The 15 Best Garden Tours in Canada

1.Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour with Ferry from Vancouver

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,703 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $228Our pick

Spend about 13 hours traveling from Vancouver to Victoria by coach and BC Ferries. You’ll see the Gulf Islands, visit Butchart Gardens for two hours, and have two hours to explore Victoria. Guides such as Leslie, Anthony, Bobby, and Alex are praised for clear commentary and local history.

“Very efficient and convenient. Tour guide Andy was excellent! Really enjoyable day out! Very informative and beautiful gardens.”

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2.Victoria and Butchart Gardens Day Trip from Vancouver

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,242 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $232

Ride coach and BC Ferries from Vancouver to Victoria, tour downtown, enjoy free time, then explore 55-acre Butchart Gardens. Guides such as Tim, Gavin, Baz, and Carol add local stories and practical help. Expect a beautiful but very long day, often 13 to 15 hours with hotel pickup and drop-off.

“Loved this excursion. Driver had a great personality and good stories. However his driving was jerky not smooth.”

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3.Victoria, Gulf Islands Cruise, & Butchart Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,165 reviews · 13 hours · from $208

Travel from downtown Vancouver by coach and BC Ferry to Vancouver Island, then spend two hours at Butchart Gardens and about 1.5 to 2 hours in Victoria. English-speaking guides such as Mark, Dan, Justin, and Dion provide commentary along the way. Transport, ferry fares, garden entry, and taxes are included.

“The highlight was probably the driver Mark. Very knowledgeable and entertaining. Long day with time on the bus and the ferry. The gardens are amazing. Wish we had more time in Victoria. Could the tour not start earlier in the day?”

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4.The Butchart Gardens Express Shuttle from Downtown Victoria

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 616 reviews · 3 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $44

Ride from downtown Victoria to Butchart Gardens with Gray Line drivers such as Sarah, Rob, and Emily, who often provide lively commentary along the way. You get round-trip transportation, about three hours in the gardens, and hourly return departures. Admission costs extra.

“Got inspired to purchase the seeds from the gift shop. I was told shouldn’t have problem at customs. How ever if u declare - you must pass additional screening.”

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5.Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour with Gulf Islands Cruise Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 565 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $214

Travel from Vancouver to Victoria by coach and BC Ferries, then spend two hours at Butchart Gardens and about 1 to 1.5 hours in downtown Victoria. The $214.46 price includes transportation and garden admission. Guides such as Mark, Dan, Justin, Dion, and Senan add local history and clear timing advice.

“It’s a long day, but well worth it! Deonne (Dion?) our driver was professional, efficient and knowledgeable. Kept us entertained and on track for the whole trip.”

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6.Butchart Gardens and Victoria Sightseeing Tour from Vancouver

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 564 reviews · 13 to 14 hours (approx.) · from $234Top rated

This 13 to 14-hour day trip takes you from Canada Place to Victoria by BC Ferries, with guided stops at Mile 0, the Inner Harbour, Chinatown, and Fan Tan Alley. You get free time in Victoria, then visit Butchart Gardens before returning to Vancouver. Guides such as Rene, Byron, Kim, and Bernie provide local commentary in a small group of up to 24 people.

“What a wonderful day! Our guide Byron was incredible. From pick up to drop off he was engaged with all of us. Answering questions and offering interesting facts throughout the day. The smaller tour group makes for a much more pleasurable experience. Highly recommend this tour and tour guide!!”

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7.COMBO Victoria City Tour & Butchart Gardens & Entry Tix

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 456 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $106

Combine a one-hour narrated tour of Victoria with 2.5 hours at Butchart Gardens. Your English-speaking local guide handles the driving, entry ticket, city photo stops, and return transfer. Small vehicles, flexible departure times, hotel pickup, and garden tips make this a practical choice for cruise visitors and first-time visitors.

“The BEST way to experience Victoria and the gardens. We visited at the very end of the fall tour season, so had a smaller group that felt like a private tour. Our guide, Tyko, was very knowledgeable, willing to answer questions, and entertained us with so much information! We enjoyed getting to see some of the city sites without needing to navigate traffic, and the fall leaves in the gardens were beautiful. Our favorite is the Japanese garden, and it did not disappoint! 10/10 would recommend!”

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8.Victoria and Butchart Gardens, an Elevated Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 252 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $223

Travel from Vancouver to Vancouver Island by BC Ferries, watch for orcas and bald eagles, explore Victoria, and spend two hours at Butchart Gardens. Guides such as Joel, Aimee, Stephen, and Natalia add commentary and humor, while air-conditioned transport, hotel pickup, ferry tickets, umbrellas, and garden admission keep the day simple.

“Natalia was an engaging guide during the bus rides, with interesting commentary. A beaver is involved. I did not go on the tour through Chinatown so cannot comment on that. Sim did the driving, and was quietly doing his job. The bus is very new (as of this post) and very comfortable to travel in. It is a long day, but worthwhile doing if you want to see Victoria BC and the Butchart Gardens.”

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9.Vancouver to Victoria Day Trip by Seaplane + Butchart Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 200 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $525

Fly Harbour Air from downtown Vancouver to Victoria in about 35 minutes, then take a narrated coach to Butchart Gardens. Admission and return flights are included, with free time in Victoria before your afternoon or evening flight back. Drivers such as Rob and Pam have added useful local commentary, but schedules and bus connections require careful attention.

“On time, professionally managed trip. It was great. Butchart Gardens deserves to be world best — gorgeous. Harbor Air was a treat.”

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10.VanDusen Botanical Garden Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 179 reviews · 1 day (approx.) · from $8Best value

Spend a day exploring VanDusen Botanical Garden at your own pace. You’ll see more than 7,500 native and exotic plant species, an Elizabethan hedge maze, ponds, waterfalls, sculptures, and a teaching garden. Free hour-long tours may be available, while the on-site restaurants offer food at extra cost. Admission covers regular daytime hours only.

“Beautiful flowers and trees. Very serene. We loved it. We enjoyed the quiet paths and waterfalls. Would recommend.”

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11.City Highlights and Butchart Gardens Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 148 reviews · from $86

See Victoria’s Inner Harbour, Chinatown, Beacon Hill Park, and Old Town by comfortable vehicle, then spend two hours exploring Butchart Gardens on your own. English-speaking guides such as Michael, Hamish, Jacob, and Jim add local history and practical tips. The tour costs $86 and includes garden admission.

“Great, the young driver was very informative and interesting to listen to, with lots of information about Victoria. The gardens were amazing and we had plenty of time to explore them.”

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12.Vancouver to Victoria Seaplane Day Trip + Butchart Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 141 reviews · from $504

Fly by Harbour Air from downtown Vancouver to Victoria’s Inner Harbour, ride a narrated coach to Butchart Gardens, then spend about three and a half hours exploring Victoria before flying back. The $504 price includes return airfare, garden admission, and ground transport. Bring photo ID and check in 40 minutes early.

“It was a good flight that took me to one of the most beautiful gardens in the World!”

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13.Experience Victoria and Butchart Gardens Premium Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · from $81

Start near Victoria’s Inner Harbour in a premium vehicle with a black tie driver-guide. See Beacon Hill Park, Chinatown, and the Inner Harbour before spending two hours at Butchart Gardens, with admission included. Guides such as Karen and Michael have earned praise for their friendly commentary and reliable service.

“Good amount of time on your own walking around the gardens. Nice city tour and comfortable shuttle bus”

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14.Day Trip from Vancouver to Victoria and Butchart Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 10 reviews · 12 hours · from $247

Travel from Vancouver to Victoria by BC Ferries, then see Mile 0, the Empress Hotel, Inner Harbour, Chinatown, the Royal BC Museum, and Butchart Gardens. English-speaking guides such as Dan, Anthony, and Mark lead the day. Hotel pickup, ferry transport, garden admission, and free time are included.

“Itineraries of the trip was good but the bus had almost 44 people. We were party of 4 and we were picked up last. All seats were taken and we all have to sit separately towards the end of the bus. We could hardly listen to the bus driver’s comments. If I would have known that it is going to be this large group, I wouldn’t have booked the trip.”

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15.4-Hour Private Tour of Vancouver’s Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 6 reviews · from $270

Visit Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Queen Elizabeth Park, Bloedel Floral Conservatory, and Van Dusen Botanical Garden with an English-speaking guide. You’ll have a private vehicle, hotel pickup, entrance fees, and time to explore at an easy pace. The tour runs morning or afternoon and uses a classic Cadillac six-door touring limousine.

“Our guide was knowledgeable AND personable! She knew the gardens well and it was wonderful sharing them with her!”

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