Marvel at the majesty of Canada’s marine wildlife on this 3-hour whale-watching adventure in Victoria. Hop aboard your boat, a semi-covered vessel built specifically for whale-watching trips, and cruise through the Haro Strait with your guide. Watch the waves from the open sun decks or stay protected from the spray in the heated indoor cabin. Stop off at points of interest through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Listen to fascinating commentary from marine naturalists on board, and admire the beautiful orca, humpback whales, and minke whales you find.

Multiple times offered throughout the day
See native wildlife in their natural environment
Informative, friendly and professional guide

What's Included

Captain and expert crew of 3-4 guides/naturalists
Free photo package of your trip & wildlife, with personal photos of you and your loved ones
Two washrooms
Lifetime Whale Sightings Guarantee - new free tour from Vancouver or Victoria until you see whales!
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
5 per person Salish Sea Conservation Fee (1% For The Planet Initiative) is included in price
Downloadable tour guides in: English, Spanish, French, German and Dutch
Kids coloring books and educational guides

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Excludes taxes and fees for Lifetime Whale Sighting Guarantee

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

812 Wharf St
812 Wharf St, Victoria, BC V8W 1T3, Canada
Please check-in 30 minutes prior to departure time at Prince of Whales Whale Watching located below the Visitor Information Centre in the Inner Harbour (812 Wharf St, Victoria, BC V8W 1T3).

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, an alternative or full refund will be offered
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
Service animals allowed with proper documentation and life jacket
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 95 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Murray_S

The boat was large and stable. Everything we had hoped it would be. The staff were all friendly, approachable and knowledgeable. I will and already have recommended this trip to friends! The supplied photos are a huge bonus! We will go again!

Reviews

5.0

1,369 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 1,369 reviews

Whale watching

AnnaNaylaE_A, Sep 2023

The entire crew were very professional, knowledgeable and accommodating. We got to see the Orcas, Humpback Whales and Sea Lion. Thank you to alll the Staff of Prince of Whales.

Must Do!

Tamie_R, Sep 2023

This was one of the best experiences on our trip! The staff were well trained, extremely knowledgeable and skilled, and truly enjoy what they do. They were eager to spot whales and other sea life and excited to share lots of information and answer questions. Very fun and enjoyable!

Best Whale Watch Ever!

Lisa_M, Sep 2023

Our crew were fabulous and we saw Orcas (killer whales), hump back whales and seals. We would highly recommend the Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure from Victoria with Prince of Whales Whale Watching.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Whale hello Lisa, thank you for your 5* review! It sounds like you had an amazing trip! Seeing Orcas, humpbacks and seals in their natural habitat must have been a truly unforgettable experience. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback about the crew; they play a crucial role in making such adventures enjoyable and informative. It's experiences like these that create lasting memories and a deeper appreciation for the incredible marine life in the Salish Sea's waters. Thank you again for joining us! All the best

Great Trip

Mark_D, Sep 2023

Very knowledgeable staff - educational trip & amazing views of the animals. We were lucky to see unusual breaching behavior from the Orca & lunge feeding with Humpbacks.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Thank you so much for your review Mark! It sounds like you had a fin-tastic tour!! Breaches are quite rare, as well as observing humpbacks feeding! We hope that you enjoyed your hot drinks and the beautiful photo package that you must have received after your trip and hope to see you again in the future! Best fishes

Orcas!

Edmund_A, Sep 2023

Orcas very active. Very informative crew, including Jesse. Captain knew where the whales were. Went by lighthouse. Crew took nice photos of it all and shared with passengers.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Hi there! Thank you very much for your 5 stars and kind words! We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your whale watching tour with us and hope to see you again in the future! All the best

Best Whale watching cruise ever!

Kaye_N, Sep 2023

This was a wonderful tour! Comfortable and roomy catamaran. Indoor and outdoor viewing. Clean bathrooms, free hot beverages and small snacks for sale. Great crew! Captain kept us on the animals. Close enough to awe us, yet respectful of their space. We saw Orca families, Humpback Whales, Sea Lions and more. The 3 mates were all educated marine naturalists who were informed, funny and kind. I’m profoundly hearing impaired, and they kindly took turns wearing my hearing aid mic so that I could participate as well!! What a blessing that was for this HOH person. I am sincerely thankful! Lastly, there is a photographer on board and they email you photos of the animals you saw! This tour can’t be beat! I highly recommend!!

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Thank you so much for your amazing review! We are glad to hear that you had such a great time on board. The combination of a comfortable and spacious catamaran with both indoor and outdoor viewing options, clean facilities, and complimentary hot beverages is the best way to enjoy whale watching. It's also heartwarming to know that the crew went above and beyond to accommodate your hearing impairment, ensuring you didn't miss out on any of the incredible marine life and naturalist insights. And the added bonus of receiving photos of the animals you encountered is a fantastic way to remember this special day! Thank you again for choosing us and best fishes!

A wonderful excursion! ...

Donald_L, Sep 2023

A wonderful excursion! Saw Killer Whales and humpbacks. The crew was fantastic and attentive and the captain was great at getting us to the most advantages points for viewing.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thank you Donald for leaving us a 5 star review! We really appreciate you taking the time! We are glad you had a wonderful excursion and got to see killer whales and humpback whales! We are also happy that you found our crew as fantastic as we do and we hope that you will enjoy your complimentary pictures as well! All the best to you and until hopefully another time ;)

Exceptional

jmgroom1311, Sep 2023

An absolutely amazing day out. Very informative detail about the wildlife and nature. Staff were very friendly and helpful!

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thank you so much for the great review! Its lovely to hear you found our staff so friendly and accommodating!

Whale Watching - Vancouver Island

Fiona_L, Sep 2023

A must do trip. This was a well organised trip with informative guides plus someone who took the photos for you, so you could concentrate on seeing the whales and orca. We saw Orca, humpback whales, sealions and seals. Plenty of room on the boat so everyone could see the wildlife.

Whale festival

SatyajitN_g, Sep 2023

Lots of whales to see. Knowledgeable staff. Good pace. Great pace saw lots of whales up close. And seals

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thank you so much for the great review. So happy to hear that you were able to see a diversity of different wildlife on your tour.

Awesome

Linda_I, Sep 2023

Seeing the orcas. My sister in law has a disability. The boarding was easy for her and having a table to sit at was a bonus.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thank you so much for the great review. It is fantastic to hear that you, as a caregiver, found our tours accusable and accommodating for your sister as this is a huge goal of ours. Thank you again for letting us know.

Jump

Katrina_B, Sep 2023

Watching a humpback breach the water. Boat staff were very informative and helpful. I would highly recommend as something to put on your bucket list

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thank you so much for the great review. I am so glad to hear you found our staff friendly and informative and that we were able to check that item off your bucket list.

Good choice

Liang_J, Aug 2023

The staff is nice. We saw the whale but just a small part of the whale. That let's us come again for the summer vacation 2024.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

We appreciate your feedback! We're glad you found our staff to be nice and that you had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the whale, even if it was a small part. We look forward to having you join us again for a summer vacation in 2024, where we hope to provide you with even more amazing wildlife experiences and memories to cherish. Thank you for considering us for your future adventures!

Loud Sea Lions and Orcas!

Varun_R, Aug 2023

Just being in the moment and enjoying the wildlife is the best part, especially when sea lions are going crazy and being super noisy and adorable just 150m away from the boat on a sunbathing rock. The official photos taken by the Prince of Whales crew more than make up for keeping your phone in your pocket! We saw some great wildlife and a small pod of orcas, which was an absolute treat.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

We're thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful time enjoying the wildlife on our tour! The moments of observing the playful and noisy sea lions up close are indeed special and adorable. We're delighted that you found our official photos to be a great keepsake of the experience, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the moment without worrying about taking pictures. Witnessing great wildlife and encountering a pod of orcas was truly a treat, and we're grateful to have been a part of this unforgettable adventure. We look forward to welcoming you back for more incredible moments with nature in the future!

Lots of marine life in a comfortable boat with a great crew

Audra_A, Aug 2023

A great experience. We saw several orcas, lots of sea lions and a bald eagle. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly. Facilities were all clean. And we really appreciated the free photos of the marine life afterward. Remember to pack a windbreaker and fleece even in summer if you want to be out on the deck while getting to the destination. But in the larger boat, you can easily stay out of the wind inside on the lower cabin. Overall a great experience. Thanks!

Response from Host, Aug 2023

We're thrilled that you had a great experience with us! Seeing several orcas, sea lions, and a bald eagle must have been truly remarkable. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff always aims to provide a memorable trip. We're glad you found our facilities clean and appreciated the free photos of the marine life. Your advice about packing a windbreaker and fleece for deck time is helpful, and our larger boat's lower cabin provides a comfortable option to avoid the wind. Thank you for choosing us, and we appreciate your kind words. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for more wonderful experiences in the future!

Will go again!

Murray_S, Jul 2023

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hi Murray! Thank you for choosing Prince of Whales Whale Watching and for sharing your positive experience with us. We're thrilled to hear that you had an incredible time on our trip and that our knowledgeable crew made it even more enjoyable. We're proud of our team for their dedication to providing an outstanding whale watching adventure. We can't wait to welcome you back on board for another unforgettable experience. Thank you again for your kind words!

Great experience

Sanford_S, Jul 2023

Tremendous experience. I would recommend your company to anyone. The crew was very helpful and answered all our questions.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hi there! Thanks for choosing Prince of Whales. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour and appreciate the recommendation! Sounds like you had a fantastic time! Kudos to the crew for all their great work. Cheers!

Amazing whale watching tour!

Genie_B, Jul 2023

Fantastic experience! Great crew with super knowledgeable guide. We saw a ton of whales! Plus, this company goes above and beyond - they have a professional photographer on each voyage to take high quality photos and they send them to every passenger after the trip for free!!! I have been whale watching all over the world and on hundred of tourist experiences and that was a first - it is an incredibly thoughtful move and meant that I could focus on the whales, not my camera. I loved this trip and hope to be back again one day!!!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Whale Hello Genie! Thank you for choosing Prince of Whales and for sharing your positive feedback. We're thrilled to hear that you had an amazing time on our trip and that our crew's expertise and enthusiasm added to the enjoyment. We're dedicated to providing exceptional wildlife encounters, and it's wonderful to know that you were able to witness the beauty of these majestic creatures up close without your camera. We look forward to your next visit, and thank you for your fantastic review!

Adventure

Artem_P, Jul 2023

What a blast seeing majestic orcas and humpback whales. Comfortable ride and great time had by all. Great for kids.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hello Artem, thank you for your glowing review of your recent Prince of Whales trip. We're thrilled to learn that our vessel's comfort and amenities exceeded your expectations, allowing you to fully relax and enjoy the experience. Providing a comfortable and enjoyable environment for our guests is a top priority for us. Your positive feedback encourages us to continue delivering outstanding service. We look forward to welcoming you back on board for another incredible adventure soon!

Merril and The Becketts Whale Watching Tour

Merril_R, Jul 2023

The crew was very knowledgeable which made it very interesting and entertaining and of course....the whales!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hello! Thanks for choosing Prince of Whales! We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your tour and appreciated the efforts made by our knowledgeable staff. Sounds like you had a whale of time! Hope to see you again some time soon for another adventure! Cheers!

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