Top Vancouver Island Tours by Duration

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.

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.

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.

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.

Discover the wines of the Cowichan Valley on a wine tour from Victoria, and taste your way through part of Vancouver Island's fascinating wine trail. You’ll visit three wineries for tastings and tours, and enjoy lunch at a boutique winery surrounded by rolling vineyards. This wine tour includes round-trip transport from downtown Victoria, lunch, and tastings, for the perfect introduction to Vancouver Island wine.

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!

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.

Discover why British Columbia is one of the best places in the world to see whales and other marine wildlife on this 3-hour tour with Eagle Wing Tours at Victoria’s Fisherman’s Wharf. Hop aboard a comfortable semi-covered or open boat and help support Eagle Wing’s many conservation, education and research activities! Let certified and knowledgeable naturalists be your guides to the stunning wildlife and natural history of the Salish Sea. Watch for seals, sea lions, otters and porpoises as well as bald eagles and a mind-boggling assortment of marine birds. Hoping for something bigger? There’s always a chance to see humpback, killer, minke or grey whales!

Many whale-watching cruises stick close to the shoreline, but this small-group tour increases your chances of seeing whales by heading out onto the open ocean. Cruise by the Carmanah lighthouse, Sea Lion Rock and the West Coast and Juan de Fuca Trails while keeping your eyes peeled for telltale blows, as well as black bears, deer, bald eagles and other wildlife.

Witness grizzly bears in their natural habitat on this breathtaking wildlife, cultural and marine tour. Join an Indigenous guide and visit the traditional territory of the Homalco First Nations in Bute Inlet. Bear viewing, whale watching and cultural exploration make for a one-of-a-kind adventure. This is the only bear tour from Campbell River that is 100% indigenous owned and provides you with an immersive indigenous experience from start to finish. By choosing Homalco Tours you help contribute to the cultural and economic recovery of the Homalco First Nation people and youth. Thank you for choosing us and in the language of our people "ʔiymot" (it is good).

Discover some of British Columbia’s most scenic and unspoiled stretches of land and water—and admire its wealth of wildlife—on this small-group, half-day boat tour. Choose from morning or afternoon tour times, and make your own way to Campbell River, where you’ll hop aboard. You can look out for orcas, humpback whales, grizzly bears, dolphins, sea lions, and more, and will learn all about the region’s history and habitats from your guide’s commentary.

Get up close and personal with the ocean and its incredible marine wildlife during this whale watching excursion from Victoria. Climb onboard a Zodiac boat equipped with padded bench seats and cruise the sea at up to 35-knots while your marine naturalist explains the area and animals around you. Head for the Juan de Fuca and Haro Strait and lookout for humpback whales, otters, seals sealions, and birds.

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.

We'll cruise the local inlets, bays, and tidal rapids in search of large marine animals. we'll provide you with snacks and refreshments while we look for humpback whales,orcas, playful sea lions, harbour seals, colourful seabirds, and maybe even catch dolphins riding our wake.

Guaranteed Whale Sightings! We’ll ply the waters in search of the biggest and most exciting marine animals in Desolation Sound and the Salish Sea. On full day trips we provide a lunch and refreshments along the way. You'll have plenty of opportunities to stop for breaks at interesting and historical sites in this beautiful area. Tour departs from Campbell River Marine Adventure Centre at the Discovery Harbour Shopping Centre.

Your expedition starts at our Campbell River Marine Centre where you will meet our friendly, professional crew and briefed on the safety of our flagship vessel, Pacific Seeker. From there we will make our way deep into Desolation Sound, keeping our eyes open for whales and other marine mammals in the area. After a two hour scenic boat ride we'll arrive at the Orford River in Bute Inlet where you will be met by members of the Homalco First Nations. After learning about the Grizzlies and traditional first nations culture, you'll be taken by road into the forest where there are numerous viewing platforms allowing for up close and personal grizzly watching opportunities. Bear tours themselves last an an average of three hours.

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.

We are Island locals and we want to share some of our wilderness with you! Experience breathtaking mountain viewpoints, amazing valleys with waterfalls, pristine rivers, lakes, rainforest. Wildlife viewing opportunities include Eagles, Black Bear, Roosevelt Elk and more. Your safety and comfort is our top priority. RIde along as passengers and have our local professional guides chauffeur you through the temperate rainforests on Vancouver Island. This is a must do experience for all, reserve your spot today. Our tours are great for friends, families and couples. Book your private tour, vacation, celebration or event today!

This no hassle day of wine tasting includes pickup and drop off from your location right in the Cowichan Valley! Pick up is at 11:30am. We spend the day visiting 3 of the renowned wineries of the Cowichan Valley. Crank your favourite tunes between wineries and jump on the karaoke mic. We promise we wont judge you. ;)

Dedicate a morning to whale-watching in Desolation Sound and the Salish Sea with this small-group, family-friendly experience. You'll head out to look for whales on a high-speed zodiac boat, with plenty of stops along the way to take pictures and see historical sites. As an added bonus, snacks and soft drinks will be served to all.

Trade your cruise ship for a whale-watching vessel on a 3-hour shore excursion from the port of Victoria. Travel into the open waters of the northern Pacific Ocean to spot native marine life including orcas, humpback whales, harbor seals and minke whales. Learn about British Columbia’s amazing aquatic ecosystems from onboard naturalist guides, who will help point out passing species along the way. It’s an exciting and educational voyage for the whole family!

Ride a bike through Vancouver Island's cycling paths and quiet country roads on a full-day bike tour from Vancouver that combines farm-fresh food, local wine, and active exploring. You'll cross the gorgeous Straight of Georgia on the ferry, then hop on a bike to start the 34-mile (55-km.) route, riding through the Saanich Peninsula to Swartz Bay. Stops include a cafe lunch prepared with locally-sourced foods, and a wine tasting at beautiful De Vine Vineyard, with great views across the Saanich Peninsula, the San Juan Islands, and the Olympic Peninsula.

Immerse yourself in some of British Columbia’s s most spectacular seascapes—and enjoy an active way to explore—on this small-group, half-day Ucluelet Harbour kayaking tour. Pick from several convenient start times, meet your guide on the waterfront, and get acquainted with your gear. Then, set off on the water. You’ll learn about the region’s history and biodiversity, look out for wildlife like bears and eagles, and otherwise soak up the scenery.

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.