Awaken Your Senses with Gourmet Delights and Historical Traditions
Come experience the splendor of British Columbia's capital city. Cascading with flowers and laced with British propriety, Victoria offers endless attractions and exceeding beauty. Surround yourself with the glorious spectrum of colors in Butchart Gardens, enjoy a vanilla-and-fresh-strawberry "Canada Cone" as you stroll along the causeway, or revel in the splendor of the Olympic Mountains from the beach. Steeped in history, Victoria's vibrant past lends itself to colorful stories, time-honored traditions, and many historic sites including Craigdarroch Castle, Emily Carr's cozy childhood home, and Canada's oldest West Coast lighthouse on Fort Rodd Hill. In the quaint and unique Oak Bay, wander through many specialty shops presenting an array of tea, chocolate, antiques, art, china, books, and the world's tiniest store. Due to its mild Mediterranean-like climate, Southern Vancouver Island produces an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as plant species (palms, eucalyptus, bananas) rarely found elsewhere in Canada. The region’s vast range in cooking styles has been inspired by traditional French and Italian techniques, by the flavors of Asian cooking, and by Native American methods, such as baking salmon on a cedar plank. This Victoria culinary retreat, while enhancing your cooking skills, will give you memories that won't soon be forgotten.
Grand Victoria Culinary Retreat
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ItineraryAccommodationsMapFAQ
VACATION HIGHLIGHTS
Please note:
Tour inclusions can change depending upon
seasonality and weather conditions.
•Deluxe Hotel Accommodations
•Hands-On Cooking Class with Chefs
•Dinner or Lunch After Instruction
•Grand Tour of Butchart Gardens
•Knife & Fort Culinary Tour
•Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Empress
While our tours are designed as soft adventure experiences, walking, climbing stairs,
and in rare cases mild hiking may be required. If you have mobility issues, you should
speak with one of our culinary travel specialists to determine if this tour is
appropriate for your situation.
AVAILABLE DATES
Year-Round Based on Your Availability
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Please note: Actual itineraries are subject to change due to seasonality.
Click arrows (▶) to show details
Day 1
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Arrival and Check-InnSituated in the heart of Victoria, Hotel Grand Pacific offers a unique blend of service and style inspired by warm and welcoming hospitality. The hotel is uniquely positioned to afford you easy access by foot to Victoria's tourist sites and international shopping.
Day 2
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Knife & Fort Culinary TourExplore areas of Victoria that other tour companies do not. You will truly be taken off the beaten path to some of the city’s most delicious hidden gems. All of the tour stops are small Victoria-based businesses serving amazing food and beverages. Go where the locals go to get a good meal in their own neighborhoods away from the tourist centers. You will have a good time sharing a meal and having a drink! This tour is a fun and energetic experience where you will meet fellow food lovers, explore a new neighborhood, and get insider tips on the Victoria culinary scene.
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Cooking Class with Gourmet Dinner or LunchThe London Chef welcomes you to their kitchen that is designed to look and feel like you are cooking in your own home. Tailor-made to suit your needs, your private cooking class offers you a choice of styles and cuisines from classical French to rustic Mediterranean dishes, from refreshing Thai and Japanese to hearty Italian creations. After your cooking class is finished, you will move to the comfortable Dining Room to relax and enjoy your creations. The centerpiece of the Dining Room is a table built of five-hundred-year-old reclaimed fir, seating eighteen people and perfect for European-style communal dining.
Day 3
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The Butchart Gardens Grand TourThe Butchart Gardens dates back to 1904 when Jennie Butchart began to revitalize a former quarry site into its current magnificent landscape. Today, as one of Victoria's most famous and popular attractions, travelers from around the world visit the Butchart Gardens to stroll along intimate stone paths and streams lined with colorful arrays of flowers and trees. The Gardens maintain a year-round appeal by adjusting the floral displays to each the seasons. No matter the season of your cooking vacation, you will find dining at the Butchart Gardens as outstanding as the floral displays, whether in the convenient coffee shop, the Blue Poppy Restaurant, or the Dining Room Restaurant in the former Butchart family residence.
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Afternoon Tea at Historical Fairmont Empress HotelPartake in Victoria's grandest tradition, Afternoon Tea in the majestic Tea Lobby of the Fairmont Empress Hotel. Preserving England's most beloved ritual for over a century, this landmark hotel has played host to famed celebrities, dignitaries and royalty alike. Antique tapestries, vintage furnishings, and soft enchanting piano music create an elegant atmosphere enhanced by the picturesque backdrop of the Inner Harbor. While you sip the Empress Hotel’s signature blend of tea, you will indulge in an elegant feast of fresh seasonal berries and cream, dainty finger sandwiches, and a tempting array of house-made pastries. Steeped in tradition, Afternoon Tea at the Empress is the epitome of Victorian class.
Day 4
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Check-Out and DepartureTime flies when you’re having so much fun, but alas…it is time to check out and depart this delicious, “Edible Destination.” Should you desire an extended stay, please let your culinary travel specialist know prior to check-in. May your future travels come from sweet dreams, and create tasty memories!
Hotel Grand Pacific
Situated in the heart of Victoria, Hotel Grand Pacific offers a unique blend of service and style inspired by warm and welcoming hospitality. Each comfortable room surrounds the guests in graceful charm with wonderful views of the harbor and the city’s stately provincial buildings. Hotel Grand Pacific provides a full-service spa, an indoor pool, and a health club, as well as the convenience of high-speed wireless and other amenities. The hotel’s three restaurants offer a range of dining experiences to please every style and taste. The Pacific Restaurant & Terrace offers casual fare featuring local, seasonal ingredients, and the Courtyard Café is perfect for breakfast with a morning latte or a light meal on the go. Relax in the Pacific Lounge following a busy day of cooking classes and sightseeing.
Victoria, Canada
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What Currency is being quoted?
The Currency Code is listed directly after the published amount. If it states USD, then the quoted price is in United States Dollars. If it states CAD, then the quoted price is in Canadian Dollars. If it states EUR, then the quoted price is in European Union Dollars…etc. However, please note that all charges are processed in USD, and Epitourean’s Merchant Bank automatically calculates the currency conversion on the day of the charge.
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What does Double Occupancy mean?
Two persons traveling together, and staying in the same room. Tour prices are normally quoted as “per person, double occupancy” in case two people are traveling together and staying in the same room, but paying separately. The cost of the lodging is also shared by two people, thereby reducing costs. This could be a married couple, two friends or relatives.
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What is a Single Supplement?
Whenever a person travels alone, the cost of their lodging cannot be shared by another person. When tour products are priced, they are normally stated as “per person, double occupancy.” Whenever a guest occupies a room as a solo, the whole cost of the lodging must be incurred by that one individual. Tour companies accommodate this by charging a Single Supplement. Epitourean does its best to keep the single supplement as low as possible, but it is a real cost that tour companies must absorb, and must pass along to the single traveler.
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If I am a Solo Traveler, will I be paired with another person?
Epitourean never pairs a solo traveler with another person without a special request. If you book Single Occupancy, you will have a room entirely to yourself. However, should you wish to be paired with another solo traveler to save on the single supplement, you may make this request. We cannot guarantee that we can accommodate such requests, since it would take another solo traveling on the same tour for the same dates. But if requested, we will certainly try.
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Are flights included in the tour price?
No. Flights are never included in the price of our land-only tours. Epitourean does not provide air, rail or sea travel, unless expressly noted in the itinerary.
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May I give a culinary tour as a gift?
Yes. Epitourean has a special program designed specifically for this purpose. Our Gift Packages come with features such as special messages to the recipient, gift box option, gift link (without pricing), and floating dates (should you not know when the gift recipient wants to travel). Contact a Culinary Travel Specialist at 800-390-3292 or customerservice@epitourean.com to receive additional information about this unique offering.
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May we request separate beds if sharing a room?
Yes. In most cases, Epitourean can accommodate a request for two beds to be placed in one room. Just make sure to make this request in the comments section of the reservation process.
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Does each guestroom have a private bathroom?
Yes. Epitourean partners with the best lodging options in each destination, and private (en suite) bathrooms are a requirement. However, you should inquire as to the configuration of bathrooms should you have a special need. For example, some tours include accommodations in medieval villages, where either a shower or bath(but maybe not both) are present.
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Can your tours accommodate my dietary restrictions?
In almost all cases, Epitourean can accommodate dietary choices and restrictions. But we do request that you ask a Culinary Travel Specialist prior to making your reservation so that we can assess your individual situation.
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If I am unable to use a portion of the tour, can I get a partial refund?
Unfortunately, due to vendor and supplier contracts, we are unable to provide partial refunds for unused portions of any tour or tour component.
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Are Transfers included in the Itinerary?
Round-trip transfers from the airport or train station are normally included in our international tours. Transfers to the destination (for both international and domestic tours) are not included in the tour price. Please see the Sample Itinerary. If it mentions that transfers are included, then yes, transfers are included at no additional cost.
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What meals and excursions are included in the tour?
The Sample Itinerary should be your reference. If the meal or excursion is described in the Sample Itinerary, then it is included at no additional charge. For those days where it expressly notes Free time, then any optional activities you elect to participate in might have an additional cost. In addition, if the itinerary states "evening on your own," it would imply that you have the opportunity to visit a restaurant of your own choosing, and at your own expense. If you have any question about inclusions, please submit an inquiry by clicking on the blue "Ask Us a Question" button under the price section.
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Is it possible to book pre or post tours or stays through Edible Destinations?
Yes, we often do have optional 2 and 3 night excursions that are priced separately from the tour. We can also assist with pre and post night stays in a hotel if you choose to come in early before the tour starts, or stay on after a tour ends. The price of those hotel stays are not included in the price of the tour, but we would be happy to provide a quote. Simply ask your Culinary Travel Specialist, or submit an inquiry by clicking on the blue "Ask Us a Question" button.
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Are Guide or Host Gratuities included in the price of the tour?
Since tipping guidelines and customs vary widely between countries, we do not include gratuities in the price of the tour. Your Culinary Travel Specialist can provide you with recommendations. But the general rule is to tip modestly when you are pleased with a guide’s services, either at the end of the tour, or at the conclusion of a specialty day excursion where you will only be with that guide (or chef) on that day.
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Should we plan on any personal expenses during the tour?
All lodging, meals, transfers, classes and excursions mentioned in the Sample Itinerary and Vacation Highlights are included in the price of the tour. However, we highly recommend taking local currency for purchasing personal items, souvenirs, tipping, etc. You can either get the local currency at an airport exchange service, ATM or from your local bank prior to travel. However, you should note that many hosted destinations do not accept credit cards for personal purchases.
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Do you recommend Travel Protection?
We recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and
your travel investment against the unexpected. Travel protection plans can include
coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency
Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more. For more information
on the available plans or to enroll, click on the link below or contact Travelex
Insurance Services at 800-228-9792 and reference location number 06-0248.
The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries
and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including
limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex CA
Agency License #0D10209. All products listed are underwritten by, Berkshire
Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (formerly known as Stonewall Insurance Company),
1314 Douglas Street, Suite 1400, Omaha, NE 68102. 11.17 E7N
Gifts and Gift Cards
The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries
and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including
limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex CA
Agency License #0D10209. All products listed are underwritten by, Berkshire
Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (formerly known as Stonewall Insurance Company),
1314 Douglas Street, Suite 1400, Omaha, NE 68102. 11.17 E7N
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