Victoria and Butchart Gardens, an Elevated Experience

Recommended by 98% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Vancouver, Canada

Popular pick

Booked 5+ times last week!

13 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9

· Kimberly_Y ·

Oct 2025

Quick, but great visit to Victoria. The Butchart Gardens were beautiful. Well worth the trip. Our guide, Joel, not only provided a ton of information, but also provided comedy. He and Mohammad, our driver, were so much fun. I highly recommend the tour.

· Alice_F ·

Sep 2025

This trip was excellent! It was timed perfectly. The host, Stephen, was friendly, outgoing and had great personal stories to share about riding the ferry. Our drive, Dom, was a gem. His driving was superb. We were in the front row and never felt the least bit uncomfortable. He was also very friendly. We thoroughly enjoyed this trip. We would definitely use this company again.

Overview

Discover the British Columbia coastline by land and sea on this full-day guided tour. After departing Vancouver, hop aboard a boat and journey through the Gulf Islands, before heading to Victoria to explore the historic city’s nature-filled architecture. Then, head to the Butchart Gardens to take in the park’s serene themed gardens.

Look out for local wildlife, including bald eagles, whales, and sea lions
Lots of chances to snap photos of British Columbia’s dramatic landscapes
Don’t worry about the weather, umbrellas will be provided if it gets wet
Pick up a few souvenirs with included free time in Victoria

What's Included

Air-conditioned vehicle
Restroom on board
Skip the line

Lunch

Food and beverages are not included on this tour.

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Hyatt Vancouver Downtown Alberni

Itinerary

BC Ferries Tsawwassen Toll Booth

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Victoria

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

The Butchart Gardens

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

BC Ferries Tsawwassen Toll Booth

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation

Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate
Foldable wheelchairs can be stored in the undercarriage.
Coach buses kneel for easier entry and exit.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Kimberly_Y

Reviews

4.9

based on 252 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Lovely day tour

Neeta_W, Oct 2025

It was a lively experience, we were in a mini bus with Joel and Mo. Joel, our tour guide was jolly, informative with a good sense of humor. We had a pleasant day, with seamless transitions on BC Ferry. The tour provided water bottles and umbrellas which was really helpful with rain that day.

A little unstructured

Joan_C, Oct 2025

The Butchart Gardens were absolutely gorgeous. Highly recommend visiting this location, even in October it was full of flowers and the trees had some color. The to/from Ferry were efficient and a pod of Orcas were see in the am crossing. I rating it 3 stars because the visit to Victoria City was too free form. We were dropped off at a central location and told we’re China was, the government buildings and the waterfront. The guide, Joe, said he was going to lunch on the waterfront if we wanted to walk with him. Too unstructured for me, Freeform for 3 hours in an area totally unfamiliar with, would like more info and plan. We stopped by Mile 0 and were told the story of the runner for Cancer, nice. Paulo was an excellent driver, provided water and shared info with us all.

Well paced tour with...

EllenYH_C, Oct 2025

Well paced tour with enough time for us to visit the garden and Victoria downtown. Joel was an entertaining and enthusiastic tour guide. 🙂 if you only have one day and want to visit Vancouver Island, this is the tour to go for.

An Elevated Experience indeed

MzReiyce_B, Oct 2025

Joel and Josen were great tour guides. Josen was very efficient at picking the best possible routes to get us to and from all our stops. Joel was very funny, had great energy and a wealth of information about our destination and much more. It was such a pleasure touring with them. I would definitely recommend them ! Thank you again for a great day. From Jasmine 😃

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi MzReiyc, We are so pleased to hear that you had such an amazing tour experience traveling with Joel and Josen. Josen is a real pro at what he does and his years of experience contribute to a care free transportation for his guests throughout the day. Joel is one of a kind and his passion for creating entertaining, fun and memorable experiences never goes unnoticed! We really appreciate recognizing their efforts. We are so grateful for your support and for recommending us to fellow travelers. As a tour operating company in its first season, it is highly valuable to us! It was an honor to host you, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future! Wishing you safe and happy travels.

Awesome Tour

Jim_H, Oct 2025

Joel was a great guide, professional and interesting. He did a great tour. The drivers, especially Mo, were great too.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Jim_H, Thanks so much for taking the time to leave us a positive review of your recent Victoria and Butchart Gardens Tour with us! We love receiving great feedback about our team members and we are thrilled to hear you had an amazing day on tour with Joel and Mo. We are grateful for your support and hope to welcome you back in the future! Wishing you safe and happy travels.

Buchart and Victoria tour

Eric_W, Oct 2025

The journey is definitely part of it and for anyone that has t experienced a drive on boat ferry it is definitely interesting! Quality shuttle, clean and comfortable..Joe did well by keeping us informed to the sites and neighbors we drove through on the way…everyone was prompt on pickup and drop off..it was an all day excursion from 8am to almost 9pm but it was worth it so I didn’t have to deal with the all the logistics :) Buchart was gorgeous even in the fall and wasn’t super busy, my native to Vancouver friend learned a few things too and Victoria was very quaint coastal town, although we spent most of our time at beacon hill park and the shoreline rock hunting on the beach! That was our choice though but Joe had his own walking tour of Victoria that we were not a part of so can’t say anything about that. They had some umbrellas to distribute as well but the real rain kept itself away most of the day with just some light sprinkles. Thanks again Joe!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Eric_W, We are thrilled to hear you had such an enjoyable day from start to finish! We aim for 100% guest satisfaction and by the sounds of your feedback we were able to achieve this for you! We really appreciate you recognizing Joe he is very passionate about sharing his extensive local knowledge and is well deserving of your acclaim! If you ever find yourself back in Vancouver we hope you will join us for another sightseeing adventure! Wishing you safe and happy travels.

Quick, but great visit to...

Kimberly_Y, Oct 2025

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Kimberly, Thanks so much for taking the time to leave us a great review! We always enjoy hearing positive feedback about our dedicated team members and it comes as no surprise to hear Joel and Mohammad were great hosts for you on tour! It's so nice to hear you had a lot of fun and shared some laughs with Joel! If you are ever back in Vancouver we would be delighted to welcome you back for another sightseeing journey. Safe and happy travels.

Wonderful tour

Karen_M, Oct 2025

The tour was great. We travelled on a luxurious bus and had a great drives and tour guide.The weather was perfect and the gardens were so beautiful.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Karen_M, We really appreciate you taking the time to leave us a positive review. We are delighted to hear that you were comfortable throughout your journey and our team members helped make your day so enjoyable! If you are ever back in Vancouver we hope you will consider traveling with us again! Thanks for the support!

Victoria and Butchart Gardens, Star Sightseeing 5+

REBECCA_M, Oct 2025

Communication before our amazing tour was excellent. After an on time pickup, Sukham expertly guided our comfortable coach to all our destinations. Each time we boarded he greeted us with a smile. 5 stars for him! Tour Guide Aimee exceeded all our expectations. She enthusiastically greeted us and provided informative and engaging narration the entire day. Her people skills are top notch. She made a point to personally get to know each guest. 5+ stars for Aimee. Awesome experience with Star Sightseeing.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi REBECC, Wow! We are truly thankful for you kind and positive review of your recent tour experience with us! We are humbled by your commendation for our company and for our dedicated team members! We couldn't agree more about the acclaim you have given Aimee and Sukhan for their efforts, they are always committed to the highest level of guest service achievable! We are so grateful for your continued support and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back again in the future! Wishing you safe and happy travels.

It’s Worth It!

Mark_C, Oct 2025

Fabulous trip. We really enjoyed the Gardens and the tour of Victoria. Aimee was an energetic and well informed guide who made it a great experience.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Mark_C, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a great review! We are delighted to hear that Aimee was such an amazing guide and kept you informed and upbeat throughout your journey. If you are ever back in Vancouver, we would love to welcome you back for another elevated sightseeing experience. Many thanks for the support!

Our tour guide, Stephen,...

Amerigo_C, Oct 2025

Our tour guide, Stephen, was personable, knowledgeable, and has vast experience in the travel industry. We got to see a group of Orca whales in the distance from the observation deck of the ferry to Vancouver Island. The Butchart gardens were stunning, and the town of Victoria was lovely. Keep in mind, though, if you book this tour, it will take a full 13 hours before you get back to your hotel! Depending on where you are staying, you will take a shuttle van to your travel coach, which then gets on the ferry, then off the ferry to take you to the various attractions. This process is repeated in reverse to get you back to your hotel. It is a very long tour.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Amerigo, Thanks so much for taking the time to share your positive feedback! We love hearing about the great day you had on tour with Stephen and your memorable experience sighting Orca whales! We agree that this tour does make for a long day. We are at the mercy of the geographical location of both Victoria and Butchart and its proximity to Vancouver itself. Due to length of travel required to cover; (including a beautiful 1.5-hour cruise across the Salish Sea with BC Ferries each way) a guided tour may just be the most efficient way to see both stops in one day. We are grateful for your support and it was a pleasure to host you! If you ever return to Vancouver we would love to welcome you back for another sightseeing adventure! Safe and happy travels.

A Day to Remember

Douglas_T, Oct 2025

A wonderful trip. Butchart garden was amazing and exploring Victoria was great. Our tour guide, Joe was knowledgeable and very friendly to everyone. Our driver, Simran got us everywhere promptly and safely negotiating the traffic and ferry with ease.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Dougla, We really appreciate you taking the time to leave us a positive review! We aim for 100% guest satisfaction and we love to hear that Joe and Simran were such amazing hosts for your recent tour. If you are ever back in Vancouver it would be our pleasure to welcome you back for another sightseeing adventure! Best wishes.

Big, Long Day

James_H, Oct 2025

Walk at your own pace. Really beautiful any time of the year. Always something new to see depending on the season.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi James, Thanks for taking the time to leave us a positive review! We are thrilled to hear you had a great day of self exploration and discovery on your recent Victoria and Butchart Gardens Tour with us! We hope you will travel with us again if you ever return to Vancouver! Wishing you safe and happy travels.

Natalia was an engaging...

Jerome_F, Oct 2025

Natalia was an engaging guide during the bus rides, with interesting commentary. A beaver is involved. I did not go on the tour through Chinatown so cannot comment on that. Sim did the driving, and was quietly doing his job. The bus is very new (as of this post) and very comfortable to travel in. It is a long day, but worthwhile doing if you want to see Victoria BC and the Butchart Gardens.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Jerome, We are thrilled to hear you had such a worthwhile day touring with Natalia and Simran! It's so nice to hear you were comfortable onboard our brand new coach throughout your travels to and from Victoria. It makes all the difference on a long day of travel! We really appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another sightseeing adventure in the future! Best wishes.

Awesome Tour

Maydee_P, Sep 2025

Indeed a very elevated experience with our tour guide, Aimee who was very knowledgeable, energetic and brings a lot of fun experiences during the tour. She’s very thoughtful and accommodating to all our needs. Also appreciate Tai, our driver who was prompt, thoughtful and kept us safe during the entire trip. Thank you Aimee and Tai for the wonderful experience. From the time we got picked up from our hotel to our drop off, both of them had shown so much care and professionalism. Kudos for a job well done

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Maydee, Wow! We couldn't be more pleased to hear you had such a wonderful experience on tour from start to finish. As a business that strives for 100% guest satisfaction, we are always humbled to hear about amazing and memorable experiences from our dear guests (you). Aimee and Tai make a superstar team, and we are delighted to hear they were so caring of your needs throughout your journey. It was our pleasure to host you aboard our coach and we hope to welcome you back soon! All the best.

A great day visiting Victoria and Butchart Gardens

RAYMOND_F, Sep 2025

Tour was well organised ,informative and met our expectations.. Tour leader recommendations for visiting and food were very good

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi RAYMO, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a positive review! We love hearing that our dedicated guide was able to provide local knowledge and recommendations that contributed to a more enjoyable experience. We thank you for your support and hope to welcome you back on tour soon! Wishing you safe and happy trails.

Great time and highly recommended

Frankie_L, Sep 2025

The driver Simran and the tour guide Aimee were great! Aimee was very knowledgeable, fun and great! They made extra effort to drop-off people at safe locations and get to where people needed to go. We had a great time and highly recommended!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Frankie, We are so glad to hear you had such a great day with Aimee and Simran! It's no surprise to hear they went the extra mile to ensure everyone was safe, comfortable and having fun throughout the day! It was a pleasure to host you on tour! If you ever return to Vancouver we hope to welcome you back for another sightseeing adventure! All the best.

Must do

Carolyn_M, Sep 2025

Extraordinary experience even though it was end of September and there were a lot of plants in transition.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Carolyn, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your positive feedback. It's so nice to hear that you were able to have a wonderful day at this time of year as we transition into fall. I would love to hear more about your day and understand if there was anything we could have provided you with to further enhance your overall experience. We love suggestions as we feel that we can never stop improving. Please do reach out to me if you have a chance. If not no worries, it was a pleasure to host you and we hope to welcome you back on tour in the future! info@starsightseeing.com Regards, Mike Guest Experience Manager

Awesome

Alice_F, Sep 2025

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for leaving us a shining review! We love hearing that our friendly and dedicated team was able to help make your day excellent! We really appreciate you recommending our company to fellow travelers! It was an honor to host you, and we are excited to welcome you back soon! Wishing you safe and happy travels.

Well worth it , great...

Jennifer_D, Sep 2025

Well worth it , great local knowledge made the trip that much more informative, spectacular gardens! - don’t be put off by the duration of the trip - time flies when you are having fun!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Jennifer, Thank you for sharing your positive review! We are thrilled to hear that your day was enhanced by our team's local knowledge, making it a day well spent! Indeed, this trip flies by when you're having fun enjoying the beautiful sights along the way! It was our pleasure to host you, and we hope you will consider traveling with us again in the future! Safe and happy trails.

From Laughs to Landscapes: The Ultimate Victoria Day Trip

Brendan_L, Sep 2025

This trip was awesome! Full day, packed with stuff to do, but still super easy and stress-free. Victoria is amazing, such a cute and majestic downtown that’s perfect for walking around. And Butchart Gardens? Absolutely gorgeous. (Seriously… stretch before you start, lol.) The best part though? Our guide and driver. Aimee was incredible (period, full stop!). Funny, genuine, and full of energy the whole way through. She kept the bus rides entertaining, shared tons of little facts and recommendations, and just made the whole trip fun. Honestly, she set the bar for what a guide should be. And Sukham, our driver, was awesome too, polite, professional, and then out of nowhere starts sharing all these cool facts about the BC ferry system. Totally unexpected and really added to the trip. Tip: grab lunch in Victoria (I went with D’Arcy on Aimee’s rec - so good). The food at Butchart looked kinda like cafeteria/government vibes. All in all, this is such a great way to see Vancouver Island without the hassle. I’d definitely book with Star again; their bus was luxurious! And clearly they have amazing people. Next time I’m in town, I’d do it again in a heartbeat! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Brenda, Wow! We are so thankful for your thoughtful review and truly appreciate the acclaim you have given us and our valued team members! Aimee and Sukhan work seamlessly together to provide the highest level of service possible and are well-deserving of your kind feedback. We aim for 100% guest satisfaction and are delighted to know we achieved this for you! We look forward to welcoming you back onboard for another sightseeing adventure next time you are in town. Thank you so kindly for your continued support!

You can skipe this tour

Valentin_W, Sep 2025

It is a very long and tiring day.much too long for what is has to offer.Our guide Natalia tried to be nice but spoke too much about her past,her life,her multiple skills....

Fabulous Victoria Tour

Jacki_S, Sep 2025

This is my 3rd AK and Canada trip and it was fabulous. Top of the line was Joel the tour guide and Dominic, the magnificent driver! They were courteous, well informed, professional and worked hand in hand to see all of us on their bus were carefully cared for, needs met and the multiple questions from us were answered and with further explanation as needed! The bonus is the laughter they provided as we rode along. My cell phone rang, I apologized for the interruption but they teased me, a 86yo grandmother, about my "Van Halen's Jump!" ringtone. Over my many years travelling, unfortunately, I have experienced unpleasant tour guides and I know first hand, that the guide teams make a huge impact on how much enjoyment, we as customers, experience! This duo gets my thanks and a very strong #1 rating from me! Rose Marie Taylor

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Jacki_S, Wow, #1 rating! We are humbled by your kind and positive feedback! We couldn't be happier to hear your commendation for Joel and Dom. They make a wonderful team, and their humor, attentive care, and kindness for each guest never go unnoticed. It warms our hearts to know they made your day special! We are grateful for your support and would be honored to host you on tour again. if you return to Vancouver. Wishing you all the best!

Wonderful tour!...

Ron_S, Sep 2025

Wonderful tour! Knowledgeable tour guide. The bus was spotless. Victoria was beautiful and so was Butchard garden. A must do in Canada.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Ron_S, Thank you kindly for taking the time to leave us a positive review. We are delighted to hear that you had such an amazing day enjoying the sights and learning some fun facts from your dedicated guide. If you are ever back in Vancouver we hope you will consider joining us on one of our other elevated sightseeing experiences! All the best.

It's a long day but well...

Amanda_J, Sep 2025

It's a long day but well worth it. The coach was really comfortable and new, our guide Natalia was a lot of fun and informative.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Amand, Thanks so much for leaving us a great review! We are thrilled to hear that you had fun with Natalia and she was able to pass along some of her local knowledge. We are so glad you joined us on tour and to hear that it was well worth it! If you are ever back in Vancouver we hope to welcome you back on board for another adventure. Safe and happy travels!

Vancouver Island Tour

Gany_G, Sep 2025

Easy booking. Tour bus was amazing and very comfortable. Pick-up was on time. Guide and driver were very accommodating and great sense of humor. The tour itinerary itself was really great and my friends enjoyed every bit of it albeit very short stay as it was just a one day tour and we have to catch the ferry back to the mainland. They wanted to come back some other time and see more interesting sights in Victoria and the suburbs. Thank you!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Gany_G, Thanks so much for taking the time to share your positive feedback regarding your recent tour with us. It is always a pleasure for us to receive great responses about our dedicated team members! Victoria is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities on earth, and we understand the desire to explore more of the sights and attractions! It was a pleasure to host you and your friends and we hope that you will join us on tour again in the future! Safe and happy travels.

Es lohnt sich - it's worth it

Birgit_H, Sep 2025

The Tour was great. Of course there is a lot of driving, but you can relax on the bus in between. Stephen was a super guide. He made the trip entertaining. He also spoke very clearly and comprehensibly, so I understood everything well. (Not all tourists understand English well, and it's pointless when the guides speak very quickly and in their own slang.) Stephen was perfect. Tai was a great bus driver, and I have great respect for him. I highly recommend this tour with "Star." Victoria and Butchart Gardens are also worth the trip.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Birgit_H, We are so delighted to hear that Stephen delivered a clear and interesting commentary for you and Tai ensured that you felt safe and comfortable throughout your journey to Victoria. We can't thank you enough for recommending us so highly and giving a great review of our valued team members! If you ever return to Vancouver, it would be an honor to welcome you back onboard for another sightseeing experience. Wishing you safe and happy travels!

A great bucket list place to visit

Rudolph_H, Sep 2025

Be ready for a walk around gorgeous flowers and a luscious landscape—almost unbelievable in its beauty

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Rudolph, Thanks for taking the time to leave us a positive review! We are thrilled to hear that Butchart Gardens did not disappoint; we are always left in awe of its beauty as well! We appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back on another sightseeing adventure in the future! Safe travels.

This is a long day, but...

Thomas_R, Sep 2025

This is a long day, but our tour guide Stephen filled it with humor, history and kindness. Our visit to Victoria was a pleasure, but Butchart Gardens are not to be missed.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Thoma, We couldn't be happier to hear that Stephen was such a gracious host on your recent Victoria and Butchart Gardens tour. We really appreciate you recognizing his efforts, he always relishes the opportunity to go the extra mile for his dear guests (you). We are grateful for your support and hope to welcome you back for another sightseeing journey in the future! All the best.

It was a long day but a...

Brent_R, Sep 2025

It was a long day but a fun day. The ferry ride was enjoyable, Victoria was stunning, and Butchard Gardens was beautiful. Joe our guide was very knowledgeable.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Brent_R, Thanks for leaving us a positive review! We are thrilled to hear you had a great day enjoying the sights and learning some interesting knowledge from your dedicated step-on guide Joe. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back on tour in the future! Safe travels.