Top Vancouver Island Day Trips

Discover one dramatic landscape after another with the help of a guide on this full-day coach tour between Vancouver and Whistler: the Sea-to-Sky Highway, Shannon Falls, the Sea-to-Sky Gondola, and Whistler Village. From the gondola, admire Howe Sound, the Squamish River, and the Coastal Mountains. Then, enjoy plenty of free time to wander through Whistler Village at your own pace.

Butchart Gardens is one of Victoria's most popular attractions—but if you don't have your own transit, getting there from the city center can be tricky. Instead, make logistics simple with this round-trip shuttle service. With multiple daily departure times and transit from a central meeting point, you can leave the logistics to someone else—and save more time for a self-led, sweet-smelling stroll through the 55-acre (22.2-hectare) garden (admission own expense).

Explore Vancouver Island's magnificent scenery on a full-day, private tour from Victoria to Englishman River Falls, Little Qualicum Falls, and Cathedral Grove, home to some of the tallest and oldest trees on the island. You'll visit a country market, hike through the rainforest and to the waterfalls, and make plenty of photo stops, while learning about Vancouver Island's nature and culture throughout the day. Traveling with a private guide means the trip can be tailored to you, and this tour is priced per-group for up to eight people.

Venture out to the sparkling waters of the Toba Inlet on this brand new, full-day tour hosted by our sister nation, Klahoose First Nation. Cruise alongside cascading waterfalls and scenic mountains as you scan the landscape for grizzly bears, majestic humpbacks and orcas, and a variety of other wildlife. Join us in Campbell River before crossing the Salish Sea, one of the world’s best whale-watching spots. You’ll soon reach Toba Inlet, an area densely populated by grizzly bears. The first of its kind, the TOBA BEARS AND WILDERNESS is a collaborative partnership between the Homalco and Klahoose First Nations. Join your Klahoose guides as they take you to their home Territory. Hear stories and learn about the vibrancy of the living Klahoose culture. The toq qaymɩxʷ (Klahoose) peoples have lived here on the west coast of BC since time immemorial. We invite you to see the beauty of Toba Inlet through our eyes and share in our traditions, which have been handed down through generations.

Explore more of the Cape Scott Provincial Park than you’d be able to alone on this small-group guided tour. Witness the towering sea stacks in San Josef Bay—eroded by the ocean over thousands of years—learn the historic town of Holberg’s logging heritage, keep an eye out for the region’s diverse wildlife, and much more.

Spend a full day getting back to nature in the Johnstone Strait! The dynamic Johnstone Strait is home to everything from sea stars to orcas and is surrounded by incredible rainforested mountains. This tour is designed for all ages and ability levels, though you will be paddling for up to four hours, so a certain level of physical fitness is advised. Your guide will provide you with all the instruction and equipment you need to comfortably enjoy a day of spectacular paddling.

Enjoy round-trip travel from Vancouver to Victoria, and discover top attractions in British Columbia on this Victoria and Butchart Gardens day trip from Victoria. Take the ferry to Vancouver Island, and enjoy fine views over the beautiful Gulf Islands. Dock in Swartz Bay, and visit the famous Butchart Gardens, exploring the grounds at your leisure. Then, enjoy free time to explore the city, perhaps walking through Chinatown and the Inner Harbour, before returning to Vancouver by ferry.

Get ready for the experience of a lifetime on a Canadian Grizzly Bear expedition. The tour begins with a cruise through Desolation Sound and along the way, you can spot breaching humpback whales and other marine life. Arriving at the Orford River in Bute Inlet, you’ll meet with members of the Homalco First Nations tribe and learn about their history and culture before heading to a viewing platform to watch the grizzlies fish for salmon in the river.

See the best of Victoria in just a few hours—and even visit the famous Butchart Gardens—without having to rent a car or navigate on this time-saving, half-day tour. With just your private guide for company, you'll travel with ease aboard a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. Have time to soak up the beauty of Butchart Gardens (entrance fee extra, stroll Victoria’s Chinatown, Inner Harbour, Fisherman's Wharf, and more.

Spend the day cruising the Salish Sea in search of bears, whales, and dolphins on this six hour, small-group tour. Learn about the region’s nature and wildlife from your certified naturalist guide and captain as you relax with complimentary snacks and drinks. This tour highlights the diversity of the coastal waters and marine life, and provides great photo opportunities before you take a break with an onshore lunch accompanied by homemade baked goods.

Search for Vancouver Island's marine wildlife on a whale-watching tour by Zodiac boat that takes in the Salish Sea, Discovery Passage, and Johnstone Strait. Since Zodiacs are more nimble than large vessels, you’ll be able to maneuver for views of animals such as humpback whales, orca whales, dolphins, bears, sea lions, and more. The open-sided boats also offer unobstructed vistas, ideal for photographing animals in their dramatic natural habitats.

Vancouver Island is known for producing great wines in a beautiful environment. Visit well-regarded wineries on Saanich Peninsula on this tour from Victoria, which includes private wine tastings at each location, a behind-the-scenes tour of a local winery, and a guide with extensive knowledge about the industry. This small-group tour is limited to 15 passengers or fewer for a more intimate experience.

Experience the most comprehensive Indigenous and wilderness tours we offer. You’ll journey through the majestic Salish Sea to a historic Homalco First Nation village site, then view grizzly bears and other wildlife from a safe distance. Learn about our peoples’ rich history and how we’ve lived alongside these majestic creatures for millennia. This deluxe wilderness and Indigenous cultural tour will lead you through Aupe, an uninhabited Homalco village site, giving you unique insights into the ways of our peoples. From there, you’ll journey through the Bute Inlet, one of British Columbia’s most epic whale-watching stretches, to Orford Bay for a picnic lunch surrounded by a spectacular mountain vista. Our experienced guides will lead you on a land-based search for grizzly bears, elk and eagles along salmon-bearing rivers.

Take to the skies on a short seaplane adventure over Victoria and its stunning surroundings, including the Inner Harbour, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Olympic Mountains. Enjoy breathtaking views of rugged coastlines, shimmering inlets, and landmarks as you soar above southern Vancouver Island. With thrilling water take-offs and landings, this small-group experience offers an unforgettable introduction to seaplane aviation.

This private guided coastal hike explores some of the most scenic sections of East Sooke Regional Park. Along the way, your guide will take you to favourite viewpoints and lookout areas where there may be opportunities to spot bald eagles, whales and other coastal wildlife. The experience also includes stories about the area’s local history and insights into traditional Indigenous ways of living, travelling and making use of the surrounding land and coastline. With a private guide, the pace can be adjusted to your group, with plenty of time for photos, viewpoints and stops along the way. Guests can trek the full 10 km route to the historic Trap Shack and back, taking in rugged coastal scenery and viewpoints along the way. The full route is best suited to guests with moderate to experienced hiking ability who are comfortable covering 10 km of varied coastal terrain. Shorter route options can be accommodated when needed.

Experience the majesty of Canada’s Sunshine Coast from the air with a round-trip seaplane flight from Nanaimo. Fly high over the Strait of Georgia with a pilot. Enjoy panoramic views over the tiny islands dotting the waterway, and stop for free time in the British Columbia town of Sechelt. Enjoy two take-offs and landings during your tour, and see the Sunshine Coast in a way many visitors miss.

Explore Victoria's history and culinary scene on this two-in-one, small-group walking tour of the British Columbian capital. Follow a guide to highlights such as the Parliament Buildings, the Inner Harbor, Fan Tan Alley, the Harmonious Gates of Interest, and the Victoria Public Market. Along the way, stop for food tastings of local products.

This is your opportunity to get as close to wild grizzly bears as it’s possible to safely get. Explore the wilderness of Bute from the water, discover its hidden natural gems, and keep a look out for its furry local inhabitants, also known as the Great Bears of Bute. Watch for whales on the inlet, and visit the Campbell River and meet the indigenous people who own this river.

We will then paddle out into Barkley Sound and experience the open Pacific Ocean. Your guide will point out some spectacular views of the rocky shores, gigantic kelp beds, and perhaps an ancient first nations whaling beach or some incredible nearby rock formations. Sea lion colonies, black bears, seals, and whales may all be spotted by kayak on this day trip. After a couple of hours paddling in the morning, your guide will take you to one of the nearby sandy beaches to enjoy a delicious picnic lunch and a short rest. Your tour will continue for another couple of hours before returning to our dock for an estimated arrival time of 3:00pm.

If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of nature on your trip to Vancouver Island, it can be tough to know where to start. On this full-day small-group guided tour, join your guide for a curated tour of Toba Inlet and take in the region’s crashing waterfalls, craggy cliffs, and dense forests. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the grizzly bears that call the area home.

Drive the scenic Sea to Sky highway to Squamish for this 4 hour hike. Not for beginners, the steep ascent takes you through forest & waterfalls, leading to amazing views of mountains and ocean. While you're at it, learn photo composition with your smartphone or DSLR. Complimentary photos taken.

Skip the stress of navigating Vancouver with a full-day guided city tour that covers top landmarks and scenic highlights. Travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned coach while visiting spots including Gastown, Granville Island, Stanley Park, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, and Vancouver Lookout Tower. With convenient pickup from select locations, this tour offers a seamless way to explore Vancouver’s must-see sights.

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!