Whale Watching Kayaking Tours &amp; Trips

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Luxury - 5 star

Physical level

Moderate

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Antarctic Peninsula, Shetland Islands, Ushuaia

Highlights

11 days Antarctica Cruises
Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands
Crossing Drake Passage
Explore Ushuaia

Themes

High Adventure, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"We particularly wanted to do this trip because of the abundance of wildlife we expected to encounter and selected this ship because they offered the kayaking experience. Overall, the weather was very good. Most people seemed like minded and were there for the adventurous experience. Accommodations Review They upgraded our cabin and we were very pleased with the amount of space and the amenities in the room. We appreciated the twin windows and being able to see humpbacks diving from our cabin. It was kept very clean and it was a treat to have our bed turned down with chocolates on the pillow each night. Meals Review We liked the variety and the quality of the food. There was always something new to try. The dining room staff was very professional and personable. Crew & Guides Review Solon was our Principal Trip Leader. He was incredibly professional and it seemed like he was constantly working to maximize the encounters with wildlife and scenery, taking advantage of all the weather opportunities and going to places that they don't often go. He worked very closely with the captain who was very accommodating and caring about us having a memorable voyage. Aymie and Andrew were our kayak guides. We went out to kayak 10 different times and were able to get to know both of them well. They worked hard to keep us safe and well informed. They made sure that we didn't miss out on any land excursions. We've had quite a few kayak guides over the years that we've paddled and we loved these two. Marla was the marine biologist aboard the ship. She was very enthusiastic and had a passion for marine mammals that was infectious. We loved listening to her presentations and looked forward to hearing her voice on the PA saying that there was another whale sighting. Colin, the geologist aboard the ship, was very knowledgeable and able to make difficult subjects understandable to the passengers. Itinerary Review The trip far, far, far, far, far, far exceeded our expectations. I had one "far" in the sentence when we left South Georgia Island after seeing 250,000 King Penguins at St. Andrews Point and added the second when we saw blue whales on two different days. The third "far" was added when we saw hundreds of whales for 6 hours along the iceberg, A68a. I added another "far" when we kayaked for over an hour with humpbacks all around and another "far" when minke whales were all around the kayaks the next day. The last "far" was added the day we didn't paddle since a leopard seal was all around the kayaks and then an orca came close. We had so many incredible experiences that we could never experience all of them in the same trip again. The guides told us that the close encounters that we had didn't happen very often and that we were very lucky that they all happened on our trip. The only thing that we didn't like was portions of the Drake Passage when it was a tad rough, but that experience gives us something to talk about. Transportation Review We made our transportation arrangements through another travel agency. Traveler Advice Make sure that you take sea sickness meds. Take advantage of every opportunity to see wildlife."

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11 days From$5,099

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Discoverers Glacier Country

By AdventureSmith

none

4.9/5 Excellent

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Luxury - 5 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Alaska, Baranof Island Sitka, Glacier National Park, Icy Strait, Juneau

Highlights

View Alaska's massive glaciers
Kayak and small boat explorations
Visit Glacier Bay National Park
Enjoy whale watching in Frederick Sound and bears near Icy Strait and Chichagof Island

Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise, Sailing

What travelers are saying

By Thomson Family Adventures

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8 days From$4,995

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Baja: A Whale of an Adventure

none

5/5 Excellent

27 reviews

Group Tour

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Moderate

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Visits

La Paz, San José del Cabo

Highlights

Todos Santos Historical Tour
Horseback ride on the beach
Fun with local kids
Hang Ten! Learn to surf
Friends Across Borders Meeting (pen pals)

Themes

Family Friendly, High Adventure

What travelers are saying

"Their itineraries are well thought out and work for all ages. Lots of fun, learning and memories thrown into one package. I have experienced three of their trips and each has surpassed expectations."

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9 days From$3,090

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Alaska's Inside Passage

By Aurora Expeditions

none

4.4/5 Great

15 reviews

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Full schedule

Visits

Alaska, Glacier National Park, Juneau

Highlights

Juneau, visiting Native art galleries and dining on local seafood
Tongass National Forest’s mountain goats, moose and Sitka black-tail deer
Kayaking and paddle boarding in Misty Fjord National Monument (equipment supplied)
Steller’s sea lions, otters, harbour seals, dolphins and porpoises
Traditional Tlingit and Haida cultures

Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Small Ship Cruise, Trekking & Expeditions, Scuba Diving

What travelers are saying

"I just returned from Aurora’s NW passage trip from Greenland to Nome Alaska. I wish to warn potential passengers that out of 26 sea days, we had 10 landings, out of which we were free to walk on our own once. The director,Ashley, told passengers on day one that if they disobeyed her, they would be confined to their cabin. When we got to Alaska, Aurora had not hired sufficient personnel with US licenses to allow for any landings. So we were 60 miles out at sea for almost a week and could not even see the shoreline. Much of the controlling behavior of Ashley was in the guise of safety from the polar bears, but her behavior was over the top. Also the head bear rifle guy, Nils, screamed at passengers on shore at the top of his lungs when they were a few feet off a poorly marked trail in a flat landscape with at least a mile visibility in all directions. He also screamed at passengers to rush over uneven ground because of a bear in the distance. This is just plain dangerous for 70 -80 year old passengers. I have traveled extensively, including an Antarctic cruise, and never had such an unpleasant experience. Even considered bailing out from Cambridge Bay partway through the cruise. Customers beware. You have been warned."

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17 days From$6,695

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Antarctic Peninsula with South Shetland Islands

By Oceanwide Expeditions

none

4.8/5 Excellent

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Moderate

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, Tierra del Fuego National Park, Ushuaia

Highlights

Enjoy sail across the Drake Passage and see different kinds of Albatrosses
See Humpback Whales and Minke Whales
Explore South Shetland Islands
Watch seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage

Themes

National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"I booked an Antarctic Peninsula trip two years ago through Oceanwide Expeditions that I have been looking forward to for a long time. My goal is to scuba dive on every continent, so I added on the dive package and started training. I shelled out a few grand for a drysuit and other cold water diving gear (freeze resistant regulators, etc). I booked trips to bump up my number of drysuit dives so I’d be ready for Antarctica. Probably more important than the training was the financial outlay. I spent nearly $8500 USD on an 11 day Antarctic cruise that was supposed to depart in February. I spent another few thousand dollars on flights to, from and within Argentina and hotels throughout my trip. Mind you, I’m not exactly rolling in money; I’m an Army officer and I had to save up to afford this trip of a lifetime. I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get my international leave approved, but I got that done and was ready to fly to Buenos Aires on February 4th, and then on to Ushuaia to meet my ship my dives were logged, my gear was ready, my arrangements were made and my money was spent. On January 10th, Oceanwide sent an email informing all passengers that they were cancelling all of their itineraries for the season due to Omicron. I’ll admit, I was furious. I don’t want to get into a COVID debate here, but this trip has given me something to look forward to throughout the pandemic. I booked in March of 2020 while I was locked down during my last deployment as the world shut down for COVID. I was concerned about the trip, but Argentina eventually opened their borders as their vaccination numbers skyrocketed. It looked like the last impediment was out of my way, only to have the company pull the rug out from under me because of the mildest strain of this virus we’ve yet seen. The initial email offered to rebook passengers on next year’s cruises, but I had no interest in this for a few reasons- 1. As a service member, I don’t have the luxury of taking a month of leave whenever I want. I don’t know what obligations I will have a year from now. 2. I don’t trust that the world will be any better off in terms of government and corporate reactions to COVID a year from now. This isn’t going away, new variants will continue to emerge, so if the company is cancelling for the season over something as mild as Omicron, I have little confidence that whatever variant we see in February 2023 will be any better. 3. The company cancelled all itineraries in the 2020-2021 season and I’d imagine they did the same in the 2019-2020 season. They ran a couple in November-December 2021, but have cancelled for the rest of the 21-22 season. They have had no significant cash flow for nearly two years. I don’t want this company to hold on to my money for another year because I’m not confident this company will still exist in a year’s time. Here comes the really frustrating part- I replied to the initial email from their home office on January 10th explaining my position and requesting a refund. I received no reply. On 12 January I emailed the American office of the same company explaining the situation and again requesting a refund. I again received no reply. Between 14-16 January, I called both the American and home (Dutch) offices of the company. In both cases, the employees politely apologized and told me they’d look into it and get back to me. I never received any further communication. On 19 January, I emailed both offices reiterating my request for a refund and expressing my concerns at their lack of communication and requesting a response by the end of the week, or else I would pursue other means of recourse. I received no response. Last night, I again emailed both companies with a final good faith attempt to allow them to resolve the situation. I figured I’d give them the morning to respond, but they have not responded. It looks like I will have to dispute this through my credit card and bank and fight to get back my own money. TL;DR Oceanwide Expeditions accepted payment of $8500 for an Antarctica Cruise then cancelled the cruise and will not respond to any requests for refunds. This shady conduct is more than enough reason to avoid this company."

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11 days From$7,200

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Alaska Adventures Small Ship Cruise

By Maple Leaf Adventures

none

5/5 Excellent

2 reviews

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Moderate

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Alaska, Anchorage, Baranof Island Sitka

Highlights

Travel through sheer-sided glacial fjords to the foot of tidal glaciers where you will witness natural calving events as building size chunks of ice fall from the glaciers face into the ocean below.
Cruise through Alaska’s Fredrick Sound, a hot spot for feeding humpback whales. Keep your eyes out for breaching calves, young humpback whales that are known to jump out of the water.
Gain special access to a remote and protected salmon stream at Pack Creek, where brown bears gather to feed.
Join your naturalist on foraging expeditions through estuaries, forests, and bogs. Uncover the sensationally sweet Alaskan blueberry.
Visit Baranof Island’s Warm Springs Bay and dip into a relaxing natural hot spring.

Themes

50 plus, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"The trip with Mapleleaf Adventures was incredible, life changing! We saw Orcas, Seals, Sea lions and many more awesome creatures. This area really needs to be protected!! Thanks to our crew Captain Greg, Lynsey, Jess and Dylan. You are all inspiring and awesome people!! Hope to see you all again."

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9 days From$7,103

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Alaska: Glacier Country

By Wildland Adventures

none

5/5 Excellent

5 reviews

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Glacier National Park, Icy Strait, Juneau

Highlights

Arrival and check in to your stateroom. Welcome dinner.
Anchored in a hidden cove. Park Ranger on board, visits Grand Pacific and Margerie glaciers
Glacier and wildlife viewing, kayaking, hiking, kayaking
Whale watching, ride the skiff near shore for bear sightings.
See waterfalls, kayaking, skiff ride. Anchor in a remote cove for an evening. Intertidal walk

Themes

National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing

What travelers are saying

"I’ve had two great adventures with this company. Both journeys offered a combo of moderate off the beaten path and times for luxury. Guides are highly knowledgeable and they offered us opportunity to go deep into history. I really appreciated some rugged moments. The South Africa trip was life changing for many reasons. They are great communicators and want to make sure you get answers and interests met. Both trips had very good hotels and food. Please try them if you travel to learn and participate in new cultures."

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7 days From$3,395

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Whales & Totems Tour of the Great Bear Rainforest

By Maple Leaf Adventures

none

5/5 Excellent

2 reviews

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Moderate

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Highlights

Enjoy Humpback whale & porpoise viewing
Experience intertidal life viewing
Visit remote Echo Bay float house community

Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise, Sailing

What travelers are saying

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6 days From$2,268

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Peninsula Valdes Sea Wildlife

By Say Hueque

preferred

4.5/5 Excellent

Self-Guided / Independent Tour

Why we love them

They have extensive knowledge of Argentina and the surrounding region and their specialists have visited the destinations they send travelers to.

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Patagonia, Puerto Madryn

Highlights

Enjoy awhale-watching tourin Argentina. Get close to the stunning Southern Right Whales and learn all about these incredible animals.
Explore Península Valdés Natural Reserve declared a UNESCO World Heritage.
Go on apenguin tour and visit Punta Tombo the largest colony of Magellan penguins in South America.
Best time to travel: From October to April.

Themes

National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and your team for a fantastic holiday in Argentina! We loved the country and the people. The highlights for us was Iguazu Falls, the wine tour & the little hotel in Mendoza and the Glacier trekking. The Glacier was amazing!!! All flights were on time and your guides were always there to meet and great. Please pass on a special thank you to Carla who looked after us in BA and kept in touch all through our travels. Thanks again to Lujan, who did a fantastic job putting it all together and we will recommend you and your company to all our friends & family."

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-26%$1,843

4 days From$1,365

Health Safety

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Best of Alaska

By Intrepid Travel

premier

5/5 Excellent

Small Group Tour

Why we love them

They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Visits

Alaska, Anchorage, Chugach Mountains, Denali, Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Valdez

Highlights

Head out on an Alaskan safari for a unique chance to see moose, caribou, grizzly bears, Dall sheep and wolves in their natural habitat in Denali National Park.
Take a boat cruise on Resurrection Bay to Kenai Fjords and look out for orca whales, porpoises and puffins before enjoying some free time to hike or relax.
Discover Seward, one of Alaska's oldest and most scenic communities, then take a short hike to the tongue of Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park.
Sit back and take in stunning views along the dramatic coastlines of the Turnagain Arm from Anchorage to Homer, then from Seward to Denali National Park, while someone else does the driving.
On the way to charming Talkeetna, take a breath in Girdwood, where you’ll hop on the Alyeska Aerial Tram to the top of Mt Alyeska and see some incredible views of seven glaciers and the valley below.

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, High Adventure, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment."

By Real New Zealand Tours

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-39%$6,753

10 days From$4,118

Health Safety +

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21 Day Grand Tour Discover Real New Zealand

Local Expert

Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.

5/5 Excellent

40 reviews

Self-Guided / Independent Tour

Why we love them

They are dedicated to providing personalized, authentic, and sustainable travel experiences that showcase the best of their country.

Lodging level

Luxury - 5 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Visits

Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Fiordland National Park, Pacific Ocean, Queenstown, Rotorua, Tasmania, Wellington

Highlights

All inclusive tour package prepared by New Zealand based specialists so you sit back and relax
An exciting itinerary will be customised to suit you - let us help plan and perfect your dream vacation
We offer self-drive trips (rental car) we arrange all your accomodations, activities, attractions (you select) we book your car (fun, freedom, independence, flexibility) you set the pace each day or, select a private driver trip (fully guided) or, escorted coach tours (daily commentary).
Either way, you will have an awesome time on our wonderful 21 day Grand New Zealand Tour with Real New Zealand Tours.

Themes

Cultural, Cycling & Biking, Hiking & Walking, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Relaxing Retreats, Small Ship Cruise, Train & Rail Journeys, Trekking & Expeditions, Yoga, Meditation & Wellness, Sailing, Golf

What travelers are saying

"Geoff helped my wife and I to put together an itinerary that customized to our particular interests and preferences. At the outset he asked us where we'd like to go and, after a small number of iterations, together we were able able to craft an itinerary that met our budget, touched on much of the places we wanted, and did not have us staying at a different resort each night. Before leaving for our trip we were given our itinerary and confirmation #'s/vouchers/contact #'s for all of our activities and hotels captured in an easy-to-use app that made it extremely easy to transition to the next point of our journey. He and his assistant were quick to respond to any questions we had along the way as well. Overall, we had a great stay and highly endorse Geoff and RealNZ for anyone planning a bespoke trip to NZ."

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-12%$3,990

21 days From$3,500

Generous cancellation

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Philippines (Bohol & Cebu): in 6 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours

By Charlie The Traveler

Local Expert

Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.

5/5 Excellent

Private Guided

Why we love them

Travelers report that traveling with CharlieTheTraveler is a life-changing experience, in the best possible way.

Lodging level

Luxury - 5 star

Physical level

Moderate

Trip pace

Full schedule

Visits

Apo Island, Badian, Bohol, Cebu City, Dumaguete, Manila, Oslob, Samboan

Highlights

Swimming with Whale Sharks
Swimming with Sea Turtles
Canyoneering & Cliff Jumping at Kawasan Falls
Climbing Waterfalls (a.k.a. Canyoning) at Aguinid Falls
Seeing Chocolate-Looking Hills

Themes

Cultural, Education / Learning, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Relaxing Retreats, Photography

What travelers are saying

"CharlieTheTraveler far exceeded our expectations. You took care of our every need and I feel spoiled. We did not have to worry about anything. We will definitely use CharlieTheTraveler again on a future trip. Thank you so much for your attention to detail."

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-12%$2,233

7 days From$1,959

Health Safety

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Antarctica Expedition & Wild Patagonia

By Across South America

Local Expert

Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.

5/5 Excellent

65 reviews

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Moderate

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Visits

El Calafate, Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego National Park, Ushuaia

Highlights

Torres del Paine Luxury Camp
Walk on the Perito Moreno Glacier
Explore the "End of the world"
Nature at its best at the Small Luxurious Expedition Cruise to Antarctica.
Adventure in Antarctica: Ice-Camp and Kayak

Themes

Birding, Cultural, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Small Ship Cruise, Trekking & Expeditions, Sailing, Photography

What travelers are saying

"I highly recommend Across South America for a memorable experience that is personalized for YOU."

Whale Watching One Week Top Itineraries

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-19%$19,926

21 days From$16,200

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Whale Watching Reviews & Ratings

5/5 Excellent

107 Reviews

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Great

Average

Disappointing

Terrible

Eric

Oct 2019

Written on

A Close Encounter of the Orca Kind

I have been on this trip 3 different time, and each time has been unique, and so amazing. The guides were so great, and knowledgeable, the food was fantastic, and th...

Kimmie

Sep 2019

Written on

This was one of the best vacations I have ever gone on

This was one of the best vacations I have ever gone on. It was amazing to see the humpbacks slapping their tails and orca swimming by our base camp every evening. Bu...

Lin Teichman

Aug 2019

Written on

Best Trip Ever

This trip exceeded all expectations for a kayaking trip. Not only were the guides wonderful, the food amazing and the participants fun, but the sheer numbers of whal...

Michelle

Jul 2019

Written on

Incredible Kayaking with Orcas

If you're looking for an opportunity to kayak with whales, specifically orcas, this is an incredible adventure. Not only did we get the opportunity to see orcas from...

Jimbo

Sep 2018

Written on

Amazing Johnstone Straight Experience - Kayaking, Fun, Wildlife, great food, beautiful location

We recently took the Orca Base Camp trip with Sea Kayak Adventures. It was amazing. Yes its camping. We were well taken care of and got to paddle in this pristin...