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victoria tours from vancouver ideas with whale watching fishermans wharf and butchart gardens

5 Best Day Tours from Vancouver to Victoria BC

The best day tours from Vancouver to Victoria BC offer the perfect opportunity to explore Vancouver Island hassle-free.

That’s why I’ve sifted through dozens of tours to Victoria from Vancouver to find you the best.

Let’s break down the top Vancouver to Victoria tours on the market.

Vancouver to Victoria Day Tours: The Logistics

Victoria’s picturesque harbour city is just 107 kilometres (76 miles) southwest of Vancouver.

That said, day tours to Victoria from Vancouver are a bit of a necessity without your own car.

If you’ve got time constraints, that pesky Salish Sea in the photo above only stands to complicate matters.

To avoid this, I’m gonna run through the best Vancouver to Victoria tour packages to make things a lot easier.

You can visit Butchart Gardens, take a Victoria whale watching tour, or take an in-depth tour of the heart of the city – and be back in time for dinner!

The Best Victoria Tours from Vancouver

Victoria Day Trip + Butchart Gardens – Best Day Trip from Vancouver to Victoria

Departure Point: Hotel pickup/drop off| Duration: 13 hours | Price: From CAD $275.10

Looking to explore Butchart Gardens but don’t have two days to spare? Not to worry.

You’ll start this Butchart Gardens and Victoria Day tour in style, taking in the stunning waterways and mountains en route to British Columbia’s capital via ferry.

Once you arrive in Victoria, you’ll visit the world-famous Butchart Gardens, a nature lover’s paradise spanning 55 acres (22 hectares).

But that’s not all! This Victoria tour from Vancouver also gives you the best of both worlds: a mini-guided coach tour along the way to learn the history + time to explore on your own.

Included in these day tours from Vancouver to Victoria island:

  • Select downtown Vancouver hotel pickup/drop off (locals: head to the Westin Bayshore)
  • Round-trip ferry tickets to/from Victoria
  • Butchart Gardens admission
  • Free time to explore Victoria’s city centre

Overnight Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour – Best 2-Day Victoria Tour from Vancouver

Departure Point: Hotel pickup | Duration: 48 hours | Price: From CAD $641.74

These fantastic Vancouver to Victoria day trip tour options include an overnight stay, which is a fantastic way to truly discover the city.

You’ll kick it off on the Vancouver to Victoria ferry, where you can soak up the gorgeous scenery and maybe even spot a few whales frolicking in the Salish Sea.

After arriving in Victoria, you’ll check out the famous Butchart Gardens – admission is included in the package. You’ll quickly see why this Victoria botanical wonderland attracts more than a million visitors per year.

Afterward, you’ll get a guided sightseeing tour of Victoria before heading to your comfy 4-star hotel in the heart of the city. The best part is you’ll have 24 hours to do whatever you like – so you’re not locked into a rigid schedule.

You’ll end with a scenic floatplane ride back home.

Included in these tours to Victoria from Vancouver:

  • Selected hotel pick up/drop off in Vancouver (locals: you’ll meet them at Canada Place)
  • Transport and ferry ticket to Victoria
  • Admission to Butchart Gardens
  • 1-night stay in Victoria at the Inn at Laurel Point
  • Scenic floatplane ride from Victoria back to Vancouver

Want to upgrade your hotel to include the legendary Fairmont Empress? Click the button below:

Related: 3 Epic Butchart Gardens Tours from Vancouver

Seaplane + Ferry Tour – Top Vancouver to Victoria Tour Package for Freedom

Departure Point: 1055 Canada Pl. | Duration: 12 hours | Price: From CAD $572.14

This exciting trip to Victoria from Vancouver begins with a thrilling journey across the Salish Sea by floatplane. The best part? The Vancouver to Victoria seaplane departs just steps from most of Vancouver’s best hotels.

On this Victoria one-day tour from Vancouver, you can sit back, relax, and soak up the lovely aerial views across the water.

Once you get there, you can start checking off the best things to do in Victoria in a self-guided manner. This is optimal for people looking for speed and independence.

You may even want to consider boarding the Victoria hop-on hop-off bus to cover more ground.

Once you’re done exploring, you’ll board a coach to Swartz Bay Terminal for the ferry ride back to Vancouver.

This Victoria Day tour from Vancouver includes:

  • 35-minute seaplane flight from Vancouver to Victoria
  • 7 hours to explore Victoria on your own
  • Coach and ferry tickets back to Vancouver

A seaplane in front of the Parliament Building, Victoria BC

Seaplane & Butchart Gardens Admission – Best Victoria Tour from Vancouver for Convenience

Departure Point: 1055 Canada Pl.| Duration: 1 day | Price: From CAD $572.14

These day tours from Vancouver to Victoria BC? They’re for those looking to combine a visit to Butchart Gardens with an exciting seaplane adventure.

And they’ll take you straight to Victoria’s Inner Harbour in just 35 minutes.

You’ll have plenty of free time to explore this charming city, soaking up all its beauty and culture.

It also includes a shuttle bus and admission to Butchart Gardens.

This is a great option for people looking for less travel time and more time to spend in the city.

This tour to Victoria from Vancouver includes:

  • Round-trip floatplane flight between Vancouver and Victoria
  • Shuttle to and from Butchart Gardens
  • Butchart Gardens admission
  • Free time to explore the Victoria Inner Harbour

Seaplane + Whale-Watching Cruise – Top Vancouver Victoria Tour Package for Nature Lovers

Departure Point: 1055 Canada Pl.| Duration: 10 hours | Price: From CAD $603.63

If you’re deciding on one of our Vancouver to Victoria tours, a whale-watching excursion is one way to add a bit of that wow factor.

The travel here is super easy, with a super scenic seaplane to Victoria.

Once you arrive in Victoria, it’s time to set off on an exciting cruise through the Haro Strait. It’s the native home to killer whales, sea lions, and seals.

It’s a rare opportunity to see these amazing creatures up close and in their natural habitat.

Included in this Vancouver Victoria tour:

  • Return seaplane flights between Vancouver and Victoria
  • A ticket aboard a Victoria Whale Watching Tour
  • The chance to get up close and personal with orcas, humpbacks and gray whales

Vancouver to Victoria Day Tour Prices

So, how much does it cost for a day tour from Vancouver to Victoria?

Here’s a handy graph of Victoria day tour prices, with some extra info on departure points.

TourLocationPriceMore Info
Day Tour + ButchartHotel Pick-up/ferry$275.10More info
Butchart 2 DayHotel Pick-up/ferry$641.74More info
Seaplane + Self-ExploreCanada Place$383.18More info
Seaplane + ButchartHotel Pickup$572.14More info
Seaplane + WhaleCanada Place$603.63More info
All prices are listed in CAD.

Again, the cheapest day tours from Vancouver to Victoria BC are the Day Trip + Butchart Gardens packages.

How to Book Day Trip Tickets to Victoria

Warning: Vancouver to Victoria day tours tend to sell out way in advance. Ensure you book your tickets online first. With the links here, you can even get free cancellation tickets.

Booking tickets for Vancouver to Victoria sightseeing tours is as simple as a purchase on Amazon – in fact, it’s even faster.

Here, I’ll walk you through the process with ease.

All you have to do is choose your top Victoria day tour, select a time, and you’re good to go – with free cancellation!

1. Select Your Day Tour to Victoria from Vancouver

  • Head to the Vancouver to Victoria day trip portal on Viator.
  • Here, you’re booking with a publicly traded company (Tripadvisor) with a $3 billion market cap
  • Booking with them gets you book now pay later Victoria day tours which help a lot with budgeting
  • You’re also locking in Viator’s lowest price guarantee to help you save money

2. Select Your Victoria Day Tour Time

  • Select your day tour of Victoria
  • Click the green ‘Check Availability’ button on the product page
  • Select a date on the calendar
  • Choose the number of people and click ‘Apply’
  • Select your time and click ‘Reserve Now & Pay Later’ or ‘Book Now’

FYI: If you choose ‘Reserve Now & Pay Later’ you’ll have the option to pay for the Victoria day trip tickets at any point up to 48 hours before.

Change your mind? Either way, you can cancel your tickets free of charge up to 24 hours before.

Boom! You can lock in your Vancouver to Victoria guided tour dates in less than 2 minutes.

Vancouver to Victoria Day Tour Reviews

Our provider Viator has thousands of reviews on their long list of day tours from Vancouver to Victoria.

Amazingly, most of these Victoria one day tours hold a 4.5 star rating or above.

Let’s take a look at what people are saying about our best Vancouver to Victoria day tour:

view of the empress hotel ona victoria day tour from vancouver

One Day Victoria Tour with Butchart Gardens Trip Reviews

Pros:

  • Cheapest Victoria day tour from Vancouver
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • Ability to see all of Victoria’s major sites
  • 2 hours to explore independently
  • Expert guide and driver with tons of fun facts
  • Long trip broken up by different parts

Cons:

  • Some have complained 10 hours is too long

No need to expand on this too much – this tour to Victoria from Vancouver has a 4.5 star rating over 1300+ reviews.

Here’s a bit of what to expect from Viator customer Jane_I:

>> Check out 1300+ more reviews on Viator now

Reasons to Take a Day Tour to Victoria from Vancouver BC

Scenic Beauty: Experience the breathtaking scenery of the Pacific Coast and the Gulf Islands during the ferry ride from Vancouver to Victoria.
Rich History: Victoria boasts a rich British colonial history, visible in its architecture, including the iconic British Columbia Parliament Buildings and the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel.
Unique Attractions: Visit unique attractions like the world-renowned Butchart Gardens, with its stunning floral displays, and the Royal BC Museum, showcasing natural and human history.
Charming Downtown: Explore Victoria’s charming downtown area, offering boutique shopping, artisan cafes, and waterfront dining options.
Whale Watching Opportunities: Victoria whale watching tours offer the chance to see orcas, humpback whales, and other marine life.
Easy and Convenient: Day tours from Vancouver to Victoria BC are easy and convenient, providing a hassle-free way to explore another vibrant city within British Columbia in just one day.

How To Create Your Own Vancouver to Victoria Day Tour

Creating your own day tour from Vancouver to Victoria is simple and rewarding.

If you’ve got a car, start by booking the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria, where you’ll enjoy the scenic Gulf Islands en route.

No car? You’ll either need to take the Vancouver to Victoria bus or the seaplane from Vancouver to Victoria.

Keep in mind though that independent travel is going to cost you a minimum of $196.16 return (bus).

That’s why booking day tours to Victoria is so great – for about $70.00 more you can have the whole thing planned with some admissions thrown in.

At any rate, however you get there – I suggest looking at this Victoria day trip itinerary for inspiration.

Vancouver to Victoria Tours FAQ

Are there tours between Victoria and Vancouver?

Yes, there are Victoria tours from Vancouver, including day tours, Butchart Gardens day tours, overnight tours, 2-day tours, and whale-watching tours.

How much is a tour from Vancouver to Victoria?

The cheapest tour from Vancouver to Victoria is $263.93 for the day trip to Butchart Gardens, which includes a couple of hours to explore Victoria on your own.

The typical Vancouver Victoria tour costs around $350.00.

Are there Vancouver bus tours to Victoria?

Yes, there are bus tours from Vancouver to Victoria, but it involves at combination package which gets you to Victoria by seaplane with return travel on the ferry by coach.

Otherwise, you can book the Vancouver to Victoria bus and create your own custom itinerary.

What’s the best day tour to Victoria from Vancouver?

The best day tour package from Vancouver to Victoria is the Victoria Tour + Butchart Gardens Tour, which includes the ferry, admission to the gardens, and a couple hours to explore downtown Victoria.

Ready for the Best Vancouver to Victoria Tours?

We hope this comprehensive list of our favourite Vancouver to Victoria tour packages has inspired you to explore Vancouver Island’s captivating Garden City.

These day tours from Vancouver to Victoria offer a perfect blend of natural beauty, history, culture, and adventure

That said, if you haven’t found anything here to your liking, don’t be afraid to write me in the comments!

Enjoy your Vancouver to Victoria tour!

Julian

I've used online guides on five continents to find the world's greatest travel spots and this is my chance to give back - with insider info on my home, the mighty Vancouver BC!

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