British Columbia
Signature Cities Vancouver & Victoria
Program No. 20578RJ
Enjoy beautiful gardens, architectural walks, visits to museums and fascinating lectures as you immerse yourself in the unique story of Vancouver and Victoria.
Enroll with Confidence
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
7 days
6 nights
13 meals
6B 3L 4D
1
Check-In, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Vancouver, British Columbia
2
Vancouver Introduction, Mus. of Vancouver, City Exploration
Vancouver, British Columbia
3
Britannia Shipyards, Gulf of Georgia Cannery, Free Time
Vancouver, British Columbia
4
Ferry to Victoria, Introduction, Inner Harbour Exploration
Victoria, British Columbia
5
Ocean Exploration, Free Afternoon
Victoria, British Columbia
6
Victoria's Diversity, Coach Exploration, Butchart Gardens
Victoria, British Columbia
7
Program Concludes, Departure
Victoria, British Columbia
At a Glance
Embark on an exploration of Vancouver and Victoria to learn about these world-class cities with British, European and Asian traditions. Discover the planning that has made Vancouver one of the world’s most livable cities and explore its fascinating neighborhoods, including Gastown and Chinatown. In Victoria, meet with a local expert and explore historic landmarks including Old Town, the Inner Harbor, the British Columbia legislature and the grand Empress Hotel.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to one mile a day over varied terrain; climbing a few flights of stairs.
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…
- Explore Granville Island with a local expert.
- Admire the beauty of nature while on a self-led exploration at Butchart Gardens.
- Enjoy an expert-led whale watching cruise to learn about the ecosystem of the Salish Sea.
- Get a first-hand look at the city’s Victorian architecture and see the British Columbia Parliament Buildings and the historic Empress Hotel.
General Notes
You may enjoy our garden-focused program, "Victoria and Vancouver: Glorious West Coast Gardens" (#2679).
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Phil Foster
A lover of math and physics, Phil graduated from Exeter University in England with a teaching degree. His long career in education has spanned three continents; he spent time in small communities and cities throughout England, Australia and Canada teaching and learning about each country’s unique culture. Truly passionate about spreading knowledge to others and about travelling, Phil loves nothing more than taking people on educational walks through historic Victoria, showing them what makes his home special.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Phil Foster
View biography
A lover of math and physics, Phil graduated from Exeter University in England with a teaching degree. His long career in education has spanned three continents; he spent time in small communities and cities throughout England, Australia and Canada teaching and learning about each country’s unique culture. Truly passionate about spreading knowledge to others and about travelling, Phil loves nothing more than taking people on educational walks through historic Victoria, showing them what makes his home special.
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.
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.
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."
Tom Filipovic
View biography
Tom Filipovic grew up near Niagara Falls in Ontario where he fostered a love for whales at a young age. Tom's dream of seeing killer whales in the wild was finally fulfilled on a trip to Vancouver Island in 2018 when he went on a boat cruise with Eagle Wing. Along with a passion for whales, Tom has a love for teaching and sharing knowledge with people. He holds a B.S. in geography and a B.Ed., and is a certified teacher.
Suggested Reading List
(5 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Signature Cities Vancouver & Victoria
Program Number: 20578
Big Lonely Doug: The Story of One of Canada’s Last Great Trees
Big Lonely Doug weaves the ecology of old-growth forests, the legend of the West Coast’s big trees, the turbulence of the logging industry, the fight for preservation, the contention surrounding ecotourism, First Nations land and resource rights, and the fraught future of these ancient forests around the story of a logger who saved one of Canada's last great trees.
This and That: The Lost Stories of Emily Carr
Readers are given a new glimpse into Emily Carr's life with this collection. Carr stated that these stories were small when read on their own but when put together illustrate her life her life.
Exploring Vancouver: Ten Tours of the City and its Buildings
Containing more than four hundred entries, ten self-guided tours highlight significant buildings from all eras in the city and its metro region, and feature new projects that transform the skyline more radically than ever before.
Moon Victoria & Vancouver Island: Coastal Recreation, Museums & Gardens, Whale-Watching
Discover a place where the rugged and the cosmopolitan blend seamlessly. Inside Moon Victoria & Vancouver Island you'll find:
Flexible, strategic itineraries
Unique outdoor experiences
The best local flavor
Honest advice on when to go, where to stay, and how to get around from expert writer Andrew Hempstead
Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout
Thorough background on the culture and history, wildlife, and geography.
Vancouver Then and Now
In Vancouver Then and Now archival images have been paired with new photos of the same scenes as they appear today to reveal over a century of dramatic change in this beautiful city.