I recently completed a 3D whale painting with sand as a part of our mindfulness art-club, the whale has always been my interest and it inspired me to start planning how to make one of my dreams from “300 Things to Do Before I’m Too Old” come true — seeing a whale up close.

Some friends thought I had painted a mermaid tail (oops!), but it’s actually a whale’s tail. :”>
The painting isn’t perfect — especially the uneven part of the sunset sky — but I love having it around. It’s a gentle reminder that one day, I will see a whale with my own eyes. I’m going to make it happen.

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And now, with a little help from ChatGPT and some early research…

Destination	Key Species	Best Time	Top‑rated Tour	Approx. Cost* (per adult)
Kaikoura, New Zealand (Best Bets) Best for sperm whales and year-round success	Sperm whales year‑round plus humpback, orca	Year‑round	Local eco‑aware operators (e.g. Whale Watch Kaikōura)	~USD 100–150 (typical)
Húsavík, Iceland (Best Bets) Best for variety and eco-education; high success in summer	Humpback, minke, blue, fin, orca	May–Aug	Húsavík Original Whale Watching (North Sailing) Lakitours	≈ 13,490 ISK (~USD 100)
Hermanus, South Africa	Southern right whales (shore & boat based)	Jun–Nov (peak Sep–Oct)	Hermanus Whale Watchers boat trip or cliff walk tours	Boat: R1,500 (~USD 90) from June–Nov; Walk tours: R1,000 (~USD 60)
Hervey Bay, Australia (Best Bets) Best for close, playful humpback whale experiences	Humpback whales	Jul–Oct	Blue Dolphin Tours or Australian Cruise Group guided cruises	From AUD 155 (~USD 100–110); package tours ~$345–395 USD includes Fraser Island day tour.
Azores, Portugal	Blue, sperm, humpback, pilot whale	Apr–Oct	Various island‑based eco‑operators (e.g. Terra Azul, Futurismo)	~€60–90 (USD 65–100) typical
Mirissa, Sri Lanka	Blue whales (plus sperm, Bryde’s)	Nov–Apr (mar–Apr best)	Whale Watching Club (WWC) or Kingfisher Tours	From USD 60–75; private boats ~95,000 LKR (~USD 45–50)
Newfoundland, Canada	Up to ~22 species incl. humpback, orca	May–Sep (Jul–Aug prime)	Boat tours from St. Anthony or Bonavista (e.g. Iceberg Quest)	~CAD 150–200 (USD 110–150) typical
Patagonia / Valdés, Argentina	Southern right whales, some orcas/humpbacks	Jun–Dec (Sept–Oct best)	Lagoon boat tours at Peninsula Valdés	~USD 100–140 typical
Greenland / Disko Bay	Bowhead, humpback, minke, fin, narwhal occasionally	Apr–Sep	Expedition cruises or local operators like DiskoLine	USD 200–300+ depending on itinerary

* Prices are approximate and based on standard group tours in 2025; private charters or upgraded packages may cost more.

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Highlights & Tips

• Book during peak season for the region.
• Choose operators with “sighting guarantee” policies, offering a free return trip or refund if no whales are seen.
• Early morning tours often have calmer seas and better visibility.
• Húsavík – North Sailing has maintained a ~97% sighting rate over decades, and includes hot chocolate & cinnamon buns on board! I also saw a reddit post suggesting Laki tour also.
• Hermanus offers the unique option to watch whales from the shoreline cliffs, plus boat options—great flexibility and typically lower cost.
• Hervey Bay offers long calm seasons and high likelihood of playful humpback interactions. The ~4‑5 hour tours include underwater viewing rooms and hydrophones.
• Mirissa remains affordable, but choose operators with eco‑credentials.

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Nah, just watching the videos from the Iceland tour already gives me a fast heartbeat. I’m currently deciding whether Iceland or Sri Lanka would be the better option for me, considering my current situation.

Iceland feels more doable, especially since I can combine it with a business trip. The cost is also not as high compared to going to Australia (extremely high).

Sri Lanka is still on my list for one day, as the distance isn’t too far. But to be honest, it would be quite tough to convince my parents to take care of my son for a week if it’s not for a business trip.

And yes—I’ll need a tripod or something to help me take videos and photos while watching the whales with my own eyes. I don’t want to miss that moment because I’m too focused on holding a camera.

Thank you for your reading 😊