- Duration
- 7 Days
- Activity Level
- Easy
- Group Size
- 27
Victoria
Enjoy two nights in delightful Victoria—British Columbia’s picture-perfect capital. This colorful pedestrian-friendly city is an ideal spot for whale watching, biking, shopping, and sampling from the wide variety of cafés and restaurants that line bustling Government Street.
Savor the island’s relaxing pace by exploring its lush gardens, and admire the historical architecture while embracing Victoria’s friendly ambiance. During free time, visit one of Victoria’s landmark castles or churches or enjoy a stroll along the quaint inner harbor.
Itinerary
Day 7: Vancouver / Victoria
Monday, July 3, 2023
This morning, take an included transfer to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. Aboard a BC Ferry, cruise the Strait of Georgia from Vancouver to Victoria—a passage providing unlimited scenery with a likelihood of spotting various marine wildlife. Upon arrival, explore world-famous Butchart Gardens and enjoy lunch on your own. Butchart Gardens is a national historic site of Canada. Enter and be enveloped by lush greens and colorful blooms. Blossoming for more than 100 years, it offers 55 acres of gardens with 900 bedding plant varieties, 26 greenhouses, and 50 full-time gardeners who create a wonderland of beauty everywhere you look.
Afterward, join your local guide for a panoramic tour of Victoria through Chinatown, past the Parliament buildings, along Dallas Road, and through Beacon Hill.
The remainder of the afternoon and evening is at your leisure. Explore some of Victoria's most beautiful downtown sites, including Christ Church Cathedral, with its gothic stone architecture, magnificent stained glass windows and Helmuth Wolff organ; Craigdarroch Castle, a stunning Victorian mansion; Bastion Square, site of the original Fort Victoria, with its spectacular views of the local harbor; or the renowned Royal British Columbia and other museums that can be found in the area.
Overnight: Fairmont Empress (B)
Day 8: Victoria
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Time at leisure provides additional opportunity to explore more of this charming city. Enjoy a walking tour of the downtown to appreciate its history and culture or a whale-watching cruise to see the wildlife-filled waters off the coast. Take time for a carriage ride, English-style high tea, or a stroll through some of Beacon Hill Park's 200 acres. There is an endless array of ways to fill your day. You may even choose to end the day with a renowned haunted Victoria tour or a visit to one of the many craft breweries in town. Your local guide or hotel concierge can help set up a day perfect for you.
Overnight: Fairmont Empress (B)
Day 9: Depart Victoria
Wednesday, July 5, 2023
After breakfast, guests departing during the suggested times take a complimentary transfer to Victoria International Airport for flights home. (B)
B = Breakfast
This post-tour is not escorted by an Orbridge Travel Director. Included sightseeing is accompanied by a local guide. Space is limited, so it's recommended to reserve early for best availability.
Activity Level
Moderate
It is our expectation that guests on this program are able to walk a mile at a moderate pace, get in and out of a motor coach, and walk up a flight of stairs without assistance.
Accommodations
Fairmont Empress
July 3 - July 4
Welcome to Canada's "Castle on the Coast!" Located on Victoria's Inner Harbour, this luxury hotel offers unparalleled hospitality and comfort. The Fairmont Empress has been named a Condé Nast Readers' Choice and Gold List hotel and honored by Travel+Leisure as a top Canadian hotel. Also a National Historic Site, the Empress is an alluring blend of classic and contemporary; of vintage and cutting-edge. Guests can enjoy the various on-site amenities, including a full spa, fully equipped gym, and indoor heated pool. Or perhaps experience Tea at the Empress—a daily tradition since 1908.
Room Amenities: Individual climate control, luxurious linens and down-filled duvets, cable TV, high-speed internet and Wi-Fi (additional fee), coffee and tea maker, bathrobes, safe, and en suite bathroom with hair dryer.
Post-Tour Rate***
Double: $1,195
Single: $1,595
Post-tour rate is per person based on double occupancy except where noted as Single, in U.S. dollars. Single availability limited. Airfare not included.
What's Included
- A 1.5 hour ferry cruise from Vancouver to Victoria across the Strait of Georgia
- 2 nights accommodations at the Fairmont Empress (or similar) with breakfast each morning
- A guided panoramic city tour
- Admission to Butchart Gardens
- Gratuities to local guide
- Airport transfer for guests departing during the suggested times