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Victoria Experiences

The area is also home to some of the country’s most exhilarating scenery: there’s an ocean or mountain (or both!) vista around every corner, and the city’s flower gardens are famous the world over.

Whether your taste runs to golfing, hiking, biking and fishing, or you’re more the shopping, dining and theatre type, Victoria has you covered. And bring the kids - the city was included in the Top 10 Family Vacations in Canada in Trip Advisor’s 2011 Travellers’ Choice awards.

Below is a small selection of the tours we can organise for you when you have booked your Canada holiday with us and are visiting Victoria.

Duration: 3 Hours

This excursion can be carried out in either a covered or an open-top boat. 

Admire native marine wildlife in the waters of British Columbia on this 3-hour whale-watching adventure in Victoria. Hop aboard your open-top boat in Victoria Harbour and cruise out into the rolling waves with your guide. Your vessel, a zodiac speedboat, is built with stability in mind and remains buoyant even in rough seas. Cruise through the Haro Straight to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Watch the water for sightings of humpback whales, minke whales and orcas breaching the waves, and learn of their life cycle and migration habits.

The open zodiac boats are for the adventurous at heart. The 12 passenger vessels are recommended for an exhilarating experience complete with sea spray! Designed for high speed these vessels are known around the world for durability, safety, seaworthiness and performance. The zodiacs are equipped with Yamaha 4-stroke engines, world renowned for their quiet operating and low emission levels. Passengers will be provided full body cruiser suits for the tour.

 

Duration: 2.5 hours

During this relaxing tour you'll get a chance to see the city up close. The bustling activity of seaplanes, ferries large and small, whale watching boats, private yachts, fishing vessels of all sizes, tug boats and barges can be seen. In the background stands the BC Legislative Building and the historic Fairmont Empress. You may also encounter eagles, herons, cormorants, river otters, seals and seagulls. This tour has it all!

From this unique perspective, your guides describe Victoria's historic waterways that make up the downtown and the working harbour. Depending on the weather and the harbour traffic we may choose to stay on the upper portion of the harbour known as the Gorge Waterway. Victoria is a city on the water so come join us on an adventure through our waterways on Ocean River's Victoria Harbour Kayak Tour!

This tour is run through a marine area teeming with birdlife to observe. We proudly paddle through a NatureHood, or a Nearby area of Nature, in an urban environment to responsibly observe birdlife and marine biodiversity.

Duration: 2 hours

This unique walking tour of downtown Victoria that combines a history lesson with modern food. You'll explore three historic areas of the city including an extensive tour of the Victoria Public Market, Chinatown, and the emerging Design District while stopping at 8 modern local businesses. A tasty history lesson indeed!

You'll start the tour at the historic Hudson Bay Building, now the home of the bustling Victoria Public Market. There you will get a tour of the market that includes a coffee from a local roaster, a savoury hand pie from Victoria Pie Co. and a unique version of poutine, a traditional Canadian dish from Sutra. This is the only place outside of Vancouver that you can experience food designed by Vikram Vij, one of the most famous chefs in Canada.

You'll then make our way to historic Chinatown where you'll visit the Chinese Public School built in 1909 and the Gates of Harmonious Interest. After exploring Dragon Alley you'll head towards the emerging Design District where you will stop at two new modern culinary stops including a delicious sandwich from Salt & Pepper Fox and two local craft beers from iconic Philip's Brewery (this brewery is all ages and there is a non-alcoholic beverage replacement). The Design District was once the industrial part of the city but is now home to art shops, restaurants, and art galleries. You will swing back along historic Store street to explore and taste our way through Fan Tan Alley, Market Square and end on a sweet note next to the new and modern Johnson Street Bridge. A great tour to sample modern local cuisine while getting the history and stories of the oldest neighbourhoods in Victoria. 

Modern Chinatown Food & History Tour Highlights

  • 10+ samples of food & beverages from 8 stops
  • Chance to try local craft beer and poutine, a uniquely Canadian dish
  • Tour of the bustling Victoria Public Market
  • A guided tour of Fan Tan Alley & Dragon Alley
  • Learn the history of Fort Victoria, Chinatown, Market Square and more

Duration: 4 hours

You are embarking on the opportunity to bear witness to one of nature's most majestic & awe inspiring creatures, orcas (killer whales/blackfish), in one of the most impressive settings on earth: the Pacific Northwest & Salish Sea. A true 'treasure chest' of diverse marine wildlife opens to visitors aboard some of the most exciting watercraft ever developed.

The tours have a 98% sighting success and Eagle Wing team members are excited to share everything the natural treasure chest has to offer. On every tour multiple wildlife stops are made while providing world class interpretation and personalized service.

 

Duration: 2.5 Hours

Your Canadian Foodie Tour starts at Fisherman's Wharf and ends on Government Street. Start the tour at Finest at Sea where we will get a behind-the-scenes look at their processing plant and a chance to try amazing local seafood. Then head to the colourful Fisherman's Wharf where we will sample a traditional Canadian Poutine. You can't come to Canada without trying this Canadian dish! The next stop is at the award-winning seafood restaurant The Blue Crab. With an amazing view of the harbour, we sample a crab cake (their most popular dish) and pair it with a Caesar cocktail, Canada's most popular drink and virtually unheard of outside of Canada. After a leisurely stroll along the waterfront, stop at the Courtyard Cafe for a nanaimo bar, the Courtney Room for some French-bistro dishes, and Artisan Wine Shop for a BC Wine tasting. Did you know that 95% of BC wine is consumed within BC !

End the tour on bustling Government Street at Beavertails for one last Canadian dessert. Iconic sights include The Parliament Buildings, The Empress hotel, Pendray House, the Inner Harbour and much more. A perfect tour to see all the top sights in the Downtown Core and to sample Canadian cuisine.

Eat like a Canadian Food Tour Highlights

  • Sample delicious local cuisine and try famous Canadian beverages
  • Admire the majestic buildings and sights located on government street

Duration: 3.5 hours

From Victoria's Inner Harbour, we take you to the Butchart Gardens, named a National Historic Site of Canada in 2004, the 100th birthday of the gardens. 22 Hectares (55 acres) of breathtaking gardens on the 53 hectare (130 acre) estate are visited by more than a million people each year. The gardens are glorious any time of year. Once at the gardens stroll through the floral splendor which greets you at every turn. Return to downtown Victoria on a shuttle convenient for you.

Includes: Admission to Butchart Gardens

Floatplane Sightseeing Tour

Duration: 30 minutes with a 20 minute flight

Our most popular tour departing from Victoria's Inner Harbour. This half-hour trip is an ideal introduction to seaplane aviation and includes spectacular vistas of downtown Victoria and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with the Olympic Mountains in the distance. Enjoy unique views of the buildings surrounding the harbour and the grand houses perched above the rugged coastline. The exhilarating spray of the water is always a highlight during take-off and landing.

Victoria Panorama Highlights

  • Complimentary drop off shuttle service to most downtown hotels available Monday-Friday (to be requested at time of booking)
  • Aerial views of downtown Victoria landmarks

Call our experts and take the first step on your trip beyond ordinary

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Canada Expert SeanSean

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