Victoria

Harbour Air Seaplanes - Victoria to Vancouver

Harbour Air Seaplanes offers convenient flights between downtown Victoria and downtown Vancouver. Harbour Air is located at 950 Wharf Street in the Inner Harbour Centre of Victoria

There are about twenty, 35-minute flights from Victoria to Vancouver are offered daily. Seating capacity depends on the type of aircraft that has been booked. Each plane holds 6 to 14 passengers. The allowable luggage per person is 25 pounds. All overweight luggage will be sent over on the next available flight, free of charge.

Passengers are required to check in 20 minutes before flight time. Photo identification is required.

2008 Operation Hours:

Monday to Friday - 6:30 A.M. - 30 minutes after the last flight of the day.

Saturday and Sunday - 7:30 A.M. - 30 minutes after the last flight of the day.

Check the Harbour Air Website for current schedules.

Offered By: Harbour Air Seaplanes

Telephone: (604) 274-1277

Toll Free: (800) 665-0212

www.harbour-air.com/

Pacific Coach Lines - Vancouver to Victoria

Pacific Coach Lines provides motorcoach to ferry services, offering many departures each day. It is the most direct way to get to Victoria with the exception of taking Harbour Air Seaplanes. Fares cover both coach and ferry rides and the journey takes approximately 4 hours. Pacific Coach Lines depart from the Vancouver International Airport, Vancouver Cruise Ship Terminal, and Pacific Central Station in downtown Vancouver.

Passengers are delivered at the PCL Station located near the Fairmont Empress.

2008 Operation Hours

Buses depart daily. Please contact Pacific Coach Lines for current schedule.

Offered By: Pacific Coach Lines

Telephone: (604) 662-7575

Toll Free: (800) 661-1725

www.pacificcoach.com

Royal BC Museum

British Columbia's past, present and future are alive at the Royal BC Museum. The vast collection of artifacts and specimens tell the stories of this remarkable destination. There's something incredible to see every time you visit.

On April 14, 2007 - 95 years to the day the Titanic struck the iceberg that sent it to the ocean floor - the Royal BC Museum launched a 6 month presentation of Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. This traveling exhibition features 281 artifacts recovered from Titanic's undersea resting place in a series of galleries that trace the life of the "unsinkable" ship - from its design and construction through to its discovery, recovery and conservation.

2008 Operation Hours:

Museum - 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.*
Archives - 9:00am - 9:00pm (Monday - Thursday)
               9:00am - 7:00pm (Friday)
IMAX - 10am - 8pm

*Also open most Friday and Saturday evenings until 10:00 pm from Friday, June 6 through Saturday, September 27, 2008. (Exception is Friday, July 11, when the museum galleries will close at 5:00 pm)

Offered By: The Royal BC Museum

Telephone: (250) 356- 7226
Toll Free: (888) 447-7977

www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca

Whale Watching Safari

Seafun Safaris is Western Canada's premiere marine adventure, featuring marine eco-tours, marine life; whale watching tours daily. Each tour is about 3.5 hours long.

Seafun Safaris provides: Free loan of binoculars; free loan of sunglasses and gloves should you need them; and as well as a route chart and marine mammal identification kit to take home.

2008 Operation Hours:

Early June to Late September - 9:00 am - 6:30 pm.

*Multiple departures daily, generally each hour.

Offered By: Seafun Safaris

Telephone: (877) 360-1233

www.seafun.com

The Butchart Gardens

The Butchart Gardens are located 21 kilometers from Victoria. It may also be convenient when traveling en route to or from the Swartz Bay ferry terminal. The 55 acres of colorful floral displays are open to the public year-round, offering spectacular views from the many paths that wind through the four main gardens. In 2004, the Butchart Gardens were designated a National Historic Site of Canada.

2008/2009 Operation Hours:

June 1 to June 14 - 9:00am - 7:00pm

June 15 to August 31 - 9:00am - 10:00pm** 

September 1 to September 15 - 9:00am - 9:00pm

September 16 to September 30 - 9:00am - 5:30pm

October 1 to October 14 - 9:00am - 4:30pm

October 15 to October 31 - 9:00am - 4:00pm

November 1 to November 30 - 9:00am - 3:30pm

December 1 to December 24 - 9:00am - 9:00pm

December 25 - 1:00pm - 9:00pm

December 26 to January 6, 2009 - 9:00am - 9:00pm

January 7, 2009 to February 29, 2009 - 9:00am - 3:30pm

March 1 to March 31 - 9:00am - 4:00pm

April 1 to April 30 - 9:00am - 5:00pm

May 1 to June 14 - 9:00am - 6:00pm
** The gates will be open until 10:30 on these Saturday nights: June 28, July 5 and July 12.

Offered By: The Butchart Gardens Ltd.

Telephone: (250) 652-5256

Toll Free: (866) 652-4422

www.butchartgardens.com

Gray Line West Victoria

Victoria Grand City Drive Tour

Duration: 1.5 hours

Departures:

June 9 to September 15 - 9:30 A.M., 10:30 A.M., 11:30 A.M., 12:30 P.M., 1:30 P.M., 2:30 P.M., 3:30 P.M.

September 16 to November 10 - 10:00 A.M., 12:00 P.M., 2:00 P.M.

November 11 to December 7 - 10:00 A.M., 12:00 P.M.

December 8 to December 31 - 10:00 A.M., 12:00 P.M., 2:00 P.M.

Depart From: The Fairmont Empress Hotel

Return To: The Fairmont Empress Hotel

The perfect summer tour! Ride in the authentic open top double-decker and get the best seat in the house. This narrated tour shows you the famous landmarks of the city and explains the fascinating history behind them. Discover Victoria's lovely homes, gardens and points of historic interest onboard an authentic British Double Decker bus. A great way to see the sights in a short time.

Operated By:

Grey Line West Victoria

Telephone: (250) 388-6539

Toll Free: (800) 663-8390

http://www.graylinewest.com/victoria/

Gray Line West Victoria

Victoria Tour & Titanic Exhibit

Duration: 3 hours

Departures:

June 9 to September 15 - 9:30 A.M., 10:30 A.M., 11:30 A.M., 12:30 P.M., 1:30 P.M., 2:30 P.M., 3:30 P.M.

September 16 to October 15 - 10:00 A.M., 12:00 P.M., 2:00 P.M.

Depart From: The Fairmont Empress Hotel

Return To: The Fairmont Empress Hotel

The Royal BC Museum is the first venue in Western Canada to present the story of the Titanic told through artifacts painstakingly recovered from the bottom of the ocean floor, which will take visitors on a journey back in time. This combined with a Grand City Drive narrated tour is a great way to see the sights of Victoria onboard an authentic British Double Decker bus.

Operated By:

Grey Line West Victoria

Telephone: (250) 388-6539

Toll Free: (800) 663-8390

http://www.graylinewest.com/victoria/

Gray Line West Victoria

Victoria Carriage Tour - 30 to 90 minutes

Departures:

June 1 to September 30 - 11:00 A.M., 12:00 P.M., 1:00 P.M., 2:00 P.M.

Depart From: The Fairmont Empress Hotel

Return To: The Fairmont Empress Hotel

Step back in time and take in the natural beauty of Victoria at a leisurely pace on one of our old-fashioned horse drawn carriages. A uniformed driver will fully narrate this tour through delightful English Gardens, historical James Bay and along our spectacular waterfront. This is a must do tour to truly experience the real flavor of Victoria. All carriage tours seat from four to six passengers.

Operated By:

Grey Line West Victoria

Telephone: (250) 388-6539

Toll Free: (800) 663-8390

http://www.graylinewest.com/victoria/

Gray Line West Victoria

The Butchart Gardens Tour

Duration: 3 hours

Departures:

June 30 to August 25 - 9:00 A.M., 10:00 A.M., 11:00 A.M., 12:00 P.M., 2:00 P.M., 3:00 P.M.

August 26 to September 22 - 10:00 A.M., 11:00 A.M., 12:00 P.M., 1:00 P.M., 2:00 P.M.

September 23 to September 30 - 10:00 A.M., 12:00 P.M., 2:00 P.M.

October 1 to October 20 - 10:00 A.M., 12:00 P.M., 2:00 P.M.

October 21 to November 10 - 12:00 P.M.

Depart From: The Fairmont Empress Hotel

Return To: The Fairmont Empress Hotel

Visit Butchart Gardens, Victoria's most famous attraction. Stroll along winding paths through 50 fragrant acres of blossoms, enchanting theme gardens, streams and lily ponds.

Operated By:

Grey Line West Victoria

Telephone: (250) 388-6539

Toll Free: (800) 663-8390

http://www.graylinewest.com/victoria/

Gray Line West Vancouver

Victoria Excursion and Butchart Gardens Tour

Duration: 8 hours

Departures:

June 1 to September 16 - 7:45 A.M., 8:45 A.M.

September 17 to December 31 - 8:45 A.M.

Depart From: The Fairmont Waterfront Hotel

Return To: The Fairmont Empress Hotel

This fully escorted tour includes priority boarding on BC Ferries for a 90-minute ferry ride through the scenic Gulf Islands followed by admission and ample time to explore world-renowned Butchart Gardens.

After 90 minutes of free time at the gardens you will enjoy a scenic drive into downtown Victoria.

BC Ferries - Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay

British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., or BC Ferries, is known for safety, spectacular scenery and a proud maritime history.

Many people in British Columbia commute by ferry every day. The BC Ferries' vessels are very large and can transport RV's, buses, and trucks as well as foot passengers and bicycles.

Once you board the ferry, you will park your vehicle and move to the upper passenger decks for the duration of the trip. The larger vessels used for this crossing feature numerous amenities including extensive seating, a large cafeteria, gift shops, video arcades and a play area for preschoolers. There are elevators available if you have any difficulty with stairs.

The length of the ferry ride is approximately 1.5 hours. We would recommend grabbing a book to read, a light snack, picking up the local paper or just relaxing and watching the scenery while sailing through the Gulf Islands.

Services between Vancouver and Victoria are offered daily.

Pre-booking is not necessary, but if you prefer to reserve a space for your car, you can reserve directly with BC Ferries for a $15 CDN. Travel is also available on a 'first come, first serve basis.

See BC Ferries website for further details.

2008 Operation Hours:

Monday to Thursday - 6:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M.

Friday and Sunday - 7:00 A.M. - 10:00 P.M.

Saturday - 7:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M.*

* There is no 8:00 P.M. ferry on Saturdays

Offered By: BC Ferries

Telephone: (888) 223-3779
http://www.bcferries.com/