Whale and Dolphin Watching Holidays

Sitting in a boat within a belly flop of a forty-tonne animal is what whale-watching is all about. If you’re lucky, you may see one breach the water, flip its tail-fluke over in a sweeping arc, and slap it back down with a crashing thump. It’s a mesmerising sight, and one that has become one of the must-do nature watching experiences. 

However, the enormous popularity in whale- and dolphin-watching has led to concerns over the welfare of these magnificent creatures, not least because nearly a quarter of all whale and dolphin species are in the ‘threatened’ species category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.

For more information about the ethics of whale- and dolphin-spotting, see Richard Hammond's article: Responsible Whale-watching Holidays.

Below is a selection of where to go on an organised whale-watching holiday or dolphin-watching encounter in Europe. All these holidays are managed responsibly and are reachable by train and/or ferry from the UK.