Minke whales are regularly seen, whilst orca (killer whales) are very occasional visitors. Sightings of basking shark have increased in recent years. They share none of the aggressive killer instinct of others in the shark family, yet the sight of the pointed fin scything through the water is usually enough to induce a few shudders among those safely aboard the boat! We have teamed up with the most experienced marine wildlife company in Scotland to offer a range of whale-watching and shark-spotting holidays.

All trips form part of a larger ecological research programme, studying minke whales and associated wildlife around the islands of Mull, Coll and Eigg. By joining one of these trips you will be helping to further and support important research into the marine environment as a whole, including the impact of climate change on our seas.

The operator has strong links with environmental bodies including the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust. Weather or other operational reasons can occasionally enforce a delay, cancellation or change of trip. For that reason, we recommend that your holiday should include at least two full days (three nights) on Mull.  In the very unlikely event that the trip does not operate at all, you will of course receive a full refund of the excursion cost.

We now also offer a whale-watching holiday in another fabulous area for marine wildlife, the southwest of Ireland. Take a look at our Whale & dolphin Watching in West Cork short break here.

McKinlay Kidd whale & shark watching holidays

• Whale watching - Our classic short break, which includes a full day's whale watching trip, with an experienced marine biologist and three nights on the Isle of Mull
• Mull Wildlife Experience - Our most popular wildlife holiday, with a full day's whale-watch and a land-based wildlife safari focussing on eagles and otters.
• Great Scottish Wildlife – one of The Sunday Times top 100 holidays in 2008, this 7 night, 3 centre (Mull, The Cairngorms, Perthshire) wildlife holiday includes a wildlife safari, a whale watching trip, ‘photo deer stalking’ & an evening visit to a night hide.
• Mull Week of Wildlife - The ultimate wildlife week packed with a variety of land & sea-based wildlife activities.
• Family Steam Trains & Wildlife Week – A 2 centre holiday designed especially for families & packed with the best childhood experiences Scotland has to offer. Includes wildlife adventure trips, time to discover ‘Balamory’, a gondola ride & steam train trips. 6 nights.

Most of the whale-watching pictures featured on this site have been supplied by Splashdowndirect.com, who have a fabulous library of marine wildlife photography from the UK and overseas.