Travelista Editor Jessica Ruth Gibson shares her magical experience of Whale Watching in Nova Scotia along with top tips on how to make the absolute most of this bucket-list experience.
There are few travel experiences as awe-inspiring as seeing a whale emerge from the surface of the ocean — and whale watching in Nova Scotia offers some of the best chances in the world to witness it. The Bay of Fundy, which separates Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, is renowned to be one of the very best places in the whole world to go whale watching because of its incredibly rich marine ecosystem and record-breaking tides. This is what draws whales and other marine life here every summer.
During peak season (June to September), this deep, food-rich channel becomes a vital feeding ground for the humpback whale, minke whales and fin whales, as well as playful porpoises, dolphins and a wide variety of seabirds. The experience is carefully and ethically managed; strict sustainability laws mean that only two whale watching boats are permitted out on the water at any one time, ensuring minimal disturbance to the whales’ natural behaviour. It’s a model of responsible wildlife tourism — and an absolute must-do on any Nova Scotia itinerary.
Alongside the Bay of Fundy, tours also operate from other parts of Nova Scotia’s coastline, including the Cape Breton Highlands and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to spot whales around the province.
This article has been produced in partnership with Visit Nova Scotia. All words and views are my own.
My Experience of Whale Watching in Nova Scotia
Whale watching has been a dream of mine for over 10 years, so when I learned about Nova Scotia’s world-class whale watching scene, it was an instant no-brainer to add it to my route. It was the thing I was the most excited for on my whole 7 day Nova Scotia Road Trip, and it didn’t disappoint.
I booked the 1pm tour with Petit Passage Whale Watching in East Ferry, on Nova Scotia’s Digby Passage. The tour lasted around 3 hours, and as we cruised out into the Bay of Fundy, I was quietly hoping to spot just one or two whales. But my expectations were completely blown out of the water.
About half way into the tour, we had spotted our first humpback — and by the end of the trip, we had seen a total of eight humpback whales. I will never forget the moment I saw that huge tail flipping out of the water on the horizon. It quite literally took my breath away. Seeing the sheer size and scale of these beautiful creatures in the wild is absolutely mesmerising and beautiful.
As the trip progressed, the fins, tails and ‘air blows’ got closer and closer to the boat, which was utterly exhilarating. It was almost as if the whales had a playful curiosity about the boat, and naturally got closer to the boat rather than the other way around. I asked our guide if we had been lucky that day, and she smiled and told me that what we saw was actually pretty standard for a trip in the Bay of Fundy. I was completely blown away.
Book whale watching tours with Petit Passage Whale Watching.
Whales and Wildlife you’re likely to see
One of the most common (and charismatic) whales spotted in the Bay of Fundy is the humpback — often nicknamed the “clown of the sea”. Known for their playful nature, humpbacks love to breach dramatically out of the water, slap their tails and flippers on the surface, and even “spy hop” by poking their heads vertically out of the water to take a curious look at their audience.
Watching these gentle giants interact is endlessly mesmerising, and it’s especially magical to see mothers and calves swimming side by side (I was told that humpbacks stay together as family units for up to three years).
If you’re lucky, I was told you may also spot the elusive and critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. Once hunted to the brink of extinction (they were considered the ‘right’ whale to kill because their bodies floated), only around 510 remain today. Recent signs of increased births offer a glimmer of hope for their future, so it sounds like catching sight of one would be a truly rare and unforgettable privilege.
About Petit Passage Whale Watching
Petit Passage Whale Watching operates from East Ferry, Digby Neck, and is widely regarded as one of the best and most ethical whale watching operators in Nova Scotia.
They run two trips per day between June and September which last 3-4 hours each. Usually there is one morning tour and one afternoon tour.
Excursion rates with Petit Passage Whale Watching for the 2025 season are;
• Adult tickets are $85 CAD
• Children’s tickets are $45 CAD
• Students and Senior tickets are $75 CAD
• Family tickets (2 adults, 2 children) are $195 CAD
You check in for your tour at the Petit Passage Café, a cosy waterfront café opposite the ferry dock. I highly recommend arriving early for a hearty pre-tour meal – think warm soups and hearty seafood chowders. All food on the menu can be ordered to go, if you’re short on time before your boat departure. Stocking up on snacks and drinks to take on the boat. (There’s no food or drink available once on board.)
The crew are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, and they’ll teach you all about the whales and their behaviour throughout the tour. They also expertly spot the whales long before most of us can see them, which makes the experience feel guided and reassuring from start to finish.
Petit Passage Whale Watching
3450 Nova Scotia 217, East Ferry, Nova Scotia, B0V 1A0
Top Tips for Whale Watching in Nova Scotia
Based on my own whale watching experience, these are my top tips and pieces of advice to help you get the absolute most from this very special experience;
• Bring plenty of food and drink — you can’t buy any refreshments or food on the boat so it’s best to come stocked up.
• Pack a thermos flask for a warm drink — again, you can’t purchase this once on board.
• Pack a waterproof rain jacket — the weather can change quickly out on the Bay of Fundy and you don’t want to miss any whales because you’re sheltering from the rain
• Bring plenty of layers — including a warm coat, hat and gloves. I went in August on a sunny day and was still chilly on the boat.
• Pack a portable phone charger — you don’t want to run out of battery when the whales appear.
• Bring snacks and water — there’s none for sale on board.
• Take motion sickness medication beforehand if you’re prone to it, and consider wearing a motion sickness pressure band.
• Sit near the back and centre of the boat — it’s the most stable spot if the water gets choppy.
• Tipping the crew is welcomed but not essential — a small way to say thank you.
• Secure your phone with a tether or lanyard — it can be precarious taking photos in choppy waters.
• Consider bringing binoculars for a closer look at the whales and seabirds.
Final Thoughts
Whale watching in Nova Scotia was one of the most magical and unforgettable travel experiences of my life. Seeing wild whales in their natural habitat is truly humbling — a reminder of the wild beauty that still exists in the world. If you’re planning a trip to Nova Scotia, make this experience a priority. The memory of that towering tail disappearing into the deep blue will stay with me forever.
