Dolphin & Whale Watching (4hrs) + Blasket Island Landing (3hrs)

Overview

Available languages

German

English

7 hours

Mobile ticket

This tour combines a 4 hr. dolphin and whale watching tour with a 3 hr. stop-over on the Great Blasket island. Your day is divided between a 1 hr. sea journey; 3 hrs. on Great Blasket Island and then 3 hrs. eco marine tour around some of the outer islands, dolphin, bird and whale watching (hopefully). Sightings can never be guaranteed (!) but if the weather is fine and the sea is relatively calm, we guarantee that you will enjoy the wonderful landscapes, seascapes and varied marine wildlife around the Blasket islands archipelago and Dingle Bay.

Additional Info

Service animals allowed

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Passengers must arrive at the departure point 15 to 20 minutes before departure time of 10:00 am in order to park car on pier

The boat departs at 10 am and under no circumstances will the boat wait for passengers

Put on suitable warm, windproof clothing and for Safety meeting.

Not suitable for children under 10 yrs.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Cultural and historical tour of deserted village on Great Blasket Island by OPW guides

Snacks

What To Expect

Great Blasket Island

Our tour boat leaves from Ventry pier at 10am. We head out into Dingle Bay towards the Blasket Islands keeping an eye out for common dolphins and Minke whales along the way. We also sometimes see bottlenose dolphins, Risso's dolphins and basking shark (in season). We arrive at Great Blasket Island at approx. 11 am and tie up to our mooring off the White Strand. We disembark passengers by licenced Zodiac dinghy / tender to the Great Blasket Island slipway. Passengers have 3 hrs. to enjoy the island either hiking the loop walk (1.5 hrs), swimming in the pristine waters off the beach or just relaxing and watching the seals off the rocks. There is a small island tea room and access to toilets. We pick up passengers again at 2pm and continue on our marine eco tour around some of the outer Blasket islands where you can see puffins, lots of other sea birds, fantastic landscapes and seascapes and hopefully pods of dolphins and the occasional humpback whale as they migrate past our shores.

3 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Cathedral Rocks on Inish na Bró, which is one of the outer Blasket islands, is a fantastical rock formation on the north east promontory of the island and is so called because it looks like a vast, naturally- formed gothic cathedral with "windows", "doors" and buttresses. You can wonder at the power of the ocean and sea that carved out this imposing natural structure in winter storms, as you pass close underneath

15 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Dolphin & Whale Watching (4hrs) + Blasket Island Landing (3hrs)

Reviews

4.85

20 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Fantastic day trip!
AimesP,
Aug 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We went for the full day tour including a few hours on Great Blasket Island. The Captain and our guide, Vincent and John, were brilliant, really informed and passionate and so great with the kids. We saw lots of wildlife including dolphins, seals and whales. We had a swim when on the island, the water was clear and fresh!! Lots of great knowledge shared about the ocean and the local wildlife. Highly recommend this tour, such a great day trip when in the Dingle area.
Perfect.
Alaric C,
Jul 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Perfect from start to finish. The Captain and Guide are really great, Great Basket Island is a little gem to visit and we got to see whales, dolphins and others. REALLY GREAT.
Highlight of our week on the Dingle peninsula
G7513RUsaraj,
Jul 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My husband and I did the seven-hour trip to Great Blasket on July 10. It was easily the highlight of our week on the Dingle peninsula. Weather was spectacular. After landing on the island, we easily had time to hike up to the top and stop for a picnic on the way down. On the return boat trip, we saw dolphins up close, plus Minke whales, seals, and puffins. Guides were very friendly and knowledgeable about local wildlife. Highly, highly recommend!
Blasket Island Eco Tour
Resort35514618935,
Jul 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My daughter, her boyfriend and I went on the 4 hour Blasket Eco tour yesterday 10th July and enjoyed every second. The skipper Mick and the ecologist Jonathan were extremely helpful to everyone on board . They made sure we were comfortable in the boat, explained the safety procedures and off we went. We couldn't believe our eyes when we saw approx 9 or 10 Minke whales, a school of dolphins giving us a wonderful display , seals swimming near the Great Blasket, sea birds incl many shearwater, terns, gannets, a fulmer,razor bills, crested cormorants, guillemots,puffin incl a few pufflings . Jonathan was very knowledgeable and told us many interesting facts about the wildlife snd also about the Blasket Islands themselves. The skipper stopped every time something of interest was spotted and allowed us plenty of time to take everything in and take a few photos. It was immensely interesting and enjoyable and we left the boat thrilled with ourselves and also with a renewed resolve to do what we could in relation to conservation . Noreen O Hanlon, Mallow, Co. Cork
Eco tours never disappoints
Johnbelfast123,
Jul 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
What an incredible adventure. On the trip we saw, minke whales, basking shark, common dolphins, grey seals, puffins, gannets, red deer and so much other wildlife. If that was not enough, there was the stunning scenery provided by the Blasket Islands, Cathedral Rock and Dingle bay. My thanks to Mick, Vincent and John for facilitating such a day.
Rare sighting of an orca!
Roam39972287743,
Jun 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a great skipper and wildlife guide. Very priveleged to see an orca, dolphins and puffins close up. Highly recommended for all!
Awesome day at sea
Coastal34156142884,
May 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We booked this tour hoping to see wildlife but got so much more. Vincent was an excellent captain and our eco guide John was extremely knowledgable. Their respect for the sea and her inhabitants was obvious. We were lucky to have a beautiful day with sightings of several species including, albeit briefly, a minke whale. The hike on Blasket Island was well worth the time as the views were spectacular but the highlight of the trip for us were the rock formations and sea caves. Truly magnificent.
Amazing day--Start to Finish
lindam101112,
Oct 6, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a wonderful 18 days in Ireland--such a beautiful country--but the highlight of the trip was this tour. We were blessed with gorgeous weather--but we were scheduled for a day which was supposed to have bad weather--they contacted us and requested to change for a better experience--we could also cancel at no charge if that didn't work. Amazing customer consideration. Our guide was great--so much information. Blasket Island was great-we hiked around the hill and picnicked up top. Coffee at the cafe and a NPS history session. Then out into the Atlantic where we saw three types of whales--the Humpback, The Minke and The Fin Whale--also two types of Dolphins, Tuna leaping to catch fish and lots of birds. An amazing day start to finish
Well worth the time and fare
Dclopton,
Oct 2, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
After the tour was canceled on Sunday due to high winds and terrible rain, we booked the next day. Because of a tidal serge, we could not get to the Blasket Islands to wander around. The tour guide asked if we would take the 4 hour tour of whale/dolphin watching. We took the afternoon cruise to see seals, common and bottlenose dolphins along with several types of sea birds. The scenery was gorgeous especially around Blasket Island. The guide, John, was knowledgeable and friendly. The captain, Vincent, was capable and worked hard to find the dolphin pods. The trip was well worth the time and fare.
A highly recomandable trip
henrikkG6699NY,
Aug 4, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We were on an excellent trip to Great Blasket Island 23. of July. The Island itself was exciting and really worth a vist. We saw 3 Coughs close to the seal-colony made the visit even better. On the the following whale-safari, we saw 2-3 Mink Whales and 2 flocks of Common Dolphins very close to the boat! And a lot of birds! thausands of Manx Shearwater - (and one Balearic!) all over the sea, Puffins close, Fulmars and other good birds. The guide (Britta) was very informing, and knew all abourt the birds at sea (and cateaceans, off course). A highly recomandable trip. Just do it!