Victoria Whale Watch Tour

Victoria, Canada

Take a whale-watching tour from Victoria to spot orcas (killer whales), humpback whales, gray whales and minke whales. You'll also spot Dall's porpoise and harbor porpoise and enjoy Vancouver Island's spectacular scenery.

Your whale-watching tour from Victoria is enhanced by the informative commentary provided by a trained naturalist. You'll learn about the biology, behavior and habits of the wildlife you'll spot as you sail across the water in a Zodiac or luxury motor yacht.

You'll have an excellent chance of spotting orcas between April and September. You're also bound to spot California sea lions, northern (stellar) sea lions, elephant seals and harbor seals as bald eagles soar above you and seabirds fly close to the water looking for food. To get the most from your whale-watching safari, bring along a jacket, sun protection, your camera and a pair of binoculars.

The photographic opportunities on a whale-watching tour are phenomenal! With the vessel at rest, you can snap away while listening to the naturalist's stories about the Pacific Ocean's ecosystem you are visiting. If the conditions are right, you'll have the opportunity to hear the unforgettable song of the whales. Hydrophones can pick up and amplify the hauntingly beautiful sounds of the Orca whales as they communicate with each other.

This tour is seasonal, operating from April through to October

USD $108.95

Review by: susan k	November 2011
great day didnt see any orca but saw humpback whales

Review by: Mikkel B	August 2011
A very well organised trip with knowledgeable and helpful crew. We were lucky that the weather was fantastic and we saw orcas, seals, herons, etc, It would have been a 5 star trip if the whales had been a bit more accommodating and more visible, but that is the chance you take.

Review by: Julie Makas P	July 2011
Don't let the pictures fool you. They don't tell you until you get on the excursion that by law they cannot go within 400 yards of the whales. So just plan on taking a nice tour of the harbor without seeing many whales (except for the fins).

Review by: Jan H	July 2011
Great trip thank you. Saw lots of whales and the crew were great fun and very knowledgeable. Will do it again one day!

Review by: Kenneth G	June 2011
A long time riding and limited time whale watching.

Review by: Terence H	September 2010
We arrived at the office on time for the company to tell us that the boat was fully booked and we would be transferred to another. I had booked this particular tour because of the size of the boat used and what we would expect during the trip. WHAT A JOKE!. We were transferred to something no bigger than a TUG BOAT! 33 people where on this boat, so much that not everybody could sit down. We accept that the weather on that day was not good, but did expect too be able to sit down in safety. The arrangement of this trip by Viator was good and not a problem. We advise to all if you are told that you are being transferred to another boat ask why! We booked this months previous in advance and was disappointed, yes there were whales (in the distance). There are numerous companys on Victoria Harbour offering whale watching. In all this boat we were on ruined the trip, you had to hold on for dear life as it was very choppy. We feel that if the original boat had been used for the trip it would have been more enjoyable (despite the weather) By the way we did not see any boats equivalant in size to the one we originally booked out there whale watching only zodiac boats doing the trip, these boats remained in the harbour tied up!!!!

Review by: Jennifer H	July 2010
I really cannot say enough about how awesome this tour was. The staff was so helpful and so full of knowledge about the Oracas. We also were able to see a Grey Whale. I had a six year old and seven year old with me and they were thrilled. The educational value was fantastic. The Captian was a young lady and she spent alot of time with us and was so careful with the Orcas.

Review by: Nicola S, United Kingdom	August 2009
We had a great day whale watching, at first we thought we would not see any whales as it was foggy and we seemed to be having no luck finding them. The great thing is that all the Whale watching boats are in contact and advise each other if they get a sighting, so you have a better chance of seeing Whales. After an hour at sea we got great views of lots of Whales... amazing, the crew are great giving information about the Whales, the boat is comfortable and no sea sickness at all, great washroom and refeshments availble. This is a great trip and excellent value for money that I would highly recommend, got some great photo's too.

Review by: Jon G, Canada	September 2007
Fantastic, knowledgeable and courteous staff.

Review by: Michelle R, United States of America	August 2007
The staff was wonderful and extremely friendly. The whales on the other hand were not cooperative that day. We maybe saw a glimpse of one very far away. It is not the tour companies fault but it was disappointing.

Review by: Patricia M, United States of America	July 2007
I loved this tour! The two young guides were so knowledgeable and friendly. It was so thrilling to see the orcas so close!

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	October 2006
This was a very worthwhile experience. The tour director was knowledgeable, informative and friendly. I would recommend this to anyone who would enjoy nature contact experiences.

Review by: Garry H, Canada	August 2006
Well worth a trip but felt a bit let down that we did not get closer to the whales. The ride out and back are worth the trip alone. Like a roller coaster.

Review by: Anonymous	August 2006
Well worth a trip but felt a bit let down that we did not get closer to the whales. The ride out and back are worth the trip alone. Like a roller coaster.

Review by: Jenna B, United States of America	July 2006
The trip was amazing! The whales were so playful and active and there was so many of them. It was a beautiful afternoon.