Vancouver to Victoria: Seaplane Day Trip & Butchart Gardens

Summary

Floatplane adventure from Vancouver to Victoria with gardens and city time

You’ll feel your pulse jump as you lift off by seaplane from Vancouver, then wander through Victoria’s Butchart Gardens with their peaceful paths and bursts of color. There’s time for your own discoveries downtown before flying back over islands and ocean — it’s equal parts excitement and calm, with every moment feeling just a bit unreal.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect my heart to thump so hard when the seaplane lifted off from Vancouver Harbour — it’s louder than you think, and the water smells sharp, almost metallic in the early air. I kept glancing at the other passengers, all wide-eyed like me. Our pilot (I never caught his name, just a calm “Morning folks” over his shoulder) banked us over the Gulf Islands, and suddenly there were tiny green dots below. The flight was only 35 minutes but somehow felt longer — maybe because I was glued to the window, watching boats leave white trails behind them.

Landing in Victoria’s Inner Harbour is its own kind of arrival. It’s busy but not chaotic; people wave from docks, and there’s this salt-and-flowers scent that hits as soon as you step out. The Gray Line kiosk was right by the Fairmont Empress — easy enough to spot with a little help from a local who pointed me in the right direction (I probably looked lost). The bus ride out to Butchart Gardens had this running commentary from our driver about old shipwrecks and why Victorians love their hanging baskets so much. I think he said there are more flowers here than people — might be true.

The Butchart Gardens themselves are… well, I’m still not sure how to describe them without sounding dramatic. I wandered through the Japanese Garden first, where everything felt hushed except for gravel crunching underfoot and some kid giggling near a koi pond. If you’re into plants or just want somewhere quiet to breathe for a bit, this is it. I skipped Afternoon Tea because I got distracted by these weirdly perfect roses (and also because my budget said no). Two hours went fast — too fast honestly — and then it was back on the bus.

Before heading back on the floatplane, I had an hour or so downtown. Victoria feels both British and totally Pacific Northwest — old stone buildings next to coffee shops that smell like cedar smoke and cinnamon. I grabbed a pastry from a place near the harbor (can’t remember the name now), sat on a bench watching ferries come in, and thought about how odd it is that you can hop between cities by plane like catching a bus here. The return flight was quieter; everyone seemed tired or just content staring out at all that blue water again.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Seaplane flight and Butchart Gardens visit

• Arrive Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre
• Check in and safety orientation
• Board floatplane and take off
• Fly over Georgia Strait and Gulf Islands
• Land at Victoria Inner Harbour
• Check in at Fairmont Empress Hotel kiosk
• Board bus to Butchart Gardens
• Tour Butchart Gardens self-guided
• Return to bus pick-up area
• Free time in Victoria downtown
• Board floatplane for return flight
• Fly back to downtown Vancouver

Top questions

How long is the seaplane flight from Vancouver to Victoria?

The seaplane flight takes about 35 minutes each way.

Is transportation to Butchart Gardens included?

Yes, ground transportation between Victoria's harbor and Butchart Gardens is included.

How much free time do you get in Victoria?

You have some free time downtown before your return flight after visiting Butchart Gardens.

Are admission fees for Butchart Gardens covered?

Yes, admission to Butchart Gardens is included in your tour price.

Where does the tour start in Vancouver?

The tour begins at Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre in Coal Harbour.

Do you need ID for the seaplane?

Yes, all passengers 18+ must show valid government-issued ID at check-in.

Can infants join this day trip?

Infants are allowed but must sit on an adult's lap during flights.

Is hotel pickup included?

No hotel pickup; guests meet at Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre for departure.

What’s included

Your day includes roundtrip seaplane flights between Vancouver Harbour and Victoria’s Inner Harbour, all taxes and fees, ground transfers between downtown Victoria and Butchart Gardens with entry tickets included—plus enough free time downtown to grab lunch or wander before your return flight home.