Admire native marine wildlife in the waters of British Columbia on this 3-hour whale-watching adventure in Victoria. Hop aboard your open-top boat in Victoria Harbour and cruise out into the rolling waves with your guide. Your vessel, a zodiac speedboat, is built with stability in mind and remains buoyant even in rough seas. Cruise through the Haro Straight to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Watch the water for sightings of humpback whales, minke whales and orcas breaching the waves, and learn of their life cycle and migration habits.

See native wildlife in their natural environment
Choice of several departures throughout the day
Informative, friendly and professional guide

What's Included

Whale and marine life watching tour on a 12-passenger open-aired zodiac boat
Expert Guide/Skipper
All-weather exposure flotation suits
Lifetime Whale Sightings Guarantee - new free tour from Vancouver or Victoria until you see whales!
$5 per person Salish Sea Conservation Fee (1% For The Planet Initiative) is included in price

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities
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
Lower causeway

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Prince of Whales - Whale Watching Adventures

1 minute • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Not suitable for participants with back or neck problems, pregnant women, participants with recent surgeries
There is a minimum passenger height restriction of 4ft (120cm)
Each passenger is required to sign a Release of Liability at check in. Participants must be 19 years of age, or require a parent or guardian to sign on their behalf
Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date/time/vessel or full refund

Near public transportation
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 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

Sherrill_N

Upon arrival the staff were extremely polite and helpful. The day could not have more perfect. Weather was beautiful and the water was fairly calm. Tray was excellent at tracking down whales for us. We were able to multiple Humpback whales. Tray kept us out a little longer so we could get a glimps at some Orcas. I would go again!

Reviews

5.0

531 reviews

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

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 531 reviews

Awesome!

Deb_D, Sep 2023

Being on the water in a Zodiak was a blast! We saw 2 kinds of whales and 2 kinds of seals, and lots of salmon jumping. We had a quick glimpse of a porpoise too! What a great way to spend the afternoon. Our guide was Austin and he taught us a lot.

Fantastic experience!

Julia_H, Sep 2023

I was sitting in the front of the zodiac boat, after the skipper said it would be bumpy there. It was not very bumpy, but the skipper took us to some waves, so the front people could have some jumpy fun. We saw humpbacks and orcas, I was able to take some photos and movies. We had great weather. It was a really great experience and I highly recommend it !

The Best Kind of Day on the Water

Clive_J, Sep 2023

A great fun way to see the wildlife. Mark was very informative and able to spot the locations of the whales

Excellent experience

Adrian_T, Aug 2023

The crew was excellent, offered all kind of info regarding marine life And of course we saw plenty of whales, orcas, sea lions, seals and bald eagles

Response from Host, Aug 2023

We're thrilled to hear that the crew made your experience excellent by providing informative insights into marine life. Witnessing such a variety of marine animals, including whales, orcas, sea lions, seals, and bald eagles, sounds truly remarkable. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback – it's great to know you had such an enjoyable and informative trip!

You see Sixteen Whales and What Do You Get? Fun! Fun! Fun!

Toni_L, Aug 2023

We saw 16 whales and over 70 sea lions and harbor seals on this tour. The first sighting was part of an Orca pod with a mama and several calves. The second sighting was a group of three Humpback whales, each twice the length of our zodiac. They were jumping and diving after jumping fish. The last whale sighting was a pod of 9 Orcas swimming in a line. Some of the males were bouncing in an out of the waves. We also saw giant sea lions and harbor seals sunning on a big rock by a light house. What a day!!! Great driving and narrating by our guide Trey.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

What a tour! We are delighted that you enjoyed your tour under the guidance of captain Trey, incredibly knowledgeable and helpful, enhancing your experience. It's fantastic that his expertise led you to witness the breathtaking sight of three jumping humpback whales. We hope to have you onboard in the future!

Awesome experience with...

melanie_t, Aug 2023

Awesome experience with and abundance of whales. Tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Kids loved the boat ride ( adult husband who sat in the front did not). Great day!

Response from Host, Aug 2023

We're delighted you had an awesome experience with an abundance of whales. Our knowledgeable and friendly tour guide made the journey enjoyable. It's wonderful that the kids loved the boat ride, though we apologize if the front seating wasn't as comfortable for your husband. Thank you for sharing your great day with us, and we hope to welcome you all back for more memorable adventures in the future!

Perfect

Anchalee_C, Aug 2023

Very friendly and helpful and great saw a lot of whale perfect whale watching 100% saw whale very nice

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted that you found our team to be friendly and helpful during your whale watching trip. It's fantastic to hear that you had a perfect whale watching experience and were able to witness these majestic creatures up close. We appreciate your support and look forward to providing you with more memorable encounters in the future!

Wonderful experience

Justine_S, Jul 2023

Great boat ride with a fun and knowledgeable captain. It was a great experience to see killer whales in their natural habitat.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great boat ride with our fun and knowledgeable captain. Witnessing killer whales in their natural habitat is truly a remarkable experience. We hope to welcome you aboard again soon for more unforgettable adventures!

An amazing experience!

Sherrill_N, Jul 2023

Response from Host, Jul 2023

We're thrilled to hear that you had a perfect day on our whale watching tour! It's wonderful that the staff's politeness and helpfulness added to your experience. We're glad Tray's expertise led you to spot multiple Humpback whales, and it's fantastic that he went the extra mile to give you a glimpse of Orcas. We can't wait to have you join us again for another fantastic adventure!

Zodiac Whale watching - amazing time

Derrick_C, Jul 2023

I booked a Whale Watching tour with Prince of Whales. Our Captain Mark guided our 12 passenger Zodiac in search of whales. We saw Orcas and Humpbacks and everyone had a great time!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you for choosing Prince of Whales for your Whale Watching tour! We're delighted that Captain Mark provided you with an enjoyable experience, guiding your 12 passenger Zodiac to witness both Orcas and Humpbacks. It's wonderful to hear that everyone had a great time, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back on board for more exciting adventures in the future!

A Beautiful Experience

Melisa_G, Jul 2023

A beautiful experience. Gary was a fabulous captain, very knowledgeable and respectful to both the passengers and the whales.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hi there! Thanks for leaving us a review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour and appreciate your kind words towards Gary. We'll be sure to pass them along! Cheers!

Wet and Sore

Robert_A, Jul 2023

Seeing the Orcas but it's rough getting in and out the harbour . I would recommend taking the bigger boat if you got any health problems. My back was sore after the 4 hours in a zodiac.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hello Robert, thank you so much for your review and description of your experience with us. We are thrilled that you got to see Orcas and that you were able to spend 4 hours on the water with our experienced staff. We try to advise our guests as much as possible in advance that we do not recommend our Zodiac Tours to anyone pregnant, with back issues or recent injuries, however we are not always able to recommend the appropriate tour to everyone. We are sorry that your back was sore after your ride, unfortunately the exit and entry to the harbour can be a bit more bumpy on slightly windy days. However many guests also love exactly that for the adrenaline factor. We hope that your back will recover soon and that your memories of the mesmerizing Orcas will outlast any others in the future. Thank you for choosing Prince of Whales and we wish you all the best for the future!

Honestly was disappointed...

Cynthia_W, Jul 2023

Honestly was disappointed as only saw a couple whale tails of an humpback from far away and that is it. Felt it wasn’t worth the money charged.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Cynthia, thanks for your feedback, it is truly valued. We are saddened to hear that you did not find the experience of value for the cost. Naturally each sailing is unique and offers distinct sightings, so we leave it up to the captains to decide whether the experience is deemed successful. Having seen humpback whales in Constance Bank, the trip was marked a success. The government of Canada along with various marine protection organizations have in place regulations (that we fully support and have even founded) to protect the whales, and for these reasons we must keep some distance from the whales. Whales are very intelligent and curious creatures that love to find out what humans are up to so they often swim closer to boats, of course while engines are turned off. Should you wish to share your feedback in more detail, please feel free to reach out to info@princeofwhales.com. We hope you enjoyed a fun day at sea riding the zodiac and taking in all the gorgeous sights and other wildlife the area has to offer.

Sugar gravy trip

Regina_P, Jul 2023

Amazing trip! Excellent experience! Fortunately we saw some whales ! Was a nice ride and the driver is amazing such a nice guy.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hi there, thank you for leaving a 5 star review for us! We are thrilled to hear that you had a great trip and saw some whales during your adventure. Our staff takes pride in enhancing the tour for our guests, we will pass along the kind words! Thanks again for choosing Prince of Whales.

So much fun!

Becky_C, Jul 2023

The captain was so kind and knowledgeable about the whales. The ride was so fun out on the ocean. They had super warm “space suits” to keep us dry and warm. It’s sooooooo cold out there. But those suits were awesome!!! Loved it. Saw lots of humpback whales. No orcas Sadly. But lots of sea lions too.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hello Becky! Thank you so much for your 5 stars! We are glad to hear that you loved your time with us and that you found our suits useful! It gets cold once the boat is at full speed at they are really appreciated indeed!! Best fishes and see you soon for more adventures at sea!

A treat!

Anna_J, Jul 2023

Being on the water was wonderful, experiencing humpback whales firsthand was amazing! Loved the boats and lighthouse we saw. So many seals!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hello Anna! Thank you for leaving a positive review of your Prince of Whales Whale Watching experience. We're thrilled to hear that our trip was the highlight of your vacation and that our knowledgeable guides made it even more special. It's our goal to create unforgettable memories, and we're delighted to have achieved that for you. We appreciate your kind words and can't wait to welcome you back for another incredible adventure on the water!

Amazing!

Debra_H, Jul 2023

Fun to see Pod T49A. The seals were so personable! And the cormorant nestings amazing! A wonderful afternoon that truly heals the soul.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Whale hello, there! Thank you so much for leaving us a review! We are thrilled to hear that you got to see some orcas during your tour. Sounds like a fantastic afternoon! Cheers!

Great aventure!

Christine_B, Jun 2023

Took the zodiak out and whale watching was great so was the ride!! We saw 2 humback and 2 killer whales!!

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Hello! Thanks for leaving a review! We are thrilled to hear that you got to see some orcas and humpbacks during your tour! What an incredible experience! Hope to see you again soon! Cheers!

Excellent

Alannah_R, May 2023

We had a great time on our tour. Gary was an excellent, knowledgeable guide. A perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Response from Host, May 2023

Hello Alanna, Thank you for your review! We are thrilled that you had a good time out on the water. Kudos to Gary for being an excellent guide and providing you with so much info! Hope to see you again soon! Cheers!

Very rough ride back

Yu_L, Mar 2023

We loved getting to see a lot of killer whales but the return ride was extremely rough causing us to get totally soaked through the jumpsuits and one of us got sick. This experience needs to be explained clearly in the description first and foremost. Not suitable at all for children, less fit people.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Yu_L, Thank you for your review. While we are happy to hear that you got to see some incredible marine wildlife, including orcas, we are also disappointed to hear that you did not have a great experience returning back to Victoria. Although our zodiacs are captained by our experienced and talented skippers, weather can be unpredictable and sea conditions can sometimes become rough. To address your concerns, we do state in our description that this tour is not suitable for children under 7, people that are pregnant, and people with back or neck injuries. We include this in our tour description because of the possibility of rough weather. We hope your return ride does not ruin the amazing experience of seeing whales out in the wild, and we hope you're willing to give us another chance to give you a five star experience. Thank you for your feedback, we appreciate it.

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