Victoria: City Highlights Bike Tour with eBike Option

4.88

(132 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I showed up at the shop a little nervous—I hadn’t been on a bike since before the pandemic—but our guide, Jamie, just grinned and handed me a helmet. “You’ll be fine,” he said, and somehow I believed him. The bikes looked solid (I stuck with pedal power but someone else in our group went for the eBike upgrade—no shame there). We set off into Victoria’s streets, which were surprisingly quiet for a city. First stop was Government House; I caught the scent of roses before I even saw the gardens. There was this older couple walking their dog along the path—she waved at us like we were locals too.

The ride up to Craigdarroch Castle got my legs burning (not gonna lie), but coasting down afterward felt like flying. Jamie told us about Robert Dunsmuir and his coal fortune while we caught our breath under some old oaks—I only half-listened because I was distracted by the stained glass glowing in the morning light. At Ross Bay Cemetery, we actually saw two deer picking their way between headstones. It was so quiet you could hear the wind in the trees and nothing else for a minute or two.

Clover Point had this salty breeze that made my eyes water a bit—not sure if it was the wind or just how wide open it all felt out there on Dallas Road. Beacon Hill Park was next; peacocks strutted right across our path like they owned it (maybe they do). Jamie pointed out the giant totem pole and told us about Chief Mungo Martin—he got choked up for a second talking about family stories tied to it. We stopped at Fisherman’s Wharf where someone bought fish & chips from a floating shack and shared fries with a seagull who seemed to know exactly when tours arrive.

Chinatown surprised me most—Fan Tan Alley is so narrow you have to walk your bike through, and everything echoes in there: voices, footsteps, even laughter bouncing off red brick walls. By the time we rolled back to the shop, I had chain grease on my calf and way more photos than I’d planned. Jamie gave us tips for lunch spots (“skip the touristy ones”) before waving us off. I still think about that ride whenever I catch that mix of sea air and flowers—it gets under your skin here.