Vancouver ↔ Victoria Day Trip by Seaplane + Butchart Gardens
Description
Depart Vancouver Harbour by seaplane for an exciting flight over the Gulf Islands to beautiful Victoria. Then take a bus tour to the world famous Butchart Gardens. In Victoria, shopping, the Royal BC Museum, and several other attractions are just steps away. Return to downtown Vancouver on an afternoon or evening flight.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Begin your experience at the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre, nestled in the heart of downtown Vancouver at the scenic Coal Harbour. Arrive 40 minutes before your scheduled flight for check-in and a brief safety orientation. Then, board your floatplane and lift off for a 35-minute scenic flight—a thrilling yet serene introduction to the region’s coastal beauty.
Shortly after takeoff, you'll soar over the shimmering waters of the Georgia Strait, with the forested Gulf Islands scattered below like gems. Each island offers a glimpse into the quiet, coastal lifestyle of small communities tucked into nature—an authentic look at life on BC’s rugged coastline.
Arrive in Victoria’s picturesque Inner Harbour, located in the heart of the city. Upon landing, proceed to the front sidewalk of the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel, where you’ll find the Gray Line check-in kiosk. After checking in, board the bus for a scenic, driver-narrated transfer to the world-renowned Butchart Gardens. Upon arrival, enjoy a self-guided tour through beautifully themed landscapes, vibrant floral displays, and peaceful walking paths—an enriching encounter with the natural beauty of British Columbia. A minimum stay of two hours at the Gardens is recommended for the best experience. After your visit, return to the designated bus pick-up area for your transfer back to downtown Victoria.
Before your return flight, enjoy free time to explore Victoria’s charming downtown. Whether it’s waterfront strolls, boutique shopping, or a local café visit, your time here is yours—offering a chance to connect with the city on your terms.
As the day winds down, board your floatplane for the relaxing return flight to downtown Vancouver. Watch the coastline shift in golden light as your journey ends the same way it began—with a stunning view from above.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- All passengers 18 years and above must present either one piece of valid government issued photo identification, or two pieces of government-issued identification without a photograph
- Baggage allowance: 25 lbs. Guaranteed. Additional standby baggage is space available with a charge. Baggage weight allowance includes all baggage, including purses.
- Passengers must arrive at the terminal at least 40 minutes before the scheduled departure time, and be fully checked-in 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
- Passengers not checked-in before the check-in cutoff times will not be able to board their scheduled flight and will not be refunded their fare.
- If travelling with children, please be aware that the child fare applies to children aged 2-11 at the time of departure.
- A mobility assistance device, such as a wheelchair or cane, may be used by a passenger to get from the terminal to the aircraft, however, passengers must have the ability to walk on and off the aircraft with minimal or no assistance.
Reviews(212)
This Vancouver to Victoria seaplane and Butchart Gardens experience was outstanding from start to finish. Everything was incredibly well organized, with clear, easy to follow instructions at every step. The seaplane ride itself was such a memorable way to travel; smooth, scenic, and truly a highlight of the day. Once in Victoria, the transfer to Butchart Gardens was effortless. Our bus driver was fantastic, offering great narration about Victoria both on the way there and on the return. It added so much context and charm to the experience. The gardens were breathtaking, and we had plenty of time to explore at a relaxed pace. We had no problems getting a return bus. Overall, this was a wonderful, stress free day trip that exceeded expectations. Highly recommend for anyone wanting a be tiful, well run collaborative adventure from Vancouver to Victoria.
Rebecca_J, thank you for sharing such a wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that your Vancouver to Victoria and Butchart Gardens experience exceeded your expectations. It's fantastic to know that every part of your journey came together to create a memorable, seamless, and stress-free day. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you aboard again for another adventure soon!
Awesome pilots and crew. Wonderful trip in the rain. I would not hesitate to take this adventure again
768sharlar, thank you for your feedback! We're thrilled you enjoyed the trip and our fantastic pilots and crew. We're grateful for your support and thank you for flying with us!
A great way to have time to see Buchart Gardens AND take in a taste of Victoria itself instead of taking the ferry...plus the chance to see Vancouver, Victoria and the islands in between from the window of a twin-engine Otter airplane was a bonus! I took the earliest flight, caught a tour bus 20 minutes after landing and had a lovely 2+ hours touring around Buchart Gardens (stunning!), then had a choice of hourly departures back to Victoria with a great tour guide/bus driver whose commentary was fascinating and made me feel I had seen a dozen more fascinating places en route! The tour operators were kind enough to switch my departure to the last one of the day so I had time to do the Royal BC Museum and IMAX film, visit the totem poles in Thunderbird Park, wander through the Empress Hotel (stunning architecture especially in their conference building!), then do a bit of gift-buying in the pedestrian-only shopping area. Taking a plane to Victoria was a bit of an extravagance, but it was SO worth it! The time I saved gave me time to REALLY see both the Gardens and the city and truly feel like I'd had an extended visit with time to do everything I wanted to do!
293melanief, thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the convenience of our flights and the scenic views along the way. It's wonderful to know that flying with us helped you enjoy your day in Victoria making for such a memorable trip! We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you aboard again in the future.
Beautiful flights and the gardens are worth the journey!
P21RUamyb, thank you so much for your kind words! We're so glad to hear that you enjoyed the experience and the beautiful views from the flight. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you aboard again in the future.
From the moment we checked in we knew it was going to be a great day. The flight was amazing and the scenery spectacular. The trip to Butchart Gardens was incredible. You could easily come back and visit frequently and still be impressed. The whole day was well worth it and enough time to explore Victoria
geelong12, thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear you had a fantastic day with us, from check-in to your visit at Butchart Gardens. It's wonderful that you enjoyed both the flight and the beautiful scenery, and we agree, Victoria always offers something new to discover. We're thrilled the timing worked out for you to explore and that the trip was memorable. We look forward to welcoming you back for more adventures in the future!
Very well coordinated trip! Everyone along the entire trip was wonderful! We had a great seaplane ride from Vancouver BC to Victoria BC. The airline terminal was clean and modern, friendly staff and complimentary coffee! The trip was seamless and fun! We loved Jackie, our bus driver and tour guide. The only area we felt could have made it any easier was if the full itinerary on the website was printable.
Susan_H, thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're delighted that you enjoyed a smooth trip, the seaplane ride, and the welcoming atmosphere at our terminal. We're glad our staff and amenities made your journey a great one. We appreciate your suggestion about the itinerary—just a quick note, the emailed version is printable for your convenience. Your feedback helps us improve, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another adventure soon!
Pose and take-off calm and safe. Everything very well organized. Wonderful views. All perfect.
Amanda, thank you so much for your review! We are so pleased you enjoyed your tour. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back aboard soon!
It was all that it was advertised to be. Seaplane is the way to go!! If you don't do it you will be exhausted at the end of a very long day. That being said, its not inexpensive but the value is definitely there!!
Page_P, thank you for your kind review! It's wonderful to hear you enjoyed your journey. We are so happy that you love our services and the convenience of flying. Looking forward to your next flight with us!
Tickets were easily obtained. Clear communication of all transfers happened. Traveling to and from the Garden was better than expected.
Bill_Sedona, thank you so much for your review! We are so pleased you enjoyed your trip to Victoria. We work hard to meet the needs of our guests and we really appreciate hearing that our team is helped ensure a smooth trip! Thank you for choosing Harbour Air!
The plane journey and structure was seamless. The bus ride to the gardens was not. The establishment travel time was 40min it ended up being 70min this was really disappointing due to creating limited time at the gardens.
Toni_H, thank you for sharing your feedback. We are thrilled to hear that your flight journey went smoothly! We regret the delay on the bus ride to the gardens and understand how unexpected travel times can impact your plans. Your feedback is valuable, and we'll be sure to pass this along to help improve future experiences. We appreciate your understanding and hope to welcome you back aboard our flights again!
