Culinary tours in British Columbia explore award-winning restaurants and bustling markets; superb wineries, breweries and cideries; and fresh, local food from farms and orchards.
Some food tours incorporate outdoor activities, such as gourmet kayak trips in the Gulf Islands, cycling to wineries near Kelowna, and searching for seaweed in Sooke or mushrooms near Mill Bay.
Want to learn how to personally prepare everything from West Coast cuisine to international dishes? Take hands-on courses at cooking schools in BC.
Learn more about culinary tours and schools in BC's regions and cities:
Vancouver Island: Home to the highest number of culinary tours. Includes the Cowichan Valley, seaweed tours, mushroom hunting trips, Aboriginal salmon feasts and more.
Vancouver Coast & Mountains: Culinary tours in the Fraser Valley, along with farms, “u-pick” berry sites, fruit wineries and Circle Farm Tours.
Thompson Okanagan: Snowshoe and cycling culinary tours that complement wine tours in the Okanagan Valley.
Vancouver: Walking tours through Granville Island and Chinatown, Asian cuisine in Richmond, plus Edible Canada’s gourmet retail shop and dinner series with acclaimed BC chefs.
Victoria: North America’s second highest number of restaurants per capita, a thriving craft beer culture, and trips to the nearby Saanich Peninsula and Cowichan Valley.
Whistler: Restaurant tasting tours in the pedestrian-only village, an award-winning après-ski scene and potatoes (and potato vodka) in nearby Pemberton.
Guided Culinary Tours
Guided culinary tours pair a variety of activities with delicious food, wine, beer and cider. Paddle scenic shorelines and spot wildlife in the Gulf Islands (followed by a gourmet meal on the beach); finish a snowshoe tour with Icewine; or cycle to boutique wineries, cheesemakers, “u-pick” orchards, and farm-gate vendors in the Cowichan, Fraser or Okanagan valleys.
Knowledgeable guides can educate about cooking and ingredients, and some tours provide the opportunity to meet chefs, farmers or winemakers.
Urban culinary adventures explore acclaimed restaurants and popular foodie neighbourhoods and markets in Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler.
Self-Guided Culinary Tours
The abundance and close proximity of BC’s farms, orchards, farmers markets and artisan food producers makes self-guided culinary touring (either by driving, cycling or walking) easy. To find culinary destinations that welcome visitors, choose designated driving routes such as Circle Farm Tours or the Mountains and Vineyards Circle Route. Visitor Centres can also provide helpful information and maps. Add a wine tour to discover award-winning BC wineries – many have bistros and restaurants that showcase local ingredients.
Cooking Schools
BC has an abundance of cooking schools, and each region offers something different.
For instance, on Vancouver Island, visitors can forage for ingredients, take a class in a farm kitchen or escape on a romantic culinary getaway. In the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region, take cooking courses in the kitchen of a gourmet food store or on an herb farm. Heading to the Thompson Okanagan region? Take a culinary class at a winery and prepare cuisine that complements local wines.
Cooking schools in urban areas provide extra variety. While in Vancouver, spend an intimate evening observing BC’s most renowned chefs, or learn skills in a hands-on cooking class. Visiting Victoria? Learn to prepare old-school Italian recipes, or take one of the more than 40 vegetarian courses offered by award-winning Chef Heidi Fink. In Whistler, foodies can work alongside a celebrated chef at one of the city’s best restaurants.
Festivals and Events
Food festivals are an easy way to sample chef-prepared meals, which are often paired with local wines, and celebrate everything from oysters and shellfish to wine and craft beer. Popular events include EAT! Vancouver (June), Cornucopia (Whistler, November), Clayoquot Oyster Festival (Tofino, November) and the Okanagan Wine Festivals (seasonal). Other events include Slow Food Cycle tours and Feast of Fields – two roving outdoor picnics.
Practical Points
- The peak season for culinary touring is between March and October, although some are offered year-round.
- Tours may require advance booking.
- Check with local Visitor Centres for maps, information on transportation and trip ideas.
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