Tours/Vancouver/Wild Whale Watching Experience - Open Air Vessel
Wild Whale Watching Experience - Open Air Vessel
4.9(455)Vancouver5 hours
VIATOR4.6(16)TRIPADVISOR4.9(439)
+6 photos
At a glance
Duration
5 hours
Price from
$169 / person
Location
Vancouver, Canada
Rating
4.9 / 5 · 455 reviews
Languages
EN
Group
Small group, up to 35
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Within 24h
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Wild Whales Vancouver
Meeting point
Arrive to our office to check in 45 minutes ahead of your scheduled departure.
Description
We are Granville Island's pioneer (original) whale watching company. We offer intimate tours guided by marine naturalists who are passionate about wildlife and conservation. We do not attempt to influence the behaviours of the wildlife we encounter. Instead, we are able to observe animals behaving naturally and in their natural environment. The animals are never asked to perform. We contribute the data we collect toward marine based research and conservation initiatives. We are accredited as an authorized whale watching vessel and can legally approach wildlife closer than other vessels can, while still maintaining a respectful and safe distance.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
12:00 PM
Next available
Thu, Oct 8
Adult (ages 18–64)
$169
Senior (ages 65+)
$151
Youth (ages 13–17)
$151
Child (ages 5–12)
$112
In demand: 7 of the next 24 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
Wild Whale Watching Experience - Open Air Vessel
What's included
Included
Sunscreen
Field guides, whale identification guides, and learning materials can be borrowed on board
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!
Full length (arms and legs), one piece, anti-exposure flotation suit (to be worn overtop of your clothing)
Single use ear plugs can be provided upon request
Ginger candy can be provided upon request for travellers that may be experiencing motion sickness
Not included
An optional gratuity for your guide and your captain is greatly appreciated by our staff
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.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
455 reviews
5
429
4
18
3
4
2
1
1
3
How it compares in Vancouver
No. 42 by number of reviews among 890 tours in Vancouver
Starting price $169 is 37% below the typical $269 for tours of similar length in Vancouver
Excurgo comparison of 890 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Not recommended for travelers with neck problems
Not recommended for children under the age of 5
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Wild Whale Watching Experience - Open Air Vessel take?
Wild Whale Watching Experience - Open Air Vessel lasts about 5 hours.
How much does Wild Whale Watching Experience - Open Air Vessel cost?
Prices start at $169 per person for this Vancouver experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Wild Whale Watching Experience - Open Air Vessel run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 12:00 PM.
How much does Wild Whale Watching Experience - Open Air Vessel cost for children?
Children aged 5–12 pay from $112, adults from $169.
Does Wild Whale Watching Experience - Open Air Vessel sell out?
It can: 7 of the next 24 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Wild Whale Watching Experience - Open Air Vessel for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Arrive to our office to check in 45 minutes ahead of your scheduled departure. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Wild Whale Watching Experience - Open Air Vessel offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 35 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Not recommended for children under the age of 5
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Reviews(455)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
U
U9510PQestherr
October 1, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Wild Whales Vancouver private charter
My mom and I had a private charter on a Zodiac. It was absolutely amazing. We saw many humpback whales (about 7) and adorable seals. The naturalist (Yaz) and the captain (Saz) were wonderful. Yaz was extremely knowledgeable and took excellent photos. Saz was great at spotting whales and also knew quite a bit. Would definitely recommend this experience!
Operator response
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled that you and your Mom had such an amazing experience. Sounds like an unforgettable day out on the water! Yas and Captain Saz are an incredible team, so we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to both of them. Thank you for the recommendation, and we hope to welcome you both aboard Wild Whales Vancouver again soon!
V
Vacationer207095
October 1, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Best educational experience
The experience was amazing , my daughter and I booked a private tour on the open air boat and were able to see many humpback whales diving, resting , spouting , slapping the water and even a baby breach very cool and our captain Saz and guide Yaz were fabulous both work in the conservation and research field of the whales and imparted all their knowledge and answered our questions fully plus they were pleasant and funny I would ask for them again !! They also showed us the seals and cormorants and knew about them as well. Great team worth the expense A big thank you to them !! Loved it They also personally knew which whale was who by name
Operator response
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We are thrilled that you and your daughter had such an unforgettable tour. We’ll be sure to pass your lovely feedback along to them. Hope to welcome you both aboard Wild Whales Vancouver again soon!
S
suehT1367ZH
September 30, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Wow!
Amazing experience. Humpbacks everywhere! Knowledgeable guide. On the water for nearly five hours - fantastic scenery throughout.
Operator response
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
U
U9557GAamym
September 23, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Whale Watching Fun!
We had ana amazing time with Sophie and Kaegan. Thank you for showing us a great time with the whales and seals
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review! We're delighted you enjoyed the wildlife viewing and had a great experience with Sophie and Kaegan. We hope to welcome you aboard again in the future!
A
amybH8982YD
September 23, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing experience!
Such an amazing experience! Got to see all you could from the humpback whales! Tour guide knew so much about the whales. 10/10 experience🐋⭐
Operator response
Thank you so much for the review and recommendation! We are thrilled that you had such an amazing experience out on the water. Our guides are so passionate about sharing their knowledge with our guests, so we’ll be sure to pass along your feedback to the team. Hope to welcome you back aboard soon!
L
laurapG9146IZ
September 22, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great time!
We had a great time. The tour guide was so insightful and clearly has a passion for whales. The team was respectful of the whales and their space while giving us the best view we could have. Would highly recommend them.
Operator response
Thank you so much for the wonderful review and recommendation! We are so pleased to hear that you had such a great time. Respecting marine wildlife and giving them their space while providing a fantastic viewing experience for our guests is always our top priority. We would love to welcome you back in the future!
8
838julianet
September 22, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Humpback show to remember
Amazing experience, we were lucky to witness an amazing show by some Humpbacks in Howe Sound.
Trish was a very knowledgeable guide which made it even more interesting.
Operator response
The humpbacks are so amazing! Thank you for your review!
V
victorialI6379BA
September 21, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Incredible experience
10/10 experience, friendly team and we saw 5’ humpback whales!
Operator response
Thank you so much!
8
820gillh
September 21, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Outstanding Experience
Outstanding tour with guide jasmine and Captain Chris. We saw humpbacked whales ,orca, harbour porpoise and seals. Jasmine was so informative and clearly is hugely interested and educated in her subject. The team took time to ensure everyone had good views of the whales . Outstanding experience on a sunny and calm day.
Operator response
Thank you for the outstanding review! We’re delighted you had such a fantastic day and enjoyed the variety of wildlife sightings. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to Jasmine and Chris.
M
M9841DRfannyc
September 20, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great!
Very beautiful experience, we saw magnificent whales as well as sea lions. I recommend taking the wetsuit to stay warm and fully enjoy the ride.
Thanks again!
Operator response
Thank you for the lovely review! We’re so glad you enjoyed seeing the whales and sea lions, and that the warm suits helped you stay comfortable throughout the trip. We hope to see you again!
Compare similar tours in Vancouver
Lowest price: Hop-on Hop-off Tour by Double Decker Bus with Stanley Park — $52
Best rated: Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos — 4.9 (5,696 reviews)
Shortest: Hop-on Hop-off Tour by Double Decker Bus with Stanley Park — 2 hours
