YouVictoria

A rooster crowing, the drowsy buzz of bees, a tractor in the distance – all sounds that will give you a clue to the Saanich Peninsula and its fascinating Flavour Trail tour.

Just 30 minutes outside of Victoria, the Saanich Peninsula is one of Vancouver Island’s best kept secrets. With gently rolling hills, pasture, apple orchards, vineyards that run down to the ocean and rocky coves, it’s a 30 kilometre promontory flanked by the Salish Sea and its bounty, that’s ripe and ready for you to discover. It’s a land of farmsteads, cider presses, bakers, distillers, honey farmers, brewers and growers, all contributing to its unofficial title of the “The Island’s Salad and Fruit Bowl”.

The Flavour Trail is a self-guided expedition that really celebrates the richness of the region. You can buy fresh cut basil, taste fireweed honey, take a winery tour, pick berries, sip cider or taste our local delicacies. And because of its proximity to Victoria, the visitor can do all this and be back in town in time for tea (and maybe even taste some delicious Saanich produce when you have dinner that night). The area is of such a “tourable” scale, it’s possible to see a lot and, more importantly, taste a lot and really get the local flavour. Travel by car to see as much as you can, or go by standard or electric bike for a leisurely tour that seems to perfectly match the rhythm of the region.

Whichever way you choose to go, welcome to a world of gastronomic delights.