The 3 Most Popular Winter Whale Watching Trips Worldwide

1.Winter Whale Watching Adventure in Kauai

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 286 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $137Our pick

Spend about two hours on a fast, open-air raft off Kauai’s southwest coast, searching for winter humpbacks with Captain J’s crew. Captains Andrew, Ryan, and others work the boat for good views, while hydrophones may let you hear whale song. Expect spray, music, snacks, dolphins, and a bumpy ride.

“The most exciting boating to view whales! We saw plenty. Captain and crew were professional and took safety and comfort seriously. We saw many whales and it was a great experience.”

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2.Winter Victoria Whale and Wildlife Zodiac Tour

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

Join Orca Spirit Adventures in Victoria for a three-hour winter Zodiac ride along southern Vancouver Island. A captain and certified marine naturalist guide look for humpback whales, Bigg’s killer whales, sea lions, seals, otters, and seabirds. Cruiser suits, hats, gloves, and a hydrophone are provided. The tour runs rain or shine, with a maximum of 12 people.

“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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3.Winter Whale Watching and Northern Lights Cruise from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 24 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $198

Spend about three hours looking for whales from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, then return for a two-hour Northern Lights cruise. Elding supplies warm overalls, blankets, English commentary, wildlife exhibition access, and a free return option when sightings do not happen. Pickup costs extra, and poor weather can change the schedule.

“We set off on 3hr whale watching trip and we managed to spot a whale not far from the harbour. We spent about an hour watching the whale dive and surface and it was fantastic to experience the sighting in the whale’s nature environment. unfortunately the northern lights evening excursion was cancelled due to bad weather. Highly recommend this operator for a whale watching excursion ❤️”

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