Vancouver

Vancouver to Victoria by Seaplane with Bus and Ferry Return

Badge of ExcellenceVancouver, Canada

From $320.48

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up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

  • 12 hours
  • Mobile ticket

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Overview

Take the adventure route between Vancouver and Victoria with a scenic 35-minute flight. Soak up lovely aerial views while crossing the Strait of Georgia by seaplane — the most eco-friendly transport to Victoria — then set off on your own sightseeing excursion of BC’s capital. Admiring stunning island and ocean views at dusk.
  • Seaplane flight from Vancouver to Victoria, on Vancouver Island
  • 35-minute flight over the Gulf Islands from the mainland to Victoria
  • Aerial view of the islands and water that make up this part of British Columbia
  • Explore Victoria's charming and historic neighborhoods
  • Coach and scenic ferry ride back to Vancouver (4.5 hours total)
  • You choose when you depart Vancouver

What's Included

  • Scenic seaplane flight to Victoria
  • Bus and ferry back to Vancouver
  • Carbon offset levy
  • GST (Goods and Services Tax)
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Food and drinks, unless specified

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Harbour Air Seaplanes
    1055 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 0C3, Canada

    Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre Unit #1 - 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC, V6C 0C3 The seaplane terminal is located at Burrard Landing in Coal Harbour. Paid parking is available at 1095 W Waterfront Rd, Vancouver, BC. Check-in for your flight 40 minutes ahead of the scheduled departure.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Kick off your Victoria sightseeing adventure from Canada Place in downtown Vancouver. Choose your departure time based on operating hours, meet your pilot and board the seaplane for an exciting water take-off.

Leave behind Vancouver’s busy harbor for the dramatic beauty of the Gulf Islands. You’ll have 35 minutes to soak up great panoramic views of the city, island passageways and snow-capped mountains before landing in Victoria. From there, design your own sightseeing itinerary. Perhaps you’ll indulge in some shopping at the island’s unique boutiques and antique shop, or tour atmospheric neighborhoods like Chinatown and Oak Bay. Don’t miss top attractions like the Butchart Gardens and the Empress Hotel, known for its fabulous traditional English tea service.

After your self-guided tour, head to the coach station for a ride to the ferry. Flash your ticket and grab a comfortable seat on the ship for the scenic ride through Active Pass and the Gulf Islands to Vancouver. Note: Total return trip time is 4.5 hours.

Harbour Air Seaplanes

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Inner Harbour

5 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Flights are subject to cancellation due to bad weather
  • Not handicap accessible
  • All passengers 18 years and above must present either one piece of valid government issued photo identification, or two pieces of government-issued identification without a photograph
  • Baggage allowance: 20 lbs. Guaranteed. Baggage weight allowance includes all baggage, including purses. Additional baggage available on standby basis for a fee.
  • Passengers must arrive at the terminal at least 40 minutes before the scheduled departure time, and be fully checked-in 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
  • Passengers not checked-in before the check-in cutoff times will not be able to board their scheduled flight and will not be refunded their fare.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers

Cancellation Policy

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

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Featured review
Alison_S
The seaplane was a great experience and Victoria is worth a visit. The ferry journey was only 90 minutes so pretty good and the views were beautiful.

Reviews

4.5
316 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 316 reviews
Fabulous day trip to Victoria
Narelle_P, May 2024
It was amazing to fly to Victoria on the seaplane! Very smooth flight & the view was fantastic! Our pilot was very professional & friendly. The whole operation ran efficiently! We enjoyed the different modes of transport -back by bus & ferry. Once again our driver was helpful & professional. A wonderful day out! Thanks Viator!
Great Adventure
Nicholas_H, May 2024
Great Check In, Great plane ride and easy bus and ferry return. Room on the plane for photos and videos, very comfortable bus and ferry return service
Great way to spend a day (air delay aside)!
Richard_R, Apr 2024
Seaplane was great, after a 2 hour delay! Bus and ferry return was reliable an comfortable. Our driver was excellent!
A lovely day out, a real treat
Alison_S, Mar 2024
The seaplane was a great experience and Victoria is worth a visit. The ferry journey was only 90 minutes so pretty good and the views were beautiful.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Alison_S, thank you for your five-star review. We're so pleased to hear you enjoyed the experience! We look forward to welcoming you back when you return.
Great Round Trip
Jayne_C, Oct 2023
This was such a fun day and way cheaper than our hotel concierge suggested it would be to fly on a floatplane. We're from Texas and did not know that buses drive on to ferries!
Ok experience but would not have done it this way if I had taken the time to be fully aware.
Stephen_I, Oct 2023
The flight to Victoria was the best part. We were left on our own to explore Victoria but didn’t discover until checking in that time would be tight if we wanted to take in The Butchart Gardens. The ferry ride back was nice and a great experience. However, the bus ride from the ferry terminal to Vancouver was long, with many stops. It’s actually a general bus route for anyone taking the ferry from Victoria and going back to Vancouver. Would have been better to have transportation more directed connected specifically to this booking. I should have read the other reviews more closely.
Excellent!
Claire_L, Sep 2023
The seaplane was very cool! Ferry was also lovely. Got on a harbour tour as soon as we landed in Victoria. Water, water, water!!
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Claire_L, thank you for your five-star review. We're so pleased to hear you enjoyed and had a cool experience! Thank you for choosing Harbour Air.
Seaplane experience
Paul_M, Sep 2023
First time on a seaplane Good experience 3.1/2 hrs quicker than bus/ferry Came back from Victoria by ferry Good day out
A fantastic way to visit Victoria from Vancouver in one day
Elizabeth_K, Sep 2023
Everything from booking to checking in to the trip itself was beautifully organized. I was very impressed by how everything was coordinated and by the clear directions given for managing each stage of the trip. And the sea plane experience was fabulous! Highly recommended!
Seaplane day to remember
Janet_S, Sep 2023
The seaplane ride was awesome and the harbour at Victoria is beautiful with wonderful flower displays everywhere. there was a vintage boats rally the day we were there. Excellent shopping and plenty of choices to eat and drink and wonderful architecture. As well as gorgeous parks. The return bus/ferry/bus journey was well organised and after a very hot day in Victoria Air conditioned bus and a ferry ride was perfect. Would highly recommend this trip
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Janet_S, Thank you for your five-star review. We are thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic time on your day trip to Victoria. We are always pleased to hear such wonderful feedback.
A Perfect Day!
Vivien_H, Aug 2023
We loved the whole day - the seaplane was fabulous with great views over the islands, we took a local bus to Butchart Gardens and were back in good time to catch our ferry back. Everything was perfect!
One day experience to Victoria
mati_k, Aug 2023
I Well organised flight connecting shuttles and ferry trip.A great way to experience Victoria in a day.Great pilots,divers and staff.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Mati, thank you so much for your review! We are so pleased you enjoyed your trip to Victoria. We appreciate the recommendation, and we look forward to seeing you the next time you’re in British Columbia.
A fantastic adventure!
Jodi_P, Jul 2023
Beginning with complementary coffee and muffins at the quaint Airport, the trip was wonderful. The Flight was amazing, offering a Birdseye view of Stanley Park, followed by ferries navigating the channels around the San Juan Islands, and ending up at Victoria. Roger the van driver was kind enough to give us a lift to Government House Gardens(no admittance fees), providing excellent narration along the way. On the return ferry ride, breath taking scenery abounds. A great day trip for all ages.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Jodi_P, Thank you for your five-star review. We are so happy to hear you love our services and had a fantastic time in Victoria. We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed the amazing scenery and having a chance to view some of our iconic landmarks from above. Looking forward to your next flight with us.
Vancouver to Victoria by Seaplane and Ferry could have been flawless
Jim_S, Jul 2023
The Seaplane portion of the experience was very good. The Harbour Air Seaplanes staff and crew were friendly and informative about their portion of the tour. Complimentary beverages and snacks were offered in the lounge area between check-in and departure. The crew were professional and competent, and the equipment seemed well maintained. BEWARE the flight is tight and loud, and ear plugs are provided. Our trip (unknowingly) involved a commuter flight aboard a twin engine plane, which significantly reduces visibility and offered NO audible guide information during the flight. The bus and Ferry portion were a bit underwhelming. The bus was comfortable, but the trip to the ferry started with a bus station gaggle and had several (unexpected) stops. The ferry was over an hour late, which left us waiting aboard under port structures. The bus driver was pleasant but didn't take initiative to investigate the situation or inform passengers without being asked or coached into it. We later found he knew of the situation but apparently waited for us to become bewildered and express frustration before providing any information. The ferry is big (enough to hold many busses, cars, and people) and comfortable. The ferry trip delay pushed everyone past any existing dinner plans at the destination, which forced us waiting in the restaurant line to eat with almost all the other passengers. That severely limited the sightseeing we could have enjoyed otherwise. BEWARE the tour is represented to be a coherent series of events with Harbour Air Seaplanes as Tour operator, but IT IS NOT. Harbour Air Seaplanes staff will only discuss the plane ride. Discussion of any other portion prompts a “you have to ask the third party tour operator” response. The tour relationships are a bit ambiguous, and you don’t truly recognize it until you check in. By then it’s too late to resolve what we view as tricks and traps in the itinerary and timelines; particularly with the bus-ferry. BEWARE there was no accommodation to change. We wanted to adjust our itinerary and meet the bus at the ferry instead of meeting it downtown. When we were finally able to contact viator by phone, their phone representatives had accents so thick we could hardly communicate; except the part about ‘no change allowed’ being clearly stated. Vancouver to Victoria by Seaplane and Ferry, as a concept has the makings for a life adventure, but for us it had some unfortunate kinks.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Jim_S, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are so happy to hear you had wonderful experience with Harbour Air. We work hard to meet the needs of our guests and we really appreciate hearing that our staff is friendly and informative. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back aboard again.
Driving and sailing, nice day trip !
Catherine_G, Jul 2023
The flight was perfect, good pilot and feel sure! Victoria is a very nice town and we really enjoy the day , working in the park first and in town after. We found the bus station thanks to the shuttle bus driver when we arrived. He gave us some tips very important and brought us to the park. The way is longer but we crossed middle of the island before get the ferry. The cruise was nice , passing in the middle of different small islands. When we get back to the bus , the driver stop us very far from our hotel. I show him an other place but he didn't want... Anyway, all was nice and we really enjoyed the day !
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Catheri, Thank you for your five-star review. We are so pleased to hear you enjoyed your flight and had a nice time in Victoria. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Amazing experience
France_L, Jul 2023
Amazing trip ! Book it and you won’t regret it ! Seaplane and Ferries BC were very good ! Best experience to discover Victoria!
Response from Host, Jul 2023
France_, Thank you for your five-star review. We are thrilled to hear you had such an amazing experience and we look forward to your next flight with us.
Below average
Michael_H, Jun 2023
I missed my flight because my ticket from Viator said 0930 at the top even though I had a 0900 flight. I was charged a $80 change fee by Harbour Air. Very frustrating. The coach ride back was very long after getting off the ferry. It stopped at 7 hotels and there were multiple street stops. Too many in my opinion. The coach driver was friendly and excellent. As were the staff of Harbour Air. But I won’t book with Viator again. The price seemed too good to be true and it was. I’d pay slightly more for a more efficient and better planned experience.
Diferent
AMAURI_S, Jun 2023
It is better you offer to go and to back by air plane . The trip back by ferry is very long. Is better have more time at the island
Response from Host, Jun 2023
AMAURI, Thank you for the five-star review. We are so happy to hear you love our services and the convenience of flying. We look forward to your next flight with us.
Perfect way to visit Victoria
Martina_W, Jun 2023
Everything was on time. The bus back was easy to find and clean with a good and friendly driver. Only the stops on several points in Vancouver cost a lot of time.
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Martina, Thank you for the five-star review. We're so pleased to to hear you enjoyed the experience. We look forward to your next flight with us.
Save your money and do it on your own!
Maria_M, Jun 2023
The check in at Harbour Air was confusing. They couldn't find our reservation, then if it wasn't for another agent 20 minutes later we would not have had our return ticket back. Our flight was almost an hour late (making us lose precious time on the island). The flight was amazing and views breathtakingly beautiful! The pilots expertly landed the plane. We decided to go to Butchart Gardens which were incredible! However, had we had the extra hour we lost we would have been able to finish them in their entirety. We got to the bus terminal office and checked with our driver 35 minutes early but waited to board as the air conditioning on the bus could not be turned on. I ran across the street to check out a little shop and when I returned upon boarding, the driver was checking my friend in again. She tried to tell him he already checked us in but didn't believe her until I came up and told him. We boarded the ferry and upon getting out the driver told us to take the elevator behind the bus up and return to that spot 1/2 hour before. When it was time to get back on the bus took the stairs down and went forward but could not find our bus. Frantically, we ran up and down the row of busses & trucks on both sides of the stairs, to no avail. If the driver could have given us the bus number or better instructions it would not have been so confusing. We finally decided to walk off the ferry and take a cab home (to the tune of $90 CA.). I know on some level we were to blame for not paying better attention, but honestly this bus driver knew we were tourists and unaccustomed to taking buses and ferries and could've been a bit friendlier and more helpful. Next time we'll buy our own ticket on the Seaplane (going back & forth) and skip the ferry altogether. The whole experience was so stressful that when we flew back home the following day, 2 days later I came down with Covid.
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Maria_M, Thank you for sharing your recent experience with our third party. We would very much appreciating hear more. Please contact us directly by emailing customercare@harbourair.com so we can investigate this situation further. Please include your booking number and date of travel in your email to us. Until we speak, we hope you have a very good day.
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