The peaks of the seven largest islands of this archipelago rise like a submerged mountain chain, with the tallest perpetually capped in snow. Fiords plunge into the sea, misty forests cover their flanks and windswept sandy beaches lie at their feet and the continental shelf plummets into the Pacific Ocean. Find Out More
Nestled at the head of Eyjafjörður, Iceland’s longest fjord, and at the base of snow-capped mountains, is the town of Akureyri. Being close to the Arctic Circle, there are chances to see the magical Northern Lights and wildlife highlights include whale watching excursions searching for humpack and minke whales. Find Out More
Grundarfjordur lies on the north shore of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, a two hour drive from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik. Set on the shore of a half-moon bay, the town is backed by beautiful mountains, including steeple-shaped Kirkjufell, and provides the perfect location for whales watching trips to observe orca. Find Out More
Kenai Fjords offers excellent opportunities for whale watching, and the surrounding park has a variety of wildlife. Day cruises along depart from Seward, some 160 kilometres south of Anchorage. Towering glaciers drop into the sea and you can hear the constant cracks and rumblings of calving icebergs. Find Out More
Chatham Strait is a deep 240 kilometre-long strait in the Alexander Archipelago, in southwest Alaska. Once the home of explorers and fur-trappers, it is one of the few places in the world where you can see the fascinating spectacle of humpback whales ‘bubble net feeding’ on the abundant supply of herring. Find Out More
Situated on the north coast of Iceland, on the shores of Skjálfandi Bay, is the small fishing town of Husavik. Known as the whale watching capital of Iceland, the surrounding waters boast humpback, minke and sometimes even blue whales, as well as white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises. Find Out More
The healthy black bear population and whale-watching opportunities make Vancouver Island a great destination for wildlife enthusiasts. Separated from the mainland by a long strait, the island’s west coast overlooks the Pacific Ocean, while the mountainous interior is heavily forested with big conifers. Find Out More
North East Greenland National Park is the world’s largest. Although the park is part of the Greenland Ice Sheet, there are large ice-free areas of green mountains with beautiful wild flowers, long fjords, precipitous cliffs and hot springs. Off shore, huge icebergs in fantastic shapes float on the deep blue sea. Find Out More
Connect with wildlife in its natural environment. Abundant bird species are present here – from Atlantic puffins to bald eagles – as well as mammals such as moose, black bear and whales. The Bay of Fundy is a haven for fin, minke and the rare right whale, seabirds, and harbour and grey seals. Find Out More
The Chilean portion of Patagonia is called Magellanes after its Portuguese explorer. On the Pacific side glacial action has excavated a complex coastline of fjords and islands. Between the mainland and Tierra del Fuego, the Strait of Magellan has Chile’s first and only marine reserve, Francisco Coloane Marine Park. Find Out More
British Columbia has an incredibly diverse and thriving population of resident and migratory marine mammals – whales, dolphins, seals, porpoises and sea lions. The Salish Sea is a favourite destination to see orca, with pods J, K and L probably the most written-about and photographed killer whales on earth. Find Out More
The Lemaire Channel is an 11 kilometre strait off Antarctica leading to a jigsaw of jewel like islands. Filled with icebergs and hemmed in by steep glacial cliffs, the waters are calm and passing through it makes for an unforgettably scenic journey, upon which orca or humpback whales may be seen. Find Out More
Nosy Boraha is a centre for whale-watching when, between July and September, humpbacks congregate in the sheltered waters to give birth. It also epitomizes all that is good about a tropical island; its miles of beaches are lined with palm trees and fringed by turquoise lagoons and distant reefs protect the shore. Find Out More
This fertile island lives from farming, fishing and forestry – arriving here is like stepping back in time. The west side is a dense swathe of temperate rainforest, supporting a variety of birdlife. Magellanic and Humboldt penguins live at the southern tip, and blue whales can be sighted between January and April. Find Out More
This Pacific Coast park became a Ramsar site in 1990, when recognized as a vital wetland. One third is ocean, a breeding ground for humpback whales, while the islands provide feeding areas for sea birds such as frigatebirds and boobies. On land you will find tropical dry forest, fog forest and coastal scrub desert. Find Out More
Alaska’s state capital stands on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle. Its stunning location between soaring snowcaps and cobalt-blue inlets makes it a popular stop for summer cruises. Apart from the wildlife, attractions include Mendenhall Glacier, and opportunities to hike, bike, river raft, kayak and dog-sled. Find Out More
Arguably one of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in the world, Gwaii Haanas National Park is a remote reserve of 138 islands in the southern Haida Gwaii. The park – a place of wonder – is an untamed wilderness, home to a superb array of marine life and land species, including the humpback whale. Find Out More
The largest island in the Gulf of Alaska is rich in wildlife. The Kodiak bear has lived here for 12,000 years, and 3,000 live in Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, which is also an important staging post for seabirds and wintering wildfowl. Summer attracts migrant birds to nest and feed on the plentiful food supply. Find Out More
Facing the Pacific Ocean, backed by Vancouver Island’s mountainous spine, this park preserves the natural heritage of Canada’s west coast, whose cool maritime climate generates an abundance of life on land and in the water. Interwoven with these natural wonders is the history of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. Find Out More
The Ross Sea is the southernmost sea on Earth and one of the most pristine environments in the world. The landscape is varied and unique, with key aspects including the Ross Ice Shelf and over 4,000 kilometres of coastline. There is an array of fascinating wildlife with 11 bird species, five seal species and 12 whales species. Find Out More
This peaceful archipelago, ten kilometres off the northern coast of Scotland, is a magical place of low-lying rocky islets, sandy beaches and blue seas – a great place to walk and see seabirds, birds of prey, whales and dolphins, along with fascinating prehistoric archaeological sites. Find Out More
The Parc National du Bic hosts nesting seabirds, as well as owls and grey seals. Half of the park is a coastal marine environment; the terrain is typical of the south shore of the Saint Lawrence, alternating low-flow rivers, salt, rocky hills with a very steep northern slope and a relatively gentle southern. Find Out More
Located in Quebec’s Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, this national park runs along the eastern end of the Saguenay River where it adjoins the Saguenay – St. Lawrence Marine Park. The combination of fresh water from Lac-Saint-Jean and the St Lawrence River‘s salty waters makes it ideal for marine and wildlife. Find Out More
Stretching for more than 123 kilometres, with a maximum width of 22 kilometres, Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. A precious part of Australia's natural and cultural heritage, its UNESCO World Heritage listing places it alongside Uluru, Kakadu and the Great Barrier Reef. Find Out More
