Top Vancouver Island Culture

Get a history lesson mixed with food as you wander around Old Town and Chinatown on this walking tour. Explore historic areas of the city, which started out as a fur trading outpost, as you taste the local cuisine. Plus, Victoria boasts one of the oldest Chinatown sections in North America. Sample an eclectic mix of cuisine that ranges from Thai dumplings to Mexican tacos, craft beer, and more.

Cruise the Salish Sea in comfort while you search for whales, seals, bald eagles, and otters on this half-day guided tour. This whale-watching experience is led by a certified naturalist, eager to share their knowledge on the area’s wildlife and natural history. If no whales are sighted—no worries! You can return for free.

Spin through downtown Victoria on two wheels and discover top city attractions with ease on this Victoria castles and neighborhoods bike tour. Hop onto your bike and follow your guide through the city streets. Learn of Victoria’s colorful past through its historic buildings, and explore districts including the Inner Harbour, Cook Street Village, and Chinatown. Enjoy fine views over the Dallas Road waterfront and admire the eery Craigdarroch Castle. Cycle through Moss Rock Park and Beacon Hill Park, and soak up the artistic atmosphere in leafy Fernwood.

Explore Victoria while taking advantage of the city’s great network of cycling lanes on this small-group bike tour. You’ll visit a variety of Victoria landmarks, including Craigdarroch Castle, Government House, and Fisherman’s Wharf. Along the way, your guide will share a wealth of information about the history of British Columbia’s capital, along with a local’s tips and insights into the culture.

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!

Soar over downtown Victoria and surrounds on a thrilling, 20-minute seaplane flight! Take to the skies right from the water and enjoy an unforgettable aerial perspective of the harbor, coastline, Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains towering in the distance. With a maximum of fourteen passengers, it’s an intimate, small-group ride navigated by an expert pilot.

Take a sweet-smelling stroll through Victoria’s famous Butchart Gardens, spanning 55 acres (22.2 hectares) of beautifully designed flower beds, lily ponds, footbridges, and thematic landscapes. With a convenient pickup location and a flexible return shuttle schedule, it’s an easy way to experience one of Victoria’s most popular attractions. Visit during summer or holiday season evenings to witness special luminous displays that add an extra touch of enchantment to the gardens.

Explore Victoria's history and culinary scene on this walking tour of the British Columbian city. Follow a guide to highlights such as the Parliament Buildings, the Inner Harbor Causeway, Trounce Alley, Bastion and Market squares, Fan Tan Alley, the Harmonious Gates of Interest, and the Victoria Public Market. Along the way, stop for between food tastings of craft beer, chocolate, tea, tapas, cheese, bread, olive oil, and other local products.

Marvel at the majesty of Canada’s marine wildlife on this 3-hour whale-watching adventure in Victoria. Hop aboard your boat, a semi-covered vessel built specifically for whale-watching trips, and cruise through the Haro Strait with your guide. Watch the waves from the open sun decks or stay protected from the spray in the heated indoor cabin. Stop off at points of interest through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Listen to fascinating commentary from marine naturalists on board, and admire the beautiful orca, humpback whales, and minke whales you find.

See Victoria by horse-drawn carriage on a private tour that explores the Inner Harbour, Downtown, Chinatown, and more. The traditional, open-air carriages offer unobstructed views perfect for photography and sightseeing. Since the carriage is booked for just your group, you’ll enjoy personal service from beginning to end.

Experience the capital of British Columbia as you embark on this express tour of Victoria. With a private guide, travel in a deluxe van and cover the highlights of the city including the Inner Harbour, Chinatown, Craigdorrach Castle, and Fisherman’s Wharf. Your guide explains the history of the city and provides tips on other places that you can explore.

What sets our tour apart is the unique combination of intimate group experiences, convenient services, and the opportunity to explore remarkable attractions such as the Malahat Skywalk and Butchart Gardens. One of our standout highlights is the Malahat Skywalk, where you can experience awe-inspiring views from elevated walkways and observation platforms. This breathtaking vantage point allows you to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Victoria's surroundings in a unique way. Additionally, our tour includes a visit to the world-renowned Butchart Gardens. These stunning gardens offer a mesmerizing blend of floral displays, lush landscapes, and tranquil settings. You'll have the opportunity to explore the various themed gardens, witness the vibrant colors, and appreciate the meticulous design and care that goes into maintaining this horticultural masterpiece. Join us on this small group tour experience to get up close and personal with the best of what Victoria has to offer.

Explore quaint Victoria on this guided walking tour with a local historian. Along the way, take in picturesque views of the city’s Inner Harbour and wander the streets, alleyways, and town squares of Old Town, Bastion Square, and Chinatown, while learning about Victoria's history. Plus, hear about its past scandals like opium smuggling.

Discover the heart of British Colombia’s capital of Victoria as you embark on a self-guided walking tour through the city. Download the app on your phone and walk around town to hear about the story of the city, from its indigenous routes to the Victorian era to the present day. Sights you see include the Inner Harbor, the Empress Hotel, Bastion Square, and Chinatown.

Travelers interested in history will enjoy touring Victoria in style on a 75-minute horse and carriage tour. Your guide will tell you all about Victoria’s history and how the “garden city” became the capital of British Columbia. Enjoy the views as you are pulled through the Old Town, Chinatown, the Inner Harbour, and elsewhere. Kids especially will love the horses.

Discover a new perspective on Victoria’s striking coastal scenery—and have the rare chance to spot giants of the deep, as well as other marine animals—with this sunset whale-watching tour. Make your own way to the dock in Downtown Victoria, and hop aboard your catamaran, equipped with three separate viewing decks. You can look out for whales, sea lions, and more—and see the sunset from the water’s edge.

Delve into the colorful past of Canada’s oldest Chinatown, in Victoria, British Columbia. This guided walking tour will lead you through the streets and storied allies of the historic neighborhood, as your historian/guide tells you the fascinating, sometimes tragic tales of the people who helped build the city and shape Canada as well as modern China.

Discover the best of Victoria as you explore with an expert guide on this half-day sightseeing tour. With a private guide, explore the Inner Harbor and Fisherman’s Wharf to see historic sights, floating homes, beautiful landscapes, and more. Then, enjoy a guided tour of the Butchart Gardens which are filled with floral displays ranging from Italian- to Japanese-style, ponds, and fountains.

Tour one of Victoria’s most stately and popular attractions in a unique way with a pedicab tour to Craigdarroch Castle. Enjoy the fresh air and leisurely pace from aboard a comfortable cab while a friendly guide pedals you from your hotel to the majestic, 19th-century baronial estate. Along the way, pass through the neighboring Lt Governor’s gardens and see some of Victoria’s most opulent churches and homes. Admission to the inside of the magnificent castle is included. 

Experience the charm of Victoria's historic neighborhood, James Bay, and Beacon Hill Park. Our guides will both educate and entertain as they explain the history of the city as it evolved from a small fur trading outpost to a thriving Gold Rush town to the present day capital of British Columbia. Bring your camera along for the fantastic photo opportunities. Let us know if there is anything you are particularly interested in, or if you would like different start times.

Discover hidden alleys and local curios in Vancouver’s Old Town and Chinatown districts on this 75-minute pedicab tour. Head through Victoria's Old Town and Chinatown districts with your guide, where old shops and boutiques line the winding alleyways. Hear hair-raising ghost stories from centuries past and learn of the settlers, immigrants and colonists who have shaped the city we see today. Along the way, watch skilled street performers plying their trade the way they have for centuries. Admire Victoria’s traditional architecture and gain insight into the city’s colorful past.

Hidden behind the beauty of Victoria’s historic downtown area, lies a surprising and sinister past. This easy walking tour takes you back in time to the scenes of some of the city’s earliest and most shocking True Crimes, with cases that captured the attention of the entire nation and beyond. Whether it’s frontier justice, mysterious disappearances, or a shocking murder so heinous that it was compared to the Jack the Ripper murders, you’ll discover the gruesome tales of a city growing from the wilds of the west coast. CRIMEWALKS is a self guided, TRUE CRIME walking tour like no other. As you approach the scene of a true crime, immersive audio will begin to play automatically and you can access images and other media related to that story. Then your GPS will guide you to the next location on your CRIMEWALKS tour. Travel at your own pace, with the companions you choose. Start, stop and resume a tour whenever you are ready. Learn the whole story, only with CRIMEWALKS!

Surrounded by rich coastal waters and fertile soils, Victoria is a foodie’s dream destination—with traditional Canadian dishes and speciality treats the locals love. On this tour, delve into Victoria’s culinary scene and visit top food stops including the Fairmont Empress hotel, Fisherman's Wharf, Government Street, and the Inner Harbour. With your guide shining a light on the city’s history and culture, sample diverse treats such as cocktails, pastries, seafood, and more.