Best Half-Day Dolphin Trips — Our Top 13

1.Auckland: Whale and Dolphin Watching Half-Day Eco Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,072 reviews · 4h 30m · from $130Our pick

Set out from Auckland’s Viaduct Marina aboard the 65-foot Dolphin Explorer for a 4.5-hour eco-cruise. Marine guides such as Toni, Emily, Sanaa, John, and George may explain sightings and research work while you look for dolphins, Bryde’s whales, gannets, penguins, and sharks.

“Was awesome and amazing.. Seen alot of dolphins activities and few whales.. Thanks to the amazing staff on board and for your service.. (Visiting from Brisbane Australia)..”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Lanzarote: Lobos Island Half-Day Dolphin Watching Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 585 reviews · 5.5 hours · from $85

Take a fast boat from Puerto del Carmen to Lobos Island with guides such as Teddy or Carlos, watching for dolphins, pilot whales, porpoises, and flying fish. You get 2.5 hours for beaches, lagoons, a village walk, or volcanic trails, plus lunch and drinks.

“Gorgeous boat trip, very friendly hosts, amazing bbq with more than enough food, sangria and soft drinks for everyone! Note: revised earlier start time didn't update on the Get Your Guide app, something to look at.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Khasab: Half-Day Dhow Cruise, Dolphin Watching, & Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 507 reviews · 3 hours - 210 minutes · from $37Best value

Spend about 3 to 3.5 hours aboard a decorated Omani dhow in Khasab’s fjords. Sohel, Opu, Captain Jash, and other crew members have been praised for friendly service, dolphin spotting, photos, refreshments, and help with swimming and snorkeling.

“Super and the litle snack was very Nice, we have lot of fhoto's en video dolphin Super👍👍👍👍👍👍”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Terceira: Half-Day Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 219 reviews · 3 hours · from $70

Set out from Angra do Heroísmo for three hours of whale and dolphin watching with Picos de Aventura. Guides such as Luis, João, Joanna, and Francisco explain cetaceans and safe viewing practices while you search for up to 27 species. Sightings can include sperm whales, dolphins, turtles, and seabirds.

“Marvellous Tour with Luis as our guide. We saw lots of different dolphin species. Behavior was respectful towards the animals. And don't miss the speedboat curves and turns, it is just fun! Thanks for this beautiful experience with Picos de Aventura.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Khasab: Half-Day Dhow Cruise with Dolphin Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 189 reviews · 3h 30m · from $37

Join Dolphin Khasab Tours for a 210-minute dhow cruise through Musandam’s fjords. Your English, Arabic, or Hindi-speaking host arranges pickup in Khasab, while the crew serves fruit and drinks, points out fishing villages, and stops at Telegraph Island for swimming.

“Super, Tour, wenig Leute auf dem Boot. Getränke und Obst frei, frisch und kalt.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.From Tauranga: Half-Day Swimming with Dolphins Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 151 reviews · 5 hours · from $98

From Tauranga, join Heidi, Lizzie, and the crew for a five-hour search for wild common dolphins in the Bay of Plenty. You may snorkel near them when conditions and animal behavior allow, spot seals, whales, sharks, and seabirds, and enjoy tea, coffee, and fruit on board.

“The crew were really lovely and we saw various dolphins and 2 hammerhead sharks!! It was an incredible day.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Khasab: Khor Sham Half-Day Cruise with Snorkeling & Dolphins

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 143 reviews · 4 hours · from $45

Join guide Jithu and the crew of a traditional Omani dhow for four hours in Khor Sham. You’ll cruise past dramatic fjords, watch for wild dolphins at two locations, then swim and snorkel near Telegraph Island. Fruit, dates, soft drinks, water, equipment, and life jackets are included.

“Very nice tour, our guide Jithu gave us wonderful information about Khasab and the Arabian Norway. We saw dolphins, snorkeled and swam at Telegraph Island. The crew was very attentive and provided us with a wide variety of drinks, fruit, and delicious dates. Thank you very much, the tour is highly recommended.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Half-Day Cruise Tour-Dolphin and Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 124 reviews · 3 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $44

Sail from Puerto Rico Marina for 150 to 180 minutes in search of wild dolphins and whales, then stop for a 30 to 45-minute swim and snorkel. The catamaran has toilets, several seating areas, refreshments, and optional hotel pickup. Captain Roberto is among the crew members praised for his friendly service.

“Excellent tour/cruise, managed to see dolphins on that particular trip. Good crew very friendly and knowledgeable on wildlife”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Half-Day Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling in Samara

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 70 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $73

Start at 8:00 am from central Sámara with Samara Adventures for a four-hour boat trip in search of bottlenose and spotted dolphins, seasonal humpback whales, and sea turtles. After wildlife watching, swim or snorkel with provided gear, then enjoy fruit, water, and juice before returning.

“4 adults and 3 children participated (ages 4 to 9) in this activity (Half-Day Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling in Samara). This was appropriate for everyone. Our guide, Chris, was very pationate, knowledgeable, welcoming and fun. The crew was also great. We had a great time and would recommend this tour. Thank you!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Mauritius: Dolphins watch half-day

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 26 reviews · 2 hours · from $84

Meet your pickup between 6am and 7am, ride by speedboat from the west coast, and look for wild dolphins in open water. The two-hour outing includes swimming equipment, a reef stop, and hotel pickup and return across Mauritius. Instruction is in French, and a towel is your main packing need.

“The driver picked us up on time and brought us to Tamarin Bay. There we had to wait for over 30 minutes for the boat, while other boats already left the Beach. We saw some dolphins but really swimming with them was difficult as there were too many other boats and there were Not many dolphins. Snorkeling at the reef was nice but Short. The boatride was Supposed to take 2 Hours. We were back at the Beach 90 minutes After we left. Then we waited for an Hour for someone to pick us up. The number we were given, Nobody answered. So the Tour was ok, but much shorter…”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Half-Day Dolphin & Snorkeling Tour in Mnemba Island Zanzibar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · from $120Top rated

Start at 8:00 am with pickup from your Zanzibar beach hotel, then travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle to the Mnemba area. A motorboat takes your group to snorkeling spots near coral gardens, with gear, water, snacks, and onboard WiFi included. Dolphin sightings are not guaranteed.

“Le snorkeling à Mnemba était incroyable, nous avons vu plusieurs poissons et les guides étaient super sympa. En revanche, sur la réservation il y avait écrit qu’on allait nager avec les dauphins alors que pas du tout, nous avons dû demaRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Nungwi: Mnemba Atoll Dolphins Tour with Snacks | Half-day

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7 reviews · 4 - 5 hours · from $57

From Nungwi, you’ll ride by boat to Mnemba Atoll, search for dolphins, snorkel above coral reefs, and enjoy fruit and soft drinks. The trip includes gear, a life jacket, guide, conservation fees, and hotel pickup within Nungwi. Dolphin watching can be crowded, so set realistic expectations.

“The tour itself was very good, we had a great time with a nice group, however at the end the manager rejected to bring us back to the pick up point even tough it was included in the booking. There are several provider and we choose this one to have transport included which was done in the morning but not in the afternoon.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Zanzibar: Half-day Dolphin Swim & Snorkeling Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2 reviews · 4 - 4.5 hours · from $48

Join Bahari Magic Tours for a 4 to 4.5-hour boat trip from Zanzibar’s south coast. Search for wild dolphins, swim only when they approach calmly, snorkel with provided gear, and enjoy tropical fruit, water, and a sandbank stop near Mnemba Island.

Check availability →Read our full review