Our team are destination specialists with many years experience in creating holidays and can tailor make to suit you.
| Mon-Fri | 8am-6pm |
| Saturday | 9am-5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Our team are destination specialists with many years experience in creating holidays and can tailor make to suit you.
| Mon-Fri | 8am-6pm |
| Saturday | 9am-5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Some of the earth’s most awe-inspiring species of whales live in the seas surrounding Canada, and to encounter them close-up is a truly wonderful experience. Read our guide answering some of the common questions about whale watching in Canada and how you can watch these breathtaking mammals in the nutrient-rich coastal waters.
Read our guide answering some of the common questions about whale watching in Canada and how you can watch these breathtaking mammals in the nutrient-rich coastal waters.
Canada’s surrounding waters are home to a wide range of whale species. The most commonly found are humpback, beluga, grey and orca. Canada has over 200,000km of coastline, meaning that it is possible to find a plethora of the 30+ whale species that call these waters their home throughout your trip.
Depending on where in Canada you are visiting, whales are most regularly seen during the summer months from May to September, though the whale watching season extends from April to October. Due to the three oceans that surround Canada, there are migratory routes that help bring many whales through the area to feed during the summer, meaning you have a high chance of spotting them.
There is no specific time of day to see whales but there are certainly some times that can be more picturesque than others. Overhead light hits between 11am and 3pm, highlighting the azure water and potentially offering calm conditions for whale watching. Having said that, whale pods move as they feed and usually whale watching boats will keep in contact with one another, so you will be able to move towards them no matter the time of day and hopefully find the perfect spot from which to see them.
Beluga whales can be seen during the summer months on the northern and eastern shores of Canada, particularly Churchill in Manitoba, and Saguenay Fjord in Quebec. They are Arctic Ocean dwellers and enjoy the icy waters close to the coast, meaning you can even see them from land sometimes.There are some huge pods that spend their time in the St. Lawrence River and Hudson Bay areas and can be dependably seen in these waters during the summer months.
While humpbacks can be found in every ocean in the world, some of the best opportunities are in Canada. On the Atlantic coast, the Gulf of St Lawrence around Newfoundland and Labrador is the stand-out location, boasting the world’s largest population of humpbacks. They are also commonly found at Tadoussac in Quebec, in the Bay of Fundy and off Cape Breton, Nova Scotia as well as in British Columbia in western Canada.
If you’re looking to spot orcas on your trip to Canada, it’s best to start in the west. Johnstone Strait between Vancouver Island and the mainland in British Columbia has a resident pod that lives there all year round as well as a migratory population that joins in peak summertime in July and August. With so many orcas drawn to British Columbia’s waters because of the salmon population, you can even enjoy kayaking with these incredible animals, getting up close and personal in their natural habitat.
Although Vancouver is a hugely popular location for people visiting Canada, we tend not to recommend going out of Vancouver itself. It does offer some good whale watching opportunities but can take a long time to reach the key areas, which means more travel time and less whale time. It’s usually better to go out from Victoria on Vancouver Island or, better still, Telegraph Cove on the northeast coast of the island.
Vancouver is not the best place to start your whale watching journey from, so you might want to look at starting elsewhere – Vancouver Island is a better spot. We offer a wide range of experiences for those looking to spot these spectacular creatures, meaning differing prices and trip lengths. Find your perfect trip in our Canada Whale Watching section.
A typical whale watching excursion lasts between 2.5 and 3 hours with a good portion of that time cruising at sea in search of these creatures of the deep. Some species range further from the shore, such as humpbacks and blue whales, so searching them out would add some time to your trip.
This trip offers unparalleled hiking opportunities amongst the spectacular Yukon landscape alongside superb comfort and service at Dalton Lake Lodge.
From £1719 Excluding Flights
Experience the best of Atlantic Canada on an all-encompassing self-drive trip incorporating all four of the regions provinces.
From £2668 Excluding Flights
Experience the magnificent Canadian Rockies on an incredible ten day adventure, using helicopters to reach areas few get to visit. Witness some of the world’s most glorious mountain scenery on guided hiking and walking excursions.
From £5044 Excluding Flights
Immerse yourself in the wild west's rugged landscapes and colourful history.
From £1129 Excluding Flights
Take in the highlights of winter in the Yukon at Southern Lakes Resort, ideally located for northern lights viewing.
From £1166 Excluding Flights
Experience the best of Canada’s winter wonderland in the Yukon, with its natural beauty and snowy landscapes coupled with gracious hospitality.
From £1714 Excluding Flights
Delve deeper into Alberta’s rich history, culture and varied landscapes on this off the beaten track self-drive itinerary taking in the Canadian Badlands and provincial parks.
From £1424 Excluding Flights
From the Rockies to the Badlands, this epic Canadian adventure encompasses glaciers, mountains hoodoos and dinosaurs, with a choice of activities to appeal to kids of all ages.
From £1427 Excluding Flights
This week-long self-drive holiday takes in the highlights of Nova Scotia, from the historical splendour of Halifax to the stunning scenery of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
From £875 Excluding Flights
Klahoose Wilderness Resort offers a fascinating base from which to discover this region’s abundant wildlife and rich indigenous culture.
From £2660 Excluding Flights
With 2025 on the horizon and new adventures pending, we’ve delved into the data to see what’s trending when it comes to destinations and experiences.
Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, Icehotel 35 opened its doors on 13 December 2024 revealing a collection of magnificent new Art Suites created around the iconic main hall.
With 5% of the world's biodiversity found in Costa Rica, it is a wildlife lovers dream destination. Travel writer, photographer and zoologist, William Gray picks five of his top wildlife destinations in Costa Rica…
Among the most bio-diverse counties on the planet, Costa Rica is a heady mix of weird and wonderful wildlife, luscious landscapes and colourful culture. As we launch our collection of holidays, we've put a few of the most asked questions to our Costa Rica specialists. Read what they had to say...
Australia is a land of contrasts and pairing two or three states is a great way to experience its diversity. That's just what Travel Specialist, Phoebe, did on her recent visit Down Under combining northern Queensland with the Red Centre. Read highlights of her reef and rock adventure...
Having put the finishing touches on the latest destination to join the Discover the World growing collection - Costa Rica - we've taken a behind the scenes peak at what goes in to launching a new holiday programme.
From wilderness escapes to adventurous self drives, ways to catch the start of aurora and polar bears watching in Canada, we name our top trips to take in autumn.
So prevalent and conspicuous are the birds that live in these remote and extreme locations that you simply fall under an avian spell.
Iconic moments come thick and fast in New Zealand. This was certainly the experience of Travel Specialist, Trudy’s, recent trip. As one icon followed another, she recalls her highlights...
Bathing culture runs deep in Iceland’s national psyche. Swimming pools, or Sundlaugar as they are called in Icelandic, are an inherent part of local life. Find out as we take a deep dive into swimming pool culture.
