Where to go · HOONAH WHALE WATCHING TOURS
The season here is short and the good boats fill first. Below: the 13 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
See humpback whales, orcas, otters, and more from a 14-passenger boat, then take home aerial drone footage from Icy Strait.
“Great trip!!! Capt. Josh was timely and knowledgeable. We saw multiple bubble feeding whales and the drone footage was excellent”
Review of Hoonah’s 3-hour whale-watching cruise near Icy Strait Point, with boat details, wildlife, pricing, pickup tips, and booking advice.
“Very good tour. It was a cold and rainy day but the captain did all he could and was able to get some great views. Also liked hearing about the history and life in Hoonah.”
Review of Hoonah’s 3-hour whale watch, with guaranteed sightings, small-group boats, Point Adolphus, wildlife, costs, and practical tips.
“Clear meeting instructions. Easy access. Great tour and experience. Inside bench seats for inclement weather. Side windows swung open for viewing and photos. Not crowded. Comfortable. While we experienced the whale watching before optimal viewing season, we did see whales, otters and a bear from our boat. Boats are not large, so its a small group experience; much better than cruiseline booking which uses larger boats.”
See whales, sea otters, and harbor seals near Hoonah on a small-group boat tour with family-run Glacier Wind Charters.
“Fantastic experience. Family run operation. Clean boat, great guides, great experience for our family! 100% recommend!”
Review of Catch of the Day whale watching from Icy Strait Point, with small boats, heated seating, wildlife tips, pricing, and pickup advice.
“We had a great day out on the water, wonderful to see orca and humpbacks along with seals and lots of flopping salmon! Wonderful hosts, definitely recommend a trip!”
Review of Hoonah Whale Tours in Icy Strait, with whale sightings, heated cabin, port pickup, pricing, comfort, and booking advice.
“Great excursion! My husband, two teen boys, and I had an amazing time! We saw So. Many. Whales. - Captain Jordan knew exactly where to find them! Pick up was easy, a quick 5 min drive to the dock, then several amazing hours on the water seeing sea otters, salmon, sea lions, and humpback whales. Wonderful, local, family owned business.”
Review of the Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor, a six-person cruise-port tour with whales, orcas, bears, and a whale-sighting refund.
“Seth is a wonderful host and captain and gave us a fabulous tour. He first picked us up at the cruise port and drove us to the marina in Hoonah which was about a 10 minute ride. The boat was clean and had hot drinks, water and snacks although we were so busy watching for whales we didn't need the drinks. The boat also has a restroom. Seth was so knowledgeable and friendly and took us to see Orcas, humpback, sea otters and eagles. It was an amazing adventure and a highlight of our Alaska trip. Seth will not disappoint you!”
Review of Hoonah’s 3-hour Icy Strait whale watch, with small groups, expert guiding, drone footage, wildlife, price, and practical tips.
“It was a great experience. The guides were extremely knowledgeable, had our safety at the forefront and made sure it was a great experience. Highly recommend!”
Review of Icy Strat Alaska’s Hoonah whale and bear search, with small groups, wildlife sightings, pricing, timing, and booking advice.
“Captain Billy was an excellent guide. He ensured that we not only saw whales, but also sea otters and lions, a bear and eagles. We also loved learning about his Native American culture.”
Review of Hoonah’s private 14-passenger whale tour, with guaranteed humpbacks, hot drinks, easy pickup, and wildlife in Icy Strait.
“WOW! This was such a great tour! We loved the smaller size. You weren't fighting with other people on a big boat for the best view, and it was nice to be able to ask our captain, Jordan, questions. We saw a ton of humpback whales and even a few full breaches. Everything ran smoothly from pickup to drop off. The homemade muffins and coffee/hot chocolate were a huge plus on a chilly morning. Would highly recommend this tour!!!”
Review of Hoonah’s 3-hour whale-watching cruise near Icy Strait, with humpbacks, orcas, sea lions, practical port tips, and honest value advice.
“We were very fortunate to see three humpback whales bubble feeding frenzies and orcas. The stars aligned for us! Captain and mate were very knowledgeable. Unforgettable!!!”
Review of Hoonah’s whale-watching tour from Icy Strait Point, with humpbacks, sea otters, Tlingit stories, boat details, value, and booking tips.
“Our captain was from the Tlingit nation and her first mate was a marine biologist. We were able to see whales, sea otters, and sea lions. I think my favorite part was the stories the captain shared from the Tlingit nation. I felt privileged to be able to listen to these wonderful stories. It was an excellent time!”
Review of Ear Mountain Charters in Icy Strait, with whale watching, Alaska fishing, boat details, costs, timing, and practical tips.
“Excelente tour, excelente Guía y Capitán. Logramos ver ballenas, orcas, nutrias y leones marinos.”
Pick a coast, a season or a boat.
