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British Columbia

Victoria and Vancouver: Glorious West Coast Gardens

Program No. 2679RJ
Discover the botanical beauty of Victoria and Vancouver, where a blend of Asian and European aesthetics combine to create some of the world’s most stunning gardens.

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At a Glance

Cradled by sheltered waters and dramatic mountains and freshened by a gentle coastal climate, Vancouver is a city filled with parks and forests whose gardens reflect the city’s blend of cosmopolitanism, natural beauty and art. Across the Strait of Georgia, on the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria’s Edwardian architecture accentuates the city’s Britannic refinement, of which no lovelier example exists than the world-renowned Butchart Gardens. Explore both cities and their gardens, uncovering rich history, natural beauty and historic architecture.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking 3 - 4 miles over some rocky and hilly terrain.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Discover Vancouver’s VanDusen Botanical Garden, a classical Chinese garden.
  • Join a horticulturalist who will take you behind the scenes to the elegant Victorian Gardens to experience the area's colonial past.
  • Explore the renowned Butchart Gardens where some 900 varieties give you uninterrupted bloom from March through October.

General Notes

Given the nature of gardens visits, the amount of walking varies depending on each individual. You may enjoy our easier paced Signature City program, "Signature Cities Vancouver & Victoria" (#20578).
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Ian McDonald
Ian McDonald was born in Santa Monica, California to English and Canadian parents, later settling in Vancouver. Before his career in travel, he worked in radio, community policing, higher education, casino surveillance, and as a museum interpreter and bus driver. He is a storyteller first, weaving tales of historical figures and the places visited. When not traveling, Ian can be found at home with his wife and sons at their home near Vancouver. He is an avid photographer, fishkeeper, nature lover, and podcaster.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of John Adams
John Adams View biography
John Adams is the author of “Old Square-Toes and His Lady: The Life of James and Amelia Douglas.” Part historian and part storyteller, John has turned a passion for the past into a long career in history. His family-owned business, Discover the Past, provides a variety of historical educational programs for the community. His natural, lively, humorous and clear style makes his presentations both informative and memorable.
Profile Image of John Atkin
John Atkin View biography
John Atkin is an author, historian and heritage advocate who has been fascinated with Vancouver since moving to the city over 30 years ago. He is the co-founder of the Heritage Vancouver Society, has contributed to a documentary on the city, and has appeared regularly on television and radio, including CBC Television and CTV’s Canada AM. John is the author of four books on Vancouver, including “Strathcona: Vancouver’s First Neighborhood,” and is an editor for the B.C. Historical Federation.
Profile Image of Chris Adams
Chris Adams View biography
Chris was raised in Victoria and attended the University of Victoria where he received his BA in history. Chris spent many years of his early adult life in the UK and received a diploma in human ecology from Strathclyde University in Glasgow. He and his wife now live in Victoria with their two children. Chris is a historian, storyteller and interpretive leader. In his spare time, he is a hard-working urban farmer, tending flocks of chickens, ducks and quail, along with many hives of bees.
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Routes Adventures Mobile Phone View biography
Please call the toll free line at 1-866-745-1690 during regular business hours or for non-urgent matters (Mon - Fri 8:30 - 4:30 EST). The mobile phone #1-613-331-5777 is for after hours and weekends for emergency use only. The phone is carried by a staff member.
Profile Image of Alasdair Butcher
Alasdair Butcher View biography
Alasdair Butcher is a Vancouver-born and based local expert, community organizer, and educator. He has a B.A.H. in human geography from the University of British Columbia and a master's in urban studies from Simon Fraser University. In 2008, he founded Vancouver DeTours with the aim of reclaiming travel as an act of educational empowerment. Since then, he has taken more than 100,000 guests on explorations of Vancouver's social history, architecture, urban planning, public art, and contemporary topics through an approach he calls "pedestrian pedagogy."
Profile Image of LoriAnn Bird
LoriAnn Bird View biography
LoriAnn Bird is an Indigenous Metis herbalist, educator, and mother of two daughters, with a deep knowledge of wild, medicinal, and edible plants that grow in everyday spaces. By cultivating and promoting "wild spaces," LoriAnn believes communities can rediscover local foods and medicines, supporting collective ecological healing. Lori envisions co-creating insightful dialogues, and remediating and reconciling with Indigenous plants as they are re-introduced into urban landscapes. LoriAnn is the author of 'Revered Roots: Ancestral Teachings and Wisdom of Wild, Edible, and Medicinal Plants.'
Profile Image of Greg Holmes
Greg Holmes View biography
Greg Holmes, international wanderer and grizzly bear greeter, has navigated a number of destination marketing roles for the better part of 25 years. Roles as varied as leading visitors in Moscow to bringing the 2010 Olympic torch to hundreds of communities across Canada have kept Greg busy over the years. In his spare time Greg is completing renovations on the 1949 Burnaby Heights bungalow home he shares with his wife and their two dogs. He enjoys sailing, sea kayaking, tennis, biking, and hiking.
Profile Image of Ian McDonald
Ian McDonald View biography
Ian McDonald was born in Santa Monica, California to English and Canadian parents, later settling in Vancouver. Before his career in travel, he worked in radio, community policing, higher education, casino surveillance, and as a museum interpreter and bus driver. He is a storyteller first, weaving tales of historical figures and the places visited. When not traveling, Ian can be found at home with his wife and sons at their home near Vancouver. He is an avid photographer, fishkeeper, nature lover, and podcaster.
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