DESTINATION · WHALE WATCHING
The 11 best whale watching tours you can book today, with what each costs a head, how long you are in the vehicle and who it suits. Number one is first for a reason; start there.
Join Cruise Service in Tromsø for a 6 to 8 hour whale safari aboard the warm, fast catamaran MS Gabriele. Watch for orcas and humpbacks near Skjervøy from heated indoor seats or three outdoor decks. Guides such as Lorenzo, Raul, and Bjørnar explain whale behavior in English, while the onboard bar serves drinks, snacks, and light meals.
“We saw one humpback whale near Skjervoy and it gave us a nice show.”
Join Auckland Whale and Dolphin Safari at Viaduct Harbour for a 4.5-hour cruise aboard a 65-foot catamaran. Marine research scientists explain the Hauraki Gulf, track local whale populations, and help you look for dolphins, Bryde’s whales, blue penguins, seals, sharks, and seabirds. Wildlife is never guaranteed, but a free return trip is offered if no marine mammals appear.
“A beautiful day on the water and so wonderful to have the marine scientists on board collecting data and sharing their knowledge with us. We saw two giant nursery pods of dolphins, the baby dolphins were so cute I could cry. The captain did an amazing job of skirting the bad weather and we had a wonderful outing. I also appreciate what wonderful stewards of the environment they are, such cool work! It felt nice to contribute to this ongoing project.”
Set out from Tromsø at 8 AM on an eight-hour whale safari to Skjervøy. Your English-speaking crew searches for orcas, humpbacks, fin whales, and seabirds while you enjoy heated indoor seating, open decks, thermal suits, hot drinks, snacks, and lunch. The long sea crossing can be rough, so take motion-sickness medicine before departure.
“Huayupe and his team were amazing!!! Learned so much about whales, seen orcas and humpback whales breaching. One of the best days of my life 😍”
From central Húsavík, you’ll suit up in warm safety gear and ride a modern RIB with up to 12 passengers across Skjálfandi Bay. Visit Puffin Island from April 15 to August 15, then search for humpback, blue, bottlenose, and other whales with guides such as Matteo, Carla, Jo, and Beatriz.
“Guide was good but hard to understand, typical language barrier.”
Join Gentle Giants for a two-hour RIB speedboat trip from Húsavík, with guides such as Nicoletta, Clara, Mario, and Victoria sharing wildlife facts as you search for whales and dolphins. From April 15 to August 15, the route may include Puffin Island. Warm safety overalls are provided, but bring extra layers.
“The guide Witt was very friendly and the over all experience was pleasant. The ticket also gets you a discount at a few other restaurants close by.”
Set out from Cabo San Lucas at 9:00 a.m. with a group of no more than 10. Apex Ocean Divers searches the Pacific and Sea of Cortez for whales, dolphins, sea lions, rays, sharks, and other marine life, with snorkeling at Pelican Rock or a reef, a stop at El Arco, snacks, water, and photos or video included.
“I have to say, when I booked this experience I did zero research and chose it purely based on the pictures they posted. I really wasn’t sure if those photos were real or just clever advertising, but I took a leap of faith. Let me tell you — those pictures are 100% real and still don’t do justice to the moments we actually experienced. It was insane, to say the least. This was our first time doing a safari-style adventure on the water, but the fact that the rest of our small (!!!) group consisted of professional free divers and marine-life photographers with thousands of followers on social media speaks…”
Travel from Tromsø or meet in Skjervøy for a small-group RIB safari in Arctic whale country. Guides including Ina, Iver, and Ivar help you search for orcas, humpbacks, and fin whales while keeping a respectful distance. Warm flotation suits, boots, mittens, goggles, and a hot drink help make the long, cold day manageable.
“I think the is the best of all tour operators in Skjervøy. It’s a smaller business but very very recommendable. We got warming clothes and shoes and goggles. I liked that this tour operator did NOT chase the whales like the other companies. We saw orca and humpback whales. Our tour guide was really really friendly and helpful. I wish I could give 10 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”
Start at 7:30 am with Coral Bay Ecotours, then ride to the jetty for reef snorkeling before heading offshore. A spotter plane helps the captain find whale sharks, and groups of 10 take turns swimming with them. Lunch, tea, a photo package, and champagne are included. A $20 adult or $10 child DPaW fee is extra.
“Wow, is all I can say about this tour company. Everyone is amazing, they work so well together and they make sure that you have an amazing day.”
From La Ventana, you’ll spend about five hours in a panga searching for mobula rays, dolphins, whales, and possible orcas. Snorkeling gear and lunch are included, and groups are limited to six. Guides such as Juan, Alejandro, and Andrea are praised for sharp wildlife spotting and respectful practices.
“The captain and tour guide very helpful and good at finding animals in the ocean!we can see humpback whales, sperm whale, dolphins, mobula rays…So much fun!”
Set out from Coral Bay at 7:30 am for an 8-hour humpback whale safari along Ningaloo Reef. You can watch from the boat or enter the water if conditions and whale behavior allow. The $466 price includes lunch, snacks, sparkling wine, and a photography package. The tour runs from late June to mid October.
“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”
Leave Cairo at 7 am for a private, air-conditioned journey to Fayoum. A guide such as Lobna or Wael leads you to Wadi Al-Hitan, while a 4x4 driver takes you over desert dunes to the fossil site, Wadi Rayan Falls, and Magic Lake. Lunch is included, but drinks are not.
“My family took this tour yesterday and it was really lovely. The information and sights were fabulous, and the hospitality we received at the hands of Lobna (our tour guide), Mohammad (our driver), and Mohammad (our in-adventure driver and host for lunch) was just wonderful! We had a great day.”
Sand, bush, park or water.
