Vancouver Island Tours

Hit the waves with expert naturalists in search of Canadian sea-life on this whale-watching cruise from Victoria. Hop aboard your whale-watching boat and head out into the rolling seas with your guide. Gaze out over Victoria’s attractive coastline and watch the waves for sightings of graceful orcas. Listen as the two expert naturalists onboard explain the life cycles of the majestic creatures, and learn of their pivotal role near the top of the marine food chain. Enjoy fine views from the seating areas both inside and on-deck. 

Admire native marine wildlife in the waters of British Columbia on this 3-hour whale-watching adventure in Victoria. Hop aboard your open-top boat in Victoria Harbour and cruise out into the rolling waves with your guide. Your vessel, a zodiac speedboat, is built with stability in mind and remains buoyant even in rough seas. Cruise through the Haro Straight to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Watch the water for sightings of humpback whales, minke whales and orcas breaching the waves, and learn of their life cycle and migration habits.

Enjoy swift travel and breathtaking views over British Columbia on this Victoria to Vancouver seaplane flight. Hop aboard your seaplane in Victoria’s Inner Harbour and take to the skies with your pilot. Enjoy panoramic views over local landmarks including Ogden Point, the Fairmont Empress Hotel and the BC Parliament Buildings. Soar over the Gulf Islands’ sandy beaches and dense forests, and look out for the mighty Lion’s Gate Bridge and Brockton Peninsula.

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.

Marvel at the majesty of Canada’s marine wildlife on this 3-hour whale-watching adventure in Victoria. Hop aboard your boat, a semi-covered vessel built specifically for whale-watching trips, and cruise through the Haro Strait with your guide. Watch the waves from the open sun decks or stay protected from the spray in the heated indoor cabin. Stop off at points of interest through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Listen to fascinating commentary from marine naturalists on board, and admire the beautiful orca, humpback whales, and minke whales you find.

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.

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 five passengers, it’s an intimate, small-group ride navigated by an expert pilot.

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.

Explore British Colombia’s Victoria by pedicab with a guide on this 3-hour tour of the city, including convenient pickup and drop-off at the cruise ship terminal. Travel through one of Victoria’s oldest neighborhood, James Bay, to one of its oldest grocers. Then pass through Beacon Hill Park, and see the peacocks there. Plus, catch a glimpse of the famous Empress Hotel.

Go whale watching in Victoria on a 12-passenger boat that’s designed for seeking out whales and marine wildlife on Vancouver Island’s spectacular coast. With a heated cabin, onboard bathrooms, and outdoor viewing decks, this whale watching tour is a comfortable alternative to an open speedboat that still provides the maneuverability and personal experience of a small craft while searching for orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, seals, and more.

Discover a new perspective on Victoria’s striking coastal scenery—and have the rare chance to spot giants of the deep, as well as other marine animals—with this sunset whale-watching tour. Make your own way to the dock in Downtown Victoria, and hop aboard your catamaran, equipped with three separate viewing decks. You can look out for whales, sea lions, and more—and see the sunset from the water’s edge.

If you need to get from Victoria to Vancouver, enjoy a stress-free transfer that takes you from downtown Victoria to Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station. Relax aboard a comfortable coach during ferry terminal transfers, and enjoy the scenic BC Ferry ride across island-studded waterways and historic shipping channels. Multiple departure times are available to suit your schedule.

Fly from Vancouver to Tofino by seaplane for a spectacular experience that also saves hours in transit. You’ll have gorgeous, aerial views of downtown Vancouver and the harbor, with the chance to spot whales from above as you cross the Strait of Georgia. On Vancouver Island, cut across forested mountains inaccessible by road before touching down in the remote, west-coast community of Tofino.

Getting to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) from Victoria can be a hassle but this bus transfer makes the trip a breeze. Board your shared coach in downtown Victoria and cross the Strait of Georgia via the ferry. Relax on the scenic boat ride through the Gulf Islands, and when you arrive, enjoy a seamless transfer to the airport terminal.

Search for whales, bald eagles, and other wildlife along the dramatic coast of Vancouver Island on a 4-hour wildlife cruise from Cowichan Bay. You’ll be fitted with warm clothing and a floatation suit, then set out in a rigid inflatable boat that’s perfect for exploring the rugged coast and Gulf Islands. This 4-hour wildlife cruise is limited to 15 people for a more personal experience, with afternoon and sunset departures available.

Head out into the Salish Sea from Nanaimo in search of the abundant wildlife that inhabits the area. Your guide is an experienced marine expert who will take the time to help you learn about the sea life around Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. This tour takes you to the habitats of killer whales (orcas) humpback whales, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and eagles.

This season we are offering tours for families and groups at special rates on our 12 passenger vessel Salish Shadow. We will be taking bookings for families and small groups up to 8 people to conform with COVID-19 protocols & to follow the advice of Dr. Henry, BC’s Provincial Health Officer. Join us and discover the wonders of the Salish Sea as we encounter Orcas, Humpbacks Whales, Minke Whales, Gray Whales, Seals, Sea Lions and more!

Immerse yourself in British Columbia’s unspoiled, wild beauty on this 3-day, small-group kayaking tour of the Barkley Sound. On the first day, set off from the Canadian Princess Lodge & Marina in Ucluelet, and venture to the sandy beaches of the Broken Group Islands for a training session and introduction. Over the next three days, you’ll spend numerous hours kayaking, hiking, exploring forests and beaches, and more. Meals, camping and kayaking equipment, transit, and guided tours are included for your convenience.

Sit back and relax on the high-speed Victoria Clipper ferry that travels from Victoria to Seattle. Leaving from Inner Harbor, the comfortable boat ride takes less than three hours, traveling through Puget Sound to Pier 69 in Seattle's waterfront district. The on-board amenities include duty-free shopping, as well as in-seat food and beverage service (at your own expense).

Experience an up-close encounter with northern Pacific marine life on a 3-hour whale watching cruise off Victoria’s coast. Travel out into the open ocean aboard a comfortable, motorized boat to look for native species like humpback whales, gray whales, orcas, elephant seals and sea lions in their natural habitat. Learn about local marine ecology from a naturalist guide, and take in fantastic views of Vancouver Island in between animal sightings.

Share the waters with whales, orcas, and more on a wildlife watching tour. In addition to animal sightings, the aquatic adventure also offers great views of the San Juan and Gulf Islands, plus the Howe Sound. Stay warm inside the cabin, where you can purchase snacks and drinks. Your ticket comes with a whale sighting guarantee, with a free tour should you not spot any whales.

Art & beer are two of the best windows into the local soul of a place. The art reflects the local moods, the culture, the history, the current events, the struggles, the triumphs, and even the weather. Each mural has it’s story and each story has it’s author, and we’ll do our best to connect you to both. You’ll leave with a sense of connection to the art, their artists and the area. Local breweries use local products to get a flavor that is district and unique to what's available in the region. The beer culture in Victoria goes back a long time, and there are some special traditions to be enjoyed on this tour.

Feel like you’ve stepped back in time to vintage Victoria with a 1-hour tour through the city’s most splendid neighborhoods aboard a horse-drawn carriage. Beginning at the illustrious Empress hotel, admire sailing ships in the Inner Harbor and trot through the leafy gardens and lawns of Beacon Hill Park. Pass stately Victorian mansions and other local landmarks like the Trans-Canada Highway Mile 0 marker, and take in fantastic views of the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca during the stylish ride. 

Visit Victoria (BC Parliament Buildings, Beacon Hill Park, Butchart Gardens, Goldstream Provincial Park, Hatley Castle, Tolmie Hill Park), Chemainus, Duncan.