10 of the best places in the world to spot whales and dolphins

Towering walls of ice rise up all around you as you cruise along the calm, sub-zero glacial waters of Kenai Fjords National Park on our Outdoor Alaska Discovery Tour. This vast icy landscape boasts a rich variety of marine wildlife including puffin, sea otter, sea lion and Dall porpoise. The stars of the show are, of course, the Orca and Humpback whale which have been known to breach here; bursting up through the surface of the water, they crash back down in a spectacular geyser of glistening spray. 

The cobalt-blue sea off the coast of Trincomalee in eastern Sri Lanka is one of the few places in the world where Blue and Sperm whale can be spotted from the land. Head to the ancient Koneswaram Temple on an eastern departure of our Highlights of Sri Lanka tour for the best view. Set upon the edge of tiered red rock, this sacred place of worship looks out across the vast Indian Ocean, stretching out as far as the eye can see. Peer over the edge of the cliffs with binoculars in hand, and look out for a pod of gentle giants swirling in the deep waters below. 

Ever seen a pink dolphin? Not many people have. Get set for an unforgettable voyage to the South Sea Island National Park in Thailand to seek out this unique species on our Family Thailand Jungle and Islands Adventure. Officially known as Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, these endangered creatures are born grey and turn pink as they get older. Keep your eyes peeled for their blush-coloured fins cutting through the surface of the water as we cruise through the crystalline waters of Taled Bay.

Embark on a voyage of discovery into the frozen south of Antarctica in search of penguin, seal and whale on our Classic Antarctica Expedition. Drift past vast icebergs jolting through the icy aquamarine waters as you navigate through the glacial waters surrounded by snow-capped mountains, and feel the hairs on your neck stand on end when you spot a pod of Humpback whale stirring up the water to feed - this is a whale-watching experience like no other.

A gentle cruise down the palm-fringed banks of the Mekong River on our Spirit of Laos Tour takes us to an area known as the Four Thousand Islands where a maze of tributaries and channels flow around a central landmass called Don Khon Island. Home to a small pod of Irrawaddy River dolphins, we’ll venture out in small boats to try and get a view of these magical creatures. Extremely rare and on the verge of extinction, these gentle round-headed dolphins are considered sacred by the local people and are a vital part of the Mekong ecosystem.