Itinerary
- Day 1
Vancouver to Victoria
Board the ferry at Tsawwassen Terminal early morning for the crossing to Vancouver Island. The ride takes about ninety minutes, and you'll pull into Swartz Bay around midday. From there, head to Victoria to check out Butchart Gardens first, where you can walk through the different garden areas for a couple of hours. After that, make your way to Craigdarroch Castle to tour the historic rooms and see what life was like in the 1800s. Before evening hits, stop by the Legislative Assembly building and grab a photo at the Empress Fairmont Hotel overlooking the Inner Harbour. This gives you a solid overview of Victoria's main spots in one day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Butchart Gardens
- Explore Craigdarroch Castle
- Visit Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
- Explore Inner Harbour area
Optional Activities
- Whale watching at Inner Harbour with Prince Of Whales
- V2V speed boat tour from Inner Harbour to Vancouver
Landmarks/POIs Butchart Gardens Craigdarroch Castle Legislative Assembly of British Columbia Empress Fairmont Hotel Inner Harbour - Day 2
Victoria
Start this morning at Hatley Castle and take time to walk the grounds before heading to the BC Royal Museum. From there, pop into Miniature World to see the detailed dioramas, then make your way to the Victoria sign for photos. Later, you can check out the totem poles around town, including some of the oldest standing ones, and visit Breakwater Lighthouse for views of the water. In the afternoon, you've got options depending on what appeals to you: take a wildlife tour to spot sea lions and eagles, or try a horse-drawn carriage ride through the old town streets. If you're feeling adventurous, zipline tours are available too, though those work best earlier in the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Hatley Castle
- Explore BC Royal Museum
- Visit Miniature World
- View World's Longest Standing Totem Poles
- Visit Breakwater Lighthouse
- Photo stop at Victoria sign
Optional Activities
- 3-hour eagle and wildlife tour with Eagle Wing Tours from Fisherman's Wharf (semi-covered or open boat, watch for seals, sea lions, otters, porpoises, bald eagles, marine birds, and whales)
- 30-minute horse-drawn trolley tour of Inner Harbour and Dallas Road waterfront (private tour for up to 6 passengers, includes history of James Bay neighbourhood)
- Tree-top zipline adventure through coastal rain forest with high-altitude challenges
Landmarks/POIs Hatley Castle BC Royal Museum Miniature World Victoria Sign World's Longest Standing Totem Poles Breakwater Lighthouse - Day 3
Victoria to Vancouver
Leave Victoria heading north to the Malahat SkyWalk, where you'll walk through an arbutus forest with views stretching out toward the water. After that, continue to Duncan, known as the City of Totems, and spend time looking at the forty-four hand-carved poles scattered throughout town. Head next to Chemainus, a small village where murals cover the buildings and local artists sell their work from shops and galleries. Grab lunch or dinner in Nanaimo before catching the two-hour ferry from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay. The ride back gives you time to relax after the day of driving, and you'll return to Vancouver by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walk Malahat SkyWalk (600m tree walk with 32m spiral ramp to sightseeing lookout)
- Tour Duncan totem pole collection (44 hand-carved poles)
Optional Activities
- Snack or beverage at Malahat SkyWalk
- Explore Chemainus murals and sculptures
- Dining, shopping, and festival experiences in Nanaimo
Landmarks/POIs Malahat SkyWalk Duncan Chemainus Nanaimo
