The early Spring provides one of the best whale watching opportunities in Washington. Over 20,000 Gray whales migrate North up the West Coast and some find the rich feeding grounds near the South end of Whidbey Island. On our tours we often see the same whales year after year. Island Adventures works closely with Cascadia Research Group to catalogue all of the new and returning whales each season.
Guests aboard the Island Explorer 3 will learn to identify individual whales and have the opportunity to experience a huge variety of wildlife along the way. We commonly see Harbor Seals, Sea Lions, Dall’s and Harbor porpoise, Bald Eagles, Osprey and many varieties of sea and shore birds.
Our blog is archived back to 2003. Check out our Spring tours from past seasons in March and April to know what to expect this time of year.
Island Adventures has been offering spring Gray whale tours for over a decade. Departing from Everett our guests enjoy the calm protected waters of Possession Sound, Saratoga Passage and Port Gardner Bay. Because of the calm water and high concentration of whales this time of year, our Everett Gray Whale tours have a 99.5% sighting success rate.
This dot map shows where we’ spotted whales around Everett Marina since 2004.
Our Gray whale tours are very convenient and affordable for our guests. We are just 30 minutes from downtown Seattle and 90 minutes from Vancouver B.C. (Border wait times vary. We suggest to allow 30 minutes.)
Guests check in on the dock in Everett at 10:30 am, depart at 11:00am and return around 2:00pm.
We always suggests to dress warm. Although the Island Explorer 3 is very comfortable, you’ll want to spend lots of time outside. There are hot food and drinks available for sale onboard, free binocular use, and a free wildlife viewing guide on every tour.
Cameras are always suggested. Check out our 2012 photo contest and our Flickr Group. Our guests got some great shots in Everett.
The Island Explorer 3 is the best whale watching boat in the area. She has a huge upper viewing deck, large heated cabin and a state of the art sound system that will enhance your whale watching experience. There is over 400 feet of rail viewing space, so everyone gets a front row view of the whales!
| $69 | Adults |
| $59 | Discounts—seniors over 65, military, groups of 10+, AAA, students with ID. |
| $49 | Children ages 3–12 |
| FREE | Children 2 & under |
Guests are to make reservations by phone or online and will receive directions to our Everett location. Tours will start boarding ½ hour prior to departure.
Our 3 hour private charter for up to 140 passengers from Everett is scheduled from 3 to 6pm. You’re guaranteed to see gray whales!
$2500 plus tax—that’s a savings of $1250 compared to peak season prices…less than $20 per person.