CVS Tours
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Full view

About
CVS Tours is a CVS Cruise Victoria company. We are a medium sized motor coach company operating in Victoria, BC Canada. We operate a fleet of Prevost motor coaches and Alexander Dennis modern English Double Decker buses. At the start of 2016 we have a team of over 40 staff members who are dedicated to ensuring our guests have the finest experiences possible while in our care. In the Summer of 2017 CVS Tours will be introducing an 88 passenger - all Electric - Double Decker bus, the first of its kind in Canada, in partnership with Green Power Motor Company and the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority. CVS is a Sightseeing company with the best live driver narration for Victoria City Tours as well as our iconic Butchart Gardens Tour. Sit back and relax as we offer you the very best that Victoria has to offer. Shop around - we think you will like our price point as well as the benefits of travelling with the industry leader. No one has more experience in Sightseeing, Charters or Cruise Ship services in Victoria than CVS Sightseeing & Tours. We also provides transportation services to Princess Cruise Lines arriving at the Port of Victoria - Ogden Point. We provide guest exclusive Shuttle Bus Service from the Cruise Ship Terminal to Downtown Victoria and return. The service operates from each pier to the heart of the downtown shopping and tourist districts - if you wish to see Victoria, we will take you there!
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.5
506 reviews
Excellent
344
Very good
71
Average
29
Poor
33
Terrible
29
Huston55
San Francisco, CA46 contributions
Butchart Gardens itself is a 5+ ! It is a must see if you’re anywhere near it. Grey line shuttle was also excellent. They’re friendly, handle the transport to/from Butchart and also sell entry tickets at the same price as the garden.
Written July 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Weber L
THANK YOU! We couldn't agree more, The Butchart Gardens are beautiful at this time of year and we are lucky to have the best sightseeing drivers around. Hope to see you back in Victoria again in the future.
Written July 17, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Linda Potter
Forest Grove, OR2 contributions
Jul. 2023 • Couples
Liked the route that was taken - we made notes to drive back to some of the locations. Wish that it could have been a live host rather than recorded.
Written July 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Weber L
Thank you for sharing your experience, we appreciate hearing from you! Our narrations has recently been updated, we hope you enjoyed the commentary and learned something new about Victoria.
Written July 17, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Wanda Coats
Lacey, WA40 contributions
The tour could have been informative, but we could barely hear the presentation seated inside on the second level. The worse thing was that there was little or no air conditioning so it was hot and stuffy.
Written July 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Weber L
hank you for sharing your experience, we appreciate hearing from you! Guest comfort is very important to us, we hope to welcome you back onboard our iconic red open top double decker bus.
Written July 17, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pamela P
1 contribution
Jul. 2023 • Friends
Drivers most informative , really kept our attention . The gardens were so beautiful , beyond description . I really appreciated the work it must take to maintain , and the original concept also . Pam
Written July 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Weber L
Thank you for sharing your experience, we are fortunate to have knowledgable and friendly drivers who love sharing all Victoria has to offer.
Written July 17, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
talan07
Gig Harbor1 contribution
Jul. 2023 • Family
The gardens were beautiful and at their peak.
Only disappointed in that the park closed at 6:00 pm in July and
that dinner was not being served at the dining room
Only disappointed in that the park closed at 6:00 pm in July and
that dinner was not being served at the dining room
Written July 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BertLahrScotland
Cupar, UK187 contributions
Jun. 2023
I've been to gardens, lots of gardens in France, Italy, Scotland, USA and Spain. This was, by far, the best one that I've seen. Stunning range of plants and colour, laid out beatifully.
Written June 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
F3922IPjohnh
Apopka, FL4 contributions
Jun. 2023
I was unaware of how far away Butchard Gardens was from downtown Victoria, which is where we stayed. The Express Shuttle was easy to use and makes thee 40 minute one-way trip go quickly. With Shuttles leaving every hour on the hour, it's a great choice to see one of the most beautiful gardens in North America.
Written June 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Irene J
14 contributions
Jun. 2023 • Couples
Terrific tour with great sound system! We saw parts of Victoria we would never have seen ourselves, particularly its beautiful parks. And from previous Grey Line HoHo tours in other cities, we especially appreciated the engaging tour narrative played over a high quality sound system. Be prepared to bundle up against the wind. It got quite chilly on the upper level.
Written June 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anita P
1 contribution
Jun. 2023
I was under the impression that the shuttle also included tickets to the Gardens. It wasn't until I was about to board the bus that it was made clear the Garden tickets were NOT included. The Shuttle employee said they had been telling Trip Advisor to make this clear, but the TripAdvisor people had not changed their information yet.
Written June 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Weber L
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We
do our best to ensure the trip details are clear so our guests know what to expect prior to boarding.
We hope you enjoyed your time at the beautiful Butchart Gardens. We hope to see you back in Victoria in the future.
Written June 20, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Diana T
48 contributions
A must see! One of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The bus ride was easy and quick! I would recommend about three hours in the gardens
Written June 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Weber L
Thank you! We hope you enjoyed the gardens, they sure are beautiful at time time of the year.
Written June 20, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carmen F
2 contributions
were you able to book the tour for Butchart and Butterfly Garden on line? If not, were you able to get tickets easily at the Empress Hotel and what was the cost of Tickets
CVS T
Victoria, Canada1 contribution
Hello,
Sorry for the delay but yes, you can book online or you can purchase tickets at our Kiosk at 721 Government Street infant of the Empress. This is where the tour departs from.
Regards,
CVS Tours
Stay27654934709
Las Vegas, NV25 contributions
We are arriving on the ferry 8:15 am from Port Angeles and want to visit Butchart Gardens- where can I find bus schedule, both going and returning from the gardens? Where does the tour bus leave from? Is it within walking distance from the ferry landing? Thanks!
CVS T
Victoria, Canada1 contribution
Hello, Our buses depart downtown hourly from 9am-5pm & 7pm. We return from Butchart Gardens from 11am-6pm, 8pm, & 10pm. All our tours are a live narrated tour by our driver. The tour leaves in front of the Fairmont Empress hotel, it is a 5-minute walk from the Coho ferry terminal. Thank you.
robertkatzen
Huntington Beach, CA5 contributions
Does the tour include the cost of shuttle from cruise terminal to empress
David R
Vancouver Island, Canada
Can you tell me which ship you will be coming in on and what date?
Best Regards
David Roberts
General Manager
CVS Tours
K4trip
Kansas City, MO2 contributions
We booked the Evening Illuminations Tour from the cruise ship terminal for next Friday, July 29th. I'm very concerned reading the other negative reviews about the shuttle service. We are concerned about how to find the tour when we get off of the ship. Are there any recommendations you can make to us in advance so that our visit goes smoothly?
CVS T
Victoria, Canada1 contribution
Hi there,
The CVS Kiosk is located directly to your right as you exit customs. I would suggest that you give yourself ample time to head there, and the agents will be able to direct you to the appropriate shuttle.
If you have your voucher/online booking code ready to go it will speed up the process. The shuttle will take you to the Empress Hotel where you will transfer onto our Butchart Gardens Express Shuttle.
If you have any more questions, feel free to ask here, or email us through our website.
Best Regards,
CVS Tours
daswood
North Palm Beach, FL
We would like to see the Butchart gardens. We will be staying in the Granville Hotel on Drake St in Vancouver. From what I see on the tour site,
it looks like the times are flexible. We would like to go just to the Gardens and not the city tour. From the description I believe this is possible, I spoke with a representative of the Gardens and she stated it took about 3 hrs to see things plus go to the gift shop, lunch etc. Does the bus pick up at our hotel, if not, where is the closest pickup site? From what I can understand, we take the 7:30 am bus to the ferry to another bus, arrive in Victoria around 11:30 am. We get off and have the option to see the city or just get on another bus at 12:10 or 1:10 to go to the Gardens. After being at the Gardens,
we depart at approx. 4:05 pm to depart to on a bus to get on a ferry that leaves at 5 pm, where we go to the bus ticket counter on the ferry to obtain a confirmation of our seat on the bus in Vancouver back to original pickup destination. Please let me know if this is correct, I have left 2 messages on the phone and no one has called me back so I can ask these questions. We are in a place I am unfamiliar with and want to make sure we have a good experience. Also, are these double decker busses, because some of the comments state they were put on the top level, and the other passenger has heart issues and cannot be in the heat on top of a bus. Thank you for any insight you can give me.
Pleasureseakers
Ontario's Near North, Canada168 contributions
Hello Dagwood, thank you for your question. As your questions are more specific to scheduling, I believe you would be best served by calling the Greater Victoria Tourist and Convention Bureau (250) 953-2033. They were extremely helpful when we visited. :)