Category Tofino, Nanaimo & Island Escapes

Canada · TOFINO, NANAIMO & ISLAND ESCAPES

Top 15 Tofino, Nanaimo & Island Escapes

70 reviewed

Vancouver: Victoria, Gulf Islands Cruise, & Butchart Gardens

Vancouver: Victoria, Gulf Islands Cruise, & Butchart Gardens - Leaving Vancouver: Pickup, Comfort, and the Countdown to Tsawwassen

1.Vancouver: Victoria, Gulf Islands Cruise, & Butchart Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,165 reviews · 13 hours · from $208Our pick

One day by coach and ferry from Vancouver to Victoria and Butchart Gardens, with wildlife views, skip-the-line entry, and free time downtown.

“Our driver and guide Mark was excellent! He knew the area very well and shared lots of interesting and insider information with us. The tour was very well organized, giving us enough time to explore on our own. We also got great tips on where to eat and how to make the most of our free time. We were lucky with the weather, but it was really Mark’s knowledge and friendly manner that made this tour such a great experience.”

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Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour with Gulf Islands Cruise Ferry

Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour with Gulf Islands Cruise Ferry - The BC Ferries Leg: Gulf Islands Views Without the Stress

2.Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour with Gulf Islands Cruise Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 565 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $214

Ferry to Victoria, stroll Butchart Gardens, then photo stops and free time in downtown Victoria from Vancouver in about 13 hours.

“Viator was easy for booking this tour. Plenty of information was sent prior to our tour. Our driver, Justin, was very personable and was a great guide and story teller. He was very courteous and drove the bus with ease and confidence. The Butchart Gardens were amazing. I wished we had more time to explore. Justin got us back to Vancouver and our drop off place safe and sound. Thanks.”

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Cowichan Bay Half Day Whale & Wildlife Adventure

Cowichan Bay: Half-Day Whale & Wildlife Adventure - What You Pay: Value at $155 Per Person (and What’s Included)

3.Cowichan Bay Half Day Whale & Wildlife Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 393 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $159Top rated

Half-day whale and wildlife adventure from Cowichan Bay, focused on orcas and humpbacks, with small groups, safety gear, and expert guides.

“So AMAZING!!! This has been on my bucket list for 30 yrs and it was absolutely amazing! Tour guides were excellent - very informative and friendly.”

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Vancouver Island Half-Day Whale Watching Tour – Telegraph Cove

Vancouver Island Half-Day Whale Watching Tour - Telegraph Cove - Cruising into Johnstone Strait: how the crew finds whales

4.Vancouver Island Half-Day Whale Watching Tour – Telegraph Cove

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 333 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $153

Half-day whale watching from Telegraph Cove on Vancouver Island with live narration, an included photo package, and warm drinks onboard.

“Excellent experience - we saw 2 humpback whales, dolphins and a huge group of sea otters. James was an excellent guide, and took us through a lot of small inlets, around islands etc, so it was extremely scenic. The small zodiac boat was a lot of fun.”

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Vancouver Island Zodiac Whale Watching Adventure – Telegraph Cove

Vancouver Island Zodiac Whale Watching Adventure - Telegraph Cove - The 3-Hour Plan, From Telegraph Cove Marina to Open-Water Search

Vancouver Island Multi-Cave Experience

Vancouver Island Multi-Cave Experience - What your guide teaches you for safe caving

6.Vancouver Island Multi-Cave Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 235 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $63Best value

A guided multi-cave adventure at Horne Lake Caves, with rainforest hiking, ladder climbs, and Canada’s only Cave Slide.

“Had an amazing time on the caving tour, which started with a fun hike through the forest, exploration of two caves- which was educational and exhilarating. Highly recommend this experience.”

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Whale Watching Nanaimo Open Boat Tour

Whale Watching Nanaimo Open Boat Tour - Check-In Timing and What Happens Before You Cast Off

7.Whale Watching Nanaimo Open Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 194 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $187

Open-boat whale watching in Nanaimo with a small group, warm anti-exposure suits, and a full hour viewing whales in the Salish Sea.

“It took a while to find the orcas but the whole experience of boating around the islands, seeing the seals, bouncing around in the waves… was worth it.”

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Indulge in a Wine & Food Tour – Cowichan Valley

Indulge in a Wine & Food Tour - Cowichan Valley - Three wineries and tastings that are set up for real conversations

8.Indulge in a Wine & Food Tour – Cowichan Valley

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 151 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $126

Half-day Cowichan Valley wine and food tour from Victoria with Malahat views, 3 tastings, and a picnic lunch with local cider.

“Colleen's narratives & insight were tremendous. The interactions with the wineries owners provided an interesting and informative touch to the tour.”

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Campbell River: Whale & Wildlife Discovery Cruise

Campbell River: Whale & Wildlife Discovery Cruise - Vessel Choice: Covered Comfort vs Zodiac Wind

9.Campbell River: Whale & Wildlife Discovery Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 143 reviews · 4 hours · from $175

4-hour Campbell River whale and wildlife cruise with hydrophones and a naturalist. Spot humpbacks, orcas, dolphins, and sea lions.

“Beautiful day on the water! Jarek was a great tour guide and worked well with the other guides in the area communicating with them and us at the same time to find two separate pods of orcas which we followed for a half hour each from a respectful distance. We later found a humpback with her calf and a stellar sea lion colony surrounded by bald eagles! His respect for their territory and keeping 200 yards away from them (mandatory regulation) kept us within view of them without feeling like we were disturbing their activity. I would highly recommend bringing the longest lens you have on your camera. Cell phone…”

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Zodiac Boat Whale and Wildlife 4-Hour Tour from Campbell River

Zodiac Boat Whale and Wildlife 4-Hour Tour from Campbell River - What’s included, and why that affects your decision

Campbell River: 4 Hour Whale & Wildlife Zodiac Boat Tour

Campbell River: 4 Hour Whale & Wildlife Zodiac Boat Tour - Riding through the Discovery Passage and Johnstone Strait wildlife corridor

Telegraph Cove: Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

Telegraph Cove: Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos - Ocean Magic II: semi-covered speed plus two ways to watch

12.Telegraph Cove: Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 130 reviews · 3 hours · from $149

Spot orcas and humpbacks on a fast, semi-covered Johnstone Strait cruise from Telegraph Cove, with onboard drinks and free high-res photos.

“The most amazing experience, the guides were so knowledgeable and Informative. I have waited so many years to see ORCA in the wild and my dreams came true. We travelled all the way from the U.K to see them as we heard this was the best place. Amazing guides, amazing trip, amazing people, thank you for making my dreams come true.”

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Campbell River: Bute Inlet Grizzly-Watching Tour & Boat Ride

Campbell River: Bute Inlet Grizzly-Watching Tour & Boat Ride - The Orford River Valley and the route that sets up the wildlife

13.Campbell River: Bute Inlet Grizzly-Watching Tour & Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 112 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $572

Campbell River grizzly-watching tour in Bute Inlet with a small group, boat ride, and Orford River bear viewing plus meals included.

“Incredible experience! The tour accommodates 30 people, but it doesn’t feel too crowded. We got to see whales on the way out and sea lions and dolphins on the way back. We stopped at a few viewing spots and saw 5 bears in total, including a mother and cub, which sticked around for quite some time. The hosts were fantastic and getting some indigenous background and having indigenous guides was incredible!”

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Telegraph Cove: 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour in a Zodiac Boat

Telegraph Cove: 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour in a Zodiac Boat - Meeting at the dock and getting suited up for real weather

14.Telegraph Cove: 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour in a Zodiac Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 109 reviews · 3 hours · from $165

A 3-hour Zodiac whale-watching trip from Telegraph Cove with warm flotation suits, expert live spotting, and a strong whale guarantee.

“We had an amazing time ! Our guide Scotty was the best to find the best watching 😍 we saw whales, sea lions … and a family of orquas hunting !! It was crazy Thanks a lot Scotty, a dream came true for us !!”

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Half-Day Victoria to Cowichan Valley Wine Tour with Tastings

Half-Day Victoria to Cowichan Valley Wine Tour with Tastings - Price and What You’re Actually Paying For

15.Half-Day Victoria to Cowichan Valley Wine Tour with Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 107 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $135

Half-day Cowichan Valley wine tour from Victoria with tastings at three wineries, scenic lunch, and downtown pickup for $135.

“We saw three wineries. The first, Cherry Point, was wonderful. The person pouring took time to talk about each wine, what it can be paired with, and answered questions. She seemed to care that we were learning about the wines and the winery. The other two wineries rushed through the explanations and descriptions of the wines. The pourers seemed to be in a hurry to move on to other things. The wines were all good, though, and the food at the second winery was delicious. Our driver, Kim, was helpful and fun.”

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