The 12 Best Victoria Whale Watching Tours

1.Victoria Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,259 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $154Our pick

Sail from Victoria’s Inner Harbour aboard a spacious catamaran with naturalists such as Megan, Reid, Jessy, and Michael. Watch for orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, and eagles from open decks or a heated cabin. Free wildlife photos, hot drinks, washrooms, and a whale sighting guarantee are included.

“Everyone on the boat was so friendly and knowledgeable! They took time to answer all of our questions.”

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2.Victoria Zodiac Boat Whale Watching Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 916 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $154

Set out from Victoria Harbour in a 12-passenger open Zodiac with a guide such as Gary, Mark, George, or Raj. Expect a fast, splashy ride, all-weather flotation suits, and chances to see orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, otters, eagles, and more. The boat is exciting, but choppy water and cold air are part of the deal.

“It was excellent and everyone was super helpful! Easy to navigate, useful guide to information and payment. It was a spontaneous trip which was wonderful x”

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3.Victoria: 3-Hour Zodiac Whale-Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 651 reviews · 3 hours · from $140

Set out from Victoria’s Inner Harbour with an English-speaking marine naturalist such as Luke, Josh, or Liam. Your 12-passenger Zodiac brings you close to the Salish Sea, where orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, porpoises, otters, and bald eagles may appear. Full flotation suits help keep you warm and dry.

“We enjoyed the tour with Alex very much. A smooth Zodiac ride, Orcas and great additional insights. Thanks a million.”

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4.Victoria Whale Watching Tour on a Covered Vessel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 482 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $136

Join Orca Spirit Adventures for a three-hour whale watching trip from Victoria aboard a covered vessel with indoor seating, washrooms, and an upper viewing deck. Guides such as Ryan, Jake, Briar, and Liam share marine facts while you watch for humpbacks, orcas, sea lions, otters, and eagles.

“The crew was amazing and new there information we explored the whales which was cool and seen a lot of birds and seals and a match with a seal and octopus amazing time”

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5.Victoria Whale Watch Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 458 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $126

Spend about three hours aboard SpringTide’s 60-foot Ocean Cruiser, searching the Salish Sea for orcas, humpbacks, sea lions, seals, otters, and eagles. Naturalists such as Katie and Aly explain the wildlife, while a heated cabin, hot drinks, and open viewing decks help you stay comfortable.

“We had a wonderful time, the weather was perfect and luckily we saw 4 different orcas and one humpback whale at the same time. The seal lions were amazing and our crew Jasper, Molly, and Kelly were super friendly”

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6.Victoria: Whale Watching Trip on Covered Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 427 reviews · 3 hours · from $132

Spend three hours cruising from Victoria with marine naturalists such as Ryan, Sophia, Jake, and Liam. Watch for orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and eagles from indoor or outdoor decks, with hot drinks, photos, and a second tour offered if no whales appear.

“Each and every crew member was knowledgeable, friendly and courteous!”

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7.Victoria: Covered Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 387 reviews · 4 hours · from $149

Set out from Victoria with up to three marine naturalists, including guides such as Algebra, Michael, and Reid. Search the Salish Sea for orcas, humpbacks, sea lions, eagles, and otters aboard a heated catamaran with two open decks. The crew sends free high-resolution photos after the trip.

“It was an incredible experience. We had 2 humpbacks (female with calf) swimming around our boat for about an hour. I saw them not once, or twice, I saw them multiple times. It was awesome. An experience of a lifetime. That said, we were told that doesn't happen very often. In fact rarely. We were very lucky. The crew was amazing. All of them very nice and competent. Algebra, the tour guide, was very knowledgeable and extremely funny. I would definitely recommend this tour.”

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8.Summer Whale Watching Tour in a Zodiac Boat in Victoria

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 342 reviews · 3 hours 20 minutes (approx.) · from $144

Set out from Victoria’s Inner Harbour in a Zodiac carrying no more than 12 people. Guides such as Shannon, Tyler, Vicky, and Garryn search for orcas and humpbacks around Race Rocks, while you watch seals, sea lions, otters, and eagles from the water. Expect speed, spray, and a survival suit.

“Phoenix was a fantastic guide and we saw a ton of wildlife and Orcas! The scenery was also so beautiful!”

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9.Victoria Whale Watching Cruise with Expert Naturalists

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 305 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $134

Join Five Star Whale Watching in Victoria for a three-hour Salish Sea cruise with two naturalist guides. Your crew may include guides such as Sophie, Nour, Rayne, Alexia, Sam, or Brianna. Watch for orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and bald eagles from a purpose-built boat.

“Unable to go due to boat mechanical issues, however they were so good and accommodating they even paid for us to go on a different companies tour.”

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10.Victoria: 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 288 reviews · 3 hours · from $123Best value

From Victoria’s Wharf Street, you’ll board the Marauder IV with marine naturalists such as Katie, Morgan, and Heather. Spend 3 to 3.5 hours watching for orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and birds from heated indoor seating or open decks, with hot drinks and trip photos included.

“Exceptional! The whale watching tour was very well organized with phone calls providing valuable information on how to dress for the temperature change and where to park, etc.; and did not disappoint. The crew was larger than I had expected and they were obviously very experienced in their expert handling of the entire tour, from captain to the tour guides. They knew the local whale habitat well and took us to sites where we were very fortunate to see some Killer Whales and then to another site to view Humpbacks. Amazingly, the crew knew the individual whales by name! The tour was both educational and immensely enjoyable! Truly a lifetime…”

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11.Victoria: Whale Watching Tour by Zodiac Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 233 reviews · 3 hours · from $138

Set out from Victoria with SpringTide Whale Watching in an open-air Zodiac. You will suit up in a warm flotation suit, then search the Salish Sea for orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, porpoises, eagles, and marine birds with guides such as Ian, Heather, Jasper, and Tyson.

“Super exciting and captain Marty was great. Thanks for making our stay in Victoria extra special”

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12.Victoria: Sunset Whale Watching Tour on an Open Scarab Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · 3 hours · from $128

Set out from Victoria after dinner on an open Scarab boat with a naturalist guide such as Captain Pete, Evan, Carol, or Chrystelle. Watch for orcas, whales, seals, eagles, and other wildlife as the sun drops, with parkas, blankets, washrooms, hotel transfers, and a possible hot chocolate waiting at the end.

“Tolle Guidin, die alle Fragen beantworten konnte. Super Erlebnis zum Sonnenuntergang! Haben Orcas, Adler & Rehe gesehen.”

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