Victoria In One Day Sightseeing Tour

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Tour Information

Key Details

  • Mobile Voucher Accepted
  • Hotel pickup Available
  • Free Cancellation
  • Duration: 8 Hrs 30 Mins
  • Departure Time :
    9:00 AM
  • Departure Details :
    721 Government St, Victoria, BC V8W 1W5, Canada
    Traveler pickup is offered
  • Return Details :
    Returns to original departure point
  • Cancellation Policy :
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

Overview

This intimate experience is an all-day affair, perfect for anyone wishing to experience the best that our city has to offer with a guided tour that kicks off at the citys famed Fairmont Empress Hotel. Travel through Vancouver Islands most distinctive neighbourhoods to the beach town of Sidney. Going past cultural highlights including Beacon Hill Park, the Trans-Canada Highway Mile 0 Marker, Mount Tolmie and your choice of a local winery of the Butterfly Gardens. Enjoy a tea-style lunch prepared by the Empress Hotel while at the beautiful Victoria Distillers.

Know More about this tour

Your Best of Victoria tour begins at the citys most famous hotel, The Fairmount Empress (721 Government Street), this is where you will meet your tour guide and board our Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van.

The tour starts with a tour going through Downtown Victoria, Chinatown, Beacon Hill Park and the Cook Street Village, and visit the Mile 0 Monument. The tour will also head to Mount Tolmie where you will be able to get off the van for a panoramic view of the city and surrounding areas. After the tour you will be dropped off at the beautiful Craigdarroch Castle, a National Historic Site of Canada, you will have one hour to explore the history of the mansion.

After the Castle, enjoy a short drive to the small coastal town of Sidney where you will have the opportunity to dine on the lunch provided by The Empress Hotel. After everyone is finished lunch you will go on tour of Victoria Distillers and learn about the Gin making process before getting a taste of the Gins.

After the tasting, you will have the opportunity to choose between the Butterfly Gardens, which is an indoor tropical jungle environment with birds, poison dart frogs, an insectarium and, of course, butterflies, or a wine tasting at Church and State Winery.

Once you are finished at your choice the guide will come back and take you to the stunning Butchart Gardens. This garden is over 50 acres and home to over 900 species of flowers and plants, you will be able to explore the gardens at your own pace.

The tour ends with a 40 minute drive back to the Empress Hotel.

Itinerary

9:00AM Depart the Empress Hotel

9AM - 1 hour and 30 minute City tour

10:30AM Arrive at Craigdarroch Castle

11:30AM - Depart Castle and start drive to Victoria Distillers

12:10PM - Arrive at Victoria Distillers

1:00PM Depart Sidney

1:25PM Approximately arrive at your choice of Butterfly Gardens or Church and State Winery

2:10PM Depart Butterfly Gardens/ Church and State Winery

2:15PM Arrive at Butchart Gardens

5:00PM Depart Butchart Gardens (Guests travelling between June 15 September 2 will have the option to catch our 6:00PM, 8:00PM or our 10:00PM returns for the gardens on our regular shuttles)

5:40PM Arrive back in front of the Empress Hotel

Sample lunch menu
Savory tea sandwiches:

  • Locally smoked wild BC salmon
  • Whole-grain mustard and maple-glazed smoked ham
  • Cheddar scone
  • Cowichan Valley chicken, curry spices, toasted cashews
  • English cucumber, fresh ginger cream cheese

Homemade sweets:

  • Signature candied ginger scone
  • Strawberry jam
  • Poppy seed orange loaf
  • French meringue
  • Battenberg cake
  • Chocolate Irish cream truffle

Beverage:

  • Iced tea-Unsweetened

Itinerary:

Sample lunch menu
Savory tea sandwiches:

• Locally smoked wild BC salmon
• Whole-grain mustard and maple-glazed smoked ham
• Cheddar scone
• Cowitchan Valley chicken, curry spices, toasted cashews
• English cucumber, fresh ginger cream cheeseHomemade sweets:

• Signature candied ginger scone
• Strawberry jam
• Poppy seed orange loaf
• French meringue
• Battenberg cake
• Chocolate Irish cream truffleBeverage:

• Iced tea

Inclusions

Transport by luxury Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van

Lunch - Empress Tea to Go

Local Gin tasting

Entry/Admission - The Butchart Gardens

Entry/Admission - Craigdarroch Castle

Entry/Admission - Victoria Butterfly Gardens

Entry/Admission - Church and State Wines

Exclusions

Gratuities

Food and drinks unless specified

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability

Select hotel pickup available; guests must contact the local operator directly for more information; please see contact information on your voucher after booking

Dietary requirements cannot be accommodated. No Substitutions.

PLEASE NOTE: Walking and stairs and involved in this tour and may not be suitable for people with mobility issues

Traveler Reviews

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  • 03-Jul-2019

    This could have been a great tour but was completely ruined by our tour guide, Shawn, In the beginning he made two long stops at not very scenic places. He completely missed the historic importance of the first stop and just left us to look at the bluffs. We were late for Craigdarroch Castle which is one of the reasons we took the tour. Then he wasted another 15 minutes because he had no clue how to sign us in. We were late for the gin tasting and the wine tasting. In fact, when we went to the wine tasting, the waiter had no idea who we were and tried to charge us. Our guide Shawn who should have been with the group was outside making phone calls. The woman from the winery had to go find him to tell him we would be late as they didn't have enough staff and were running behind. We again ran late because of this, so our time at Butchard Gardens was also shortened. Shawn told us we could take a later shuttle but that was a full 2 hours later. Also he seemed to have many facts mixed up. He told us the settlers to Victoria in 1846 used the Panama Canal which didn't open until 1914. He told us Craigdarroch Castle was used as a hospital in the 30's for soldiers returning from WWI, which ended in 1918. He gave misinformation about the killer of John Rattenbury stating he went back to prison after fighting in WWI. He actually fought in WWII and then retired to a quiet life. Shawn obviously only knows WWI happened. It's not my job to fact check after a tour, but so little made sense when he was talking that I had to. So while the stops should have been great, poor planning destroyed it, making it a rushed mish mash. The lunch from the Empress Hotel was good.

  • 03-Jul-2019

    A varied and most interesting day. Ours was a small group 4 people and the guide JP. The Castle stop was most interesting. We chose the Butterflies not the Wine Tasting. The Gin Tasting, and our Empress Tea picnic was in a lovely facility. Much more enjoyable and peaceful than if we had had tea at the Empress Tea Room! Thank you JP for a fun day. Pete and Janet.

  • 30-Jun-2018

    Confusion in the beginning. The people in charge at the tour signup directed us to the bus. The bus driver took our ticket and told us that was all we needed for the tour. After boarding the bus - we still questioned where the rest of our tickets were to any of the attractions, so we got off the bus - questioned the girl that gave us the ticket and she realized she gave us the wrong ticket. Finally, we connected with our small group in the Mercedes Van and we were off on a wonderful tour. Our tour guide, Chris, was born and raised on the Island and gave us great information and stories about the Island and growing up there. Loved the places he took us and the picnic lunch from the Empress Hotel. We were on our own at the Butchart Gardens which was nice because we wanted to go at our own pace and take photos. We asked him for a dinner recommendation and after giving us several we ended up having him drop us off at The Irish Times - we loved the fish and chips and selection of beer. We watched the World Cup and felt like we were at a party. Everything we did was a must see adventure. It was a very full day just make sure you get on the right bus.

  • 08-Oct-2017

    Excellent tour...

  • 03-Oct-2017

    This tour was the best !!! Our driver Gary is one in a million !!! Sounds kinda cheesy but he made the day fabulous!! Thanks Gary

  • 04-Sep-2017

    We had an amazing experience with our guide Dave. Very knowledgeable, friendly willing to go the extra mile kinda guy. My wife and I just enjoyed his company along with a father daughter pair from Ontario, CA. The accommodation was fantastic. We did the Distillers tour in Sidney, BC and was overwhelmed by the great selection of booze. We enjoyed the tasting of various kinds of vodka, whisky etc. Then Dave serve us lunch with the Tea at the Empress lunchbox probable the best lunchbox I ever had in my life.Truly we were blessed with great weather and company in Sidney by the sea part of the tour. I was encourage to know a lot of folks do retire in this quiet picturesque paradise by the sea. We did our tour on a Sunday morning so there was no traffic at all. Dave took us to the scenic route to Butchart Gardens and we took the Wine and Country wine tasting which I highly recommended. Prices for topnotch wine were reasonable.Overall the trip was a great way to start our 7 days in Victoria, BC.

  • 24-Aug-2017

    Exceeded expectations. Excellent Mercedes van used to transport customers. The driver/guide was Spence. He knew the area well and had many interesting stories to tell. His timing was exquisite as we managed to avoid large crowds and traffic. The box lunch was from the Fairmont Empress Hotel, a real treat for the eyes and taste buds. Highly recommended. Ask if Spence is the guide for your tour.

  • 18-Aug-2017

    This tour with CVS was everything we could have expected. Chris Nelson was a fantastic guide. As a local who was born in Victoria he knew it's history like the back of his own hand. Our small van was able to travel through the small streets of the city and was very comfortable for the longer rides.

  • 16-Aug-2017

    We had a good time on this tour. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and accommodating. We saw lots of things we wouldn't have been able to see by ourselves in just one day. The lunch at noon provided by the Fairmont Empress Hotel was delicious. I would highly recommend this tour.

  • 15-Aug-2017

    We loved our Victoria in One Day sightseeing tour!! Our guide, Chris, was sooooo knowledgeable and we could never have seen all the sights he showed us on our own. We would definitely recommend Viator!!

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