. 2hrs 15 minutes to see the sights and get some lunch was a bit of a push. Once on the coach another 30 -40 mins drive to the Butchart Gardens arriving at 1520hrs to get tickets and stepping off the bus at 1530hrs. Our driver said we had until 1745hrs to explore these beautiful gardens, the problem we all found - the place closes at 1700hrs so all catering and retail outlets were pushing folk out on time. We returned to the car park, our bus was the sole vehicle there. Sadly we were just too late arriving back at ferry terminal to get on the 1800hrs boat and had another wait for our booked service at 1900hrs. More time to kill. It would have been better to have got underway at the start an hour earlier to make the 0900hrs boat. There would have then been more time to enjoy both Victoria and the Gardens. It is an expensive tour and to spend much of it in a bus isn't quite what I was expecting nor had it been advertised as such.
Review provided by Viator
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May 2024
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