Our most recommended things to do in Swartz Bay

Vancouver to Victoria and Butchart Gardens

1. Vancouver to Victoria and Butchart Gardens

Visit Victoria, British Columbia’s capital city, on this full-day guided tour from Vancouver city. Try to spot marine life on the ferry to Vancouver island, walk among the flowers in the Butchart Gardens, and admire the Victorian architecture in Victoria.  Start from downtown Vancouver and travel south through the city aboard a climate-controlled bus. Hop aboard a BC Ferry for a 90-minute voyage across the Georgia Strait through the scenic Southern Gulf Islands. Keep an eye out for orcas along the way. Once docked on Vancouver Island, the tour continues to the world-famous Butchart Gardens, a National Historic Site of Canada. See millions of bedding plants in over 900 varieties. Enjoy 2 leisurely hours to fully explore the 50 acres of stunning gardens. Head to downtown Victoria and pass through Canada’s oldest China Town and the scenic Victoria Harbor, including the Inner Harbor. Once downtown, you will have free time to explore the local area. Spend your time going for a stroll the Inner Harbor, taking in the thriving arts and cultural scene, or visiting the historic Empress Hotel or the Royal BC Museum. Take the ferry and bus to return to your meeting point in Vancouver. 

From Vancouver: Full-Day Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour

2. From Vancouver: Full-Day Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour

Enjoy an exciting full-day tour in Victoria that's packed with activities. Your day will start with a ride on board a minibus in Vancouver that will take you to the ferry terminal in Tsawwassen. You will then be driven onto a ferry with onboard amenities including a restaurant, gift shop, and arcades for the children. Walk around the Sun Deck while enjoying the scenery and look out for orcas, seals, and other marine life. Then dock in the port of Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island and tour the heart of Victoria. The area grew from the Gold Rush in 1841 and still displays many traditional buildings from the period by renowned Canadian architect, Francis Rattenbury. Once your guided tour is complete, enjoy 3 hours to explore the city at your own pace. Meet up and proceed to the magnificent Butchart Gardens, an area that stretches across 55 acres. Stroll through the charming gardens and admire its mix of traditional and modern landscapes.

Frequently asked questions about Swartz Bay

Other Sightseeing Options in Swartz Bay

Want to discover all there is to do in Swartz Bay? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Swartz Bay

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 204 reviews

The Gardens were beautiful. We spent 2 hours there and it was enough time to see everything if you kept moving. Our guide was awesome and very informative. We enjoyed the ferry rides and took advantage of that time to eat so we would not have to stop and eat at the garden or in the city so we could see more. The ferry and the ferry terminals had very good food. You could also bring food and snacks to eat along the way because it is a long day. We thoroughly enjoyed the day

This was a filled day, not only are the gardens amazing also the ferry ride is very interesting on both trips and Victoria is also nice to see. I just wished I could spend a bit more time in the gardens so I could really appreciate them and not keep looking at my watch.

Brent was an excellent guide for our day and we appreciated the history of the region he shared. Would recommend Land and Sea to others wholeheartedly!

Was a great trip. Loved the ferry ride. All instructions on where to be and when were very clear. Butchart Gardens was well worth the trip

Casey, our guide was great! Sights were beautiful!