Wild Whale Watching Experience - Open Air Vessel

Recommended by 98% of travelers

Vancouver, Canada

Popular pick

Booked 10+ times last week!

5 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Take in Vancouver’s local wildlife in a respectful way on this whale watching tour from Granville Island. Your guides are marine naturalists who are passionate about animal conservation, so they emphasize observing animals in their natural environment without human interference. The open-air vessel lets you see any wildlife up close.

Data from Vancouver tours goes to research and conservation initiatives
Read field guides, whale identification guides, and more on board
Ginger candy and ear plugs can be provided for motion sickness
Your vessel can legally approach wildlife closer than other vessels can

What's Included

Full length (arms and legs), one piece, anti-exposure flotation suit (to be worn overtop of your clothing)
Field guides, whale identification guides, and learning materials can be borrowed on board
Bottled water

We prefer that our guests bring a refillable water bottle (to save on single use plastics), but we carry extra bottled water on board just in case!
Sunscreen
Ginger candy can be provided upon request for travellers that may be experiencing motion sickness
Single use ear plugs can be provided upon request

An optional gratuity for your guide and your captain is greatly appreciated by our staff
Snacks

The journey can last up to 5 hours depending on where the whales are, so it is recommended that our guests bring their own snacks on board.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

1806 Mast Tower Ln, Vancouver, BC V6H 4B6, Canada
Arrive to our office to check in 45 minutes ahead of your scheduled departure.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Most travelers can participate
Not recommended for travelers with neck problems
Not recommended for children under the age of 5
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 35 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

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.9

based on 176 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Every tour will be different, like no whale will reappear where you just saw it.

Camille_S, Sep 2025

Fresh air, high-speed boat. Ship’s captain knew when to slow down or stop when whales were near. We all hushed, then gasped at the sight of a fin.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Hi Camille, Thank you for your lovely worded overview of your tour with us. So glad you enjoyed

Great trip!

Susan_M, Jul 2025

Amazing trip! Whales came right up to us and played around the boat for at least 20 minutes. It was a once in a lifetime experience for sure!

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Hi Susan! Wow so so lucky to experience such a rare close encounter! Thank you very much for your review and we hope to have you onboard again some day soon

Did not disappoint!

RACHEL_L, Jul 2025

This was a great tour. We saw a pod of orchas and a bunch of seals. It’s a much longer tour than you will think so take snacks. You will be given an orange waterproof jumpsuit to wear. We were thankful for them as it would have been freezing without them. It’s a long time on a boat for a short time of whale action, but most people understand this is what whale excursions entail. Boat was a nice size instead of a huge tour with so many people you can’t see. There was a restroom on board. Yaz was our naturalist and she was great!

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Hi Rachel, thank you for your review! We're so happy to hear you had a great tour! We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to Yas, who we agree is amazing!

Wonderful!

Federica_Q, Jun 2025

Great experience! Before leaving there was a problem with the booking and I was offered a free upgrade to the zodiac ride. The guide is the captain were incredibly professional and engaging. We saw killer whales, seals, sea lions and humpback whales. Tour absolutely recommended!

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