Whale Watching · WILDLIFE

The 15 Best Whale and Wildlife Watching Trips

52 tours  ·  from $55 a head

The 15 best whale and wildlife watching trips you can book today, with what each costs, how long it stays out and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason, so start there.

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

4.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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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

5.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

6.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

7.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

8.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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Only Wildlife and Whale Watching Tour Leaving from Seattle - What the naturalist adds to the ride
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Only Wildlife and Whale Watching Tour Leaving from Seattle

9.Only Wildlife and Whale Watching Tour Leaving from Seattle

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 248 reviews · 3 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $153

Cruise from downtown Seattle’s Pier 69 into the Salish Sea in search of orcas, humpback, gray, and minke whales. An onboard naturalist explains whale behavior and conservation, while the galley serves food and drinks. Choose standard or premium seating, then use the outdoor decks for the best wildlife views.

“It is a most relaxing way to spend an afternoon looking for whales and wild life. The boat is spacious, clean and comfortable. The crew is very knowledgeable and shares their experiences. We highly recommend this trip.”

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Winter Victoria Whale and Wildlife Zodiac Tour - Getting Ready at 950 Wharf Street
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Winter Victoria Whale and Wildlife Zodiac Tour

10.Winter Victoria Whale and Wildlife Zodiac Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 229 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $129

Join Orca Spirit Adventures in Victoria for a three-hour winter Zodiac trip with a marine naturalist, full flotation suit, and hydrophone. Search for humpback whales, Bigg’s killer whales, seals, sea lions, otters, and coastal birds while taking in views toward the Olympic Peninsula.

“This tour was fun and enjoyable, even in the rain! We walked around town, taste tested a range of food and, learnt so much about the history of the area. It felt good to support local businesses.”

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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

11.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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Victoria, BC: 3-Hour Ultimate Whale & Marine Wildlife Tour - The Three-Hour Search Across the Salish Sea
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Victoria, BC: 3-Hour Ultimate Whale & Marine Wildlife Tour

12.Victoria, BC: 3-Hour Ultimate Whale & Marine Wildlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 191 reviews · 3 hours · from $125

Search the Salish Sea for orcas, humpback whales, sea lions, seals, porpoises, and marine birds aboard a heated, purpose-built vessel. A small group of up to 12 rides with marine biologists, with indoor and outdoor viewing areas, hot chocolate, jackets, and a compact onboard washroom.

“Fabulous! Our guide was outstanding and very knowledgeable. Trip was a huge success. Our sightings included two different groups of orcas and one humpback whale.”

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Juneau: Whale Watching and Wildlife Cruise with Local Guide - The narrated ride from town to the harbor
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Juneau: Whale Watching and Wildlife Cruise with Local Guide

13.Juneau: Whale Watching and Wildlife Cruise with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 174 reviews · 3h 30m · from $177

Meet Alaska Tales beside Juneau’s Mt. Roberts Tramway, ride by narrated bus to the harbor, then search protected waters for humpbacks and other wildlife aboard a heated boat. Guides such as Taylor, Monica, Kristen, and Captain Larry have helped make sightings both exciting and informative.

“This was an amazing trip. Our guides, boat captain, and driver were knowledgeable, approachable, funny. The whales really played their part! This is a not to miss activity.”

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Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor - Icy Strait is the real attraction
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Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor

14.Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 156 reviews · 3 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $258

Join Captain Seth and Vivid Endeavors for a nearly four-hour Icy Strait wildlife trip limited to six people. Ride from the cruise port to Hoonah’s harbor, then search for humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, sea lions, eagles, bears, and more aboard a clean, comfortable catamaran.

“Fabulous opportunity to get up close and personal with those magnificent leviathans of Icy Strait! Captain Seth is so knowledgeable about every aspect of the area, and he clearly enjoys sharing that knowledge. We were thrilled to be surrounded by Humpback Whales frolicking all around the boat, and to have Captain Seth educating us about them.”

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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

15.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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New in Wildlife

★ 5.0Whale and wildlife watching Private and Semi-Private toursFrom $1992 reviews
★ 4.8Victoria: Whale and Wildlife Semi-Covered Boating TourFrom $13651 reviews
★ 5.0Parksville Half Day Whale and Wildlife AdventureFrom $1585 reviews
★ 5.0Parksville Sunset Whale and Wildlife AdventureFrom $1582 reviews
★ 5.0Zodiac Boat Whale and Wildlife 7-8-Hour Tour from Campbell RiverFrom $29928 reviews
★ 5.0Zodiac Boat Whale and Wildlife 6-Hour Tour from Campbell RiverFrom $25144 reviews
★ 4.5Campbell River, BC: 4 Hour Wildlife Tour Featuring Whale WatchingFrom $19132 reviews
★ 5.0Whale Watching and Wildlife Cruise Townsville and Magnetic IslandFrom $12111 reviews
★ 4.0Terceira Island: Whale & Dolphin Watching | Best Wildlife TourFrom $8424 reviews
★ 4.0Tadoussac/Charlevoix: Whale & Bear Wildlife TourFrom $1484 reviews
★ 5.0Private Whale Watching and Marine Wildlife TourFrom $1,09510 reviews
★ 5.0Whale and Wildlife Yacht Cruise in Santa BarbaraFrom $559 reviews
★ 5.0Wildlife Spotting Kayak Adventure on Orcas IslandFrom $1092 reviews
★ 5.0Ketchikan Ultimate Whale Watching, Wildlife, & Wilderness DiningFrom $5992 reviews
★ 5.0Sitka: Premiere Whale Watching and Wildlife TourFrom $2004 reviews

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