6 Seaplane Flights in Victoria That Live Up to the Photos

1.Vancouver to Victoria Seaplane Adventure & Return via Bus & Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 354 reviews · 9 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $309Our pick

Choose your Vancouver departure time, check in at Canada Place, and fly 35 minutes by Harbour Air seaplane to Victoria. Explore the Inner Harbour, Chinatown, Oak Bay, or Butchart Gardens on your own, then return by coach and BC Ferries. The return takes about 4.5 hours and ends near the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

“A long day out but well worth it. The sea plane flight was noisy but the views over Vancouver Island were amazing. Victoria itself was beautiful with some beautiful and historic architecture. The coach and ferry return to Vancouver was long but we got another perspective on Vancouver Island. A really great day.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Panorama Scenic Seaplane Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 271 reviews · from $137Best value

Take off from Victoria’s Inner Harbour with Harbour Air for a 30-minute Panorama Seaplane Tour, including about 20 minutes in the air. Look for the Empress Hotel, Mount Douglas, Elk Lake, Saanich Peninsula, James and Sidney Islands, and Finlayson Arm. Pilot Max has earned praise for smooth, professional flying.

“We really enjoyed the tour a bunch. It's been a bucket list of mine, for years, to fly on a sea plane. I'd definitely come back and do it again.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Vancouver to Victoria Day Trip by Seaplane + Butchart Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 200 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $525

Fly 35 minutes from Vancouver Harbour to Victoria, then ride by narrated bus to Butchart Gardens, with admission included. You get at least two hours in the gardens, plus free time in downtown Victoria before your return flight. Drivers such as Rob and Pam have provided especially helpful local commentary on some departures.

“This is not a “proper Viatour Tour”. It is a Harbour Air floatplane, a Grayline bus and a ticket to the gardens packaged together. There is no tour guide or Viatour representative. The instructions were dismally lacking. There is no one along the way to inform you of where things are. The Viatour itinerary was dead wrong. It said our outbound flight from Vancouver to Victoria was at 11:15 AM which meant a required 10:35 AM check-in. Fortunately I called Harbour Air directly the day before and found out the flight was at 11:00 AM. If we had followed Viatour’s itinerary (emailed to me) we would have missed the flight…”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Vancouver-Victoria Day Trip by Seaplane + Whale Watching by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 142 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $546

Fly 35 minutes from downtown Vancouver to Victoria, then join a three-hour Orca Spirit whale-watching trip. Your small group may ride a covered vessel or Zodiac, with guides such as Shannon, Josh, Luke, or Liam sharing local wildlife knowledge. Round-trip flights, taxes, and sustainability fees are included.

“Plane ride was by far the best way to get to the island. We had plenty of time to experience downtown before the boat trip. Be prepared for a cold, bumpy ride, but it will be worth it. We were able to see a humpback, sealions and seals.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Vancouver to Victoria Seaplane Day Trip + Butchart Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 141 reviews · from $504

Take Harbour Air’s morning seaplane from downtown Vancouver to Victoria, then ride a narrated coach to Butchart Gardens. After exploring the 55-acre National Historic Site, return to Victoria for free time before flying back. The $504 trip saves ferry hours and combines aerial views, gardens, and city sightseeing in one May-to-October day.

“A fantastic day trip. The flights were amazing and the gardens spectacular.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Vancouver: Victoria and Butchart Gardens by Seaplane

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 5 reviews · from $690

You’ll fly by seaplane from Vancouver to Victoria, arriving at the downtown harbour around 8:30 AM. Spend free time in Victoria, then take a scheduled shuttle with live commentary to Butchart Gardens for about two hours. Hotel or private-address pickup, garden admission, shuttle service, and return flights are included.

“Very nice service and transport from Andy to the platform, great organization and support, unique experience”

Check availability →Read our full review