One of the most memorable activities to do in Iceland’s Husavik is to go on a whale watching excursion on a traditional oak boat. — Visit Husavik
Seeing a whale swimming in its natural habitat – the ocean – is amazing, but witnessing it breach out of the water is just thrilling.
Whales are mammals, so they don’t have gills; instead they have lungs and breathe through their blowholes located on top of their heads. Even though they can hold their breath underwater for quite long (on average, 60 minutes!), whales would still need to surface – or at least have their blowholes be above water – to breathe.
According to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, a global charity organisation, there are about 90 whale species that exist today. While it may be possible to see all of the different types of whales living in the vast ocean, it may just take you a lifetime to do so.
Around the world, there are 11 Whale Heritage Areas, a global network of places where local communities protect cetaceans and their habitats.
The Whale Heritage Areas programme was originally introduced in 2015 as the Whale Heritage Sites by the World Cetacean Alliance and World Animal Protection.
Over the years, whale-watching tours around the world have been redeveloped to be more educational, where guests not only learn about the animal but also how to protect them and all other marine life, as well as the sea in general.
Start your whale-watching bucket list with these six locations across the globe.
A whale crier tradition is unique to Hermanus in South Africa. — Hermanus Travel Guide
Hermanus (South Africa)
To the local folks in the South African town of Hermanus, whale watching is more than just a hobby – it is a way of life. So much so that someone is appointed to alert people when whales are spotted near the coast.
This means you will likely hear the loud sound of a horn being blown by a “whale crier”, especially if you visit between June and November. This is when the migration takes place and the southern right whales arrive.
Bryde’s whales, meanwhile, are permanent residents in the coastal areas here.
The whale crier tradition – unique to Hermanus – has been around since the early 1990s, according to the Hermanus Tourism website.
Adding to the charm is the fact that you don’t actually have to get on a boat to observe these majestic marine mammals. There are lookout points, such as Gearing’s Point and Rotary Drive Lookout, that you can go to watch the whales.
For those who want to see the animals closer, get on any of the many boat tours that operate from New Harbour.
By the early 20th century, it was reported that southern right whales were hunted to near extinction by whalers. The whales have a habit of staying in shallow waters and sheltered coastal areas, making them much easier to capture.
To get to Hermanus, you have to first fly into Cape Town International Airport and then embark on a 90-minute (some 109km) drive to the town.
Husavik (Iceland)
Whales have long been the spotlight in Husavik. Often called Iceland’s “whale watching capital”, this fishing town is nestled on Skjalfandi Bay, a nutrient-rich area, which attracts many underwater mammals.
The town hosts various cetaceans, including humpbacks, minke whales, harbour porpoises and even orcas (which many know as “killer whales”). If luck is on your side, you may even encounter blue whales – the largest animal on Earth.
Weighing up to 150,000kg (equivalent to about 30 elephants!) and measuring close to 30m in length, these massive marine creatures are larger than humpback whales which “only” weigh around 30,000kg and are about 16m long.
Sail through the waters on an Icelandic wooden oak boat – called the haukur – for a more luxurious experience, or go on a speedboat if you’re feeling more adventurous.
Check with your tour operator if you can also visit the adorable puffins while on the same excursion. Puffins are seabirds native to the North Atlantic Ocean.
You can get to Husavik via a domestic flight from Reykjavik to Akureyri, and then drive for about an hour to reach the town. Or, you can drive directly from Reykjavik to Husavik, which will take about six hours.
Kaikoura (New Zealand)
Being one of the few places in the world where you can see sperm whales all-year-round, Kaikoura in New Zealand is very popular with local and foreign tourists. In fact, nearly a million people flock to the South Island port town each year to catch a glimpse of the whales.
Although sperm whales are the major draw here, you can also see humpbacks migrating past the Kaikoura coast between June and August.
The town’s unique geography, where the presence of a deep ocean trench located just off its coast, provides abundant food supply for whales.
You can go on a regular whale-watching boat tour, or choose the helicopter tour for a bird’s eye view of the animals.
To get to Kaikoura, take a scenic two-and-a-half-hour drive from Christchurch, or join a tour bus.
Monterey Bay (United States)
Monterey Bay in California boasts a diverse variety of marine life that include seals, otters and dolphins.
Apart from that, the bay is also visited by whales throughout the year: The blue whales are there from May to October, humpbacks come by between March and November, while grey whales visit from December to April.
These whales are said to come by to feed on the generous supply of food in Monterey Bay, before continuing their journey off the Mexican coast to breed and nurse their calves.
The bay, officially recognised as the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, stretches 444km along the California coast. Boat charters depart from Fisherman’s Monterey Wharf (also known as Old Fisherman’s Wharf, and not to be mistaken with the famous Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco) for whale-watching tours.
If you have time to spare, visit Dana Point in Orange County or head to San Diego for even more whale sightings.
It takes a lot of travel planning to get to Monterey Bay, but basically, if you’re flying from Kuala Lumpur, you need to first fly to Los Angeles. Your travel time can take anywhere from 18 hours to 30 hours, depending on which airline and route you choose. From LA, you can take the bus or drive to Monterey Bay.
Humpbacks are common visitors on the waters in Mirissa, Sri Lanka. — Whale Watching Mirissa
Mirissa (Sri Lanka)
Besides cultural and historical explorations, nature tours are popular in Sri Lanka, too.
If you are looking for a whale-watching excursion, your best bet would be at Mirissa, a charming beach town located some 156km from the capital, Colombo.
Here, humpback whales are said to make an appearance anytime between November and April. Sometimes, there are blue whales, too.
When you are done with your tour, take a leisurely stroll at the Coconut Tree Hill, a popular tourist spot surrounded by lots of ... coconuts.
Another wildlife experience that is equally fun in Sri Lanka is a river safari at Galle, a colonial town, which is a train ride away from Mirissa.
There are several ways to reach Mirissa. One option is a scenic three-hour train ride from Colombo. Alternatively, you can take a bus from the city to Matara Bus Station, then book a taxi from there to the beach.
Whale watching is both fun and educational for tourists of all ages. — Unsplash
Rottnest Island (Australia)
Rottnest Island in Western Australia plays host to more than 35,000 migrating cetaceans during winter and spring, according to the information found on the official Rottnest Island website.
Among the species said to frequent the waters here between July and December are humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins.
Apart from occasionally breaching the water, calves also love to “frolic” along the coastline.
Whale experts said that there’s more to this playful behaviour than meets the eye. It helps the (not so) little ones strengthen their muscles and improve coordination, which are beneficial for migration. During migration, the animals not only have to swim for an extended period of time, but also navigate unpredictable water conditions.
You can join a ferry tour or observe the cetaceans from the shore on the island’s Pinky Beach. Alternatively, you can go on a small private plane tour to admire the animals from above.
For an even more unique experience, Ningaloo Marine Park at Exmouth, a coastal town in Western Australia, allows you to swim with whale sharks.
To reach Rottnest Island, you have to first fly to the city of Perth. From there, take a taxi to the Fremantle Harbour, where you can catch a short ferry ride to the island.
