Bowen Island Dinner & Zodiac Boat Tour from Vancouver

Ride the zodiac across open water, then eat dinner on the island where you land.

A 4-hour zodiac boat tour from Vancouver to Bowen Island includes dinner and one drink at a waterfront restaurant, a guided boat ride past Stanley Park, the seal colony, Lighthouse Park and Lions Gate Bridge, and a short walk around the island. The tour departs from Granville Island in False Creek. Minimum group size is four guests, and children are welcome from age 6.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. False Creek15m
2. Lions Gate Bridge10m
3. Bowen Island1h
4. Downtown Vancouver5m

Bowen Island Dinner and Zodiac Tour

• Meet at tour meeting point
• Begin tour at False Creek, Granville Island
• Explore Stanley Park and Seal Colony by zodiac
• View Lighthouse Park and ocean freighters
• See Lions Gate Bridge from zodiac
• Arrive at Bowen Island
• Enjoy dinner at Bowen Island waterfront restaurant
• Take short walk around Bowen Island park
• Return on zodiac boat for more exploring
• View vibrant downtown Vancouver scenery

The experience

The tour starts at Granville Island in False Creek, where you board a zodiac: a rigid inflatable boat built for speed and maneuverability on open water. Your guide and captain narrate the route as you travel, covering the history and landmarks you pass: Lions Gate Bridge, Stanley Park, the seal colony, Lighthouse Park, and the freighters moving through the harbor. The boat moves fast enough to cover distance but stays close enough to the shoreline that you can see detail and take photos without straining.

Once you reach Bowen Island, you step off the boat and walk into town to a restaurant right on the water. Dinner and one drink are included. The meal is at a local spot the operator has chosen, and you eat there while the boat waits. After you finish, you walk back to the zodiac for the return journey to Vancouver, passing the same landmarks from a different angle and in changing light.

You wear a lifejacket and warming suit for the boat portion. The water is cold and the ride is wet, so the gear matters. The tour runs in four hours total, which includes the boat time, the walk on the island, dinner, and the return. Minimum group size is four guests. If your party is smaller, you can join a departure where other travelers are already booked.

What’s included

• Dinner and one drink at a waterfront restaurant on Bowen Island.
• guided zodiac boat tour with captain and guide commentary.
• lifejacket and warming suit for the boat portion.
• views of Stanley Park, the seal colony, Lighthouse Park, Lions Gate Bridge and downtown Vancouver from the water.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 8 May 2027

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (16 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Vancouver Water Adventures

Is this one for you?The tour is led in English, so you follow the guide's commentary on the boat without translation. It suits travelers comfortable on a fast, open boat in cold water. The zodiac is not sheltered, and the warming suit is necessary, not optional.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the seal colony like when you pass it on the boat?

The seal colony is a natural gathering spot in the harbor where seals haul out on rocks. Your guide points it out and explains what you're seeing as the boat passes. The distance and the boat's movement mean you see them in their habitat rather than up close, and the guide's commentary tells you what behavior to watch for.

How much time do you spend on Bowen Island itself?

You have time to walk from the boat to the restaurant, eat dinner with one drink, and walk back: roughly an hour and a half on the island, depending on how busy the restaurant is that evening. The rest of the four hours is spent on the water.

Do I need to arrange my own way to Granville Island, or is pickup included?

Hotel pickup is not included, so you arrange your own transport to Granville Island in False Creek, where the tour departs. Public transportation options are available nearby if you don't have a car.

What happens if the weather is rough on the day of the tour?

The zodiac operates in various water conditions. The warming suit and lifejacket are part of the gear for that reason. The tour guide and captain assess conditions on the day and decide whether to proceed, shorten the route, or reschedule. Contact the operator directly about their specific weather policy.