Whale Watching · & WILDLIFE CRUISES

The 15 Best Whale Watching and Wildlife Cruises

25 tours  ·  from $67 a head

Puffins, sea lions, bears on the shoreline and a whale somewhere in the middle of it. The 15 below are the trips that treat the whole coast as the attraction, priced and timed.

Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching - How the whale watching actually works
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Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching

1.Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7,379 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $177Our pick

Meet Alaska Tales beneath the Mt. Roberts Tramway tent, ride past Mendenhall Glacier to Auke Bay, then spend about two hours watching humpback whales from a heated boat with outdoor decks. Naturalists such as Kacie, Genevieve, Ashley, and Nate explain whale behavior, family groups, and safe viewing practices.

“Big kudos to Michelle (Captain), Ashley and Sophie. Go girl power!! This tour was amazing. Though the day was rainy and windy, these group of lady did a wonderful job making sure we were able to see some whale. This is my first time booking a tour through this company and I recommend it. Wonderful job!!!”

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Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier - From glacier forest to whale water
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Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier

2.Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6,236 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $249

Spend about an hour at Mendenhall Glacier, then board a warm, windowed boat with an outdoor deck to search for humpback whales, orcas, seals, and eagles. Guides such as Captain Michelle, Nate, Taylor, and Jay add local detail, while round-trip transport keeps this cruise-friendly.

“Great tour at the Mendenhall glacier visitor center and picturesque hike around. Our bus driver was very knowledgeable about the area and gave great advice on food and shopping in Juneau. The boat trip was also manned by local experts and very fun seeing multiple whales and sea lions. Would definitely recommend this tour!”

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Victoria Whale and Wildlife Cruise - Searching for orcas and humpback whales
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Victoria Whale and Wildlife Cruise

3.Victoria Whale and Wildlife Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,729 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $146

Join Eagle Wing from Dallas Road for a 3.5-hour Salish Sea cruise aboard an open boat or semi-covered catamaran. Naturalists such as Derek, Sarah, Joe, and Liam share facts about whales and local wildlife while you watch for orcas, humpbacks, seals, otters, sea lions, and bald eagles.

“We had a great time on the tour. Was able to see a pod of orcas and watch them for about 30-40 minutes.”

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Húsavík: Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour - From Hafnarstétt 11 to the open bay
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Húsavík: Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour

4.Húsavík: Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 979 reviews · 2 hours · from $198

Join Húsavík Adventures for a fast, small-group whale tour from Húsavík. A maximum of 12 passengers, warm overalls, and guides such as Austin, Iñaki, and Ignacio make it easy to watch humpbacks, dolphins, and seasonal puffins around Lundey Island.

“Our guide, Austin, was incredibly professional and friendly. He speaks several languages (English, Italian, and Mexican Spanish) and gave engaging, informative explanations about whales, seabirds, and ocean safety. The whole trip was well organized, and you could really feel his passion for nature and marine life. It would be lovely if some hot drinks or small snacks were offered after the trip — that would make the experience even cozier and more complete. A wonderful and memorable whale-watching experience — professional, caring, and truly unforgettable. Thank you, Austin! 🐋”

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Newfoundland Puffin and Whale Watch Cruise - Boarding a catamaran built for viewing
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Newfoundland Puffin and Whale Watch Cruise

5.Newfoundland Puffin and Whale Watch Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 837 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $94

Join Gatherall’s from Bay Bulls for a 90-minute catamaran cruise into the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. Hear local stories and wildlife facts while watching puffins, seabirds, icebergs, and seasonal whales. The boat has outdoor viewing decks, indoor shelter, washrooms, and room for up to 100 people.

“The crew was friendly, jolly, and very knowledgeable. The captain was experienced, composed, and managed guest expectations well. The boat was faster than O'Brien's due to it being a catamaran. This potentially allowed us to have a more flexible route and stayed longer and closer to the whales. We were extremely lucky to spot 4 whales in a single trip. Seeing them in real life was downright magical and filled us with emotions. And the puffins are cute and their colonies are impressive too! It says 1 hour 30 minutes here but in reality we spent almost 2 hours onboard. Bring binoculars - your experience will be further elevated!”

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Wildlife Viewing, Sightseeing and Whale Watching Quest - Searching Tongass Narrows for whales
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Wildlife Viewing, Sightseeing and Whale Watching Quest

6.Wildlife Viewing, Sightseeing and Whale Watching Quest

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 812 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $178

Join Eagle One Enterprises for a 2.5-hour wildlife cruise from downtown Ketchikan. Guides Leanne, Jake, Theo, and Captain Brad search Tongass Narrows for humpbacks and orcas, with binoculars, blankets, hot drinks, snacks, and indoor and outdoor seating.

“The tour operator changed the time of the tour by an hour. I was never notified of the change. In fact the morning of the tour I received a reminder from Viator of the tour that listed the original tour time. The tour was an hour later. Had the operator moved it to an hour earlier I would have been a no show. We saw very little wildlife and zero whales. I understand that the tour operator can't guarantee whale sightings.”

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2 Hour Award-Winning Whale and Seabird Boat Tour from St. John's - Signal Hill and the entrance to The Narrows
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2 Hour Award-Winning Whale and Seabird Boat Tour from St. John’s

7.2 Hour Award-Winning Whale and Seabird Boat Tour from St. John’s

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 455 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $112

Join Iceberg Quest Ocean Tours at Pier 6 for a two-hour cruise past Signal Hill, Fort Amherst, Blackhead Sea Caves, and Cape Spear. Your captain and crew, including guides such as Glen or Tyler, share local stories while you watch for whales, puffins, eagles, gannets, and sunfish from the deck or heated cabin.

“A well run tour. Friendly and knowledgeable make sure that you see not only the obvious but also those little gems that we would not spot, like the motionless hawk up on the cliffs or the puffins on the water , so small and camouflaged. However, if you absolutely want to see puffins on the cliffs, then you may have better luck choosing another boat . To be clear, my friends and I loved our outing; the sights, the crew, the adventure.”

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Cowichan Bay: Half-Day Whale & Wildlife Adventure - Three and a half hours searching the Salish Sea
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Cowichan Bay Half Day Whale & Wildlife Adventure

8.Cowichan Bay Half Day Whale & Wildlife Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 393 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $159

Join Ocean EcoVentures in Cowichan Bay for a 3.5 to 4-hour private whale and wildlife trip. Captain Gary, Captain Jane, and other naturalist guides lead groups of 12 or fewer toward orcas, humpbacks, seals, porpoises, eagles, and seabirds. Morning, afternoon, and sunset departures are available.

“Excellent 4 hour whale watching tour. Small group boats for a more personal experience. Captain Gary is highly knowledgeable about the whales and makes the tour very educational. Staff were helpful and pleasant. Overall, a great tour!”

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Brisbane to North Stradbroke Island Day: Wildlife & Beaches - Walking the North Gorge with kangaroos below
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Brisbane to North Stradbroke Island Day: Wildlife & Beaches

9.Brisbane to North Stradbroke Island Day: Wildlife & Beaches

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 391 reviews · 1 day · from $134

Spend a full day on Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island with guides such as Ivy, Jack, Anton, or Tess. Ride the ferry, walk the North Gorge, search for wild koalas and kangaroos, watch for marine life, swim at Cylinder Beach, and hear about Quandamooka culture in a small group.

“Ivy was a great guide, very knowledgeable and helpful, Highly recommend!”

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Seattle: Half-Day Wildlife and Whale Watching Cruise - The boat, decks, and best viewing spots
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Seattle: Half-Day Wildlife and Whale Watching Cruise

10.Seattle: Half-Day Wildlife and Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 378 reviews · 4 hours · from $148

From Pier 69, cruise the Salish Sea for 3 to 5 hours in search of orcas, humpback, gray, and minke whales. An English-speaking naturalist explains the wildlife and conservation work. Food, drinks, binocular rentals, and possible window-seat upgrades are available onboard.

“just one word, AMAZING did everything to find the whales orcas and humpbacks, informative crew thanks for an amazing trip”

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Sydney: Whale Watching & Wildlife Cruise - What the two-and-a-half-hour cruise feels like
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Sydney: Whale Watching & Wildlife Cruise

11.Sydney: Whale Watching & Wildlife Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 300 reviews · 2h 30m · from $67Best value

Cruise from Circular Quay with live English commentary as you search for humpback whales from May to November. Paul has hosted some sailings, and Captain Mark has earned praise for spotting whales. Expect Sydney Harbour views, outdoor viewing, and strong sea motion.

“We managed to see whales so many times close to our boat! The tour starts with a beautiful view on Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The guide was enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and she always guided us in the right directions to see all the whales. The only thing I didn’t expect is how rocky the ride would be, the waves were SO strong. Luckily the crew provided us with bags and clear instructions on what to do in case we need to vomit, which was super helpful. I also took over-the-counter medication to treat motion sickness which helped me not to vomit, but I was definitely feeling nauseous. Staying…”

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Reykjavik: Whale and Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour - Getting dressed for Iceland’s cold water
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Reykjavik: Whale and Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour

12.Reykjavik: Whale and Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 293 reviews · 2 hours · from $200

From Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, join a small group of up to 12 on a two-hour RIB safari. A marine biologist guide helps you spot puffins, minke and humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises, while the captain covers wide stretches of water quickly. Warm overalls, gloves, and goggles are provided.

“we were fully pleased with our adventure and we had an amazing time and we were extremely satisfied with the whole thing the guide was clear and great the boat ride itself was a lot of fun and we got to see so much not disappointed at all would definitely recommend this activity to anyone and would even do it again if we were to go back to Iceland”

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Wonderful Whales and Wildlife Tour - Looking for whales, sea otters, and harbor seals
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Wonderful Whales and Wildlife Tour

13.Wonderful Whales and Wildlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 210 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $285

Meet at Icy Strait Point, ride five minutes to Hoonah, and board a clean boat for a three-hour search for whales, sea otters, and harbor seals. Shawn and the Glacier Wind Charters team keep groups small, with no more than 13 people aboard.

“Fantastic experience. Family run operation. Clean boat, great guides, great experience for our family! 100% recommend!”

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Campbell River: Whale & Wildlife Discovery Cruise - Covered boat or zodiac ride?
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Campbell River: Whale & Wildlife Discovery Cruise

14.Campbell River: Whale & Wildlife Discovery Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 143 reviews · 4 hours · from $175

Spend four hours exploring Discovery Passage, Johnstone Strait, or the Salish Sea from Campbell River. Choose a covered boat with indoor seats or a zodiac-style vessel. Guides such as Laura, Tyler, Jarek, and Quinn share local knowledge while you watch for orcas, humpbacks, sea lions, bears, and eagles.

“There was at least 15 whales, amazing. The Stella sea lions were funny to watch.”

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From Alta: Whale and Seabird Cruise - Orcas, humpbacks, and fin whales
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From Alta: Whale and Seabird Cruise

15.Alta: Whale and Seabird Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 136 reviews · 3 hours · from $220

Join Sami Experience AS from Havneveien 24 for a whale and seabird cruise on Alta Fjord. A live English or Norwegian guide helps spot orcas, humpbacks, fin whales, sea eagles, and seabirds. Warm suits, hot drinks, biscuits, indoor windows, and outdoor decks make this a practical Arctic wildlife trip.

“The trip was worth every penny. The crew was friendly and attentive, and one crew member even sang in Sami on the way back. We saw many humpback whales and orcas. Simply wonderful. Highly recommended!”

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New in Whale Watching & Wildlife Cruises

★ 4.7Terceira: Whale & Dolphin Watching | Best Wildlife TourFrom $8255 reviews
★ 5.0Sunset Whale and Wildlife Adventure in Cowichan BayFrom $15923 reviews
★ 5.0A Comfortable Sitka Whale Watching Wildlife Shore ExcursionFrom $22524 reviews
★ 4.6Ketchikan: Marine Wildlife and Whale Watching Boat TourFrom $19824 reviews

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