Best of · TOUR REVIEWS

15 Whale Watching Trips to Book Around the World

455 tours  ·  from $13 a head

Every coastline on this site in one list. The 15 below span nine months of migration and four oceans, with the price on the ticket, the length of the crossing and what the people who went out actually saw.

Tenerife: Eco-Yacht Whale and Dolphin Watching and Swimming - Travelin Lady and the eco-yacht design
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Tenerife: Eco-Yacht Whale and Dolphin Watching and Swimming

1.Eco-Yacht Whale and Dolphin Watching and Swimming

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 15,619 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $13Our pick

Join Ines and the Travelin Lady crew for a 90-minute whale and dolphin trip from Los Cristianos. The purpose-built eco-yacht keeps animals away from its propellers, cruises without chasing, visits the Cave of Love, and ends with swimming or snorkeling if sea conditions and time allow.

“Great experience! The tour guides were really nice and courteous! I would definitely recommend this tour!”

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Los Cristianos Respectful No-Chase Whale and Dolphin Safari - Leaving Puerto Los Cristianos on the Bahriyeli
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Los Cristianos Respectful No-Chase Whale and Dolphin Safari

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

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

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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Reykjavík: Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruise - What the three-hour search is really like
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Reykjavík: Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruise

3.Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 9,838 reviews · 3 hours · from $87

Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour into Faxaflói Bay for a three-hour search for minke and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seals. Guides such as Maria and Lucky share clear wildlife facts while you watch from outdoor decks or heated cabins. The boat has toilets, WiFi, snacks, and hot drinks for purchase.

“Amazing experience! This tour was one of the highlights of my trip and something I will remember for the rest of my life. Thank you!!”

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From Funchal: Ecological Catamaran Dolphin Whale Watching - Watching dolphins and whales without crowding them
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From Funchal: Ecological Catamaran Dolphin Whale Watching

4.Ecological Catamaran Dolphin Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8,204 reviews · 3 hours · from $41

From Funchal Marina, you’ll spend three hours aboard Magic Dolphin, Madeira’s purpose-built hybrid-electric catamaran. Land-based spotters help locate dolphins and whales, while English and Portuguese guides explain the wildlife. Expect open-air viewing nets, two decks, toilets, a bar, and a chilly ride offshore, so bring warm waterproof layers.

“Iv’e been on many katamaran trips before but never with this company and i must say it was amazing and the best experience so far . Very informative and a good sense of humour so next trip to Madeira we will for sure go with you. Thank you for an amazing time on your boat.”

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Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching - What the boat is like for three hours on the water
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Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching

5.Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching

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

Meet Alaska Tales near Juneau’s Mount Roberts Tramway for a port pickup, a brief Mendenhall Glacier photo stop, and a boat ride from Auke Bay. You’ll have heated cabins, outdoor decks, snacks, bottled water, and naturalist commentary. Guides such as Kacie, Genevieve, Ashley, and Nate explain whale behavior while the crew searches for humpbacks.

“What’s a whale watching adventure after the whales migrate out of the area? It’s a little boat ride out. It’s a little boat ride back. Fortunately for us, it was a beautiful day. And the crew was delightful.”

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Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier - Out on the water with humpback whales
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Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier

6.Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier

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

Spend about 45 to 50 minutes at Mendenhall Glacier, then cruise Juneau’s coast aboard a warm, wildlife-viewing boat. Local guides such as Michelle, Nate, Taylor, Leon, and Jay share stories about the area and its whales. Expect comfortable viewing, a small snack, and a whale sighting guarantee, but bring binoculars for distant animals.

“Loved Alaska Tours with Kacie, Justin, and Nate aboard the George Mason. Very informative and we saw 2 whales that breeched! So exciting to see Sasha and her baby Chacha! Kacie knows her stuff and you can tell she loves her work! Great time! Highly recommend!”

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Funchal: Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise - A catamaran made for open-water viewing
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Funchal: Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise

7.Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,697 reviews · 3 hours · from $41

From Funchal Marina, you’ll cruise Madeira’s coast on the Seaborn catamaran with an English or Portuguese guide. Watch for dolphins, whales, turtles, and flying fish, then stop beneath Cabo Girão for a swim in clear Atlantic water during the summer season. Drinks and snacks are sold onboard, but sightings are never guaranteed.

“The boat is amazing and the crew were top! We saw dolphins and swam and the ocean. Thank you for the great experience. 🙏😊”

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Costa Adeje: Whale & Dolphin Eco-Cruise with Snacks & Drinks - Watching whales and dolphins in the Teno-Rasca sanctuary
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Costa Adeje: Whale & Dolphin Eco-Cruise with Snacks & Drinks

8.Whale & Dolphin Eco-Cruise with Snacks & Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 5,096 reviews · 3 - 5 hours · from $52

From Puerto Colón, you cruise Tenerife’s Teno-Rasca Whale Sanctuary on a fuel-efficient catamaran. The crew, including captains such as Carlos and Miguel on some departures, explains the marine life, uses underwater audio, serves drinks and sandwiches, and stops for swimming. Choose three hours or five hours with Los Gigantes and Masca Bay.

“Very professional and knowledgeable crew. We had a perfect trip and saw both pilot whales and grey spotted dolphins. I throughly recommend this small group activity .”

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Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos - A five-hour search, not a quick harbor ride
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Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

9.Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,000 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $193

Cruise from Granville Island aboard a 95-passenger catamaran with heated cabins, outdoor decks, hot drinks, and wildlife photographers. Guides such as Petra, Ashley, Wilma, and Megan share facts about whales, seabirds, geology, and local ecosystems. Look for orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, eagles, and porpoises.

“Amazing experience! Friendly and knowledgeable guides, we were amazed they could identify the whales we saw withina few minutes and give us some of their family history. It was great that there was a warm inside space and free tea, coffee and hot chocolate as it was a little drizzly and cold. Our 7 year-old loved everything about the trip as well!”

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Boston: City Cruises Whale Watching Cruise - The 1.5-hour search at Stellwagen Bank
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Boston: City Cruises Whale Watching Cruise

10.City Cruises Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,710 reviews · 3h 30m · from $85

Join Boston Harbor City Cruises at Long Wharf for a 3.5 to 4-hour whale watch toward Stellwagen Bank. Naturalists from the New England Aquarium explain the wildlife as you search for humpback, fin, and minke whales, plus dolphins. The high-speed boat has outdoor decks, warm indoor seating, restrooms, and snacks for purchase.

“A fantastic trip and as promised we saw whales in the wild. Lucky we had great weather but do take a jacket even if it’s a warm day.”

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Los Gigantes: Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise with Swim Stop - The first search for dolphins and pilot whales
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Los Gigantes: Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise with Swim Stop

11.Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise with Swim Stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,539 reviews · 2 hours · from $33

Join Flipper Uno’s Masca Express from Los Gigantes Port for a two-hour search for pilot whales and dolphins in the Teno-Rasca Whale Sanctuary. Cruise beneath the Los Gigantes cliffs, stop for a swim in Masca, Juan López, or Barranco Seco, and enjoy one cold drink. Captain Alejandro and his crew may also point out turtles and flying fish.

“Everything was very well organised. The departure was on time, the guide was friendly and professional, and the whole trip felt very safe despite the big waves. We saw two large groups of whales, one of them with calves, and it was wonderful to watch the mother playing with her baby. We also enjoyed the impressive Los Gigantes cliffs and the boat trip to the Masca gorge. Overall, a very positive experience and a trip we would definitely recommend.”

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Whale Watching Tour in Gloucester - Why Stellwagen Bank matters
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Whale Watching Tour in Gloucester

12.Whale Watching Tour in Gloucester

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,460 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $48

Cruise from Gloucester to Stellwagen Bank aboard the fast Hurricane II, with a naturalist such as Jessica or Tina explaining humpbacks, fin whales, dolphins, and more. The four-hour trip includes heated indoor seating, outdoor viewing decks, and a galley, but bring layers and arrive 45 minutes early.

“We had a wonderful time ! They did a great job finding whales and then getting us over to see them! The only thing we would recommend is more speakers. The Naturalist was very knowledgeable but we couldn’t hear her. Also, maybe a little better communication on the whole process, what was going to be happening throughout the day. We really enjoyed it though and would recommend it to anyone coming to the area. Thank you for a great day.”

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Tromsø: Whale Watching Tour by Hybrid-Electric Boat - Boarding beside Skarven Kro in Tromsø
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Tromsø: Whale Watching Tour by Hybrid-Electric Boat

13.Whale Watching Tour by Hybrid-Electric Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,217 reviews · from $195

Spend up to nine hours sailing from Tromsø toward Skjervøy, where herring attract orcas, humpback, fin, and sperm whales. Brim Explorer’s hybrid-electric catamaran has heated lounges, panoramic windows, Wi-Fi, and several viewing decks. Guides such as Connor, Bee, Adrian, and Ivan share whale facts and local stories while you search.

“Great trip in comfort in the warmth and with freedom of movement, we saw killer whales and whales top”

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Morro Jable: Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise, Drinks & Swim - Searching the water for dolphins and whales
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Morro Jable: Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise, Drinks & Swim

14.Morro Jable: Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise, Drinks & Swim

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 4,158 reviews · 2 hours · from $58

Set out from Morro Jable aboard the modern *Magic Dolphin* for a 2-hour search for wild dolphins, whales, turtles, and flying fish. Guides such as Carmen, Karol, Nino, and Luis explain the animals and keep a respectful distance. Drinks, a swim stop in Jandía, and optional resort pickup are included.

“The fact that we were picked up/dropped back at our hotel at no extra charge was fantastic. The boat trip was really exciting and although they can't guarantee you'll see anything, we saw loads of flying fish (a first for us) and we saw pods of dolphins and the boat followed them so we had plenty of opportunities to see them. It really was a memorable afternoon.”

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From Ponta Delgada: Whale and Dolphin Watching Trip - Catamaran comfort or Zodiac excitement
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From Ponta Delgada: Whale and Dolphin Watching Trip

15.Whale and Dolphin Watching Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,109 reviews · 3 hours · from $82

Set out from Ponta Delgada with a marine biologist or nature guide to search for whales, dolphins, turtles, and seabirds. You can choose a catamaran or Zodiac boat. Expect a 15-minute safety briefing, about 2 hours and 45 minutes at sea, and clear rules for respectful wildlife watching. English and Portuguese tours are available.

“The quide had so much great information So lucky saw a group of three Sei whales and a pod of about 200 dolphins So much fun watching them play and swim in our waves and they had babies beside them They were spotted Dolphins Great experience!!”

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