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
Why travelers loved this
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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
Supplied by
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 2,420 reviews
Ann_Q, Jun 2026
Fantastic time! The crew was friendly, helpful and informative. We also live they gave a bit of distance out of respect to the wildlife, but we were close enough to see a pod of Orcas, multiple Humpback Whales, as well as Sea Lions.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your fantastic review, Ann! We’re delighted to hear you had such a great experience and that the crew was friendly, helpful, and informative throughout your tour. It’s wonderful that you were able to see a pod of orcas, multiple humpback whales, and sea lions. We really appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you aboard again for another unforgettable adventure!
Patrick_C, Jun 2026
The whole experience and crew were great, very knowledgeable and very accommodating.
Lauren, Rhiannon and Andrew were excellent.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review!
We're thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic whale watching experience and that you found the crew knowledgeable and accommodating throughout your tour.
Thank you for joining us, and we hope we can welcome you back again for another adventure soon!
audrey_o, Jun 2026
Saw Orcas and humpbacks. Perfect day! Humpbacks were very active. Putting in a show. Saw some breaching behind the boat which was very cool?
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your review! We’re so happy to hear you had a perfect day on the water and were able to see both orcas and humpback whales. It sounds like the humpbacks put on quite a show, and witnessing breaching whales is always an incredible sight! Thank you for joining us, and we’re so glad you were able to experience such memorable wildlife encounters.
Justina_G, Jun 2026
The company can't control the wildlife so I'll start with what they can control. The boat was comfortable with great views on both levels. The heads were clean and spacious. The selection of free warm beverages was much appreciated as it really was cold! Taylor and Drew, our captains, were personable and capable. Amber and Michael, our naturalists, were amazing! They were both so knowledgeable and friendly. And the wildlife cooperated! The seals were cool and the orcas put on a show. Overall it was a wonderful experience and well worth it!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful experience with us. While we can never guarantee wildlife sightings, we’re glad the seals and orcas made an appearance and helped make your trip memorable. It’s also great to know you enjoyed the comfort of the vessel, the warm beverages, and our onboard facilities. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Taylor, Drew, Amber, and Michael. They’ll be thrilled to hear their knowledge, friendliness, and professionalism helped make your adventure so enjoyable. Thank you for choosing Prince of Whales, and we hope to welcome you aboard again soon!
Michael_P, Jun 2026
A Must Do experience in Victoria !
It was raining but this boat was warm ands dry and we saw Hump Back Whales !
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you still had such a great experience despite the rain, and that you were able to stay warm and dry onboard, and spot some humpback whales! We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back out on the water again next time you’re in Victoria!
Jim_H, Jun 2026
Excellent tour. Went when cold and rainy but didn't put a damper on the tour. Heated and warm drinks available. Did see a few humpbacks with a few seals. Excellent tour guides Andrei and Eden
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re so glad to hear you still had an excellent time despite the cold and rainy weather, and that you were able to stay comfortable onboard with the heated cabin and warm drinks. It’s great to hear you got to see humpbacks and seals as well! We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to guides Andrei and Eden. We really appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you back out on the water again in the future!
Kristina_C, Jun 2026
Awesome first whale watching experience. Naturalists (Reid and Michael) were very knowledgeable. Saw a pod of orcas and a pair (Noah and Janet Neilson). Hot beverages kept us warm on the boat.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the 5-star review Kristina! We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Reid and Michael. It sounds like you had a great trip with some amazing wildlife sightings, and we’re happy the hot beverages helped keep you warm on board.
Thank you again for choosing Prince of Whales. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Gerald_S, Jun 2026
Great tour. We’re able to see plenty of humpbacks and orcas. Natural commentary was excellent and they even knew the orca families we were watching. Included hot chocolate was delicious - had three servings. Plus they take excellent photos that are included free of charge. This was a great value and will do again when in Victoria.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so happy to hear you had a great tour and were able to see both humpback whales and orcas during your trip. It’s great to know you enjoyed the naturalist commentary and learning more about the orca families, as well as the hot chocolate along the way. We’re also glad you appreciated the included photos and found the experience to be great value overall. We really appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back soon for another adventure!!
Hussain_L, May 2026
Andre and Reed were absolutely spectacular and helped make all the wildlife we encountered even better
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a great experience and that Andre and Reed helped make your whale watching adventure even more memorable. We’re glad the wildlife encounters made such an impression, and we hope you’ll join us again in the future.
Leisa_B, May 2026
Fantastic Tour. We saw a humpback, sea lions, Bald Eagles and then 2 pods of Orca.
The staff are very knowledgeable and the catermaran very comfortable.
Excellent value for money.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the 5-star review, Leisa. We’re so glad to hear you had a fantastic tour and enjoyed the comfort of the catamaran along with the wildlife sightings. It’s great to hear that the crew helped make the experience informative and enjoyable, and we really appreciate your kind words and recommendation.
Cynthia_M, May 2026
The crew was outstanding. They were very friendly and knowledgeable. They answered questions, gave us information and were excited about sharing this with everyone. When no whales were spotted they did their best to get information of where to go to give everyone the best chance to experience them and were using their binoculars to search. After all their best efforts it all paid off and orcas were found and what an outstanding experience!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Cynthia!
We’re really happy to hear you had such a great experience with the crew. It’s always our goal to share knowledge, answer questions, and make sure guests feel engaged and looked after throughout the tour.
We’re especially glad your patience paid off and that you were able to enjoy such a memorable wildlife encounter in the end. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back again for another adventure soon!
Jessica_N, May 2026
This was the part of the trip we were looking forward to the most and it did not disappoint. From beautiful scenery and a lovely crew, our experience was perfect! We saw some really neat birds and some Bigg’s Killer Whale families which was so fun! The crew was kind, fully, and super informative! When you go to check in, it’s on the bottom level and then go inside to get fully checked in.
Big thanks to Captain Gord, Lindsay, Andrel, Michael, and Janag for a fabulous experience!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Jessica!
We’re thrilled to hear this was a highlight of your trip and that it lived up to your expectations. We also really appreciate your kind words about the crew and your helpful check-in note for future guests.
Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back again for another adventure soon!
Niloofar_R, May 2026
That it can get cold on the water, so they’d better go in layers. Also, don’t forget sunscreen! And maybe bring binoculars. For the safety of the whales, the boat has to be 200 meters away from them, so it can be hard to see them. But with binoculars, it’ll be much easier.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience and helpful tips!
You’re absolutely right that conditions on the water can be cooler than many guests expect, even on sunny days, so dressing in layers is always a great idea. Sunscreen is another must-have, and binoculars can certainly enhance the experience.
We appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you back soon for another adventure in the future!
Allen_K, May 2026
Never have been
never been a boat before and we are glad we went on this one as the weather got windy and we did feel safer on a bigger boat The staff were friendly and informative Richard, Lindsay, Reid., Michael and Andrew.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re really glad to hear that, especially as first-time boat guests, you felt comfortable and safe onboard- even when the weather turned a bit windy.
It’s great to know the larger vessel gave you confidence and a smoother ride, and that your crew helped make the trip enjoyable with their friendly and informative approach.
We really appreciate you joining us for your first boating experience, and we’d love to welcome you back again for another adventure!
Jean_B, May 2026
It was amazing and made better by the lovely guides.
The facts they shared and the places they took us were wonderful.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review, Jean! We’re thrilled to hear you had such an amazing experience. It’s wonderful to know our guides helped make the trip even more special by sharing their knowledge and taking you to some great wildlife spots along the way. They’ll be so happy to hear your feedback.
We really appreciate you joining us, and we’d love to welcome you back again for another adventure soon!
Travis_R, May 2026
The beautiful scenery and sunny day with calm water made our day memorable. It was fun to see a humpback whale too. Staff was friendly and boat was clean.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your review, Travis! We’re really glad to hear you had a memorable day with beautiful scenery, calm waters, and sunshine! We’re happy to hear you found the staff friendly and the boat clean and comfortable.
We truly appreciate you joining us and sharing your feedback, and we’d love to welcome you back again for another adventure soon!
MaryBeth_K, May 2026
This was a wonderful tour! The crew (Richard, Taylor, Michael, Andre and Amber) were great! Although we didn't see as many whales as we were hoping, it was a beautiful day out on the ocean! The crew were so friendly, helpful and knowledgeable! We did see a humpback whale, sea lions, porpoises an otter, as well as a variety of birds. It was a wonderful experience!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your lovely review! A beautiful day out on the ocean accompanied by a humpback, sea lions, porpoises, an otter, and birds sounds like such a wonderful trip. Richard, Taylor, Michael, Andre, and Amber will really appreciate your kind words - we will pass them on! Thanks again for joining us, and we hope to see you back out on the water with us someday!
Steve_W, May 2026
Crew was very entertaining. Educational and fun at same time. I personally really enjoyed the experience and would recommend to young and old.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your review, Steve! We’re glad to hear you found the crew entertaining, and that the experience felt both educational and fun. We really appreciate you recommending us and hope we can welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Deb_B, May 2026
Rajan was incredibly knowledgeable Reid was wonderful with the crowd and spoke with us one on one about Bald Eagles and showing us the nest. Andrei was fantastic as well. We saw so many orca whales and sea lions. Thank you!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your review, Deb! We’re so glad you had such a great experience and were able to see so many orcas and sea lions. It’s wonderful to hear that Rajan’s knowledge, Reid’s interaction with the crowd, and Andrei’s efforts all helped make the trip so memorable. We really appreciate the 5 stars, thanks again!
Tracy_F, May 2026
It was amazing. The crew was great and I loved the information they gave out while watching. The seating was comfortable and plenty of options to be indoors or outdoors. Also loved the unlimited cocoa!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your lovely review, Tracy! We’re so glad you had an amazing time on the water and enjoyed the commentary and information shared by the crew throughout the trip. Unlimited hot cocoa is always a favorite! Thanks again for joining us and we hope you can come back soon for another adventure!
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.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It is so wonderful to hear about your amazing day on the water; those sound like some truly unforgettable moments. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to the crew. It means a lot to hear that you appreciated the team’s knowledge, enthusiasm, and respectful approach to wildlife viewing. Thank you for joining us!
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!
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