Tour Details

Private City Tour with Butchart Gardens

Enjoy a fully narrated private city tour around the beautiful and historical city of Victoria. Relax as your tour guide drives you through the most stunning historical sites in private comfort.

Your guided tour will begin with a pick-up directly from the cruise ship terminal. From there, your tour guide will drive you through some of the most beautiful areas in Victoria. Your first stop is Fisherman's Wharf (houseboat community). From the end of the Second World War to about 1990, this was the heyday of the fishing fleet at Fisherman's Wharf.

As you continue driving through the inner harbor, you will have the opportunity to view the Parliament buildings, the Empress Hotel, the historic shopping district, and the oldest Chinatown in Canada.

You will next drive through James Bay, a peninsula with Beacon Hill Park on the east, the Inner Harbor on the north, Outer Harbor on the west and Strait of Juan de Fuca on the south. As you drive through the James Bay Heritage Community, you will pass by the birthplace of the famous author and painter, Emily Carr. Afterward, you will continue your drive through the Beacon Hill Park, considered the city's largest inner-city park, where you will find the world's tallest totem pole. As you continue your drive, you will make your way to the Lieutenant Governor's mansion, a 33-acre estate. There, you will have the opportunity to stop to view the historic Craigdarroch Castle.

This castle was built between the years 1887-1890 on a hill overlooking the City of Victoria. It was owned by Robert Dunsmuir, a Scottish immigrant who made his fortune from Vancouver Island coal. Craigdarroch Castle is a definite Victorian experience, it is a shining example of a "bonanza castle."

As your tour continues, your guide will drive you to the Butchart Gardens. Built by Robert and Jennie Butchart, this National Historic site of Canada was built between the years 1856-1943. This fascinating and breath-taking botanical garden provides a variety of floral display. It has a Japanese and Italian garden, a Ross fountain, and a Star pond, amongst other exquisite botanical elements. The Butchart Gardens receive over a million visitors each year and provides a wide range of local entertainment, from Jazz to classical music, during the Summer and Winter Seasons.

After enjoying the day in one of the most beautiful botanical gardens, your guide will drive you through Saanich, a scenic countryside route, back to Victoria to drop you off at the cruise ship terminal area.

Please Note: Vehicles available for this tour accommodate groups of up to 6 guests maximum. Please take this information into consideration when booking. The entrance fee for Butchart Gardens is not included in this tour. During the month of September the Butchart Gardens will be closing at 5:00 PM.