We have written about whale watching in New Hampshire in general, and now we are focusing on the specific whale watching opportunities in the state’s coastal towns – in this instance, Hampton Beach. The whale watching cruises in Hampton Beach are fairly limited, and below we give you everything you need to know about them. However, it is worth keeping in mind that the New Hampshire coastline is quite short, so Hampton Beach is close to the other departure points along coast. So, if whale watching in Hampton Beach doesn’t work out, there are other options to pursue.
Whale watching in New Hampshire is essentially an extension of whale watching in Massachusetts, which is world-renowned. The two states are right by each other, and they line the exact same region of the Atlantic Ocean. In this area, you can expect to see a range of whale species and other forms of marine life. The most common species sighted are humpback, finback, or minke whales, and all of these whales were routinely seen during last year’s whale watching season in Hampton Beach. In addition to whales, dolphins and large sharks are frequently seen in the waters off the New Hampshire coast.
There is only one whale watching company in Hampton Beach, Al Gauron. Like many other outfits that provide whale watching cruises, Al Gauron is also a deep sea fishing company, and in fact this seems to be their main business. However, for a brief window each year, in July and August, they offer daily whale watching cruises. These cruises are four hours long, from 1:30 to 5:30 PM, and they will take you anywhere from 10 to 40 miles from shore. For a four-hour excursion, the prices are quite modest. An adult ticket costs $33, and then there are discounts for seniors ($30), juniors ($27), and children ($24). There is no way to book your tickets online, so you have to call the company (1-800-905-7820 or 603-926-2469) in order to check availability and make a reservation.
There aren’t many whale watching cruises in Hampton Beach, but the ones that are available are good and fairly inexpensive. You are also very likely to see a whale, as companies in this region of the country can almost boast of a 100 percent success rate for sightings. For more general information, check out our article on whale watching in New Hampshire.
