The Butchart Gardens Experience Tour
Operated by Grayline Sightseeing Victoria
Butchart Gardens Tour Description
Located on Vancouver Island, Victoria’s ‘gem’ is the world-renowned Butchart Gardens, a National Historic Site of Canada. This privately-owned 55-acre display garden is located just 35 minutes north of downtown. Guests can visit the many themed Gardens including the Rose Garden, Sunken Garden with the dramatic Ross fountain waterworks, or the perfect precision of the Italian Gardens and more!
The Butchart Garden Tour runs year-round, with frequent bus departures to and from the Gardens on a daily basis.
Joining Instructions:
Please meet at the Kiosk in front of the Fairmont Empress Hotel 10 minutes before the time listed on your Travel Itinerary. Please present the Jonview Voucher provided in your Travel Documents in exchange for your tickets. The transfer to Butchart Gardens leaves multiple times per day, but a time must be booked in advance as the transfers will fill up. Should you wish to change to a different time than what is noted on your itinerary, please call the supplier directly at 1 855 385 6553 within three days of the activity.
Return shuttles from Butchart Gardens to the Fairmont Empress are also available hourly during the day. There is no set time allotted for your visit but it is recommended that you plan for a minimum of 3 hours to complete this experience.
*For exact shuttle times, please click the “Tour Schedule” button above to check the supplier’s website directly as times are subject to change throughout the year.
*This tour is included in our Victoria Add-On Package as well as any other Canada Rail Vacations Tour Packages with Victoria included
About Butchart Gardens
The Butchart Gardens, located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, boasts a rich history dating back to 1904. Initially, Jennie Butchart, the wife of cement magnate Robert Butchart, designed the grounds of the family’s estate located on the property as her passion for horticulture flourished. In 1912, as cement production had exhausted the limestone deposits on the land, Jennie envisioned a grand garden in its place which blossomed into what is now known as the famous Sunken Garden.
By the 1920s, the Butcharts had extended the gardens to include the Japanese Garden, Italian Garden, and Rose Garden, showcasing a diverse range of flora and design influences. Jennie’s dedication and eye for detail turned the once industrial site into a horticultural masterpiece, attracting visitors and recognition.
Following the Butcharts’ passing, subsequent generations continued to enhance and preserve the gardens. The Butchart Gardens became a National Historic Site of Canada on it’s 100th anniversary in 2004, a testament to its cultural and historical significance. Today, the gardens cover over 55 acres and attract more than a million visitors annually. The Butchart Gardens stands as a living legacy, blending natural beauty with human ingenuity, and serve as a testament to one woman’s vision that blossomed into a world-renowned botanical paradise.
To learn more about Butchart Gardens and its history, see here: Butchart Gardens Story
