Whale Watching Trips Around the World: 15 to Book

1.Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins by Speedboat

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

From central Húsavík, you suit up in a warm safety overall and board a 12-seat RIB with a guide such as Matteo, Clara, or Jo. The boat reaches whale sightings quickly, visits Puffin Island from mid-April to mid-August, and covers Skjálfandi Bay in two hours.

“Amazing tour! Much recommended! We saw whales and got the best time with Jo and the lovely captain which unfortunately I don’t remember his name but he was the best- making the most of the tour by changing direction and spot according to the whales, thank you we really enjoyed it!”

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2.Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 979 reviews · 2 hours · from $198

Join a guide and captain aboard a 12-seat RIB from Húsavík for two hours on Skjálfandi Bay. The fast boat covers ground quickly, helping you reach whale sightings, while summer trips visit Lundey, or Puffin Island. Warm overalls and life vests are supplied, but bring gloves, a hat, and extra layers.

“Fabulous! Zina was a wonderful guide and the whole trip was brilliant!”

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3.Newfoundland Puffin and Whale Watch Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 837 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $94Best reviewed

From Bay Bulls, about 25 minutes from St. John’s, board Gatherall’s catamaran for a 90-minute cruise into the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. Expect puffins, nesting seabirds, coastal scenery, and seasonal icebergs. Whales are most likely from mid-June to mid-August, but sightings are never guaranteed. Hotel transport costs extra.

“This was a fantastic tour. The tour operators were fantastic. They even sang Newfoundland songs! We also saw about 4-6 humpback whales and lots and lots and lots of cute puffins! I would highly recommend this excellence to all!”

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4.Whale, Dolphin & Penguin Island Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 687 reviews · from $185

Set out from Port Elizabeth at 8am on Raggy Charters’ twin-engine catamaran for four hours in Algoa Bay. With a maximum of 20 people, you’ll look for humpback whales, dolphins, seals, seabirds, and African penguins near St. Croix Island. Jake and the crew explain local wildlife and conservation while keeping the pace calm and respectful.

“We were in a small group on the boat and were lucky enough to see a pod of 200 dolphins, penguins hunting for fish and some seals sunbathing. The team really care about the wildlife and spent time explaining to us the different animal behaviRead more”

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5.2 Hours Guided Whale and Bird Boat Tour in Bay Bulls

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 557 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

From Bay Bulls, you’ll spend about two hours cruising the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve with naturalist guides, watching puffins, murres, razorbills, petrels, and other seabirds. Whales and dolphins may appear, but sightings are never guaranteed. Expect useful narration, local songs, optional screeching-in, and a boat ride that can feel cold, so bring warm clothing.

“We were accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, Noah, who even sang folk songs. We were blessed to have a sunny day. Too early for whales or Icebergs but just being on the water and observing seabirds in their natural habitat was well worth it!”

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6.Whales and Puffins Express Cruise Combo Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 552 reviews · 4 hours · from $153

Combine a one-hour puffin cruise on the shallow-draft Old Skúli with a 2 to 3.5-hour whale trip aboard the spacious Andrea. Guides such as Patrick, Alex, Oscar, and Celine have brought sharp wildlife knowledge and humor to recent outings. Expect seabirds, possible dolphins, minke whales, humpbacks, and a free whale-watching ticket if nothing appears.

“Enough time to watch the wales/ puffins (special stop in the way Back of the puffin tour to watch some Orcas). Very good organisation and discribtion of the tour and the animals.”

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7.Big Whales & Puffins RIB boat tour from Húsavík

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 501 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $203

Join Husavik Adventures for a two-hour RIB boat trip across Skjálfandi Bay. A captain handles the boat while a guide explains whales, dolphins, porpoises, and puffins. The boat carries no more than 12 people, includes warm waterproof overalls and a life jacket, and visits Puffin Island during the April 15 to August 20 season.

“Easy and enjoyable! From booking to the event we were informed and provided a memory we will find challenging to forget. The outfit kept us warm and dry and we saw the whales and puffins as close as possible. The driver and guide were knowledgeable and pleasant. The trip fulfilled all of our expectations.”

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8.2 Hour Award-Winning Whale and Seabird Boat Tour from St. John’s

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 455 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $112

Cruise from St. John’s Harbour toward Signal Hill, Fort Amherst, Blackhead Sea Caves, and Cape Spear. Your captain and crew explain local history, seabirds, whales, and ocean life. A heated cabin offers shelter, while the open deck gives you the best views. Whales and icebergs are possible but never guaranteed.

“The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. We didn’t see whales but it wasn’t the season for it, we still did have a great time.”

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9.Whale-Watching Cruise and Puffins Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 444 reviews · 3 hours · from $135

Sail Skjálfandi Bay from Húsavík aboard a traditional Icelandic oak boat with an English-speaking guide. Look for humpback, minke, blue, and northern bottlenose whales, dolphins, porpoises, and puffins near Puffin Island. Warm overalls, hot chocolate, and a cinnamon bun are included. The trip usually lasts about three to three and a half hours.

“Great trip on a sailboat - we have seen 3 different whales from very close. Amazing experience. Only drawback: we have seen puffins but from quite a distance. Had expected to get closer.”

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

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

You’ll ride a fast RIB boat from Húsavík into Skjálfandi Bay with a guide and captain searching for whales, dolphins, porpoises, and puffins. Guides such as Nicoletta, Clara, Mario, and Victoria have been praised for clear wildlife commentary. Puffin visits run roughly April 15 to August 15, while whale watching remains the main focus outside that period.

“So it was early in the season, so we were a bit worried if we would see anything. Lets just saw we walked away stunned. Saw a couple of humpback whales within the first 20 mins, and then found a blue whale. The tour guide went speechless for about a min, she was just as amazed as we were. We tracked it for about 30 mins. The boat and captain were great, saw the larger boats in the distance, but they could not pivot quickly enough to catch it like we did. Probably one of the biggest highlights of the trip.”

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11.Dolphin – Whale – Turtle – Bird Watching

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 350 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $60

Set out from Funchal with two guides aboard a fast, 18-seat RIB built for wildlife spotting. Land-based spotters help direct the boat toward dolphins and whales, while guides such as Clara and Natasha explain marine life, Madeira’s coast, and local history. The trip also passes Câmara de Lobos and includes a wildlife-sighting guarantee.

“Calf pilot whale , bottle nosed dolphins , we saw more than expected 😁 magic dolphin crew fantastic 👍”

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12.Bleik: Whale Watching by Speedboat with Puffins and Muffins

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 326 reviews · 3h 30m · from $199

From Bleik Marina, Christina, Norbert, Bekka, or Katie may guide you through Bleik Canyon in a 12-person RIB. The 3.5-hour trip combines whale watching, puffin colonies, sea eagles, and a fast open-water ride. Warm flotation suits, photos, and tea, coffee, and muffins are included.

“Highly recommended!!! Wonderful guide and skipper!!!we saw 2 wailles and it was amazing. Thank you for the once in a lifetime experience!”

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13.Full-Day Whales, Penguins, and Glaciers Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 325 reviews · 14 hours · from $365

Travel by coach from Punta Arenas to the Strait of Magellan, then spend about 12 hours aboard a comfortable vessel near Cape Froward and Francisco Coloane Marine Park. Watch for humpback whales, Magellanic penguins, sea lions, dolphins, birds, waterfalls, and glaciers. English and Spanish guides, meals, snacks, and hot drinks are included.

“Wonderful experience, the boat was super comfortable with heating on. The food was okay. The experience and the views are just incredible!”

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14.Whale and Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 293 reviews · 2 hours · from $200

Join a small group of up to 12 at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour for a two-hour RIB trip with a marine biologist guide. You’ll visit puffin islands, search for whales and dolphins, and return past Harpa and Sun Voyager. Warm waterproof gear, gloves, goggles, and safety equipment are supplied. Expect a bouncy, windy ride.

“Liked the entire whale watching trip! Saw a hump back and a few minkie whales!”

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15.From Alta: Whale and Seabird Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 136 reviews · 3 hours · from $220

Join Sami Experience AS at Havneveien 24 for a three-hour Alta Fjord cruise in search of orcas, humpback whales, and fin whales. Your English or Norwegian-speaking crew provides warm suits, indoor viewing, coffee, tea, and biscuits. The trip also looks for white-tailed eagles and seabirds, with occasional Sami joik adding a memorable local touch.

“The was a wonderful whale watching experience. You get to see so man pods of whales. The crew were very friendly and even sang us Sami song!”

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