Seattle, Port Townsend, Port Angeles

See Whales in the Wild!

Join us on the water to see orcas, humpbacks, gray whales, minke whales and more. We guarantee you’ll see whales!

40th Anniversary Family Business

Three Convenient Departure Locations

Seattle (Edmonds)

Seattle’s most popular & well reviewed whale watching tour, departing from Edmonds, a short drive north of downtown Seattle. The Swiftsure connects you with whales throughout the Salish Sea.

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Port Townsend/Olympic Peninsula

On the Olympic Peninsula, perched at the confluence of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound, Port Townsend is an ideal departure point for whale watching cruises. Enjoy half-day and daylong tours in the San Juan Islands on our comfortable vessels.

Port Angeles/Olympic Peninsula

On the Olympic Peninsula, nestled at the north entrance to Olympic National Park and Hurricane Ridge, Port Angeles is a convenient departure location, providing access to popular whale watching destinations, including Victoria, B.C. and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

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The Hanke Family

From our Family to Yours

Three generations of our family have helped visitors have life-changing experiences with some of the most majestic creatures on the planet. We’re blessed to live in what’s been called “the American Serengeti,” with some of the highest concentration of whales and dolphins and sea life anywhere in the world — including our totem species, the orca. Few people know these waters like we do. Our experience and dedication makes it possible for us to guarantee that you’ll see whales on your trip – we see whales on 99% of our trips – or we’ll give you another trip absolutely free.

Our Tours

Port Townsend Half-day Whale Watching

Our Port Townsend Half-Day Whale Watching Tour is the perfect choice for visitors and travelers with a busy schedule. Visit the Olympic National Park, shop in Victorian Port Townsend, AND see whales!
(April-November)

Seattle Half Day Whale Watching Tour

Enjoy the experience of a lifetime with Seattle’s most popular, well-reviewed whale watching tour. See whales and wildlife in the Salish Sea on our tour departing from Edmonds – just minutes north of downtown Seattle.
(April-December)

Port Angeles Half Day Whale Watching Tour

Visiting Olympic National Park via Port Angeles? This whale watching tour allows you to see humpbacks and orcas during your visit! We’ll have you back in plenty of time to enjoy Hurricane Ridge or downtown Port Angeles.
(May-October)

Puffin & Bird Migration Tours

In partnership with The Port Townsend Marine Science Center, join us to look for Tufted Puffins, as well as Spring and Fall Bird Migration Cruises. Whether you are a lister or an explorer, these cruises are for you!
(April-October)

Port Townsend - San Juan Island Full-Day Whale Watching

This tour is the perfect combination of wildlife and scenery! Explore the San Juan Islands with a 2-hour lunch stop in Friday Harbor.
(April-September)

Multi-day Tours

Join us for exciting 3 day cruises through the San Juan Islands. Selected by National Geographic as one of the World’s Top 3 destinations, the waters around the San Juan Islands are home to whales, Steller sea lions, porpoise, otters, and a dizzying array of seabirds.
(April, September)

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What a weekend! On Saturday, guests aboard the Saratoga had an incredible day on the water — they witnessed a gray whale breach, a fin whale (only the second sighting of the year around the Puget Sound), over 20 Bigg’s orcas — but best of all, they got a chance to spot the elusive trio of T419, T420, and T421!

T419, T420, and T421 have been making headlines recently, as they have only been spotted a handful of times ever! The first sighting of trio came from Anchorage, Alaska in March of 2025, after that, they once again dropped out of sight... until now! One year and 1,000 miles later, the trio was spotted again, this time in Vancouver Harbour, BC. After spending 4 days in the area, they have now appeared in the Puget Sound! Very little is currently known about these whales, but circular bite scars on their bodies suggest that they have likely had encounters with cookiecutter sharks. Combining the scarring and the sighting information, researchers currently believe that the trio is of the Gulf of Alaska, Aleutian Islands, and Bering Sea transient whales. What an incredible trio to see, indeed!

📸: Photo features T419 & T420, while T421 swims out of frame; photo by PSE Naturalist Brooke

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Yesterday’s trip aboard the Saratoga was an action-packed, two-species day! We departed Port Townsend in search of gray whales, but were treated instead to a juvenile humpback (our first of the year!) and an epic Bigg’s orca vs. harbor seal hunt!

Currently, the identification of the humpback remains unknown, but it was a real treat to see them feeding west of Whidbey Island. The Bigg’s orcas, on the other hand, were some frequent fliers in these waters — the T36s and T137s! The two family groups appeared to be socializing, spy-hopping, and breaching before the main event, a harbor seal hunt, for which passengers and crew aboard had a front-row seat! Older pod members could be seen teaching two younger members how to conduct a hunt — a pretty cool sight, for sure!

📸: Photo 1 - PSE Naturalist, Rachel R; Photos 2-10 - PSE Marketing, Lily

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Our trip on March 9th started with the best kind of call before we even left the marina...whales in Port Townsend Bay! Once off the dock we quickly found two orca actively hunting, giving us incredible looks and a lot of surface activity. It took us a minute, but eventually we were able to ID them as T71B1 and T71B2; siblings who are not regular visitors to the Puget Sound. In fact, according to FinWave.io, their last visit to the PT area was way back in 2023! Once they finished their meal, we headed up the west side of Whidbey Island where we were lucky enough to find three gray whales all circling within a few hundred yards of each other. Two of these whales have been seen regularly in the region over the last few weeks, but the third was yet another mystery gray, meaning it is not yet in our ID guides! Our final stop of the day took us up to Deception Pass for some non-whale wildlife viewing including three species of cormorants, harbor seals and kingfishers. Another chilly yet amazing day out on the water! - Naturalist Rachel R.

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Monday, March 2 we sure had a special trip from our Edmonds location with 4 gray whales near Hat Island. It was a beautiful, calm, sunny day and our whale viewing started in a familiar spot near the southeast corner of Hat Island after Captain Brian spotted some exhalation blows. We cruised in slowly and stopped to watch 3 gray whales circle around and mingle with each other: Azulao (CRC-2246), Hattie (CRC-2249), and CRC-2426. It's always exciting when we have an opportunity to watch these gentle giants interact with each other. They were rolling around, lifting their heads out of the water, swiping their tail flukes, pushing each other around, and sometimes it looked a little like they were playing a game of twister!

After a nice session watching these three energetic whales we pulled away to look for more and it only took a few minutes before we spotted Thidwick (CRC-2362) coming in hot towards the other three. We thought she might be planning to join the party, but she stopped about a half mile short and started to circle around on her own. We ended the trip on a nice visit with 3 Steller sea lions on the Possession buoy before heading back to the dock. Photographer/ Naturalist Bart Rulon @bartrulon

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Hello, my name is... well, we don’t actually know yet! Each spring, Puget Sound is visited by a group of roughly a dozen gray whales on migration from Mexico to Alaska, known as Sounders, who swing by for a ghost shrimp buffet. Typically, we see the same individuals return year after year, and we can identify them by their distinctive markings. On occasion, though, we are visited by a whale not previously seen in our waters — that is the case this year! We’re always excited to support scientific research by submitting sighting data and photographs to organizations such as Cascadia Research, which helps identify newly spotted individuals in our area. Stay tuned to our social media channels — when we have an identity update on this individual that we've seen on 02/25, 02/27, and 03/06, we’ll be sure to let you know!

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Last week, we had a blast hosting a networking event aboard Swiftsure alongside our preferred catering partner, Chef Dane Catering (@ChefDaneCatering). Events and hospitality professionals had a chance to sample some tasty cuisine and experience an incredible day of gray whale watching! Looking to host an event or networking opportunity? Drop us a line, we’re happy to explore options with you!

For more information on groups and custom tours on board — think company retreats, school groups, family reunions, weddings, and more — check out our website by clicking the 'Group & Custom Tours' link in our bio, or give our office team a call at 360-385-5288. Let’s make your next event unforgettable!

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One of our favorite trips of the year — the 3-Day Birdwatching & Wildlife Cruise from Port Townsend — is fast approaching! On April 13, passengers will set sail aboard the Glacier Spirit for a journey full of birds, whales, and other wildlife. Each evening, we’ll return to the beautiful Roche Harbor Resort on San Juan Island for a restful stay before continuing our adventure the next day! Bird lovers, last year’s trip saw over 75 unique species of birds, including Bald Eagles, Brants, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Harlequin Ducks, Rhinoceros Auklets, Long-tailed Ducks, Marbled Murrelet, and Pacific Loons, as well as a pod of Bigg’s Orcas.

If you would like more information on the 3-Day Birdwatching & Wildlife Cruise or would like to book, please visit our website: https://bit.ly/4qUYe3E or give our office team a call at 360-385-5288 — Don’t miss out on this incredible experience!

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We. Are. Back! Our first trip of the the season in Port Townsend left on Saturday under beautiful sunny skies and headed up the the west side of Whidbey. On our way up-island, we were treated to looks at a variety of bird species, including rhinoceros auklets returning to breeding plumage. Between Deception Pass and the southern tip of Lopez Island, we were lucky enough to find not one but TWO gray whales! After speaking to local researchers, neither of these whales seem to be in our ID catalogue, which may mean they are newer visitors to our area; always an exciting find! Turning back south gave us stunning views of the Cascade mountain range, along with a finale of a large Steller sea lion (with Mt. Baker in the background). We're so happy to be back on the water with you all, and looking forward to an awesome year of whale watching! - Naturalist Rachel R.

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This spring, we’re celebrating a special group of passengers and friends who have played a huge role in our success and growth over the past 40 years — our locals! We are proud to call Port Townsend, Edmonds, and Port Angeles home ❤️

As a sincere THANK YOU for your support, half-day and all-day whale watching tours departing between April 1 - May 15 can be purchased for 50% off during the month of March using code LOCAL50 at checkout!

To book your next adventure, visit our website using the link in our bio or give us a call at 360-385-5288.

*Please note, the 3-Day Birdwatching & Wildlife Cruise departing on April 13, tours on May 9 & 10, and one-way trips between Port Townsend and Friday Harbor are excluded from this promotion.

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Hey, Olympic Peninsula friends, guess what? Tomorrow marks the FIRST day of Port Townsend gray whale tours for the 2026 season! Our team in Edmonds has been hard at work scouting the top spots for gray whales this year, and so far, we’ve managed to spot five individuals — CRC-2446 (Azulão), CRC-2362 (Thidwick), CRC-2440 (Tahoma), CRC-531 (Gretchen), and CRC-53 (Little Patch) 😍 If you haven’t booked yet, we still have a few spots available for tomorrow’s tour, you won’t want to miss it!

For more information on gray whale tours or to make a booking, please visit our website using the link in our bio or give our office team a call at 360-385-5288.

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Hey Seattle, want to check out the San Juan Islands AND see whales? Good news, we’re launching a NEW all-day whale-watching tour from our Seattle (Edmonds) location with a two-hour lunch stopover in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island 🙌 Starting on May 1st, guests will be able to hop aboard the Chilkat Express in Edmonds for an unforgettable all-day experience with guaranteed whale sightings! Trips will run Thursdays through Mondays and last approximately 9 hours (including 2 hours in Friday Harbor).

Ready to set sail? You can book the Edmonds all-day tour on our website now by clicking 'Seattle/Edmonds Tours' using the link in our bio, or by calling our office at 360-385-5288.

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Yesterday’s passengers aboard the Swiftsure were treated to another 3-whale day 🙌 After only five minutes of searching, captain Tony spotted some spouting action around Hat Island that turned out to be CRC-531 (Gretchen) and CRC-2362 (Thidwick) traveling together! Guests and crew were awed by the slow-motion beauty of these whales, and even got to see a few flukes. Before heading out, an eagle-eyed passenger spotted a third gray whale on the Snohomish River Delta, CRC-2440 (Tahoma) — a great trip all-around!

P.S., gray whale tours from Port Townsend begin in less than 10 days 🎉 If you want to hop aboard a gray whale tour from Edmonds or Port Townsend, you can make a booking on our website or by giving us a call at 360-385-5288. We hope to see you on the water!

Latest News

Spotted: T419, T420, and T421

What a weekend! On March 14, guests aboard the Saratoga had an incredible day on the water — they witnessed a gray whale breach, a fin whale (only the second sighting of the year around the Puget Sound), over 20 Bigg’s orcas — but best of all, they got a chance to...

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