Here’s What You Need To Know
What Do Your Tours Include?
Sip Tours
Sip Tours include the venues listed on the tour page. Final venue selection is based on availability.
Anchor Tours
Anchor Tours include all venues listed in the tour information dropdown menu.
Important Notice
Lunch and dinner tours do not include the cost of the meal. Guests are responsible for paying for their own food and beverages at the restaurant.
Are tasting fees included in the tour?
Yes — most tasting fees are included with our standard Sip and Anchor tour packages across wineries, cideries, breweries, and distilleries.
Guests can typically enjoy up to 20 tastings on a half-day tour and up to 25 tastings on a full-day tour, depending on the venues visited.
Some premium or exclusive venues may have additional tasting fees. These locations are noted in our itinerary options. Additional fees may also apply for priority reservations or custom itineraries.
If any extra fees apply, our reservations team will always notify you in advance and help you decide if you’d like to proceed with those selections or explore other options.
We’re ready to book! What is the best way to contact you?
You can book directly online using the BOOK NOW button, or contact us at 778-583-5555 or info@sipandanchor.com if you’re interested in a custom charter.
How Much of a Deposit Do I Need to Give in Order to Secure Our Booking?
A 20% deposit is required at the time of booking to confirm your tour, with the remaining balance due 7 days before the tour date.
For larger group tours, a 20% deposit is also required to secure your reservation, with the remaining balance due 14 days prior to the tour date.
How should we cover the gratuity for the guide?
To minimize cash transactions, we offer a gratuity dropdown at the time of booking, allowing you to select 15% or more.
For private tours and groups of eight or more guests, an 18% gratuity will be automatically added — no exceptions.
While gratuity is included at booking, if your Guide delivers exceptional service, a cash tip at the end of the tour is always appreciated.
Does the Gratuity Go Directly to the Guide?
The Guide receives the full auto-gratuity amount.
While gratuity is included at booking, if your Guide delivers exceptional service, a cash tip at the end of the tour is always appreciated.
How are reservations confirmed?
You’ll receive an automated email confirmation once your deposit or full payment has been received. We do our best to hold requests as long as possible, but due to high demand, a reservation is not guaranteed until a deposit is made.
Is Dinner or Lunch Included in Your Tours with a Meal Stop?
The cost of lunch or dinner on tours with meal stops is the responsibility of the guests and should be paid directly to the restaurant at the time of your meal.
Private Tours:
If you’d like to bring a picnic or have special lunch requests, we’re happy to accommodate!
Are Your Wine Tours Public or Private?
All of our shared wine tours are public, meaning there will be multiple guests on the vehicle.
We also offer private tours for groups of 6 or more.
Are private tours an option?
Private tours are perfect for groups or couples celebrating a special occasion, or anyone looking for a more exclusive experience.
Depending on your group size, we offer a few options:
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Ford Transit Van: Maximum of 14 passengers; private tours available with a minimum of 8 seats purchased.
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Signature Tour: Maximum of 12 passengers; private tours available with a minimum of 8 seats purchased.
For larger groups, please contact us to discuss options.
How do we plan a Bachelor/Bachelorette party with you?
Planning Your Private Tour
Great question! Here’s how to get started:
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Finalize your guest count.
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Browse our Sip Tours and Anchor Tours and choose the one that sounds the most fun!
We recommend the Signature Tour for groups up to 12 guests.
Because it’s a special day, we require you to reserve the entire tour vehicle to keep your VIP party exclusive.
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Ford Transit 350 HD Van: Up to 14 passengers; payment required for a minimum of 8 seats.
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Signature Tour Boat: Up to 12 passengers; payment required for a minimum of 8 seats.
Stay Classy 🍷
Some wineries have policies restricting Bachelor/Bachelorette parties, whether organized or self-toured. While we don’t think it’s totally fair, we respect our winery partners’ rules.
We’ll do our best to take you to wineries that are more accommodating, but we ask that your group dresses tastefully and remains respectful of the wineries and other guests.
If you have any questions or feedback, we’re happy to hear from you — and thank you for understanding!
What are the Pick-Up & Drop-Off Zones?
Pick-Up Zone Information
Our primary pick-up zone is within a 15 km radius of downtown Kelowna, with select locations in West Kelowna included.
Our goal is to offer convenient pick-ups while maximizing your time wine tasting — not sitting in traffic. We know Kelowna has many fantastic accommodations outside our main pick-up area, and we’re happy to work with you when possible.
Depending on your group size, location, and selected tour, pick-up and drop-off outside our main zone may be available for an additional fee.
For guests staying at Sparkling Hill, Predator Ridge, La Casa, or other locations outside our standard pick-up area, out-of-area fees may apply, or we may recommend meeting us at a central Kelowna pick-up point.
Please note that Big White is outside our pick-up zone, and we do not offer transportation to or from this area. Guests staying at Big White will need to arrange their own transportation to a central Kelowna pick-up location.
Private Groups
For private tours, we offer pick-up and drop-off outside our standard radius for a flat rate, depending on location.
If you’re unsure whether your accommodation falls within our pick-up zone, or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us — we’re happy to help! ✨
We’re thinking of having some pre-drinks or bringing alcohol on the Wine Tour. Is that OK?
Alcohol & Safety on Tours
By BC law, no open alcohol is allowed on the vehicle or in any space outside the winery or venue.
Our guides are trained to monitor for signs of intoxication, but please don’t hesitate to ask for water, which is available both on the tour and at the wineries. If you’d like to sit out at a venue, just let your guide know — they’re here to make sure you have a fun and safe experience.
While our guides are here to help and ensure everyone enjoys the day, anyone being belligerent or disruptive may be asked to leave the tour via taxi at their own expense.
Is transportation included in the Boat Tours?
Currently, pick-up and drop-off are only included with the Signature Tour boat option.
Can we bring our own food on the Boat Tours?
We encourage bringing your own food and drinks! For special occasions, we can also arrange anything from pizza and pop to charcuterie and bubbles.
Just let us know ahead of time if you’d like us to add something to your boat charter.
Do you tour wineries from the boat?
We offer 3 distinct experiences:
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Wine Tours (by land): Explore Kelowna’s best wineries in comfort and style.
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Boat Tours (no wineries): Relax and enjoy the lake with a private boat charter.
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Boat & Beach Tour (Kelowna boat tour with a V.I.P. visit to Frind Estate Winery)
To give you the best of both worlds, we created the Signature Tour: a morning wine tour followed by an afternoon on the boat.
We want to book a Signature Tour but have 14 people. Can we pretty please squeeze 2 more people on the boat?
While our Transit Van can accommodate 14 guests (plus 6 more in the Expedition), the boat has a strict maximum of 12 passengers due to Transport Canada regulations.
If your group is larger, we can try to arrange a second boat through a partner charter company. Please note this requires:
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A minimum of 8 seat purchases on our boat
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Additional costs for the second boat and associated fees
Another option is to combine a morning Shorty tour with us and rent a larger sailboat separately through one of our partner companies. We can point you in the right direction, though availability cannot be guaranteed.
If you’d like to explore these options, please give us a call!
What happens in the event of bad weather/smoke, etc.?
We tour rain, smoke, or shine! 🍷
Please note that in the event of forest fires, certain wineries or wine regions may become unavailable. If this happens, we’ll adjust the itinerary as needed to ensure you still have an amazing experience.
Boat Tours & Weather Conditions
For boat tours, lake flooding, heavy rain, lightning, or high winds may require us to reschedule (subject to availability) or provide a full refund. We do our best to give at least 24 hours’ notice when weather may impact your tour, though conditions can change quickly. Guest safety and enjoyment are always our top priority.
Signature Tour – Weather Policy
If poor weather affects the day, we will still proceed with the wine tour portion of the experience. However, the boat portion may need to be cancelled.
If the boat portion is cancelled, you’ll have two options for the afternoon:
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Continue the day with a lunch stop and additional winery visits, or
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End the tour after the wine tour portion and receive a $50 per guest refund for the boat portion (if rescheduling is not possible)
If you have any questions or feedback, we’d love to hear from you. We’re always happy to help! 💕
Will Our Tour be Changed or Cancelled?
During peak season (May–September), Sip & Anchor Luxury Tours requires a minimum number of guests to run regular tours.
If your two-person group has booked and there aren’t enough participants for a specific tour, we may transfer you to another suitable tour on the same day or the following day, with prior notice. Tours will only be canceled in case of an emergency.
Please note that departure times may vary slightly due to availability or unforeseen circumstances.
Sip & Anchor Luxury Tours also reserves the right to change venues, vehicles, or guides when necessary to ensure the best possible experience.
What Happens if We Misplace or Lose an Item While on Your Tour?
Our guides go above and beyond to provide concierge-level service, ensuring your wine purchases are properly handled and identifiable. However, sometimes mistakes can happen.
Before leaving the vehicle at the end of your tour, please double-check that you have all your belongings and that all your wine purchases are accounted for.
Sip & Anchor Luxury Tours cannot be held responsible for lost items or misplaced wine purchases and will not provide compensation for missing items.
What Should We Wear on Our Tour?
Comfortable, smart-casual attire is always a safe choice. If you choose a themed outfit or dress, just be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as you may be on your feet for much of the day.
Is There an Etiquette We Should Follow While on Tour?
Your guide is happy to answer any questions you have during the tour. You’re also encouraged to ask the tasting servers at the wineries or venues about the beverages — they love sharing information about their products!
For safety, Sip & Anchor Luxury Tours reserves the right to arrange a taxi home at the guest’s expense if someone becomes intoxicated or unwell.
I’m looking to book a shuttle charter to take me and my party from A to B to XYZ... is that possible?
We love helping groups with custom tours, corporate shuttles, dinner parties, and more. If you need transportation, we’re here to help!
For non-wine tour charters, we can accommodate both small and large groups.
Call us for a quote and let’s plan your perfect outing!
Cancellation & Payment Policy
Full Refund:
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Cancel more than 7 days before your tour date to receive a full refund.
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Cancellations within 7 days of the tour are non-refundable.
When you reserve a seat with us, it is secured exclusively for you and marked unavailable to other guests. Our tours often fill up well in advance to ensure tasting times. After the 7-day window, your booking is considered final, and unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds, as we are unable to accommodate last-minute guests.
Larger Groups & Private Tours:
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For private tours or groups of 8 or more, a 20% deposit is required to secure your reservation.
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The final payment for larger groups is due 14 days prior to the tour date.
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Once final payment is received, all payments are non-refundable.
We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect against unexpected cancellations or circumstances that may affect your plans.
For more information on travel insurance, you can visit the Blue Cross website for your province: https://www.bluecross.ca/
At Sip & Anchor Luxury Tours, we value professionalism and appreciate your understanding of our cancellation policy.
I wonder if there’s a wine out there
thinking of me too
