World's best whale watching destinations

The appearance of a whale in the River Thames gave many Londoners a taste of what it is like to see one of these giant beasts in the blubber.

But while it is unusual in London, whale watching is a common activity in many parts of the world. According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, about ten million people a year go whale watching, spending more than $1.25 billion (£0.7 billion).

Travelbite rounds up the world's best places to go whale watching:

Whale watching in Kaikoura, New Zealand
Snow-capped mountains provide a dramatic backdrop to whale watching in Kaikoura. Modern catamarans whisk whale watchers through the waves above the 2km deep Kaikoura Canyon – home to sperm whales, humpback whales (during June and July) and orcas (during the summer months). A hydrophone is used to locate surfacing whales, giving you a great chance of getting a postcard picture of the whale's tail fin for your album.

For more information see: www.whalewatch.co.nz or www.newzealand.com


Whale watching in Hermanus, South Africa
The wild coastline of Hermanus is one of the world's prime whale watching spots from August through to November. Hermanus is located just a few hours' drive from Cape Town and the Wine Region. It is considered to be the best place to watch whales without needing to get on a boat.

Classic Travelling (www.classictravelling.com) and Expert Africa (www.expertafrica.com) offer holiday packages that encompass Hermanus.

Whale watching at Cape Cod, Massachusetts, US
Cape Cod is another highly acclaimed whale watching destination, with 50-foot 40-tonne whales a common sight just 25 miles off the coast of Massachusetts. Whale watch cruises operate between April and October.

www.whalewatch.com and www.princesswhalewatch.com are among the companies that offer whale watching trips.

Whale watching in the Azores, Portugal
The Azores archipelago, which lies 950 miles from Lisbon, provides whale watching opportunities against a backdrop of volcanic craters, blue and green lakes, undulating valleys and hot mineral springs. Whales of many varieties are attracted to the islands by an abundance of food, including sperm and short finned pilot whales.

For more information see: www.whalewatchazores.com.

Alternatively, Sunvil is offering a free whale and dolphin watching trip worth £33 per person for all those booking their holidays to the Azores through Sunvil in April. For more information see: www.sunvil.co.uk.


Whale watching in Norway
Norway's northern coast is one of the best places in Europe to see orcas (killer whales). They gather there, particularly at Tysfjord, between October and January, lured by shoals of herring.

For more information see: www.orcasafari.co.uk. Voyages of Discovery offers cruises to the Norwegian fjords. For more information see: www.voyagesofdiscovery.com