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Whale watching cruise with researcher between Liguria and the French Riviera

Italy:

Liguria

Duration:

6 days - 6 nights

Max number of passengers:

6 people

Available:

August

Boarding from:

Santo Stefano al Mare

What's included

Cancellation policy

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Organised by:

WWF Travel

Member since 2020 -

Organisation

Italian

English

This experience, in a nutshell

Get ready to experience an extraordinary adventure, accompanied by a WWF guide in the beating heart of the Pelagos Sanctuary and in one of the most fascinating areas of the Ligurian Sea. This whale watching cruise will take you to discover a sea rich in life, characterized by an amazing geomorphological variability and a unique system of underwater canyons. These deep and complex seabeds, ideal for feeding and reproducing cetaceans, represent a perfect habitat for fin whales, sperm whales and other iconic Mediterranean species.

During the journey, we will move both to the east, exploring the suggestive Golfo Paradiso with its deep waters and spectacular landscapes, and to the west, going as far as Imperia, where the blue of the open sea blends with the kingdom of cetaceans. This itinerary is perfect for those who love the charm of the open sea, away from the typical coves of the archipelagos, and want to immerse themselves in the heart of wild nature.
Stops at anchor will only be possible if the weather and sea conditions allow it, given the nature of the Ligurian Sea, characterized by less protected coasts but which are home to the best of marine biodiversity. However, there will be numerous opportunities to dive into the crystal clear waters, with baths in the blue of the open sea, and to stop in enchanting places such as San Fruttuoso, a corner of rare natural beauty.

During this cruise, we could also explore another study area: we will sail along the Riviera di Ponente, passing through iconic places such as Imperia and Sanremo, and then go as far as the beautiful French Riviera, passing through MentonNice and Cannes, with the opportunity to reach the enchanting Iles de Lerins.
This portion of the Pelagos Sanctuary is characterized by deep seabeds and underwater canyons that come extraordinarily close to the coast. These unique ecosystems provide an ideal habitat for cetaceans such as fin whales, sperm whales, and rare pilot whales, providing an extraordinary opportunity to observe and study marine life in a pristine environment.

The atmosphere on board will be serene and informal: you will share with the crew not only scientific research activities but also daily tasks on board, such as cooking and tidying up, to fully experience the spirit of collaboration and adventure.

Join us to explore the Pelagos Sanctuary, a place that encompasses the magic of marine biodiversity and the wonder of the Mediterranean. This trip will give you unique emotions, moments of pure adventure and authentic contact with the sea and its inhabitants.


HIGHLIGHTS

Unique scientific experience: Direct participation in monitoring and research activities together with WWF guides , using non-invasive methods to observe and protect cetaceans in the Mediterranean, according to the rigorous standards of the High Quality Whale Watching certification, promoted by ACCOBAMBS and CIMA Foundation. These labels certify that all activities follow international guidelines, promoting species conservation and educating participants on the importance of protecting biodiversity.

Contact with wild nature: A journey in harmony with the marine environment, away from crowded places, to experience the Mediterranean in its authenticity and contribute to its conservation.

Sustainable sailing: The choice of sailboat aims to minimize the use of the engine (unless the marine weather conditions do not allow it), thus limiting emissions and noise pollution, for a more sustainable environmental impact. This choice represents a concrete commitment to responsible tourism that respects the marine environment.

Authentic and shared atmosphere: Spartan and collaborative life on board, with all participants involved in daily activities, for a travel experience that combines adventure, conviviality and a spirit of adaptation.

Education and active involvement
The experience is not just passive observation: participants are actively involved in on-board activities and scientific research, developing skills in nature photography, monitoring and sampling. This involvement allows us to create a deep connection with the marine environment, promoting greater awareness regarding biodiversity conservation.

Navigation and life on board
A sailing cruise means having the sea just a dive away, even first thing as soon as you wake up, it means having an aperitif always watching sunset, dining under the stars and enjoying moments of pure fun and relaxation.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY OF THE EXPERIENCE
Easy, suitable for everyone.

OUR SKIPPER

On board this experience there will be Ivo M. or Gian Luca F.: click on the name to find out more about them. Sailing enthusiasts and friends since childhood, Ivo and Gian Luca will take you to discover the magical places where they grew up and of which they know every cove very well.

€946

6 days - 6 nights

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21+

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Boat & Classes of Service

Hanse 40 - 2022

Type

Sailboat

Length

12 m.

Toilets

2

Cabins

3

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6+

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Our itinerary

Our trip starts here:

Santo Stefano al Mare.

Check-in: 4:00 PM

Our trip ends here:

Santo Stefano al Mare.

Check-out: 9:00 AM

Our itinerary

We will depart from Marina degli Aregai (IM) harbor in Santo Stefano al Mare to experience a beautiful week exploring Western Liguria and the French Riviera.
We will head primarily to the Gulf of Genoa in both the eastern and western portions, characterized by underwater canyons and the beating heart of the Cetacean Sanctuary. Depending on weather conditions we may also push on to the Riviera del Ponente Ligure to skirt Imperia, Sanremo, then Menton until we finally reach the French Riviera via NiceCannes and Saint-Tropez. If time and weather permit we may push on to Iles de Lerins. We will immerse ourselves in the beauty of the Ligurian and French coasts stopping in the most enchanting bays and admiring breathtaking landscapes. It will be an experience of outdoor life and contact with nature.
The final itinerary will be determined according to the weather conditions and the indications of the skipper and WWF experts, to ensure safe and pleasant sailing.

The itinerary may be subject to changes due to weather conditions and/or technical or logistical reasons, in order to ensure safety and a pleasant sailing experience for all participants.

Frequent questions

The organiser reviews

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Organised by:

WWF Travel

Member since 2020 -

Organisation

Italian

English

4.7/5

out of

169

reviews

Skipper

Boat

Destination

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Whale watching mini-cruise with WWF guide between Liguria and the French Riviera

07/15/2025

Tecla V.

-

Italy

Very nice and competent WWF skipper and popularizer. Pleasant trip. travel companions too I don't give 5 stars for the simple fact that on the poster presenting the trip it was written return at 4 pm on Sunday, while in reality the trip ended in the morning at 9., and having known it I would have organized myself better with the means of transport.
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Whale watching mini-cruise with WWF guide between Liguria and the French Riviera

07/14/2025

Valentina D.

-

Italy

A super empathetic, prepared and helpful WWF guide, a person who loves his job and transmits enthusiasm to others as well; we learned a lot of interesting things, Skipper also super recommended for sympathy, availability and professionalism in dealing with any unforeseen events. Small note not addressed to the guide who had to comply with the directives, Unfortunately the last of the 3 days we had to go, for research needs, to an area with little probability of sighting, where in fact we did not see anything; Personally, since it was a holiday of only 3 days, I would have avoided losing one. Anyway super recommended.
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Whale watching mini-cruise with WWF guide between Liguria and the French Riviera

07/14/2025

Angelica C.

-

Italy

It was a very beautiful experience, thanks to Andrea and Nicola for allowing us to live it and for the emotions we shared together. An experience that I recommend to everyone!
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Whale watching cruise with WWF guide between Elba, Pianosa and the canyons of Corsica

07/14/2025

Simone O.

-

Italy

Good morning I'm Simone, what can I say, first of all I had wanted to have a different experience than usual and meet new people, and it happened, The one from the sailboat was a fantastic experience where thanks to Silvia, Paolo and Dario they were able to show us the cetaceans, because we were not able to see the whales as well. Silvia was a professional person in her work as a wwf, when it was time to explain or let us watch videos on cetaceans with her PC she was very clear and always chose the right time to give us a lesson not too long or too short, the right I would say and not every day. I would add that Silvia has always made herself available and interested if everything was fine in general or if we understood her about what she explained to us. WELL DONE SILVIA AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Paolo, our captain of the sailboat, was a clear person from the start, direct and above all hospitable to us. what about Paolo, who is a professional person, who immediately perceives that the sea is his whole life, and wants to pass on his knowledge and his passion as a sailor to others. GAZIE MILLE PAOLO Dario is the captain's helper, a young guy, helpful and with a great desire to do and learn, and one of the company. I conclude by thanking you and that I would have stayed another 2 or 3 days more. I'm recommending it to all my friends to have such experiences. Have a nice day and see you next time.

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