6 Best Vancouver to Butchart Gardens Tours: Ferry to Seaplane
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So you want to visit Butchart Gardens on a day trip from Vancouver?
Get ready for a day of spectacular blooms and gorgeous coastal scenery! Butchart Gardens isn’t just one of the most beautiful gardens in Victoria – it’s widely considered one of the world’s finest gardens.
We lived in Vancouver for many years before moving to Victoria, and we’ve visited the gardens more times than we can count.
(Staying in Victoria? See our guide to the best Butchart Gardens tours from Victoria.)
Because the gardens are on Vancouver Island, getting here from Vancouver (on the mainland) takes a bit of planning.
For most visitors, we think an organized tour is the easiest – and most relaxing – way to go. Whether you travel by ferry, seaplane or both, someone else takes care of all the logistics while you simply enjoy the journey.
Here are the tours from Vancouver we recommend.
Our favorite Vancouver to Butchart Gardens tours
These are all highly rated! And you get three memorable experiences in one – a scenic journey, the gardens and charming Victoria itself.
Ferry and coach tour
Cruise there and back on this popular 13-hour day tour.
Scenic BC Ferries crossing each way. Visit the gardens (2 hours), then free time in Victoria. Good value option. (See #1 below.)
Seaplane and ferry adventure
Fly there, sail back on this exciting 9- to 11-hour tour!
35-minute flight to Victoria. Return by ferry and coach. Best of both travel experiences, but more expensive. (See #6 below.)
Round-trip sea plane trip
Enjoy twice the splashdowns on this deluxe 6- to 8-hour tour.
Harbour Air flights both ways. More sightseeing time, less travel time. Our ultimate splurge pick! (See #5 below.)
All tours here can be booked through Viator (a TripAdvisor company). We use Viator often and love their flexible 24-hour cancellation policy – handy if your plans change.
Is a Vancouver to Butchart Gardens day trip worth it?
Absolutely! If you’re short on time, a day trip from Vancouver is a wonderful way to experience both Victoria and the world-famous Butchart Gardens.
Yes, it’s a long day.
Expect to be out for about 12 to 13 hours (unless you choose the round-trip seaplane option in #5, which seriously slashes the travel time).
But the scenic ferry crossing past the Gulf Islands is part of the adventure and a highlight in itself. (We always think of the ferry as a mini-cruise.)
Keep an eye out for seals, seabirds and even whales if you’re lucky!
Curious how the ferry part of the tour works?
You’ll board your coach or bus in Vancouver and ride to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal, where the 90-minute ferry sailing begins.
Once on the ferry, it’s time to leave the bus and stretch your legs! Head upstairs to the passenger decks, grab a bite in the cafeteria or breathe in the salty air outside as you enjoy the passing scenery.
About 15 minutes before arrival, you’ll return to your bus. After the ferry docks at Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island, your driver continues on to Butchart Gardens or Victoria, depending on the tour itinerary.
6 Best tours to Butchart Gardens from Vancouver
Classic ferry-and-coach day tours (#1 to #4)
The four full-day tours below are all offered by well-established tour operators. You travel to Victoria and back aboard BC Ferries. They’re the most wallet-friendly options and include:
- Ground transportation by bus or smaller coach
- Return ferry ride (1½ hours each way)
- Skip-the-line admission to Butchart Gardens
- Free time to explore downtown Victoria
The main differences are how much time you spend at Butchart Gardens versus Victoria, whether you visit the gardens before or after the city, the size of the coach (and group) and whether hotel pickup in Vancouver is included.
1) 13-Hour ferry-and-bus tour (2 hours at Butchart Gardens)
👉 Best for: Garden lovers who want to visit the gardens first and enjoy the longest visit among the flowers
If your priority is soaking up every corner of Butchart Gardens, this tour (with Westcoast Sightseeing) gives you the most garden time. The trade-off is less free time in downtown Victoria.
Tour highlights:
- 13-hour tour
- Butchart Gardens first
- 2 hours at the gardens
- More than 1 hour in Victoria
- Viator “Badge of Excellence”
- From $289 CAD (about $203 USD) p.p.
2) Similar tour to #1
Pacific Coach Travel Services offers a very similar 13-hour tour. Like Tour #1, it visits Butchart Gardens first, allows 2 hours at the gardens and is priced almost the same.
3) 13-Hour ferry-and-mid-sized-coach tour (smaller group, more time in Victoria)
👉 Best for: Travelers who prefer a smaller group, more time in Victoria and a later visit to the gardens
This tour (with Landsea Tours) is ideal if you’d like a more intimate group than a full-sized coach provides. It also visits Butchart Gardens later in the day, when crowds often begin to thin.
Tour highlights:
- 13-hour tour
- Mid-sized coach, with a maximum of 30 travelers
- Victoria first, gardens later
- 1½ hours at Butchart Gardens
- 3 hours in Victoria
- Viator “Experience Award Winner”
- From $306 CAD (about $215 USD) p.p.
4) Similar tour to #3
Discover Canada Tours offers a similar tour itinerary – with city sightseeing after visiting Butchart Gardens.
Compared with Tour #3:
- Smaller group (maximum 24 travelers)
- 1 hour 45 minutes at the gardens
- Slightly longer tour (13 to 14 hours)
- No hotel pickup (meet at Canada Place)
Which ferry-and-coach tour should you choose?
All four are excellent choices.
Because we’re assuming Butchart Gardens is the main reason you’re making the trip, Tour #1 is our favorite.
It gives you a full 2 hours to wander the gardens and visits them first, when you’re likely to have the most energy. Afterward, you still have time to stroll around Victoria’s Inner Harbour, browse the shops or enjoy a meal before heading back to Vancouver.
That said, a different tour may suit your travel style better:
- Want the most time at Butchart Gardens? Choose Tour #1 (or #2)
- Prefer to visit the gardens before Victoria? Choose Tour #1 (or #2)
- Want a smaller group than a full-sized coach? Choose Tour #3 (or #4)
- Prefer visiting the gardens later in the day (when they’re often less busy)? Choose Tour #3 (or #4)
- Want more time exploring downtown Victoria? Choose Tour #3 or (or #4)
5) Butchart Gardens by round-trip seaplane
👉 Best for: Travelers who want to save time and enjoy spectacular aerial views of Vancouver, the Gulf Islands and Victoria
For a truly unforgettable day trip, skip the ferry and fly!
This adventure with Harbour Air Seaplanes (spelled the Canadian way) whisks you from downtown Vancouver to Victoria by floatplane.
The 35-minute flight serves up breathtaking views of mountains, forested islands and the sparkling waters of the Strait of Georgia. We’ve taken it ourselves – and loved splashing down in Victoria’s oh-so-pretty Inner Harbour.
Tour highlights:
- 6- to 8-hour tour
- Round-trip flights (choice of morning departure and afternoon/evening return flight)
- Shuttle to and from Butchart Gardens
- Garden admission
- Free time to explore Victoria on your own
- Viator “Badge of Excellence”
- From $730 CAD (about $513 USD) p.p.
Yes, it’s pricier than the ferry tours. But you’ll dramatically cut your travel time and enjoy one of the most scenic – and fun! – flights you’ll ever take.
Another big plus?
You’re not locked into a fixed schedule at the gardens.
The shuttle runs hourly between downtown Victoria and Butchart Gardens, so you can return whenever you’re ready. For example, you could leave Vancouver at 8:30 am and catch the 5:00 pm flight back, giving you plenty of time to enjoy both the gardens and Victoria.
6) Combo seaplane and ferry adventure
👉 Best for: Travelers looking for a happy medium between the classic ferry tour and the full VIP (round-trip) seaplane vibe
Want the thrill of a seaplane but at a less-splurgey price? This flexible combo day tour lets you fly one way and return by ferry.
You’ll soar from Vancouver to Victoria with Harbour Air in the morning, then travel back by ferry in the afternoon.
Tour highlights:
- 9- to 11-hour day trip
- Vancouver to Victoria seaplane flight (choose your departure time)
- Ferry and coach return (about 4½ hours travel time)
- Time to explore both the gardens and Victoria
- Viator “Badge of Excellence”
- From $427 (about $300 USD) p.p.
Note: This is really a package for travelers who want to visit Victoria on a day trip. It does not include transportation between Victoria and Butchart Gardens or tickets to the gardens.
But once in Victoria, the gardens are easy to visit on your own.
Simply catch a taxi, Uber or the Butchart Gardens Express Shuttle and pay for your own garden admission. (Skip the public bus, as it’s much slower and will eat into your flower time.)
For example, you could book an 8:15 am seaplane flight from Vancouver (arriving in Victoria before 9:00 am) and a 3:45 pm coach and ferry return, giving you more than six hours to visit the gardens and enjoy some time exploring Victoria afterward.
FAQs on Butchart Gardens tours from Vancouver
How long is a tour from Vancouver to Butchart Gardens?
Most day tours are by ferry and coach and take about 12 to 13 hours from start to finish.
It’s a full but rewarding day. Much of the time is spent enjoying the scenic journey. But between the BC Ferries crossing, time at Butchart Gardens and exploring Victoria, you get three wonderful experiences in one.
If you’d rather spend less time traveling, the round-trip seaplane tour cuts the journey significantly and lasts about 6 to 8 hours.
Is admission to Butchart Gardens included?
Yes. The classic ferry tours and the round-trip seaplane tour all include skip-the-line admission to Butchart Gardens.
The exception is the seaplane-and-ferry combo tour (#6 above), where you arrange your own transportation to the gardens and buy your admission separately.
How much time do you get at the gardens?
Classic ferry and coach tours allow 1½ to 2 hours at the gardens.
We find 1½ hours is enough to see the highlights, but it can feel a little rushed. If you like to stop for lots of photos or simply wander at a leisurely pace, choose a tour that gives you 2 hours.
Can you visit Butchart Gardens from Vancouver without joining a tour?
Yes. You can travel independently as a foot passenger on BC Ferries, then take public transit, a taxi or an Uber to the gardens.
If you have a car, you can drive onto the ferry and continue to the gardens, where parking is free.
One tip: If you’re taking a car, reserve your BC Ferries sailing well in advance for summer, holiday periods and weekends.
What should you wear and bring on a day tour?
We recommend:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- A light jacket or sweater (the ferry can be breezy)
- A refillable water bottle
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- A sunhat in summer
- A camera or phone with plenty of storage – you’ll take lots of photos!
What’s the best time of year to visit Butchart Gardens?
There’s no bad time to visit.
Summer is famous for its dazzling flower displays and Saturday night fireworks. Fall brings beautiful autumn colors, while winter transforms the gardens into a magical Christmas wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights.
Our favorite season, though, is spring, when millions of tulips, daffodils and flowering cherry trees burst into bloom. It’s an especially lovely time to go.
More Vancouver and Victoria travel inspo
- Bicycling Vancouver’s Stanley Park
- An Insider’s Guide to the Top 10 Hotels in Victoria
- We Went Whale Watching Twice in Victoria – Here’s Why
- 21 Delightful Things to Do in Victoria!
- How to Get to Victoria (7 Different Ways)
- 15 Favorite Victoria Restaurants Loved by Locals
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Our top travel tips and resources
→ General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, with loads of user reviews on hotels, restaurants and things to do.
→ Hotels: Booking.com is our go-to for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – often at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. (We especially like Booking.com’s flexible cancellation policy!) You can also find excellent discounted rates on Expedia, especially for hotels in the U.S. and Mexico.
→ Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
→ Flights: For the best flights, we search on Google Flights first. Expedia and Kayak are then perfect for snagging the cheapest tickets. (They’re often non-refundable, though, so for more flexibility, we book directly with the airline, even if it costs more.)
→ Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
→ Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
→ Car rental: Renting a car can be a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies for the lowest rates.
→ Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
→ Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
→ Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find cool hotels and other useful trip planning info.
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