Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour with Gulf Island Ferry
Description
Embark on an unforgettable full-day tour through British Columbia’s most iconic sights, starting with a scenic ferry ride from Vancouver through the Gulf Islands to Vancouver Island. Along the way, keep an eye out for seals and whales as you cross the Georgia Strait. Upon arrival, visit the world-famous Butchart Gardens, where you’ll spend two hours exploring 50 acres of vibrant, year-round blooms in one of the world’s premier floral show gardens. Next, journey through historic Chinatown and the picturesque Inner Harbour on your way to downtown Victoria, BC’s capital city. Enjoy free time to explore Victoria’s top attractions, including the iconic Empress Hotel, the Royal BC Museum, and the BC Legislature. Along the way, your expert guide will share fascinating insights into the region’s rich history and cultural heritage. Book this unforgettable adventure today and experience the perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural charm!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our accredited guide will meet you at the pickup location and accompany you to the BC Ferries terminal.
BC Ferries is the primary mode of transportation between Vancouver and Victoria. During the journey, you’ll enjoy stunning coastal views of the scenic Gulf Islands, with forested shorelines and tranquil waters. Keep an eye out for wildlife—seagulls often soar above the vessel, and if you're lucky, you might even spot sea lions lounging on rocky outcrops or swimming nearby. Onboard, BC Ferries offers a range of services to make your trip more enjoyable, including cafes, gift shops, comfortable seating areas, and outdoor decks where you can take in the fresh ocean air.
Step into a floral wonderland at The Butchart Gardens, one of Victoria’s most iconic attractions. Spanning over 55 acres of beautifully manicured landscapes, the gardens feature five distinct areas, including the enchanting Sunken Garden, vibrant Rose Garden, and tranquil Japanese Garden. Meander along winding paths, relax by serene fountains, and take in the seasonal blooms that delight visitors year-round. The peaceful drive through the countryside only adds to the charm of this unforgettable botanical experience.
Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is a city that blends old-world elegance with West Coast charm. As British Columbia’s capital, it offers a unique mix of colonial architecture, lush gardens, and a laid-back coastal lifestyle. With its mild climate and walkable downtown, Victoria is perfect for a day of relaxed exploration, culture, and scenic beauty.
One of Victoria’s most iconic highlights is the Inner Harbour—a picturesque waterfront hub surrounded by historic landmarks. Watch boats glide across the water, visit charming local shops, or take in views of the stately Fairmont Empress Hotel and the grand BC Legislature Buildings. Street performers, food vendors, and waterfront cafés bring the area to life, making it a must-see spot for first-time visitors and returning travelers alike.
Enjoy a peaceful return journey aboard the BC Ferry to Vancouver. Watch the sun dip below the horizon, casting golden light over the Gulf Islands and sparkling waters. The gentle ocean breeze, soft evening glow, and stunning coastal views create a calm, romantic atmosphere—perfect for reflecting on a day well spent.
Welcome back to Vancouver. Transfer back to your original pickup location or designated downtown drop-off point. Sit back and relax as we conclude the day’s journey—thank you for joining us!
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Our formal meeting point is 909 W Cordova St. We do offer the selected other pickup points, if requested in advance. We will contact the customers the day prior with the actual pickup time and locations, depending on the latest ferry schedules.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(38)
Seeing the gardens was worth the 13 hour trip. The bus was comfortable. The ferry ride interesting, especially a front row view of the doors opening. The gardens are world class (we only wish we could have spent more time there) By the time we made it to Victoria, we were tired and simply enjoyed a lovely meal outdoors beside the marina. Overall well worth the price, convenience, and time.
We had a fantastic experience with our tour guide, Maria. With the exception of poor, Maria being stung by a wasp at Butchart Gardens, it was a flawless day. Maria was well spoken, informative, warm, gracious and funny. She was a wealth of knowledge while being full of interesting tidbits and anecdotal stories. She kept the group engaged while also being extremely conscientious that everyone was comfortable and having a good time. We had a memorable time and would love to tour with Maria again. Thank you for the wonderful day and we hope the sting is feeling better!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you had such a memorable day with Maria. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to her they'll mean a lot. We hope to welcome you back for another tour with Maria in the future!
We had a wonderful bus/ ferry experience with time to explore Victoria & Butchart Gardens. Lynn, our tour guide communicated well & was very informative. Would definitely take this tour again
Great driver and guide. Ferry experience was very interesting if you never done it. Victoria and Gardens were beautiful. Fantastic day.
The guidance were absolutely beautiful, and I loved my visit there! However, after visiting the gardens, we were dropped off in downtown Vancouver to either see the museum or the Empress Hotel. I asked the bus driver what else we could visit and he didn’t really seem to have any real suggestions. He said we could walk into Chinatown or we could walk towards the pier. But not knowing the area I didn’t know how far to venture off with the time limit we were given. Also, the air-conditioning on the bus was broken. So it was extremely hot. Other travelers made suggestions to him on what maybe he could do. But he just said he would let them know the next day.
Enjoyable trip with Megan as an excellent and knowledgeable guide. We had the right amount of time in victoria and buchard gardens to appreciate the area without feeling rushed. Only slight hitch was a burst tyre which delayed our return from the ferry to Vancouver. It was spotted and reported before we boarded the ferry but we still had to wait before the repair team came. No fault with Megan who tried to manage the situation as best as she could. The hour delay took the slight edge off a terrific day. Weather was perfect which helped though thankfully was not too warm as the air conditioning on the bus wasn't great.
Uber dropped us off at the wrong spot and we almost missed our trip. We did catch the bus although 45 minutes late, which made everybodyon the bus a little annoyed. We were supposed to be the first pick up at 7 AM. Some of the passengers said they got a text the exact location of the pick up. We did not we got a call, but it still wasn’t clear. The rest of the trip was great, and the driver was informative and friendly.
Lynn did a great job getting us to & from Vancouver Island to explore the Gardens & Victoria.
Lynn was so helpful in describing everything along the way and where to go and how to get back and was always patient with the people who were late or lost.
The bus had no air conditioning, it reached 100 degrees inside the bus, I think your driver knew this
