FORCES OF NATURE

Blue whale research off the Azores: one week with Richard Sears. In a rubber dinghy.

FORCES OF NATURE

Blue whale research off the Azores: one week with Richard Sears. In a rubber dinghy.

Whaletrip: AZORES

Turquoise water around the boat, the whale is right below us - a 75 feet blue whale underneath our 25 feet inflatable.

MEET THE WHALES

Sperm whale, blue whale, humpback, orca: Learn about the different kinds of whales and when and where to meet them.

Most common WHALES

MEET THE WHALES

Learn about the different whale species and when and where to meet them.
Photo: Oliver Dirr / whaletrips
SPERM WHALES

Sperm whales dive deeper than any submarines. They can be spotted close to the coast in Norway, New Zealand and on the Azores.

BLUE WHALES

Blue whales are the biggest animals in the world – and extremely rare. You have good chances of spotting them in Iceland, Quebec, Mexico and Australia.

MINKE WHALES

Minke whales are curious, playful and widespread. They can be found everywhere, in Australia even while snorkeling.

HUMPBACKS

Humpback whales are gifted singers and tricky hunters: Singing takes place in the South Seas, hunting is done in the cold fjords.

ORCAS

Orcas are the top predators of the world’s oceans. Especially in Norway and Canada, chances are high to come across them.

RIGHT WHALES

Right whales are the bulkiest whales, but very agile nonetheless. Watch them jump in Australia, South Africa and Argentina.

GRAY WHALES

Every year, gray whales migrate back and forth between Mexico and Alaska. At some places you can even see them from the mainland.

BELUGAS

Belugas are very popular because of their facial expressions. You can often meet them in great numbers in Quebec, Manitoba and Nunavut.

FINBACKS

Finbacks are the second biggest whales in the world. The best places to meet them are Quebec and New England.

Whales SPERM WHALES

Sperm whales dive deeper than any submarines. They can be spotted close to the coast in Norway, New Zealand and on the Azores.

Whales BLUE WHALES

Blue whales are the biggest animals in the world – and extremely rare. You have good chances of spotting them in Iceland, Quebec and the Azores.

Whales GRAY WHALES

Every year, gray whales migrate back and forth between Mexico and Alaska. At some places you can even see them from the mainland.

Whales ORCAS

Orcas are the top predators of the world’s oceans. Especially in Norway and Canada, chances are high to come across them.

Whales HUMPBACKS

Humpback whales are gifted singers and tricky hunters: Singing takes place in the South Seas, hunting is done in the cold fjords.

Whales MINKE WHALES

Minke whales are curious, playful and widespread. They can be found everywhere, in Australia even while snorkeling.

Whales RIGHT WHALES

Right whales are the bulkiest whales, but very agile nonetheless. Watch them jump in Australia, South Africa and Argentina.

Whales FINBACKS

Finbacks are the second biggest whales in the world. The best places to meet them are Quebec and New England.

Whales BELUGAS

Belugas are very popular because of their facial expressions. You can often meet them in great numbers in Quebec, Manitoba and Nunavut.

Whales NARWHALS

Narwhals are the mystical unicorns of the sea. If you want to meet them, you have to go to where ice of the Arctic meets the ocean.

THE BEST PLACES

With this website we focus on the twenty best places in the world to meet the whales.

The best PLACES

WHALES AHEAD!

With this website we focus on the twenty best places in the world to meet the whales.
Photo: Oliver Dirr / whaletrips

Best places SPRING

Orcas hunting close to the beach, blue whales right ahead and gray whale watching even from land: some ideas for spring.

Best places SPRING

Orcas, gray and blue whales: some ideas for spring.

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PATAGONIA

If you're visiting Patagonia you should also make a stop at Valdes Peninsula - the place where orcas hunt directly at the beach.

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OREGON

Spring is high season for whale watching in Oregon: Meet the gray whales migrating north - even from land!

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CALIFORNIA

California is a great place to meet the whales all year round. But during spring, the gray whales are traveling really close to shore.

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AZORES

During spring the Azores are probably the best place in the world to meet the giant blue whales while they are on their way north.

USE THE MAP

Choose your whales, choose your time - and find out where to go and what to do there.

The WHALE MAP

USE THE MAP

Choose your whales, choose your time - and find out where to go and what to do.
Illustration: bgblue / iStock

Infographic WHALEPLANNER
One year of whale watching in one graphic. Free download!

About this WEBSITE
A website all about whale watching. This is how it started.

The ten best TIPS
Ten things to keep in mind about responsible whale watching.