Victoria and Butchart Gardens, an Elevated Experience
Description
This tour is an elevated experienced offered by STAR Sightseeing. New Coach Buses with air conditioning, power points at every seat and an on board washroom. Professional driver plus a dedicated Step-On Guide for a more personalized and elevated experience. Interactive 4D experience. Optional Guided Walking Tour. Loaner Umbrellas. Exclusive Collector Series Souvenir. 45 years experience w Star Chauffeured Services. Times are all estimates which can change due to circumstances outside our control, such as traffic, ferry schedules, and weather conditions.
Tour Options
Itinerary
By land and by sea, experience the scenic beauty of British Columbia’s rugged coastline, famous Butchart Gardens and the beautiful City of Victoria with an elevated fully guided tour. Departing from Vancouver, you will head south to Tsawwassen terminal, where you will board a BC Ferries vessel for a 90-minute journey through the majestic Gulf Islands. Keep your eyes on the lookout for marine wildlife such as bald eagles, sea lions, and whales, that can frequently be observed in their natural habitat.
After arriving at Swartz Bay terminal on Vancouver Island, enjoy a scenic drive to the Province of British Columbia’s capital City of Victoria, known for its architectural landmarks, scenic inner harbour and abundance of flower beds and hanging baskets. You will have the chance to see key attractions in the city including the iconic Parliament Buildings and the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel. You will have free time to visit the unique shops and cafes along Government Street and the culturally rich area of Chinatown. Feel free to take a stroll along the Inner Harbour to soak in breathtaking views and a glimpse into the local culture.
Pass the BC Legislative Assembly Building, completed in 1897. Its copper dome and Romanesque style are illuminated at night by thousands of lights, making it one of Victoria's most iconic landmarks. It remains the working seat of British Columbia's provincial government to this day.
Walk past the iconic Empress Hotel, built by the Canadian Pacific Railway as the crown jewel of Victoria's harbourfront. It remains one of Canada's most celebrated "railway hotels," alongside sister properties like the Banff Springs and Château Frontenac. Today it's renowned for its elegant afternoon tea service, having hosted royalty, dignitaries, and travelers from around the world for over a century.
Our walking tour ends at Victoria's Chinatown. Dating back to the 1850s gold rush era when Chinese immigrants arrived to build the Canadian Pacific Railway, making it the oldest Chinatown in Canada. Centered around Fan Tan Alley—often cited as one of the narrowest streets in North America—the district was once home to gambling dens, opium factories, and a thriving merchant community. Today it's a vibrant mix of historic architecture, herbal shops, and restaurants that still reflects over 150 years of history.
After spending time exploring Victoria, you will head to the world-renowned Butchart Gardens. Just a few of the words that have been used to describe The Butchart Gardens include “breathtaking”, “astonishing” and “peaceful. Nestled in Brentwood Bay, this botanical wonder features a series of themed gardens, including the expansive Sunken Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Italian Garden, the Rose Garden and the impressive dancing fountain. A designated National Historic Site of Canada, over a million visitors are drawn to the gardens every year.
Continue your adventure as you head back to Swartz Bay to board the ferry back to Tsawwassen and return to Vancouver. This tour is fully guided and showcases the very best of the Pacific Northwest and Southern Vancouver Island.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Foldable wheelchairs can be stored in the undercarriage.
- Coach buses kneel for easier entry and exit.
Reviews(327)
Stephen was an amazing guide! Great history of the area, cool guy and fun stories of not just our tour but others related to the areas we went through! Simran was an expert driver who threaded the needle of Vancouver traffic like a pro!!
Annika was our guide and Tai our driver. Both made the experience incredible. They were talkative and funny, informative and more. You could ask questions and get knowledgeable answers. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone with Annika and Tai.
Aimee and Simran were amazing and great energy! Everything was explained and executed perfectly. The gardens beautiful and downtown lovely.
We're so glad you had such an enjoyable day! Aimee and Simran will be delighted to hear their energy and hospitality made such a positive impression. It's wonderful to know you enjoyed both Butchart Gardens and Victoria, and that everything ran smoothly throughout the tour. Thank you for your kind words!
This is the first time I’ve ever written a review for any service, but the unexpectedly wonderful experience my family and I had compelled me to share our gratitude. Matt and Byron of Star Sightseeing made our Victoria and Butchart Gardens trip truly memorable. We were picked up at our hotel right on time and welcomed by Matt’s warm smile as he guided us onto a spacious, modern, and spotless tour bus driven by Byron. The entire day was fun, smooth, and thoroughly enjoyable. Matt, our tour guide, is both funny and knowledgeable. It’s clear he genuinely loves what he does and enjoys connecting with every guest. Byron, though focused on driving, complemented Matt perfectly, offering helpful tips and adding his own lighthearted comments throughout the journey. Traveling with them felt less like being on a tour and more like being guided by two trusted friends.
What an incredible review—thank you for taking the time to share it, especially knowing it's your very first! It means so much to hear Matt and Byron made your family's visit to Victoria and Butchart Gardens such a memorable one. We'll be sure to pass along your thoughtful words to both of them. Creating experiences that feel personal and welcoming is exactly what we strive for, and your feedback truly means the world to our team.
Everyone was very professional and run the tour perfectly. No need to worry about anything and the bus was just amazing
Thank you for your kind review! We're so glad you enjoyed a smooth, worry-free experience and appreciated the comfort of our coach. It's wonderful to hear everything ran seamlessly throughout the day. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback!
Easy pick-up and great experience overall! Matt and Sukhan were our guide and driver, and they had plenty of interesting stories and personal experiences to share throughout the trip! Sukhan's driving was steady, and Matt handled all the small things and offered water, maps, and anything extra we may have needed. I loved getting to the heart of Victoria early on to get lunch out of the way, and we had nearly 2 hours to explore Butchart Gardens. It was just enough time for us! The cherry on top was the cute souvenir postcards at the end with one-of-a-kind Indigenous art that only STAR Sightseeing has. It was such a thoughtful gift!
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review! We're so pleased to hear Matt and Sukhan helped make your day such an enjoyable one. It's great to know the pace of the tour suited you, and we're especially happy you loved the souvenir postcards—they're a small keepsake we enjoy sharing with our guests.
Great day trip -- day seems long but you cover a lot! Guide (Joe) and driver (Tai) were excellent. The recommendation of getting lunch at Red Fish Blue Fish (which was tasty) took up a lot of time that could have been spent seeing more of Victoria.
Thank you for your thoughtful review! We're glad you enjoyed the tour and that Joe and Tai helped make it such a great day. We also appreciate your feedback about the lunch stop. We know time in Victoria is valuable, and comments like yours help us continue refining the experience for future guests.
Pros: easy and convenient tour with hotel pickup Cons: too much time at Butchart Gardens and not enough time in Victoria
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're glad you enjoyed the convenience of our hotel pick-up and had an enjoyable day overall. We also appreciate your comments about the time spent in Victoria and Butchart Gardens, as every guest has different preferences. Your feedback is valuable and helps us continue improving our tours.
Joe our guide and Tai our driver provided a magnificent experience. Courteous and knowledgeable Joe supplied endless facts and insight to the locations we visited stimulating increased interest. Having clearly done his homework Joe had a wheelchair available for my wife’s use. She has worn a leg brace since childhood due to the ravages of polio. This allowed us to take in more than we had anticipated. Needless to say I was overwhelmed. Tai handled the bus like it was a Mini. Due to his skill we hit the ferry coming and going within 10 minutes of embarkation. This not only permitted us an extra hour to share between Victoria and Butchart Gardens but got us home an hour earlier than expected. The only question Joe didn’t know was that juvenile bald eagles have brown heads and are often physically larger than their parents. Joe and Tai both enjoy an A+.
Thank you so much for such a lovely review. We're especially pleased to hear Joe's preparation helped make the day more comfortable for your wife. We'll also be sure to pass your kind words on to Tai for his excellent driving. It's wonderful to know you were able to make the most of your time in Victoria and Butchart Gardens. Thank you for choosing to tour with us!
It was a long day, but worth it. Annika was very informative and friendly and the bus driver did a great job. The bus was new and very comfortable- The tv that showed the road ahead was very cool. But after the first stop on the ferry, they were no longer on. I texted Annika to see if they could be turned back on but no response (We were in the mid-back of the bus and didn't want to shout) Also, it was a little difficult to hear everything she said. But Victoria is beautiful and the Gardens were amazing. The ferry ride was nice too.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're pleased to hear you enjoyed Victoria, Butchart Gardens, the ferry ride, and the comfort of our new coach. We also appreciate your comments about the onboard screens and audio, and we'll be sure to share them with our team. We're glad Annika helped make the day an enjoyable one overall.
