Vancouver Island Whale Watching Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Spot orcas and humpback whales
- Explore the waters of Telegraph Cove
- Learn from expert naturalist guides
- Enjoy panoramic views from a covered boat
- Experience the beauty of Vancouver Island's coastline
Full description
Included / Excluded
- 3-hour guided whale watching tour
- Expert naturalist guide
- Comfortable covered boat with panoramic views
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Whale Watching in Johnstone Strait and nearby area
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine; cancellations are rare.
- Children under 5 may not be permitted; check with the operator.
- Advanced booking is recommended to secure your spot.
Know before you go
- Dress in layers to accommodate changing weather conditions.
- Bring a camera to capture wildlife sightings.
- Wear non-slip, comfortable footwear suitable for boat tours.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Infants Required On Laps
Good to know
- 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.
Traveler reviews
Fabulous afternoon with Prince of Whales and North Island Kayak
Awesome afternoon Zodiac tour yesterday--fun, gorgeous. Connor was a great skipper-experienced and conscientious. It's early season, Victoria Day weekend, and some operators in area haven't started tours yet but real glad we chanced it. We hung out respectfully with total of 3 humpbacks and loved seeing otters, sea lions (Stellar's), bald eagles, harbor seals, harlequin ducks, and more. Look forward to getting out with these folks again, maybe when the resident orcas are back in the area. We capped an incredible day on the water with an evening paddle with sister company North Island Kayaks, led by Brad and Stella, who are excellent.
Prince of Whales-Telegraph Cove
Kennedy was our tour guide. She was very knowledgeable and great pointing out different things for us to see. My son took me for Mother’s Day (a bucket list item for me) and even though the weather was not the best it was still an amazing day. I think we saw everything hit an orca. The humpback whale though more than made up for it. Stellar sea lions, otters, dalls porpoise, different sea birds (my favourite was the rhinoceros auklet) and seals. I felt like I was in a live episode of National Geographic! Kennedy gets a high five rating from me. Thanks for the great morning! A trip my son & I will treasure forever!
Good Experience - Commercialized Feel
To be honest, all the boat trips we did across Vancouver Island were amazing, and this operator is still good—but it was our least favourite. It has more of a big, commercial feel compared to the others, which felt more local, intimate and personal. They have larger capacity vessels, which is great if you’re booking last minute. We still saw orcas and eagles, and the staff were friendly. That said, if you’re looking for the best experience, I’d recommend Mackay Boat in Telegraph Cove or Eagle Wings in Victoria. Visited late August 2025.
Wonderful day on the water.
Wonderful day on the water searching for whales and seal otters. We saw so many whales I lost count. Richard, Sandy, Megan, Janas and Eden spent the entire trip educating us while keeping up safe. Big bonus is all the wonderful pictures we received after the trip. I’d recommend this trip to anyone who asks!
Pacific in the blanket
I had high expectations. I wish I could have seen the killer whales. Instead, thanks to the gloomy day, we saw little and nothing and that not far away. That's too bad. Gray and black landscape, all seasoned with cold.....