A once in a lifetime trip, whale watching is a magical experience that requires a lot of planning and patience. There are whale watching trips available across the world, from Japan to Ireland to Australia, but despite their huge size, whales can be elusive and hard to find.
The Maldives
The Maldives are a beautiful place to holiday regardless of whether or not you’re there to see the whale. With gorgeous clear skies, white sands and blue seas, you could be forgiven for staying on land. However, it’s the sea that offers the real delights – the areas around the coral reefs are home to all kinds of natural wonders, including sperm whales, blue whales and spinner dolphins.
Head to the Maldives between February to April and October to November for your best chances of seeing these incredible creatures.
South Africa
If you’d love to see whales but boats just don’t agree with you, then South Africa is the one for you. You can watch whales from your hotel in Hermanus, which is arguably one of the best land-based whale watching opportunities in the world. This area is the mating and breeding grounds of the Southern Right Whale during the winter and spring months.
You can see the whales from air or by boat too, and for the extra adventurous among you, you can even kayak to see the whales and explore the coast at the same time.
Iceland
With a variety of whales to spot, including minke whales, humpback whales, blue whales and orcas, Iceland has lots to offer when it comes to the opportunity to whale watch. There are lots of boat tours from the harbour in Reykjavik, but the north coast is fantastic too. Just below the Arctic Circle, visit at the right time and you could be whale watching under the endless hours of the midnight sun.
Isle of Mull, Scotland
The isle of Mull is off the coast of Scotland, and here you have the chance of seeing the Minke whale. The weather isn’t nearly as consistent as somewhere like the Maldives, and you may need a fair amount of patience to actually see a whale, but it still offers something magical. April to September is the best time to go.
Baja California, Mexico
Offering a wide variety of opportunities for whale watching, in Mexico you can say hello to friendly grey whales in their breeding lagoons, listen to humpback whales singing off the southern tip, and be humbled by blue whales and Bryde’s whales in the Sea of Cortez.