Our 8 Best Whale Safaris Worldwide

1.Los Cristianos Respectful No-Chase Whale and Dolphin Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 12,782 reviews · 2 hours · from $29Our pick

From Puerto Los Cristianos, you’ll spend two hours aboard the Bahriyeli, a large sailing ketch with open viewing decks and an indoor salon. Government-certified guides speak Spanish, English, French, German, and Italian, explaining pilot whales, dolphins, turtles, and the local sea. The boat does not chase animals, and part of your ticket supports Neptunes Pirates UK.

“We saw a lot of dolphins and whales, the guides explained a lot. It was overall a very calm and slow trip, which we enjoyed. Thanks.”

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2.Tromsø Whale Safari with MS Gabriele

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,937 reviews · 6 hours · from $207

Sail from Tromsø toward Skjervøy on the warm, fast MS Gabriele, searching for orcas and humpback whales that follow the herring. Guides such as Lorenzo, Raul, and Bjørnar explain the wildlife in English. Watch from heated windows or three outdoor decks, with a bar serving drinks, snacks, and light meals.

“the staff were very efficient and the day was seamless. Great informative information given throughout, highly recommend the experience”

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3.Auckland Dolphin and Whale Watching Eco-Safari Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,790 reviews · from $135

Cruise Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf for 4.5 hours aboard a 65-foot catamaran. Marine research scientists explain whales, dolphins, seabirds, and conservation work as you pass Rangitoto, Motutapu, and other islands. Depart from Viaduct Harbour, bring warm layers and sunscreen, and remember that wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

“Wonderful start to finish with excellent staff, more dolphins than I ever expected and endless beautiful views all around the gulf. Can’t recommend this highly enough!”

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4.All-Inclusive Whale & Orca Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,221 reviews · from $186

Join Polar Adventures at 8 AM for an eight-hour cruise from Tromsø to Skjervøy. Guides such as Juan, Raul, Pedro, and Holly share whale facts while you search for orcas, humpbacks, fin whales, seabirds, and white-tailed eagles. The heated boat includes thermal suits, hot drinks, snacks, lunch, toilets, USB charging, and outdoor viewing decks.

“We saw orcas. The guide answered all our questions. It was a great experience for us. We had a hard time seeing whales. We only saw 1 or 2. The food they gave was also filling, everything was great.”

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5.Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins by Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,221 reviews · 2 hours · from $175

From central Húsavík, you’ll board a modern RIB with up to 12 passengers, visit Puffin Island in season, and search Skjálfandi Bay for humpbacks, blue whales, dolphins, and other marine life. Guides such as Matteo, Carla, Jo, and Beatriz provide live commentary, while warm overalls help against Iceland’s cold, wet weather.

“It was fantastic, one of the best experiences of my life !”

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6.Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 417 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $180Top rated

From Húsavík, you’ll spend about two hours on a small RIB speedboat searching Skjálfandi Bay for whales and porpoises. During puffin season, the trip also visits Puffin Island. Guides such as Nicoletta, Clara, Mario, Victoria, and Milo have led past departures. Warm safety overalls are supplied, but bring extra layers.

“Wonderful experience. The staff were very nice helping us dress for the trip. We were lucky to see a Humpback whale. The crew tried hard to make sure we all able to witness the whales appearance. We felt safe and had fun with this RIB boat tour. Highly recommended.”

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7.Whale Watching RIB Safari at Skjervøy

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 136 reviews · 3 - 12 hours · from $251

Join a small group of up to 12 for a 2.5 to 3-hour RIB safari off Skjervøy. You may see orcas, humpbacks, or fin whales against snowy fjords. Guides such as Ina and Iver provide warm suits, boots, gloves, goggles, and careful wildlife viewing. Choose transport from Tromsø or meet the team in Skjervøy.

“Honestly the boat trip was amazing. They took such good care of us and made sure we were comfortable and warm. They were really good at getting us where we needed to be to see the orcas, and predicting where they were going to be. Amazing guides. The coach trip from Tromsø was also fairly painless. The coach was comfortable and the driver was very helpful”

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8.Humpback Whale Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · from $466

Set out from Coral Bay at 7:30 am for an 8-hour humpback whale safari along Ningaloo Reef. Between June and October, you may watch migrating whales from the boat or enter the water when guides judge conditions safe. Lunch, snacks, sparkling wine, and a photography package are included, with space for up to 14 guests.

“We would put down 6 stars if we could! A lot of the tour is up to the animals but the staff/ crew do their best to give you a wonderful experience! The humpbacks were so active on the day we went, so swimming with them was difficult but the crew did their best and wRead more”

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