Discover Vancouver

The X-Tour

As Vancouver’s film and television productions hit more screens around the world, many visitors want to see where these productions are shot.The city not only played host to the early years of The X-Files but is also seen in scores of feature films, TV movies and current series.

Enter “The X-Tour.”Started in 1997, The X-Tour has been selling a taste of Hollywood North to tourists from the United States and around the world.For prices ranging from $99 US for a 3.5-hour Limousine tour to close to $2,000 for a top end three-night star-stay package, tourists are offered the chance to see a number of film sets and possibly spot some stars.

“We don’t have as many stories in Vancouver as they do in Los Angeles, obviously.However, we have more secrets - - at least until now,” says X-Tour boss Boyd McConnell on the company web site.“There are theme parks all over the world, but Vancouver offers the most to its visitors.It has unparalleled natural beauty mixed with intrigue and excitement for stars, movies and ‘Hollywood-in-Vancouver.’The X-Tour [is] an entertaining way to see Vancouver landmarks, uncover their ‘secrets’ and the history of places, people and events, as well as have a great time.”

Some of Vancouver’s most filmed locations include areas of Gastown, Chinatown and the Burrard Inlet waterfront.The prominent buildings in the downtown core include the Vancouver Art Gallery, the public library, Robson Square and the Hotel Vancouver.

Vancouver’s stories include Errol Flynn's 1959 death,1979’s discovery of Dorothy Stratten and 1999’s arrival of Arnold Schwarzenegger.The X-Tour is able to share many other stories about those who have spent time in and around Vancouver.

At X-Tour.Com, visitors are able to click onto a preview of what to expect on one of Vancouver’s X-Tours.In this four-minute streaming video, McConnell explains, “people get to go around and see where they film, primarily the X-Files.”

“We have incredibly well-informed tour guides.They are all pretty well Hollywood fanatics.Many are actors. [While] they are also in the industry, they are also tour guiding.So this resource is how we have discovered most of the secrets of Vancouver.”

McConnell explains visitors are picked up at their hotels by limousine and, since the number is no greater than seven, customers may easily talk with the tour guide.Some visitors opt to see only X-Files locations while others want to spot where some major motion pictures or movies of the week were shot.Even for those who are not Hollywood fans, The X-Tour provides a relaxed, informative environment for touring the city.