Top Vancouver Island Day Trips

This is your opportunity to get as close to wild grizzly bears as it’s possible to safely get. Explore the wilderness of Bute from the water, discover its hidden natural gems, and keep a look out for its furry local inhabitants, also known as the Great Bears of Bute. Watch for whales on the inlet, and visit the Campbell River and meet the indigenous people who own this river.

Take a sweet-smelling stroll through Victoria’s famous Butchart Gardens, spanning 55 acres (22.2 hectares) of beautifully designed flower beds, lily ponds, footbridges, and thematic landscapes. With a convenient pickup location and a flexible return shuttle schedule, it’s an easy way to experience one of Victoria’s most popular attractions. Visit during summer or holiday season evenings to witness special luminous displays that add an extra touch of enchantment to the gardens.

Explore the city of Victoria and the famous Butchart Gardens on this half-day guided tour. On the way to the gardens, stop at several attractions including Beacon Hill Park, Craigdarroch Castle, and Mount Tolmie Park. While at the Butchart Gardens, take in the impressive floral displays and the many theme gardens. On the return trip, visit Chinatown, Parliament, and the Empress Hotel.

Get ready for the experience of a lifetime on a Canadian Grizzly Bear expedition. The tour begins with a cruise through Desolation Sound and along the way, you can spot breaching humpback whales and other marine life. Arriving at the Orford River in Bute Inlet, you’ll meet with members of the Homalco First Nations tribe and learn about their history and culture before heading to a viewing platform to watch the grizzlies fish for salmon in the river.

FOOD, WINE and SPECTACULAR SCENERY. We LOVE this revised tour to REFLECT COVID-19.Join Island Time Tours for a lovely relaxing adventure exploring the Cowichan Valley. We visit 3 (4 if time permitting) of the prettiest vineyards and do our own thing to avoid any line-ups. We offer you a wonderful experience at each vineyard.. First stop includes bubbly with orange juice (optional) w/ fresh warm bake goods. Relax, inhale and take in this beautiful countryside. LUNCH is filled with afternoon tea delights with WINE served weather permitting in the great outdoors. Dessert w/wine complete this tour at another picturesque vineyard. Great food, award winning wines and spectacular beauty. Let's go!

Soar over downtown Victoria and surrounds on a thrilling, 20-minute seaplane flight! Take to the skies right from the water and enjoy an unforgettable aerial perspective of the harbor, coastline, Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains towering in the distance. With a maximum of fourteen passengers, it’s an intimate, small-group ride navigated by an expert pilot.

Explore Victoria's history and culinary scene on this walking tour of the British Columbian city. Follow a guide to highlights such as the Parliament Buildings, the Inner Harbor Causeway, Trounce Alley, Bastion and Market squares, Fan Tan Alley, the Harmonious Gates of Interest, and the Victoria Public Market. Along the way, stop for between food tastings of craft beer, chocolate, tea, tapas, cheese, bread, olive oil, and other local products.

Explore Vancouver Island's magnificent scenery on a full-day, private tour from Victoria to Englishman River Falls, Little Qualicum Falls, and Cathedral Grove, home to some of the tallest and oldest trees on the island. You'll visit a country market, hike through the rainforest and to the waterfalls, and make plenty of photo stops, while learning about Vancouver Island's nature and culture throughout the day. Traveling with a private guide means the trip can be tailored to you, and this tour is priced per-group for up to eight people.

Vancouver Island is known for producing great wines in a beautiful environment. Visit well-regarded wineries on Saanich Peninsula on this tour from Victoria, which includes private wine tastings at each location, a behind-the-scenes tour of a local winery, and a guide with extensive knowledge about the industry. This small-group tour is limited to 15 passengers or fewer for a more intimate experience.

Take in the dramatic beauty of Discovery Passage and the wild strength of grizzly bears on this small-group cruise and sightseeing tour. Cruise to Toba Inlet with a certified naturalist captain and scan the waters for wildlife, before a welcome to the land by your Klahoose First Nation guide. View grizzly bears along the river and enjoy a lunch on land.

Make the most of your visit to Victoria by seeing  many of the area’s highlights in just one day. This private tour packs in top sights including, Butchart Gardens, one of Canada’s oldest Chinatown neighborhoods, Craigdarroch Castle, and the famed Parliament Buildings. Plus, you’ll even have time to stop at a local winery to experience British Columbia’s burgeoning wine scene. Round-trip transportation is also included for an added convenience.

Enjoy a day of wine tasting in the Cowichan Valley without the hassles of driving, planning, or organizing. We'll pick you up at 11:30 and head out to sample the excellent wines at 3 renowned wineries. On the drive in between, play your favorite tunes and jump on the karaoke mic. No judgement, we promise!

Vancouver Island’s south west coastline is a landscape of great natural beauty—with soft-sand beaches, rugged cliffs, and old-growth forests hugging the shore. On this tour, travel from Sooke to Port Renfrew with pickup and drop-off in downtown Victoria included. Hit top natural attractions like French Beach and the Jordan River with your guide, and enjoy the freedom to plan your itinerary to hit the sites of most interest.

Observe our coast awaken from winter! Join us on our Spring Discovery Tour as we travel to mainland inlets in our covered vessel to see several waterfalls in all of their glory. As we cruise the shorelines, we will keep our eyes peeled for different types of wildlife as they return and awaken from the long winter. Witness sea lions, sea birds, and Orca! View the first Humpback Whales of the season as they make their way back to our northern waters! Watch bears forage along the shore for crabs, mussels, oysters, and more! On this 7-8 hour tour, we will travel throughout the islands surrounding Campbell River and make our way to the various inlets of British Columbia’s mainland coast, while searching for wildlife along the way.

What sets our tour apart is the unique combination of intimate group experiences, convenient services, and the opportunity to explore remarkable attractions such as the Malahat Skywalk and Butchart Gardens. One of our standout highlights is the Malahat Skywalk, where you can experience awe-inspiring views from elevated walkways and observation platforms. This breathtaking vantage point allows you to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Victoria's surroundings in a unique way. Additionally, our tour includes a visit to the world-renowned Butchart Gardens. These stunning gardens offer a mesmerizing blend of floral displays, lush landscapes, and tranquil settings. You'll have the opportunity to explore the various themed gardens, witness the vibrant colors, and appreciate the meticulous design and care that goes into maintaining this horticultural masterpiece. Join us on this small group tour experience to get up close and personal with the best of what Victoria has to offer.

It is a navigation APP with self-guided routes with audio guides through Victoria Everything you need to know about Victoria Points of interest linked to Google Maps geolocation Car routes through the city walking routes Access to Web Panel to customize your own route Access to Panel Web as a repository of travel documents Audio guides with 6 languages available (Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, French, English.)

The historic city of Victoria comes to life during this private tour with a local guide (Lokafyer.) Your guide will help tailor this walking tour to your interests to help you get the most out of the experience (and your stay in the city) as you explore Victoria’s flower lined streets, picturesque harbor, or historic architecture. With a local guide welcoming you to the city, this tour brings you back to what makes travel transformative—the people.

Search for Vancouver Island's marine wildlife on a whale-watching tour by Zodiac boat that takes in the Salish Sea, Discovery Passage, and Johnstone Strait. Since Zodiacs are more nimble than large vessels, you’ll be able to maneuver for views of animals such as humpback whales, orca whales, dolphins, bears, sea lions, and more. The open-sided boats also offer unobstructed vistas, ideal for photographing animals in their dramatic natural habitats.

Reel in halibut, salmon, and much more on an 8-hour chartered fishing tour from Vancouver. You can leave your tackle box at home, as all necessary gear and bait is offered at no additional cost. Allow your captain to navigate the coastal waters of the Barkley Sound to find the prime fishing spots. While waiting for a tug on the line, keep your eyes peeled for eagles, sea lions, whales, and other local wildlife.

Tour Highlights: Without a doubt, one of the most amazing things to see at San Josef Bay are the sea stacks. The sea stacks at San Josef Bay are some of the only ocean-eroded stacks on Vancouver Island, and are certainly the most extreme. Water surging through the sandy passages at high tide has slowly eroded the softer rock, leaving behind only the harder formations. In some spots, this effect has left behind the sea stacks, a remarkable feature, but one found fairly commonly around the world. 

Spend the day cruising the Salish Sea in search of bears, whales, and dolphins on this six hour, small-group tour. Learn about the region’s nature and wildlife from your certified naturalist guide and captain as you relax with complimentary snacks and drinks. This tour highlights the diversity of the coastal waters and marine life, and provides great photo opportunities before you take a break with an onshore lunch accompanied by homemade baked goods.

This small-group experience gives you the whole day to tour the Salish Sea, Discovery Passage, and Johnstone Strait in a speedy Zodiac boat. Stay cozy in provided floater suits, toques, gloves, and goggles as you spend the day searching for some of the abundant wildlife of the coastal waters, including humpback whales, bears, sea lions, and Pacific white-sided dolphins. Your tour will focus on finding orcas, but highlight the diverse beauty of the coast.