Worldwide · WHALE WATCHING AND WILDLIFE CRUISES
Bears on the shoreline, puffins on the cliffs, sea lions on the rocks and whales in between. The 15 below are the trips that treat the whole coast as the attraction, priced and timed, with a note on what else you should expect to see.
See humpback whales from Juneau on a 3.5-hour Alaska Tales cruise with harbor transfers, heated cabins, outdoor decks, snacks, and a whale guarantee.
“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.”
Review of Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier and whale-watching tour, with timing, value, wildlife odds, transport tips, and what to expect.
“We enjoyed both the Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Watching, the shuttle driver was very knowledgeable and informative. Whale watching with Michelle, Ash and Taylor was great we saw many whales from a distance and had three come up very close to our boat.”
Review of Victoria’s 3.5-hour Eagle Wing whale cruise, with orcas, humpbacks, seals, boat advice, pricing, and practical tips.
“Went for this trip just to see the whales and yup! I did.. what a fantastic creature..bonus that the weather really nice. Complementary warm clothing that they provide really helps when out in the ocean. Learned lots of informations we heard from the crew. 10 out of 10 would recommend 👍”
Review of Húsavík’s two-hour RIB whale safari, with puffins, small groups, expert guides, practical tips, price advice, and weather notes.
“Took a guided tour with Gentle Giants on Sept 10 in the morning. Our guide was super knowledgeable and friendly, the speed boat was able to get to whale locations very fast, compared to the big slow crammed boats. We saw rare whales and humpbacks; at one point just over an arms length away. Our guide she educated us, the captain he knew what he was doing, everyone was so overjoyed. I am so happy I took a risk and spent a little extra on a much higher quality tour. Life changing experience! Sebastien and Tia”
Ride a small RIB from Húsavík to see whales, dolphins, puffins, and Tjörnes Peninsula with warm gear and expert guides.
“Fabulous! Zina was a wonderful guide and the whole trip was brilliant!”
Cruise Newfoundland’s Witless Bay Reserve for puffins, whales, icebergs, seabirds, local stories, and practical tips from St. John’s.
“Wear extra layers, as it can get cold on the water. Excellent staff with a great sense of humour. Enjoyed by every age, especially kids. A shame that we saw no whales 😔 but lots of birds.”
Review of Ketchikan’s 2.5-hour whale and wildlife cruise, with practical tips on wildlife sightings, meeting points, weather, value, and crew.
“Great staff. Very friendly and accommodating. They worked hard to make our experience wonderful. The boat was clean and well maintained.”
Review of Reykjavik’s whale and puffin cruise combo, with boat details, timing, wildlife tips, value, weather advice, and booking guidance.
“We enjoyed both thevpuffinscand the whales. Saw lots on both”
Review of Húsavík’s Big Whales and Puffins RIB tour, with wildlife highlights, cold-weather tips, price value, logistics, and booking advice.
“We had great whale sightings, up close. The weather was not great but the crew tried hard for us to have a good experience.”
Review of St. John's 2-hour whale and seabird tour, with Cape Spear views, heated cabin, local stories, wildlife tips, and honest value advice.
“Great tour Fun knowledgeable guides. Learned about sites and local culture Saw whales and puffins Perfect amount of time”
Review of Húsavík’s 3.5-hour whale and puffin cruise, with oak boat sailing, wildlife tips, hot chocolate, price advice, and FAQs.
“Excellent experience. They extended your trip for about 2h just to take us to see very rare blue whale who was showing. Everything was outstanding. 100/10”
Ride a fast RIB from Húsavík to spot whales, dolphins, and puffins, with warm suits, expert guides, and a small group setting.
“We had an amazing time! We saw minkes, humpbacks and the largest pod of dolphins I've ever seen jumping and playing all around our boat. Our guide and captain did a wonderful job! If you've never been on a rib boat before the seats are all individual - like a motorcycle or snowmobile - which allows you to bend your knees or stand when appropriate. This is important for when the boat is going fast and hits a wave hard. You will want to stand to prevent your back from being jolted on impact - think of it like going up and down in the saddle of a horse. Do…”
Review of Cowichan Bay’s half-day whale tour, with small groups, expert guides, Salish Sea wildlife, pricing, tips, and booking advice.
“I went with my 2 daughters 18 & 14 years old. It was very well organized trip, our guide gave us so much information. The best part was when hump Whales were jumping and playing in front of us”
Review of Brisbane’s North Stradbroke Island eco tour, with koalas, kangaroos, beaches, whale watching, ferry travel, and local guides.
“Ivy is the best! Highly recommend!!!! We saw a lot of wildlife!”
Review of Seattle’s whale watching cruise, with orca sightings, wildlife, onboard naturalists, practical tips, costs, and honest drawbacks.
“Not only did we see Orca, we saw a family pod of Biggs Transients. We even got to see them hunt! Our captains, support staff, and naturalist guide were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. 10/10 would go again!”
Pick a coast, a season or a boat.
