Few travel moments match the first time a whale surfaces beside your boat: the blow, the long curve of a back, and if you are lucky, a tail lifting clear of the water before it dives. The best places to watch whales combine reliable populations, calm and well-regulated waters and operators who put the animals first, and timing matters more than almost anything else.
Our Travel Designers have picked ten of the world’s finest whale-watching destinations, from easy short-haul trips to once-in-a-lifetime expeditions, with the species you are likely to see and the months to go. There is a quick-reference table further down.
The quick answer
- Closest to the UK: the Azores, for sperm whales all year and blue whales in spring, and Iceland in summer.
- For orcas and humpbacks in winter: northern Norway around Tromsø and Skjervøy, roughly November to January.
- For close encounters with gray whales: the lagoons of Baja California, Mexico, roughly January to April.
- For blue whales in winter sun: Mirissa on Sri Lanka’s south coast, roughly December to April.
- For the ultimate trip: Antarctica, where February and March are generally the best months for whales.
The best places to watch whales
Seasons below are the usual patterns reported by tourist boards and local operators. Whales are wild animals, and their movements change from year to year, so no responsible operator can promise a sighting.
1. The Azores, Portugal
This Atlantic archipelago, a short flight from mainland Portugal, is one of the best whale-watching destinations in Europe. Sperm whales live in Azorean waters all year, so you have a good chance of seeing them in any month, and they are more numerous in summer. In spring, roughly April to June, migrating blue, fin and sei whales pass through as well.
Species: sperm whales, plus blue, fin and sei whales in spring, and several dolphin species.
Best months: April and May for the greatest variety; sperm whales all year.
Our tip: São Miguel and Pico are the main bases. Pico has a long whaling history, and the old lookouts once used to spot whales are now used by watching companies to guide their boats.
2. Húsavík and north Iceland
Húsavík, on Skjálfandi Bay in north Iceland, is often called the country’s whale-watching capital. Summer brings rich feeding grounds and long daylight, and humpbacks and minke whales are the most common sightings.
Species: humpback and minke whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises, with occasional blue whales.
Best months: the season runs roughly from spring to autumn, with the peak from about May to September.
Our tip: combine whale watching with Lake Mývatn, the waterfalls of the north and the Diamond Circle route for a varied week.
3. Northern Norway: Tromsø and Skjervøy
In winter, herring gather in the fjords of northern Norway, and orcas and humpback whales follow them in to feed. Since around 2017 the activity has concentrated around Skjervøy, north-east of Tromsø, and boats run from both. Watching orcas hunt in the blue polar twilight is unforgettable, and you can look for the northern lights in the evening.
Species: orcas and humpback whales, sometimes fin whales.
Best months: roughly November to January, depending on where the herring are each year.
Our tip: in summer, sperm whales are the draw further south at Andenes in Vesterålen. A coastal voyage passes through both regions; our comparison of Hurtigruten and Havila explains the options, and our guide to Norwegian fjords cruise lines covers the wider coast.
4. Baja California, Mexico
Each winter, gray whales travel from Arctic feeding grounds to the warm, sheltered lagoons of Baja California to give birth and raise their calves. In San Ignacio Lagoon and Ojo de Liebre, mothers sometimes bring their calves right up to the small local boats, which makes this one of the most intimate whale encounters anywhere.
Species: gray whales in the Pacific lagoons; blue, fin and humpback whales in the Sea of Cortez.
Best months: roughly January to April in the lagoons, with February often the best month for calves.
Our tip: pair a few nights at a lagoon camp with a luxury resort in Los Cabos for a trip that balances wildlife and relaxation.
5. Southeast Alaska
The Inside Passage of Southeast Alaska is one of the best places in the world to see humpback whales feeding, sometimes working together to trap fish in nets of bubbles. Juneau is a popular base, and many Alaska cruises include whale-watching excursions.
Species: humpback whales and orcas, with sea lions, sea otters and bald eagles.
Best months: roughly May to September, the main summer season.
Our tip: a small-ship cruise lets you linger in the quieter channels where the whales feed, rather than following a fixed port schedule.
6. Hermanus, South Africa
Hermanus, on Walker Bay under two hours’ drive from Cape Town, is one of the best places in the world for land-based whale watching. Southern right whales come close to the cliffs to mate and calve, and you can watch them from the coastal path with a coffee in hand.
Species: southern right whales, with humpbacks also seen.
Best months: roughly June to November, with the peak from about August to October.
Our tip: combine Hermanus with the Cape Winelands and a safari for a classic South Africa itinerary.
7. Mirissa, Sri Lanka
Off Sri Lanka’s south coast, the continental shelf drops away close to shore, bringing deep water and the world’s largest animal within easy reach. Boats leave from Mirissa harbour in the early morning to look for blue whales.
Species: blue whales, with sperm whales and spinner dolphins.
Best months: roughly December to April, when the seas on the south coast are calmer.
Our tip: choose a responsible operator with a larger, stable boat, and combine the trip with the beaches of the south coast and Yala National Park.
8. Kaikōura, New Zealand
On the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, a deep submarine canyon comes close to shore off Kaikōura, and resident sperm whales feed there throughout the year. The snow-capped Kaikōura Ranges rise straight behind the coast, making it a beautiful setting.
Species: sperm whales, with dusky dolphins, fur seals and, at times, humpbacks and orcas.
Best months: all year for sperm whales; the species you see varies through the seasons.
Our tip: it fits neatly into a South Island self-drive between Christchurch and the Marlborough wine region.
9. Hervey Bay, Australia
Every year, humpback whales migrating along Australia’s east coast rest in the sheltered waters of Hervey Bay in Queensland, often with young calves. The calm water makes for relaxed viewing and plenty of playful behaviour.
Species: humpback whales.
Best months: roughly July to November, with August and September usually the strongest months.
Our tip: add K’gari, the world’s largest sand island, just across the bay.
10. Antarctica
For many travellers, Antarctica is the ultimate wildlife trip, and whales are a big part of it. Humpbacks feed in the bays of the Antarctic Peninsula, and minke whales and orcas are regularly seen. The expedition season runs through the southern summer, and the later months are generally the best for whales.
Species: humpback and minke whales, orcas, and sometimes fin whales.
Best months: February and March for the best whale encounters, within a season that runs roughly November to March.
Our tip: the choice of ship matters enormously. Our guide to Antarctica cruise lines compared explains the differences.
Whale-watching seasons at a glance
Use this table to match a destination to your travel dates. Months are approximate.
| Place | Main species | Best months |
|---|---|---|
| The Azores | Sperm whales; blue, fin and sei whales in spring | All year for sperm whales; April to May for variety |
| Húsavík, Iceland | Humpback and minke whales | About May to September |
| Tromsø and Skjervøy, Norway | Orcas and humpback whales | About November to January |
| Andenes, Norway | Sperm whales | Summer |
| Baja California, Mexico | Gray whales; blue whales in the Sea of Cortez | About January to April |
| Southeast Alaska | Humpback whales and orcas | About May to September |
| Hermanus, South Africa | Southern right whales | About June to November; peak August to October |
| Mirissa, Sri Lanka | Blue and sperm whales | About December to April |
| Kaikōura, New Zealand | Sperm whales | All year |
| Hervey Bay, Australia | Humpback whales | About July to November |
| Antarctic Peninsula | Humpback and minke whales, orcas | February to March |
Where to see whales, month by month
Because the seasons are spread around the globe, there is somewhere good to watch whales in every month of the year:
- December to March: Sri Lanka, Baja California, Antarctica and, until about January, northern Norway.
- April and May: the Azores at their most varied, the last of the Baja season and the start of summer in Iceland and Alaska.
- June to August: Iceland, Alaska and the High Arctic, plus the start of the season at Hermanus and Hervey Bay.
- September to November: the peak at Hermanus and Hervey Bay, the end of the season in Iceland, and the return of orcas to northern Norway.
Kaikōura and the Azores, with their year-round sperm whales, are good choices whenever you can travel.
Whale watching by expedition cruise
Some of the richest whale waters are best reached by sea. Small expedition ships carry naturalists and Zodiacs, and they can change course when whales are sighted, which is a big advantage over a fixed day trip.
In the Arctic summer, voyages around Svalbard and Greenland often encounter humpback, fin and minke whales, along with walrus and, with luck, polar bears. Our guides to Greenland and Svalbard expedition cruises and Arctic and Northwest Passage cruises explain the routes and ships. In the far south, an Antarctic voyage late in the season gives you the best chance of seeing humpbacks feeding.
Boat, shore or expedition: choosing your style
There are three broad ways to watch whales, and the right one depends on how you like to travel.
Day trips by boat
Most destinations on this list are built around half-day boat trips from a harbour town. They are easy to fit into a wider holiday, and you can book a second trip if the first is quiet. In places such as Mirissa and the Azores, an early start usually means calmer water.
Watching from land
Hermanus is the stand-out for shore-based watching, with whales often close enough to see clearly from the cliff path. It suits anyone who dislikes boats and lets you watch for as long as you like.
Expedition voyages
In Antarctica, the High Arctic and Alaska’s quieter channels, a small ship is the way to go. You will spend several days in whale waters with naturalists on hand, and the ship can stop whenever whales appear.
How to watch whales responsibly
The best whale watching is also the most responsible. A few things we look for when choosing operators:
- Respect for distance and speed. Good operators follow local codes of conduct, approach slowly and let the whales decide how close to come.
- Expert guides. Naturalists on board make the trip far more rewarding, and many operators contribute sightings to research.
- Appropriate boats. Larger, stable boats are more comfortable in open water; small boats suit sheltered lagoons and bays.
- No guarantees. Be wary of anyone who promises a sighting. Many reputable operators offer a free second trip if you see nothing.
Take a waterproof layer, sunglasses and seasickness remedies, and give yourself a spare day in case a trip is cancelled because of the weather.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place in the world to see whales?
It depends on the species and the month. The Azores and Kaikōura offer sperm whales all year, Baja California is exceptional for gray whales from about January to April, northern Norway is the place for orcas from about November to January, and Antarctica offers outstanding humpback encounters in February and March.
Where can I see whales near the UK?
The Azores are the closest world-class destination, with sperm whales all year and blue whales in spring. Iceland is excellent for humpbacks in summer, and northern Norway is superb for orcas and humpbacks in winter.
When is the best time to see orcas in Norway?
Orcas and humpback whales follow the herring into the fjords around Tromsø and Skjervøy in winter, roughly from November to January. Exact timing depends on where the herring gather each year.
Where can I see blue whales?
Mirissa in Sri Lanka is one of the most accessible places, roughly from December to April. Blue whales also pass the Azores in spring and are seen in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez in winter.
Is whale watching guaranteed?
No. Whales are wild animals and no responsible operator can promise a sighting. Choosing the right place in the right season gives you the best chance, and many operators offer another trip if you see nothing.
Plan your trip with us
Our Travel Designers can build a whale-watching trip around the right place and season, with responsible operators, comfortable places to stay and the rest of the holiday planned around it, with full financial protection.
Keep planning
- Antarctica cruise lines compared
- Greenland and Svalbard expedition cruises
- Arctic and Northwest Passage cruises
- Norwegian fjords cruise lines
- Hurtigruten vs Havila
Updated 31 October 2026. Seasons are the usual patterns reported by tourist boards and local operators; whale movements vary from year to year and sightings are never guaranteed.
