Which tour should you choose? Whale & Orca Tours vs. Orca-Only Tours

The most exciting part of your whale watching trip has arrived–you’re ready to book your tour! But hold on. Two types of tours? Whale & Orca vs. Orca-Only. What does that mean? And how do you know which is best for you? Oh, the decisions. Fear not, we’re here to help you figure it out! 

Whale & Orca Tours

For a classic wildlife experience, you can’t beat our standard Whale & Orca tour. Lasting three to four hours, these tours will take you out into the Salish Sea in search of incredible marine wildlife.

Four species of whales regularly call these waters home. Minke whales, humpbacks, and grey whales frequent these waters from spring to fall, while orcas travel the region year-round. 

These tours offer guaranteed sightings from March to November 16th, however it’s important to note that any of the four species of whales honor that whale guarantee. Whale & Orca tours are $119 per person.

Orca-Only Tour 

If Free Willy defined your childhood, and you refuse to go home until you’ve serenaded a pod of orcas with the Michael Jackson theme song–then this is the tour for you. And with a 98% success rate of seeing orcas, or killer whales, you won’t be disappointed. 

Our orca-only tours range from three to five hours. This extra hour allows us the opportunity to go the extra mile to see orcas wherever they may be in the region. But, wait, does that mean we’re ignoring all the other whales? Of course, not. If we’re en route to orcas and spot a humpback, we’ll stop for it, time permitting. To put it simply, orcas are the priority on our orca-only tour.

Keep in mind: These are wild animals, and they are not tagged. As part of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, Outer Islands Excursions collaborates with other whale watching companies to share sighting information. 

In the event orcas are the closest whales in the area, you’ll likely see them regardless of which tour you book. However, orcas, specifically, can travel up to a hundred miles a day. The only tour guaranteeing orca sightings is this one, so if you’re not a gambler, and you need the certainty, then the orca-only tour is your best option.

Orca-only tours are $199/person.  

What to Expect on Your Whale Watching Tour

Regardless which whale watching tour you book, one thing is for certain: you’re guaranteed a Salish Sea adventure of beauty, wilderness, and wildlife. The Salish Sea is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, and every tour offers the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife in addition to whales. 

Bald eagles soar the sky, stellar sea lions bark from rocks, and harbor seals roll over to say hello. Some tours go underneath the iconic Deception Pass Bridge, others end up in the Strait of Juan de Fuca where panoramic views show off the Olympics, Rainier, and Cascades. 

With experienced captains and knowledgeable marine naturalists on board, you’re in good hands. Get ready to share in the adventure and book your whale watching tour today.