Tianna ClarkeOur family loves roadtrips, especially the part where we get to stop anywhere and anytime just to appreciate the views (or in our case, get more food for snack breaks). But, driving around an unfamiliar city can get pretty tiring too.
So since we wanted to explore the city by entrusting the long drive to the experts, we decided to let the best bus tours companies in Vancouver work their magic. Now, we can easily ditch the map, and just listen to the guide’s informative commentaries.
So if you want to skip the stress of looking for parking slots, and just want to enjoy the ride, make sure to keep reading this blog as we give you the best bus tour experts we found in the city.
How much does a bus tour cost in Vancouver?
A 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour pass in Vancouver costs around $61 for adults, while children between the age of 3 and 12 may cost around $31. Meanwhile, half-day passes cost $59 per adult.
1. Westcoast Sightseeing
Services: Bus Tours, Guided Tours, Seasonal Tours, Hop-on Hop-off Tours
Website: https://westcoastsightseeing.com/
Address: 10 Cambie St. #200, Vancouver, BC V6B 2M8
Contact Details: +1 604-451-1600
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Consumer Rating: B+
Our Rating: B
2. Discover Canada Tours
Services: Bus Tours, Bus Charters, Trip Planner
Website: https://www.discovercanadatours.com/
Address: 636 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E8
Contact Details: +1 604-689-8128
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM; Saturday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Consumer Rating: B+
| Google review | 4.8/5 |
| Total reviews score | 5/5 |
| Score consistency | 5/5 |
Our Rating: B+
| Flexibility | 4.5/5 |
| Route | 4.7/5 |
| Insightful guides | 4.5/5 |
| Guides with local knowledge | 4.5/5 |
| Multilingual guides | 4.5/5 |
| Convenience | 4/5 |
| Easy booking process | 4/5 |
| Lenient cancellation policy | 4/5 |
If you’re wondering if you can go on a bus tour even if you’re alone, then it’s a yes—as long as you’re with Discover Canada Tours. You can even plan a premium solo trip to the Canadian Rocky Mountains and Banff for a full week!
Whenever we asked for recommendations, they were very responsive and helpful. We literally get an immediate response, even during nighttime.
We were also quite impressed with our designated driver, who obviously knows the map very well. He also had enough energy to handle that long 8-hour drive, which made us feel a lot safer during the trip.
Another thing that we love is that their team is very knowledgeable about the local stops along the way. You can expect them to make additional stops so you could explore some waterfall spots and even a couple of trails before you get to your main destination.
We also loved that they only recommend the best accommodations in the area, which made our trip even more memorable.
However, the air conditioner on the bus was a bit struggling during our trip. Unfortunately, we went during the summer, so the afternoon ride felt uncomfortably warm, especially for the kids.
Organized tour
“Epic trip to Sun Peaks with my run group (there were 59 of us). Our fantastic three day trip itinerary was well laid out. The execution was easy, smooth, and super organised. Our gem of a tour guide, Ryan, brought the warmth and energy that set the tone for our days together – super knowledgeable and fun! Would definite go with Discover Canada Tours and Ryan again 🌟⛷️🏂. Also, Sun Peaks is a must. The rumours are all true!”
ZS L, Google Review
Entertaining tour guides
“We had an all day tour of Victoria that was one of the highlights of our entire cruise vacation. Ben is one of the most knowledgeable, entertaining, and competent tour guides we have ever encountered. He did a wonderful job showing us Victoria’s attractions and it never felt scripted or tedious. Great job, Ben! Thanks again.”
David Bloodgood, Google Review
3. Best Vancouver Tours
Services: Bus Tours, Cruise to Airport, Vancouver Lights Tour, Victoria Private Tours
Website: http://bestvancouvertours.com/
Address: 512 Sharpe St #3, New Westminster, BC V3M 4R2
Contact Details: +1 604-229-1626
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Consumer Rating: B+
| Google review | 4.8/5 |
| Total reviews score | 5/5 |
| Score consistency | 5/5 |
Our Rating: B+
| Flexibility | 4.8/5 |
| Route | 4.7/5 |
| Insightful guides | 4/5 |
| Guides with local knowledge | 4/5 |
| Multilingual guides | 4/5 |
| Convenience | 4.3/5 |
| Easy booking process | 4.3/5 |
| Lenient cancellation policy | 4.3/5 |
Aside from the packaged and fixed tours around the city, Best Vancouver Tours also offers bus tours with flexible schedules, perfect if you’re after getting the best experiences (and lots of photos) per stop.
Their pacing gave us room to breathe and appreciate the scenery without feeling rushed. They also suggest keeping the group size small as possible, so you could somehow feel a more personalized tour experience.
What’s great about them is that they have a full list of their packages online, which you can view anytime. You can even appreciate them for making all the details available for consumption, so you could easily choose which tour is best for you.
Even better, the price is already indicated in their package so you can get the ballpark cost easily.
Here, the tour guides are very friendly, and really gave us a good laugh for the entire trip. They even told us personal stories that really helped us appreciate the things we were seeing during the trip.
It’s worth noting, however, that their meeting instructions were a bit unclear for us. We suggest asking for the specific pickup location and double check it in Google Maps a day before the tour.
Affordable rates
“Very friendly and loving people working there!!! Cheapest Vancouver tour I found, highly recommend to try it 👍”
Parth, Google Review
Cheerful and informative team
“Thank you Sally you were indeed the highlight of the tour ! Very cheerful and informative. Keep up your good work ! We had a perfect 4 hours (3 pm to 7 pm) with her on the wheels, touring Vancouver ! No wastage of time since it was a small group.”
Anjali Menon, Google Review
4. Key West Travel & Tours
Services: Bus Tours, Travel Guide
Website: http://www.keywesttravelandtours.com/
Address: 909 W Cordova St, Vancouver, BC V6C 0A7
Contact Details: +1 604-632-3757
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Consumer Rating: B+
| Google review | 4.9/5 |
| Total reviews score | 5/5 |
| Score consistency | 5/5 |
Our Rating: B+
| Flexibility | 4/5 |
| Route | 4.5/5 |
| Insightful guides | 4.5/5 |
| Guides with local knowledge | 4.5/5 |
| Multilingual guides | 4.5/5 |
| Convenience | 4.3/5 |
| Easy booking process | 4.3/5 |
| Lenient cancellation policy | 4.3/5 |
We were looking for travel guides who practically grew up in the area, so when we knew that Key West Travel & Tours have them, we decided to go for them to explore the Canadian Rockies.
The consultation in their office was very convenient. And since they’re very organized, they were able to see available spots in their calendar, which also allowed us to book the trip on the same day.
We loved that we got different insights about the wildlife, and the unique stories about the individual mountains—things that you won’t get to read from books or even online.
If you have kids or even the elderly with you during the trip, you’ll probably praise Mark, the driver, too. He’s very friendly, and drives very carefully.
It’s worth noting, though, that the tours follow a very strict timeline, so it could be tiring for both kids and the older folks. If they need to join the trip, we suggest requesting for a longer duration instead to avoid squeezing in several tours in a day.
But don’t worry, accessibility won’t be an issue. We had two people on wheelchairs during our trip, but the guys at Key West Travel & Tours made sure we won’t have mobility problems from point A to point B.
It’s also great that they keep the bus clean, and they always allot a schedule for its maintenance.
Great storytelling from tour guides
“Just got back from a 4 day tour with Key West through the Canadian Rockies. Neil our driver was fantastic! Brad Dickson, our tour guide, was unbelievably knowledgeable and entertaining. His storytelling and insights made the trip even more enjoyable, The scenery was breathtaking. I would highly recommend this tour and company.”
Patti Strickler, Google Review
Impressive confirmation process
“We did a 4 day Rocky Mountain Tour with Key West. It was amazing. Winnie in the office was fantastic at confirming everything with us and Lorna our Tour Guide for the 4 days was very organised and her commentary during the trip was very informative and interesting. Would not hesitate to do another trip with them if I were back in Canada again.”
Regina Gray, Google Review
5. West Trek Tours
Services: Bus Tours, Rocky Mountains, Whistler Tours, Victoria Tours
Website: https://www.westtrek.com/
Address: 636 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E8
Contact Details: +1 604-689-8128
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Consumer Rating: B+
| Google review | 4.8/5 |
| Total reviews score | 5/5 |
| Score consistency | 5/5 |
Our Rating: B+
| Flexibility | 4/5 |
| Route | 4.5/5 |
| Insightful guides | 4.5/5 |
| Guides with local knowledge | 4.5/5 |
| Multilingual guides | 4.5/5 |
| Convenience | 4.3/5 |
| Easy booking process | 4.3/5 |
| Lenient cancellation policy | 4.3/5 |
A friend told us that West Trek Tours is known for their high-energy adventures, so when we planned for one, we made sure they’re on top of our list.
You can also tap them for your next camping trip. And what’s even more impressive is that they can make all the arrangements under short notice!
They really have their magic when it comes to keeping a large group intact, even if it’s your first time seeing each other! We loved how they keep the energy so high, it was like a school field trip all over again.
So if you’re after a more serene tour experience, we think that they may not be the best one for you.
Make sure to save a lot of energy though, as the day will be jam packed. Here, their schedule is so tight, so if you’re the type of traveler that needs to see all the iconic stops in one go, then they’re the right fit for you.
Additionally, most of the stops could feel a bit rushed, so better strategize if you’re planning to take lots of photos during your trip.
We also noticed that their buses are pretty old. Make sure to manage your expectations, especially for longer drives, as their seats are quite uncomfortable.
Made sure everyone was comfortable during the trip
“Helene was such a kind and wonderful guide! She explained everything clearly and with a warm smile. She made sure everyone felt comfortable and well taken care of throughout the tour. Thanks to her, we had a really memorable and fun experience in the Rockies. Thank you so much, Helene!”
Suyeon Byun, Google Review
Provides travel tips for every stop
“We are so happy with this tour. Not only was the itinerary perfect but also all of the incredible stories that we were told on the way. Alexis was the best tour guide we could ever asked for, super helpful, nice and had the best tips for every stop we had (from food to best spots for views). Also he was super helpful with the accessibility at every moment of the tour so my mom could also enjoy the tour even with her knew surgery / problems. Also ben was the best driver ever. The travel was so smooth, we could barely feel all of those hrs on the road. Will definitely book with this agency again 💕”
Caro Gonzalez, Google Review
