Day 1 - Arrival in Victoria
Upon arrival at the Vancouver International Airport, you will transfer by private sedan to the floatplane dock where you will board Harbour Air for a 35 minute flight to Victoria Harbour. Upon arrival, you will transfer by private sedan to your hotel for check-in.
OPTION:
Victoria Ghostly Walks
Victoria's past is fascinating and diverse. Discovery Walks are designed to bring its most interesting aspects to life in 90-minute walks that highlight personalities, history, archaeology, architecture, gardens, parks and urban legends. The walks are conducted at a leisurely pace, often with places to sit down. Join one to connect the past with the present and yourself with the city. Discovery Walks will make Victoria memorable for you. Whether you live in Victoria or are visiting from another city, Discovery Walks will inform, entertain and inspire you with well-researched stories, expertly told. The tours are hosted by John Adams, who has appeared on the TV series Ghosts and Ghoulies and on Discovery Channel's Creepy Canada. John Adams is one of Victoria's foremost historians and storytellers, who has been leading ghost tours through the alleys and haunted places of Victoria since 1970. Ghostly Walks are guaranteed to be spell-binding, entertaining, memorable, and most of all ... spine-tingling! (Nightly in July & August and on Weekends the rest of the year)
Moderate: Overnight Chateau Victoria
Superior: Overnight Hotel Grand Pacific - Standard room
Deluxe: Overnight Hotel Grand Pacific – Pacific Suite
Day 2 - Victoria Grand City Tour & Butchart Gardens
The Grand City Tour offers you the very best of Victoria. Venture through Victoria onboard an authentic English Double Decker Bus and view the unique downtown shops, exclusive residential areas and scenic vistas. During your travels, your experienced driver guide will provide a fascinating narrative on Victoria's rich historic background. The tour includes the City Center, Chinatown, Antique Row and the English flavored Rockland area. Pass through the exclusive Uplands and Oak Bay residential areas in settings of magnificent Garry Oaks. Then continue on through the beautiful residential areas of Victoria, following Marine Drive with its many spectacular views of the coastline and the Olympic Mountains. The highlight of the second part of the tour is the one and a half hour visit to the Butchart Gardens, one of Victoria's most famous sites, and rated among the most beautiful gardens in the world. Here you will see the Sunken Garden, the Japanese and Italian Gardens, the English Rose Garden and the magnificent Ross Fountain, all linked by spacious lawns, streams and lily ponds - 50 acres of fragrance and beauty.
Moderate: Overnight Chateau Victoria
Superior: Overnight Hotel Grand Pacific - Standard room
Deluxe: Overnight Hotel Grand Pacific – Pacific Suite
Day 3 - Cowichan Valley Winery Bike Tour including Gourmet Lunch
Do you enjoy gourmet cheese, oven fresh baguettes, fine wines, and the sights and smells of the countryside? You can now enjoy the warmest climate in Canada as you cycle through Vancouver Island's Cowichan Valley in search of the perfect glass of wine. First you will sample gourmet cheeses before picking up organic sour dough baguettes fresh from the oven. Then don backpacks and enjoy a 45 minute moderate cycle through the countryside, passing turn of the century churches and farm animals along the way. Once at the vineyards, you will sample wine straight from the barrels while enjoying your cheese and baguettes. The tour culminates with a riverside gourmet lunch, and an opportunity to prune the vines or participate in the great stomping of the grapes!
Moderate: Overnight Chateau Victoria
Superior: Overnight Hotel Grand Pacific - Standard room
Deluxe: Overnight Hotel Grand Pacific – Pacific Suite
Day 4 - Whale Watching Tour / Discovery Tasting & Wine Pairing Dinner at Aerie Resort
This morning depart on a 3 hour Whale Watching Tour. Choose to have your excursion on exhilarating 28' open Zodiacs or a beautiful 46' Motor Yacht (offering an enclosed cabin as well as outside viewing decks). Whale and Marine Wildlife Watching expeditions have become one of Victoria's most popular activities. The waters around Southern Vancouver Island are home to three resident pods of Orcas (or Killer Whales). You can also see gray and humpback whales (in season) dozens of species of seabirds, playful Porpoises, Seals & Seal Pups, Sea Lions, the majestic Bald Eagles, Lighthouses and marine eco-systems. Experienced skippers & naturalists, a perfect safety record, high whale sightings & free Marine Mammal Information Kit are included. Return to downtown Victoria and the remainder of the day is at leisure to explore the beautiful Inner Harbor of Victoria, including the legendary Empress Hotel and the Royal British Columbia Museum.
This evening transfer by private sedan to the Aerie Resort, located high in the mountains of Southern Vancouver Island, just 30 minutes from Victoria. Voted #1 Food in the Americas by Conde Naste Traveler, the Aerie takes great passion and excitement in the local products that grow in abundance in the area. Enjoy a 7-course Discovery Tasting Menu, including wine pairing, featuring Vancouver Island produce items that celebrate the bounty of our local farms, the ocean and the culinary flair of the Aerie's Kitchen Brigade.
Moderate: Overnight Chateau Victoria
Superior: Overnight Hotel Grand Pacific - Standard room
Deluxe: Overnight Hotel Grand Pacific – Pacific Suite
Day 5 - Travel to Vancouver
You have the option to return to downtown Vancouver on frequent return bus departures or to the Vancouver International Airport (on select departures), at a time that is suitable for you. As well, you can transfer by private sedan to the Victoria Airport. Or for a bird's-eye view of the region, take the optional floatplane flight from Victoria's Inner Harbor to Vancouver's Harbour.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- 4 nights accommodations, any mandatory service charges and room tax
- Victoria Grand City Tour & Butchart Gardens
- Cowichan Valley Winery Bike Tour including picnic lunch
- Whale Watching Tour via Zodiac or boat
- Floatplane from Vancouver to Victoria
- 7-course Discovery Tasting Menu & Wine Pairing at Aerie Resort including gratuities
- Round-trip private sedan dinner transfer between Victoria & Aerie Resort including gratuities
- Private sedan transfer from Vancouver Airport to floatplane terminal including gratuities
- Motor coach transfer from Victoria to Vancouver Airport including BC Ferry toll
- Personalized documentation package
PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Meals not listed as included
- Gratuities not listed as included
- Transfers not listed as included
- Optional Tours
- Trip Cancellation Insurance (Insurance can be purchased from your Vacation Specialist, ask for more details)