Prices checked on Sep 11, 2026Things to do in Vancouver
Discover the beauty of Howe Sound Fjord, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, on an unforgettable Vancouver adventure. You'll ride alongside the stunning Tantalus Mountain Range, explore vibrant islands and marine wildlife sanctuaries, and enjoy a complimentary beer, wine, coffee, or ice cream at Bowen Island's Snug Cove during a short stop. This is one of Vancouver’s must-do experiences—perfect for creating memories you'll be excited to share with friends and family!
We will start our journey here. Please Arrive 30 minutes prior to your tour start time. Granville Island is a lively cultural hub known for its public market, artisan shops, theaters, and waterfront views.
We will start and finish our tour in these waters.
We will pass by Downtown while exiting the False Creek and into the English Bay
We will pass by Downtown while exiting the False Creek and into the English Bay
We will see Stanley park from the boat as we leave Vancouver
We will see Kitsilano, UBC, Vancouver, and West Vancouver from the water, and get up close to the freighters waiting for Vancouver's Harbour.
We will stop at Lighthouse Park to take some photos before we enter the Unesco Reserve known as Howe Sound. This is a great stop to spot wildlife and take in some of Vancouver's History. Just around the corner, we will visit a Seal Colony.
Pull up to Bowyer Island where we will stop to talk about the Glaciers, Mountains and watch Horseshoe Bay where the Island ferries come in and out.
We will explore the coast line of this island, enjoying the Coastal Temperate Rain Forest as we look for Sea Lions, Bald Eagles, Porpoises and much more wildlife.
Althought we will not drive on the sea to sky highway, we will boat through the sea to sky corridor which inclues the Tantalus Mountain range, Tantalus Glacier, Howe Sound Unesco world heritage site, Bowen Island, Seal Colonies and much much more.
UNESCO reserve Howe Sound is a stunning fjord located just north of Vancouver, known for its dramatic mountain scenery, clear waters, and outdoor recreational activities. Popular for boating, kayaking, hiking, and wildlife viewing, the area is dotted with islands and framed by rugged coastal mountains, offering breathtaking views and adventure opportunities.
Stop and Get off the boat at Bowen Islands Snug Cove. You will get a chance to visit the shops and restaurants within the cove and your tour includes a free beer, wine, specialty coffee, or ice cream. Snug Cove is a quaint town on the edge of Bowen Island, it will bring you back to a quieter easier time. With many places to visit this town won't disappoint.
UNESCO Biosphere and Bowen Island Boat Tour with Island Visit lasts about 4 hours. The itinerary has 12 stops.
Prices start at $140 per person for this Vancouver experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Check-in is 30 minutes before departure. Please allow yourself extra time to find parking if you are driving. Granville Island is very busy and parking is limited.. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Wheelchair accessible
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
This was fantastic! Book it! You will enjoy it so much! Marco was very personable and fun. He did an amazing job and was very informative. His music was awesome too. You’ll see things you can’t view from land or sky. This is one of the BEST things we did while in Vancouver and we will book again if we ever come back. Bowen Island was quaint and a fun place to stop. It was a great way to visit without having to take the ferry.
Captain ray kept things fun and safe. We saw seals and whales as well as gorgeous scenery. Highly recommended.
If I could leave more stars I would! We did the UNESCO Biosphere & Bowen Island Boat Tour. This was easily the best outdoor adventure I’ve had all summer. Guaranteed thrills on this zodiac boat tour! Wow..talk about an adrenline rush! This was basically a high speed thrill ride in a jet boat with amazing scenery. Life is always better on a boat! I was literally just having the time of my life!! 3 hours of pure adrenline and jaw-dropping views….speeding across those waves felt like a roller coaster on the water! Zooming down the ocean, wind in your hair, sun on your face…you'll have the time of your life!!! The adrenaline rush was unreal, and the views from the water were stunning. Still buzzing from the speed, and sprays. And let's be honest, seeing Van from the water is absolutely epic. You rediscover the city from a completely different perspective. The experience is a total thrill — high speeds with the sun and wind in your face, plus those mini splashes of water that make it feel even more epic. Vancouver’s coastline is stunning, but seeing it at high speed is a whole different experience. We felt safe but totally exhilarated. From the moment the ride started, the speed, fun turns, and splashes of water made it so exciting. The ride itself was an absolute adrenaline rush! Speed, excitement, and so much fun from start to finish! The speed, and scenery were all unreal. We had so much fun from start to finish — adrenaline, laughs, and nonstop excitement. Shoutout to Jessica for the top-tier communication! Her communication was exceptional leading up to the event which made the whole process smooth and stress-free. Huge kudos to our driver Ray for his great sense of humour and keeping the vibe fun the whole ride. The energy from Ray was fantastic, keeping everyone hyped up and laughing the entire time. Definitely hope you get Ray as your driver! He clearly knew exactly how to make the ride exciting while keeping it smooth and controlled. Ray’s energy, charisma, and knowledge about Van were truly impressive. He didn’t miss a single detail and made the entire tour feel engaging and special. Thanks to him, you really feel like you get to know the city, because he shares so many interesting facts about every place you pass. It’s not just a boat ride - it’s 3 hours of thrills with incredible views at every turn! The boat then stopped at Bowen Island and the tour includes ice cream on the island. It’s a little escape from the busy everyday life! Life just moves differently here! I could get very used to this island time thing! I can’t think of a more exciting way to experience Vancouver’s scenery! We got to feel the rush of speed, soak up the splash, and experience Vancouver from a whole new perspective. We cruised through the Howe Sound, felt the ocean breeze, and took in unbeatable views of Vancouver! Speed, waves, water splashes…full-on adrenaline rush! If you’re looking for something unforgettable to do before the summer ends, you need to come experience this! Some moments are best experienced from the water!! Hands down, this is one of the best experiences to have in all of Vancouver. If you’re looking for a fun, high-energy adventure on the water, this is absolutely the ride to take. If you are hesitant to book this tour, I am here to tell you to just hit that reservation button.
This was one of the best experiences in my life. 4 hours passed so fast. If you are a nature lover, you will like it. The Captain Alik was great and gave lots of useful information during the tour. The donuts he did were so much fun!!! My favourite parts were the cute seals and the Howe Sound. The views there were unreal. If you visit Vancouver it’s a must have. I highly recommend. It’s worth every penny I paid. Next time I visit I’ll definitely book another tour with the company. Ps: beware the boat is pretty fast but it’s fun!
We had an amazing tour with our Captain Teagan. She provided a fun experience as well as educational information about the area. Highlights were some spectacular wildlife including a humpback whale sighting, rock climbers, and excellent ice cream at Bowen Island! thank you Teagan!!
We had a good day out on the water with Cesar. We started the day suiting up into warm flotation suits, which kept us nice and warm even in summer. Best advice - don't turn one down! As we travelled to Bowen Island, Adrian stopped to talk to us along the way about Vancouver history and present day. His information was interesting and we asked questions as needed. We stopped to see a seal colony and had time for pictures. The water was quite calm so we had 90 minutes on Bowen which was time to get some ice cream and explore. After we left Bowen Island we went to visit another seal colony then headed back to our meeting spot. Great day!
Exhilarating! Saw the fjords, the Tantalus mountain range, and adjacent islands while crusing on the False creek. Breathtaking landscape. also spotted bald eagles, seals, and others, and visited Bowen island. Our captain (i think is Jay) is the best.
This was an amazing experience to see and understand. Simon was a wealth of local and wider information relative to the Vancouver and surrounding areas. The highlights included some spectacular wildlife, scenery and the legendary donuts thank you Simon you cherish the knowledge and information you provided.
This was one of the best things we’ve ever done as a family. Our guide Simon was excellent. The scenery is incredible, Bowen island is lovely, and everyone enjoyed the RIB experience. If you have a sense of adventure this is definitely the tour to do. That it leaves from Granville Island is another massive bonus as that’s great for food and families. My kids haven’t stopped talking about this since we got off, they were super happy during the whole thing. This is one of the best things we’ve ever done as a family anywhere on the planet.
Trip was amazing. Beautiful scenery, great tour guide Simon - great bits of speed on the water for the kids (11/8). Easy to find and sort and great communication. A brilliant afternoon was had by all four of us (
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNESCO Biosphere and Bowen Island Boat Tour with Island Visit | 4 hours | 4.9 (54) | $140 | |
 Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos | 5 hours | 4.9 (5,582) | $190 | View |
 Vancouver City Sightseeing Tour: Capilano Suspension Bridge & Vancouver Lookout | 6h 30min | 4.9 (2,067) | $144 | View |
 Whistler, Sea to Sky Gondola, & Shannon Falls Tour from Vancouver | 10 hours | 4.8 (2,091) | $156 | View |
 Whistler Tour from Vancouver + Sea to Sky Gondola + Shannon Falls | 10 hours | 4.8 (1,000) | $155 | View |
 Grouse Mountain, Skyride Gondola & Capilano Bridge from Vancouver | 6h 30min | 4.7 (1,510) | $186 | View |
 Vancouver Panorama Scenic Seaplane Tour | 30 min | 4.7 (1,381) | $140 | View |