Vancouver to Whistler and Victoria: 2-Day Private Tour with Butchart Gardens & Sea-to-Sky
Difficulty
easy
Duration
2 days (full days)
Fitness Level
Suitable for travelers of average fitness; involves short walks and boarding the ferry and gondola.
Overview
In 48 hours this private tour compresses Vancouver’s harbor pomp, Butchart Gardens’ floral extravagance, and the Sea-to-Sky ascent to Whistler into a single weekend. Expect ferry crossings, mountain gondolas, and curated stops with local insight and included admissions.
Vancouver to Whistler and Victoria: 2-Day Private Tour with Butchart Gardens & Sea-to-Sky
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You step onto the BC Ferry at Tsawwassen before sunrise and the Strait of Georgia opens like a map beneath the wake — a cold line of foam, gulls riding the bow, and Vancouver’s skyline shrinking behind you. By midday the gardens arrive: Butchart’s terraces explode into color across 55 acres of former limestone quarry, pathways lined with roses and maples that have been coaxed into formal shapes for more than a century. Later, the Inner Harbour of Victoria unfurls — Parliament’s illuminated façade, seaplanes skimming the water, and an afternoon tea that tastes like ritual at the Fairmont Empress.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Pack for microclimates
Layered clothing and a lightweight waterproof are essential — the coast can be mild at sea level and icy in Whistler within hours.
Allow extra ferry time
Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay sailings take ~1.5 hours but arrive early for boarding queues and seasonal crowds.
Comfortable shoes for varied terrain
Bring shoes with good traction for gravel paths at Butchart and short, sometimes muddy sections at Lost Lake.
Bring a small daypack
Carry water, snacks and a camera; you’ll have limited time at each stop and may want quick access to layers.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Bald eagles (especially around rivers and harbours)
- Harbour seals and occasional orca sightings in the Salish Sea
History
Butchart Gardens began as a reclaimed limestone quarry in the early 1900s under Jennie Butchart’s horticultural vision; Victoria itself grew around a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post and later became the provincial capital.
Conservation
The region balances tourism and habitat protection — stick to trails, follow wildlife distance guidelines, and support local operators who work with First Nations and park authorities.
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Adventure Hotspots in Vancouver
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Waterproof shell
Protects against coastal rain and alpine snow during the Sea-to-Sky drive.
Comfortable walking shoes
Needed for gravel paths, garden walks, and short trail sections like Lost Lake.
Daypack with water bottle
Keeps layers, snacks, and camera accessible between curated stops.
Camera with a wide-angle lens
Captures sweeping harbour views and garden panoramas; low-light capability helps for dusk at Parliament.