Top Vancouver Island Tours by Duration

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.

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.

The sheltered waters of Ucluelet Harbour offer an ideal location for an introduction to sea kayaking on Vancouver Island’s west coast. Watch for wildlife, from intertidal life to black bears meandering along the shoreline and eagles soaring above. This kayak tour offers the opportunity to paddle up to a hidden waterfall, learn about the local fish hatchery, or explore the outer harbor limits. Paddling instruction is provided.

The tour starts off with an exciting half hour ride by cruiser boat in the early morning with our kayaks, guide and gourmet picnic lunch. On route to the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve guests will have the opportunity to take in the spectacular scenery of rocky bluffs with wind whipped trees, sights of the open Pacific Ocean, a noisy sea lion colony, and a historic native whaling beach. We watch for gray and humpback whales as we travel across Barkley Sound. Whale spotting is all about anticipation, and sightings are truly memorable, so if you watch closely you may get a chance to see whales and other marine life throughout the season.

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.

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!

Raise a glass to Victoria’s thriving craft beer culture on a guided brewery tour! Join a local beer-loving guide on a unique brewery tour the city’s finest boutique and small-batch breweries. Ride aboard a ‘brew bus’ to discover the hippest, hoppiest spots where locals go to enjoy a cold one, and sample seasonally inspired pilsners, porters, IPA’s and more.

Join Orca Spirit for an unhurried adventure along the glacier-carved shoreline of the Juan de Fuca Strait, BC. In addition to whale and wildlife watching, we’ll cruise by the Lighthouse at Carmanah, Sea Lion Rock, and the West Coast & Juan de Fuca Trails. Keep your eyes peeled for telltale blows off in the distance and black bears, deer, bald eagles and other wildlife playing hide and seek in the majestic old growth forests nearby.

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.

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. ;)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tour the through the beautiful Discovery Passage and Seymour Narrows, and witness the history and beauty the coast has to offer. Common visitors on these tours are the friendly harbour seals, shy Harbour Porpoises, and the Mighty Bald Eagle. If we're lucky we will be greeted by our larger friends, such as humpbacks, orca's and pacific white-sided dolphins!

Hello Nature Tours is locally owned and operated by Kevin Bradshaw and Phill Padgham. We are located in the quaint fishing village of Ucluelet in British Columbia, close to Barkley Sound, the Broken Group Islands and the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Kevin and Phill have been operating tours around Southern British Columbia for over 15 years. They are passionate about the west coast and look forward to sharing it with you. Hello Nature Adventure Tours offer kayaking and hiking tours ranging from short half-day tours to week-long adventures. Whether you are an experienced or novice sea kayaker and/or hiker looking for a new and exciting adventure, or someone who is not really sure what the west coast of Vancouver Island is all about, we promise we will find the right experience for you.

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).

Our experience allows you to ditch Google maps and Yelp reviews to feel less like a tourist and more like an explorer. Our hikes visit gorgeous beaches and sweeping landscapes across the island, stopping throughout to check out the small towns that are the heart of the island. Plus, our itinerary is carefully crafted so you can skip the planning and booking headache, ignore the niggly things and enjoy the natural ones. We have everything taken care of including transportation, accommodation, breakfasts and one BBQ dinner so kick back while we take the reins and get you off the beaten path. We provide the option to customize your experience with activities like whale watching and surf lessons. Going on a trip is a chance to connect with people from all over the world, and we think that’s pretty special, so we keep our group sizes to a max of 12 guests. The tone is always upbeat and personable, making for a great atmosphere for both groups and lone rangers!

Our professional historian is able to include many significant sites not offered in other tours. Enjoy the tour in our rare 1997 Bentley New Turbo R Exl built by Rolls Royce. Only 823 were built, all between 1995-97. Our Butchart Gardens and City Tour covers some of the main attractions in Victoria, the city of flowers, and the world-famous gardens located 15 miles outside of the city. For over a century, Butchart Gardens has been the premier attraction for travelers visiting Victoria. Enjoy BUTCHART GARDENS, a one and a half hour stop for a unique and remarkable experience, including 900 varieties of flowers and 120 varieties of trees. This finely crafted tour includes more attractions than we can list in the "What to Expect" section.

Our professional historian is able to include many significant sites not offered in other tours. Enjoy the tour in our rare 1997 Bentley New Turbo R Exl built by Rolls Royce. Only 823 were built, all between 1995-97. Our Grand City and Butchart Gardens Tour covers all the main attractions in Victoria, the city of flowers, and the world-famous gardens located 15 miles outside of the city. For over a century, Butchart Gardens has been the premier attraction for travelers visiting Victoria. Enjoy BUTCHART GARDENS, a one and a half hour stop for a unique and remarkable experience, including 900 varieties of flowers and 120 varieties of trees. This finely crafted tour includes more attractions than we can list in the "What to Expect" section.