Victoria Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Victoria, Canada
- 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Get a closer look at Canada’s marine wildlife on this whale-watching adventure in Victoria. Hop aboard your boat—a luxurious, spacious catamaran—and set sail. 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 commentary from marine naturalists on board, and look out for orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, and more.
- Learn all about the region's wildlife from naturalist guides
- A free photo package is included in the tour cost
- Increase your chances of viewing whales and other wildlife
- Immerse yourself in the unrivaled beauty of the Salish Sea
What's Included
- Free Photo Package Featuring Wildlife!
- Two washrooms
- Whale Sightings Guarantee—complimentary tours from all locations until you see whales (fees apply).
- 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
- Captain and expert crew of 3-4 guides/naturalists
- Coffee and/or TeaComplimentary tea, coffee & hot chocolate
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Excludes taxes and fees for Lifetime Whale Sighting Guarantee
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 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
1
Prince Of Whales - Whale Watching Adventures
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- 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 most weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Service animals allowed with proper documentation and life jacket, subject to captain's discretion
- Check-in 30 minutes prior to the departure time
- Prince of Whales reserves the right to ask that the credit card used in the booking be presented at check-in, and/or photo ID be presented.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 95 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Whitney_G
The did everything they could to give us the best experience today! Reed was the naturalist that we spent the most time with and she was sooo knowledgeable and lovely. The rest of the crew was great as well. We got to see 6 orcas and a ton of sea lions. Totally worth it. Dress warm!!
Reviews
4.9
based on 2,298 reviews
Arlyn_h, May 2026
Absolutely amazing experience. The crew are super knowledgeable, happy to answer any questions, shared so many facts about the whales, their behaviour and what we were seeing. We had an amazing day. Saw a pod of orcas and because they were hunting a sea lion we saw several breeches. We then moved on and saw a humpback, it swam toward us and surfaced twice right by our boat, you cannot imagine how big these whales are until you see it for yourself. We had the best day.Huge Thanks to Richard, Gord , Reid and Michael. Love that they are respectful of these beautiful mammals.
Krista_B, Apr 2026
This was a bucket list item for me. The crew & naturalists on board were so great. We saw a humpback whale, a gorgeous pod of orcas, puffins and seals! Fabulous experience.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for sharing this, what an incredible bucket list moment to tick off! Seeing humpbacks, orcas, puffins, and seals all in one trip is truly special, and we're glad the crew and naturalists helped make the experience so memorable. We appreciate you joining us and hope we get the chance to welcome you back out on the water again someday.
RAJESH_M, Apr 2026
Overall the service is good, the catamaran we were in was in good condition and comfortable, and the staff was friendly, interactive and knowledgeable.
Whether you are able to actually see the whales is uncertain and I guess not in the control of the staff. We caught sight of 2-3 orcas and hump-backs, however it was mostly fins. We also saw some sea lions and seals, although from a distance. We took this tour in April from Victoria, so it was not exactly peak season. Overall it’s a good experience, great views of the water and mountains. The weather was fabulous- sunny blue skies, mild temperatures.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We're glad you found the catamaran comfortable and well maintained, and that our crew came across as friendly and knowledgeable throughout the trip.
Wildlife sightings can vary day to day, and as you noted, they’re never guaranteed, but we're happy you were still able to spot orcas, humpbacks, seals, and sea lions, along with enjoying the beautiful coastal scenery and great weather. April can be a quieter time for sightings, but the views of the water and mountains are often just as memorable.
We appreciate your thoughtful feedback and hope to welcome you back again for another day on the water.
Marilyne_M, Apr 2026
The crew was informative and helpful.
We were told the crew would take many pictures and they would be emailed. We saw several whales. We got 4 pictures - disappointed
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Marilyne, thank you for the five-star review, we're so glad you enjoyed the tour. Thanks as well for bringing this to our attention, as it appears there was a glitch in the photos system that day. We've sent you the full photo package now. Feel free to reach out to us by phone or email with any further enquiries; we are happy to help.
Emma_H, Apr 2026
We had the best time and were lucky enough to see 13 orca and a grey whale! As well as sea lions! The crew were amazing at answering all the questions and really made it a special time!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We’re so glad you had such an amazing time and were able to see so many orcas along with a grey whale and sea lions. It’s great to hear the crew helped make the experience special with their knowledge and care. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you back again soon!
Jeff_W, Apr 2026
We had a wonderful trip! Saw two different pods of Orcas playing and socializing together! Amazing! Both Reid and Raj were so informative. They had answers for so many questions. We also saw a humpback up close!,
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Jeff, we are thrilled to hear you had a wonderful trip, thank you for leaving us a 5 star review! We hope to see you sailing with us again sometime soon! Thank you for choosing Prince of Whales.
Allie_S, Apr 2026
Can’t recommend this tour enough if you’re looking for an amazing way to spend an afternoon in Victoria! Michael, Eden, Richard, and Gord were a fantastic group who were not only super knowledgeable about the area and wildlife, but also super friendly, accommodating, patient, and went out of their way to ensure we had an unbelievable experience!
Additionally, the free photos from the tour were fantastic and shared with the group via email with hours of returning to the harbour, complete with high quality shots of each of the massive and smaller critters we saw along the way! 10/10 would recommend!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Allie, thank you for leaving us such a thoughful reveiw! We are pleased to hear that you were able to spend your afternoon out on the water with us seeing wildlife and learning about it too! We will be sure to pass along your kind words to our crew. Enjoy those photos! Thank you for your recommendation, and thank you for choosing Prince of Whales.
Jenifer_J, Apr 2026
Our trip took place on a rainy cool day in early April. The crew Eden and Micheal were happy and knowledgeable. It was early in the season so humpback whales hadn't arrived yet. We did see the orca. The captain stopped our boat so we could enjoy watching the orca swim. It was a lazy calm day. The ship was warm and hot chocolate and tea were available to warm us from the inside out. We saw several birds including a bald eagle. A sea otter was floating and hanging out by a rock. Very cute! If it's raining i would recommend a hay, gloves, and a jacket.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re glad to hear that even on a cool, rainy April day you were still able to enjoy a calm and memorable trip on the water.
It’s great that you got to see orcas, sea otters, and a bald eagle, and that the captain was able to give you time to watch the orca in its natural environment. We’ll also pass your kind words along to Eden and Michael, they’ll really appreciate it.
And thank you for the helpful packing tips, being warm and comfortable definitely makes a big difference out there. We hope to welcome you back again later in the season when the humpbacks arrive!
Charlene_H, Apr 2026
Excellent ocean tour. Captain and crew were very knowledgeable and friendly. Saw 2 different pods of Orca’s, seals, sea otter and bald eagles. Definitely recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We’re so glad you had an excellent experience and were able to see multiple pods of orcas along with other wildlife. It’s great to hear the crew made a strong impression with their knowledge and friendliness. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back again soon!
Whitney_G, Apr 2026
The did everything they could to give us the best experience today! Reed was the naturalist that we spent the most time with and she was sooo knowledgeable and lovely. The rest of the crew was great as well. We got to see 6 orcas and a ton of sea lions. Totally worth it. Dress warm!!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your great review! We’re so glad you had such a positive experience and that the crew did everything they could to make it a memorable one. It’s fantastic you were able to see so many orcas and sea lions. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to Reed and the rest of the crew. And we appreciate the tip about dressing warm, it definitely makes a difference out on the water. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Penny_P, Oct 2025
Safe, clean, excellent naturalists on board, on-time, searched for whales (sited 2 humpbacks) but no luck on the Orcas.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for the kind review Penny! We are so pleased to hear that you were able to see humpbacks on your journey! It must have been incredible seeing them in their natural habitat! We hope that we can welcome you back again next season -- hopefully next time some orcas will make an appearance too!
Siobhan_M, Oct 2025
It was a brilliant day out with attention to safety first, followed by knowledgeable staff & good amenities.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for the wonderful review! We are so thrilled you had a marvelous day out on the water with us! Our team is dedicated to the safety of our guests, and we hope you enjoyed all the information they had to share along the way! We hope we will get to welcome you back for more adventures!
Machivei_D, Oct 2025
The crew was amazing and extremely knowledgeable. The sittings vary. A great experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for your enthusiasm! We’re thrilled to hear you had a great experience and that our crew’s expertise made it even more memorable. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Gary_L, Oct 2025
Professional and well-educated guides. They tried very hard to help
us find whales. They sent pictures afterwards which was nice. Nice Relaxing view hours.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for this kind review Gary! We are thrilled to hear that you had such a great day out on the water with our team of naturalists! We hope you enjoy sharing your new facts with friends and family at home and we would love to welcome you back on board again one day soon!
Susan_B, Oct 2025
Great experience but dress warm! Jesse’s Michael and Reid were great! They were very knowledgeable and pointed out everything!! The weather was a bit cool but the boat was great - the bottom portion is heated and the hot chocolate was awesome!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you had a great experience and that Jesse, Michael, and Reid helped make the tour memorable with their knowledge and enthusiasm. Great tip about dressing warm, fall weather can definitely sneak up on you! We're glad you enjoyed the heated cabin and, of course, the hot chocolate. Hope to see you again on another adventure soon!
Danna_J, Oct 2025
It was amazing. Everything was smooth from the get go, and then there was wildlife. Couldn’t have asked for a better trip. Megan, Janae, Reid, Taylor, and Francois did a fantastic job of keeping the tour entertaining, comfortable, and informative.
Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for sharing these kind words! We are so glad to hear that you had such a great time on board with the POW crew and we would love to welcome you back again one day soon!
Neil_G, Oct 2025
The tour was good. The staff would explain about the different sea life. The tour left the dock on time and returned on time.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for this kind review Neil! It's wonderful to hear that you had such a great time on board, spotting different wildlife and soaking in the beauty of British Columbia's rugged coastline! We hope to welcome you back one day soon!
MaureenF_Y, Oct 2025
This was a fabulous way to spend an afternoon. I was hoping to see Humpback Whales and Prince of Whales did not disappoint. We saw many Humpbacks and then an Orca (Janet Nielson) showed up and it was like a Christmas miracle (he's rarely seen). The crew (Megan and Janae) were informative and knowledgable and Michael provided fabulous pictures afterward (included with the price of the trip). A must see and do when visiting Victoria. PS Captain Richard and First Mate Sandy did a great job too.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for this lovely review Maureen! It must have been so special to see Uncle Jan out on the water! We hope that you enjoy passing along some of the knowledge learnt from our guides to your friends and family and we hope to welcome you back on board again the next time you're in the area!
Suzette_P, Oct 2025
We really enjoyed this whale watching excursion. Megan, Eden, and especially Janae was so informative and answered all of our questions. And to have pictures sent to us made it even more special. I highly recommend this excursion.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you Suzette! We are thrilled to hear that you had such a great time! Thank you for shouting out our wonderful guides, they will be so pleased to know that they helped to make your day special. Thank you for your recommendation and we hope to see you again soon!
Brian_M, Oct 2025
Megan and her team were great naturalists on board, and did a super job of spotting, providing background, and details on the trip. Capt Richard managed the boat orientation very well, keeping our view consistent. Dress very warmly for late september. Rain gear, hat, gloves, if you want to experience the view from the deck side for long. We saw Orcas, humpbacks, steller sea lions, and mountain sheep.
Very worth while excursion.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for these kind words Brian! Our lovely team of naturalists will be delighted to read these kind words! You're bang on with the recommendation of wearing lots of layers! We find that the best place for viewing is the open air top deck, however it definitely gets chilly up there! It's great to hear that you had such a successful tour and we do hope we can welcome you back on board again one day!
William_L, Sept 2025
The crew spent lots of time educating us on the different whales and sea lions. We saw lots of whales and sea lions
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you William! We hope that you enjoy impressing your friends and family with those new facts from our spectacular naturalists! Hopefully we will be able to welcome you back on board again one day for another adventure!
Barbara_R, Sept 2025
Absolutely amazing experience! Far exceeded our expectations. We saw humpback whales leap into the air a number of times. So many sightings of whales we lost count. The crew were knowledgeable, informative, and helpful. Do not miss this incredible opportunity!
Response from Host, Sept 2025
Thank you for the phenomenal review! You were truly lucky to witness such a magical experience, watching the majestic humpback whales breaching is such a marvel to see, and not one we get to see often in the Salish Sea! We are delighted to hear you enjoyed absorbing all the wonderful information our knowledgeable naturalists had to share along the way. We hope we will see you again for more captivating excursions!
Rona_T, Sept 2025
Absolutely amazing day! The crew said it was one of the best whale watching days they’d ever had. We saw loads of different groups of orcas as well as humpbacks and sea lions. An awesome day out!!
Response from Host, Sept 2025
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! What a fantastic day out, it is truly special to see multiple groups of orcas together, and then to see the majestic humpback whales as well, marvelous! The rambunctious sea lions are always so much fun to watch as well. We are so glad you enjoyed your time aboard with us, and we hope we will get to welcome you back again for more adventures!
Rachel_K, Sept 2025
Very well organised trip. Everything was clearly explained to us first by the friendly captains François & Tayler. We saw Orcas & humpback. Jessy & Megan did a great job explaining all we needed to know about these wonderful whales. Great trip well done all
Response from Host, Sept 2025
Thank you for leaving us a review! We are glad to hear you had a good time on your tour! Thank you for choosing Prince of Whales.
Kirsten_K, Sept 2025
I’ve always hesitated to do a whale watching tour for fear of being one of those heartless boats that chases and harasses the animals. So I was very pleased to see that this tour operator explained why they were not getting too close and other things they did to ensure the whales’ safety and comfort.
The naturalists on board were really knowledgeable about not just whales in general but about the specific pod we were watching. Although we kept our distance, one of the whales swam right up to the boat and then passed underneath a few times. It was beyond thrilling. The boat had a variety of spots to sit or stand while watching the whales, and a small snack bar was a nice feature as my partner and I had not eaten since that morning and the tour ended after 6 pm. It was incredibly easy to tip the amazing workers: Eden, Michael and Jenae who knew so much about the whales and also made sure we all had what we needed - and the captain Bob and Chief Officer Sandy were stellar in their communication and leadership. Felt very very lucky to have taken this trip - worth every penny.
Response from Host, Sept 2025
Kirsten, thank you for taking the time to leave us such a thoughtful review of your time out on the water with us! We are thrilled to hear you had such a great time learning about and seeing whales on your tour! Our staff takes pride in providing a fun but safe viewing experience for our guests and whales! We will be sure to pass along your kind words to them. We hope to see you sailing with us again sometime soon! Thank you for choosing Prince of Whales.
Birgit_T, Sept 2025
The best in town. Very friendly helpful staff, well educated and knowledgeable. Say tell you everything about the whale families, even know their names
Response from Host, Sept 2025
Thank you for leaving us a 5 star review! We are glad to hear you were able to learn about the wildlife during your tour! Thank you for choosing Prince of Whales.
Susan_P, Sept 2025
It was a fantastic day. I lost track of how many whales we saw. The crew was professional and informative. It was a wonderful experience.
Response from Host, Sept 2025
Thank you for your kind words! We're so glad to hear you had a fantastic day and saw so many whales. It’s always a pleasure to know the crew helped make it a memorable and informative experience. Thanks for being part of the adventure!
Cedrick_L, Sept 2025
Amazing experience with Captain Francois, First Mate Taylor and our wildlife guides Reid, Michael and Jessy.
Great boat, great explanations from the wild life guides, a wonderful experience and they take the pictures for you.
Response from Host, Sept 2025
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so glad you had an amazing experience with Captain François, Taylor, Reid, Michael, and Jessy. It's great to hear you enjoyed the boat, the expert guidance, and having the photos taken for you so you could fully enjoy the moment. We appreciate you joining us!
edward_i, Sept 2025
Awesome trip! Saw amazing humpback whales even one that breached! Did not however, see any orcas.
Thank you, Reid, Michael, and Jessy amazing naturalists and photographers!
Response from Host, Sept 2025
Thank you for the great review! We're so glad you enjoyed the trip and got to see humpbacks, including a breach, how incredible! While we’re sorry the orcas didn’t show up this time, we’re happy to hear Reid, Michael, and Jessy helped make the experience memorable with their knowledge and photography. Thanks again for joining us!
Sara_R, Sept 2025
Everyone on the boat was so friendly and knowledgeable! They took time to answer all of our questions.
Response from Host, Sept 2025
Thank you for the kind words! We're so glad you felt welcomed and well taken care of on board. Our crew loves sharing their knowledge, and it's great to hear they made your experience enjoyable. Hope to see you again!
From $161.95
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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