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Our most popular Ultimate Whale Watch experience!
small groups make every seat a front row seat as you enjoy whale watching and educational talks from our marine naturalist onboard.
Our inflatable rafting vessels are modeled after Coast Guard rescue rafts and are safe, extremely agile providing the best platform to experience whales and have a fun ride. Our vessel allows you to be close to the ocean surface. Giving you the feeling of being with the whales in there natural environment. From this vantage point photography captures a unique perspective of looking up at the animals when they breach the surface. Our Captains are trained to find the most surface active, diverse behaviors and best photo scenarios.
All trips from December – April are guaranteed to see whales or you go again for FREE!
We are locally owned and operated since 1982 and every ticket supports our participation in marine research projects and our role as certified first responders to whale entanglements.
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
No children under 3 years
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Because we are eco-friendly, purified water is available in an igloo style dispenser, not plastic water bottles.
Lahaina Harbor
Our small group Whale Watching tour is our most popular whale watching tour on Maui. Our fast and safe rafting vessels are low to the water and perfect for close encounters and small groups making every seat a front row seat! Listen to whale songs on our hydrophone and don’t forget your camera for epic photos of our humpback whale friends! There are two options 1.5 hour and 2 gour, please select the tour you are wanting.
Duration: 2 hours
Duration: 2 hours
Duration: 2 hours
Duration: 2 hours
Duration: 2 hours
Duration: 2 hours
Duration: 2 hours
Duration: 2 hours
Duration: 2 hours
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Duration: 2 hours
Duration: 2 hours
Duration: 2 hours
Duration: 2 hours
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Duration: 2 hours
923 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
jerrijroberts,
Sep 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
One of the best snorkel tours I’ve ever taken! We went to Lanai and saw incredibly beautiful coral and tons of fish and finished the day back in Lahaina where we saw reef sharks and tons of big turtles! Jill and Kacey were fabulous and made everyone feel safe and comfortable. This tour is super laid back and I love that it was a smaller group. It felt like a private boat tour!

TrailBlazer15307,
Sep 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
We looooved this snorkeling trip to Lanai where the reef was so healthy and beautiful, so many fish and clear, pristine water. My favorite snorkeling trip ever. The all female skippers and crew (hey Rhys!) were so much fun to spend time with; they’re professional and have a great sense of humor and wonderful playlist for the ride. We stopped to watch the dolphins along the way which were very cool to see up close.

469antoinettez,
Aug 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
We had a wonderful experience on the 4 hour dolphin and snorkel trip. We saw bottlenose dolphins, and a huge pod of spinner dolphins, including a very young baby not much bigger than a football! The guides decided our first snorkel spot was not up to their standards due to the ocean chop mucking up visibility, so they went out further and gave us more time at a very clear location. This was a good call, and I'm glad they had that flexibility. I ended up getting stung by some sort of sea creature and I was tended to promptly by the staff with vinegar, and they kept checking on me to make sure I was doing ok. This was just a little glitch in the day, and ultimately didn't impact my enjoyment of the experience. I highly recommend this company! Our guides were Casey and Jessie? (maybe Jenny)
adrienmC2100PS,
Jun 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
Best whale watch i ever been on . I got to see baby breaching with parent and got so close to the whales . we saw more whales in 2 hours then i have all together with other companies combined. It was worth every penny























Vinay S,
Apr 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
Even though it was the end of the season, our captain and navigator got us to see humpback and spinner dolphins up close. Told us loads of information and trivia about whales. Highly recommend. Amazing experience.
asiancwgrl,
Apr 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
We had the best time, unfortunately I have forgotten their names but we went yesterday (April 19 9am) and our tour was exciting (we initially had low expectations of seeing whales because of it being so late in the season but...) we saw a MOMMA & Baby! And a male partner! The whales came very close to our boat and we were so happy! It was sooo hot but the experience, totally made up for not having much shade. I really suggest bringing a hat, wearing sunscreen and doing a lot of research (I did). Thank you again for this magical experience, for your knowledge, for your expertise & for the connections that you've made with the other tours to get us close. Magical!




jenrZ5652PM,
Apr 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
OH my gosh! What an amazing experience! My husband and I did the 2 hr Whale watching raft tour with Ultimate. Amy and Marina were amazing. We saw so many whales! They were so knowledgeable and friendly and made sure everyone had a great time. It was something we will never forget. My only recommendation for anyone taking it is to take Dramamine the night before and the morning of. My husband and I always do - just to be on the safe side. It isn't worth not feeling great or getting sick out there. We were fine but there were others that were not. I will definitely book with Ultimate again. 5 stars from me! Thank you Amy and Marina!


Minette G,
Apr 17, 2025
- Review from Viator
Friendly, helpful & knowledgeable guides. We encountered a pod of spinner dolphins- such a fun experience! Watched a small group of whales as the guide narrated their behavior.
katie b,
Apr 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
Great experience! We saw 5/6 whales upclose, including a mom and baby. Crew was very helpful and knowledgeable. I also highly recommend going on a whale watch on a smaller private vessel like this one (I believe it was approx 15 people). Its a much more personal experience, the entire smaller boat you have a great up close view. It also feels good to support a local small business. ! Casey and Levi are the coolest tour guides!
Jordan M,
Apr 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
Captain Amy and Kacie were awesome. Very friendly and knowledgeable. We saw whales up close and the boat ride was a thrill.

Operated by Ultimate Whale Watch & Snorkel