Vancouver to Victoria & Butchart Gardens: Ferry & Skip-the-Line

Vancouver to Victoria by Ferry: Gardens, Chinatown & the Gulf Islands in One Day

You travel from Vancouver to Victoria by coach and ferry with a local guide providing live commentary the entire way. The tour includes skip-the-line entry to Butchart Gardens, an optional walking tour through Victoria's historic downtown and Chinatown, and two hours to explore the gardens at your own pace. Round-trip BC Ferries tickets, water, and a souvenir postcard are included. The whole day runs from early morning departure to evening return to your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Fairmont Empress Hotel5m
2. Government Street10m
3. Victoria Chinatown5m
4. Butchart Gardens2h · entry included

Vancouver to Victoria and Gardens

• Depart downtown Vancouver
• Travel through Richmond, Delta, Tsawwassen
• Arrive at BC Ferries terminal
• Board BC Ferries for 90-minute sailing
• Enjoy ocean views and wildlife spotting
• Arrive at Victoria Inner Harbour
• Choose optional guided walking tour or free time
• Visit BC Legislative Assembly Building
• See the Empress Hotel and take photos
• Walk up Government Street with guide
• Explore Victoria Chinatown
• Pass Mile Zero and Terry Fox monument
• Visit Butchart Gardens for two hours
• Return on BC Ferries to Vancouver
• Ride back to hotel and receive souvenir

The experience

So yeah, the drive south from Vancouver starts pretty normal (you're rolling through Richmond and Delta, farmland opening up on both sides), and then your guide starts talking about the blueberry fields, the greenhouses, the wetlands near the border, and suddenly you realize you're not just sitting in a coach, you're getting the actual story of what you're looking at. That's the thing about having a step-on guide for the whole day: it's not just transportation, it's context. By the time you hit the BC Ferries terminal at Tsawwassen, you've already learned something about British Columbia that most people miss on the drive down.

The ferry crossing takes 90 minutes, and you can feel the difference between watching the Gulf Islands from a window and standing on the deck. Bald eagles, seals, maybe a porpoise if you're lucky. The guide knows where to look and when. You get the outdoor deck time, the comfortable lounge if the weather turns, and the whole thing moves slow enough that you're not just passing through, you're actually there. Victoria appears on the other side like something from a postcard, but you're about to walk through it, not just photograph it.

Once you're in Victoria's Inner Harbour, you choose your own pace. The optional guided walking tour takes you from the BC Legislative Assembly Building (that copper dome lit up at night, still the working seat of provincial government) through the Fairmont Empress Hotel, where they've been pouring afternoon tea for over a century, down Government Street where your guide points out the restaurants and hidden spots locals actually use, and ends in Victoria Chinatown. That's the oldest Chinatown in Canada, dating back to the 1850s gold rush, with Fan Tan Alley running through it: one of the narrowest streets in North America. Or if you'd rather just wander on your own, you've got the time and the freedom to do that instead. Either way, you're not rushed.

Then comes Butchart Gardens. Skip-the-line entry means you walk straight in while other groups are still in the queue. Two hours to move through 55 acres of the Sunken Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Italian Garden, the Rose Garden. You're not being herded, you're just walking. Complimentary water keeps you going, and the photo opportunities are constant. On the way back, you cross the ferry again, and by the time you're back in the coach heading to your hotel, you've got a postcard souvenir from a local artist in Squamish and a day that actually feels complete instead of rushed.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup in Vancouver, round-trip BC Ferries tickets, a dedicated step-on guide providing live commentary throughout the journey, skip-the-line admission to Butchart Gardens, an optional guided walking tour of Victoria's historic downtown and Chinatown, approximately two hours to explore Butchart Gardens at your own pace, complimentary bottled water (at least two bottles per guest), a postcard souvenir created by a local artist, and return transport to your hotel in Vancouver. Groups of eight passengers or fewer travel in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van with a driver-guide for a more personalized experience.
• larger groups use a 2025 Prevost H3-45 coach. Booster seats, specialized infant seats, and wheelchairs are available upon request.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 May 2027

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by STAR Sightseeing

Is this one for you?This works well if you want the main Victoria and Butchart highlights in one full day without arranging your own ferry tickets, garden entry, or timing: the fixed itinerary and included guide handle all three, leaving you to focus on the experience instead of logistics.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

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.

How long is the ferry ride from Tsawwassen to Victoria?

The BC Ferries crossing takes 90 minutes each way. You can stay on the outdoor deck or in the comfortable lounge.

Do I have to do the walking tour in Victoria?

No, the walking tour is optional. You can join your guide for the full tour of the Legislative Assembly, Empress Hotel, Government Street, and Chinatown, or explore Victoria independently during the same time window.

How much time do I have at Butchart Gardens?

Approximately two hours to walk through the gardens at your own pace. Skip-the-line tickets mean you enter directly without waiting in the queue.

What's included in the tour price?

BC Ferries round-trip tickets, skip-the-line Butchart Gardens entry, the step-on guide, optional Victoria walking tour, complimentary water bottles, and a postcard souvenir.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is not included. You'll have free time in Victoria to eat at restaurants along Government Street or elsewhere in the city.

Can I bring a wheelchair or stroller?

Yes. Wheelchairs are available upon request, and foldable wheelchairs can be stored in the coach undercarriage. Strollers and prams are suitable for infants and small children. Coach buses kneel for easier entry and exit.

What if the weather is bad?

Complimentary umbrellas are provided for all guests, rain or shine.