There is no denying that Vancouver Island is beautiful. If you’re a nature-lover or an outdoor enthusiast, Vancouver Island has probably been on your ‘must go’ list of destinations. Here you can surf, ski and everything in between almost year-round. No need for reservations or tightly packed itinerary, here you can grab your board or bike and head outside! But if you’re wanting to make some truly memorable moments, booking a whale watching tour with one of our many highly-rated tour operators is a must! Come and explore the natural beauty of the Island from a different vantage point and meet some of our neighbours, up close and personal!
Sooke
1581 Dufour Rd, Sooke, BC V9Z 0T6
This family owned and operated venture sets its sights on providing every guest with the highest quality, environmentally conscious marine and eco adventures. Their highly trained, professional team ensures that your three hour adventure will be safe, exhilarating and unforgettable. Their impressive rating over multiple platforms speaks for itself!
6971 W Coast Rd, Sooke, BC V9Z 0V1
Started by two of Vancouver Island’s nature photographers, Sarah and Mike (and their furry companion, Bentley) offers four distinct packages; the Ocean Wildlife package for those wanting to see as much of our local marine life as possible, the Golden Hour Package, a perfect tour for those aspiring and professional photographers to get some incredible shots in the perfect light, plus two private charter services.
Victoria
Springtide Whale Watching and Eco Tours
1119 Wharf St, Victoria, BC V8W 1T7
For three decades, locally owned and operated Springtide has worked tirelessly to provide their guests with exceptional experiences! Dan and Joanne Kukat offer their guests sport fishing charters that end with jaw dropping catches and awe inspiring beauty eco tours where you can see marine mammals up close!
1234 Wharf St, Victoria, BC V8W 3H9
If you are looking for some impressive horsepower and eager to get out as far as you can during your tour, you can’t go wrong with BC Whale Tours. With their state-of-the-art, custom designed and locally built vessels that are not only leading the industry in sustainability and safety but boast an impressively long range. That means that for each and every tour you’re sure to capitalize on seeing as much of Vancouver Island’s marine wildlife as possible!
1 Dallas Rd, Victoria, BC V8V 0B2
For the last fourteen years in a row, Eagle Wing Tours has been rated number one for whale watching on Vancouver Island with more than two thousand reviews on Tripadvisor! What makes them so amazing? Their incredibly skilled and professional team take pride in providing every single guest with the best experience possible and will extend the tour time to ensure that every tour is a successful one. Plus, they are a leader in understanding the role that eco-tourism has in conservation efforts.
Sidney
2537 Beacon Ave, Sidney, BC V8L 1Y2
Their incredibly professional and experienced team has been taking visitors on exceptional tours for two decades and are sure to impress! If you’re lucky enough to be staying in Sidney, this local gem is a must for adventure seekers and nature lovers.
Cowichan Valley
1721 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay, BC V0R 1N0
If you’re staying in the Cowichan Valley, you’ll want to visit the incredibly unique, houseboat community of Cowichan Bay. This quirky, friendly, community is where you’ll also find Ocean Ecoventures, the passion project of owner and captain Simon Pidcock. Simon grew up on the ocean and has turned his passion into a rewarding profession, taking guests to explore the ocean, meet some wildlife and learn about this incredible area.
Nanaimo
90 Front St #5, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5H7
For those who are looking for a whale watching adventure near Nanaimo, you’re in luck! Founders, Mike, an environmentalist and Jilann, a marine biologist have been working with whales for over a decade through scientific study, tours and navigating vessels in the area. With their passion for the local marine life, these two are creating world-class, sustainable whale watching experiences by taking their guests to see the transient whales rather than the endangered resident pods.
Seeing whales in their natural habitat is one of the most breathtaking experiences and with so many excellent options on Vancouver Island, no matter where you are you can find the perfect tour for you!
