Best Alaska Wildlife Tours

Last Updated: Jan 15, 2026

If Alaska could be summed up in a single word, it would be wild. Home to some of the most remarkable wildlife on the planet, Alaska’s towering mountains, glacier-carved fjords, and, dense rainforests, provide the perfect backdrop for wildlife viewing. Black bears roam along salmon-filled streams, whales populate our icy waters, and eagles soar overhead. If seeing Alaska’s wildlife is high on your bucket list, you’re in the right place.

Here are our picks for the best Alaska wildlife shore excursions, each offering unforgettable encounters in Alaska’s natural world.

1. Ketchikan Neets Bay Bear Encounter by Land & Sea

Port: Ketchikan

Best for: First-Time Alaska Visitors, Wildlife & Nature Lovers, Comfort-First Travelers, Scenic and Photography Focused Travlers

Experience the thrill of Southeast Alaska's wilderness on a guided bear-watching adventure to Neets Bay. Sail through pristine waters, spot whales, eagles and sea lions, and witness bears in their natural habitat along salmon-filled streams. With expert guides, breathtaking scenery, and unparalleled photo opportunities, this excursion promises an Alaskan memory for anyone's wildlife bucket list.

2. Juneau Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour

Port: Juneau

Best for: First-Time Alaska Visitors, Wildlife & Nature Lovers, Comfort-First Travelers, Scenic and Photography Focused Travlers, Families and Multi-Generational Groups, Great for Kids

Begin your day with a visit to the world-famous Mendenhall Glacier, where you’ll have time to explore scenic walking paths, check out the visitor center, and photograph this massive river of ice set within the Tongass National Forest. From there, travel to Auke Bay to board a specially designed whale-watching vessel, where expert captains and naturalists lead you into Southeast Alaska’s prime waters in search of majestic humpback whales and other marine wildlife. With comfortable heated cabins, outdoor decks, and a guaranteed chance to see humpbacks, this tour delivers two of Juneau’s most iconic experiences in one unforgettable adventure.

3. Icy Strait Wilderness Island Tour

Port: Icy Strait

Best for: First-Time Alaska Visitors, Wildlife & Nature Lovers, Scenic and Photography Focused Travlers, Families and Multi-Generational Groups

This guided driving tour explores Chichagof Island, known to the Tlingit people as the Bay of Bears, where salmon-filled streams attract bears and other wildlife such as bald eagles, otters, and mink. Traveling by passenger van with local Hoonah guides, guests should keep their eyes out for wildlife while you enjoy cultural stories, seasonal berry picking, and short walks during a relaxed three-hour off-the-beaten-path adventure.

4. Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Float Tour

Port: Skagway

Best for: First-Time Alaska Visitors, Wildlife & Nature Lovers, Scenic and Photography Focused Travlers

Travel through some of Southeast Alaska’s most breathtaking scenery on this scenic float trip to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, beginning with a high-speed catamaran cruise along a spectacular fjord to Haines. After a narrated drive along the Haines Highway, float quietly down the Chilkat River, where bald eagles, bears, and other wildlife gather amid towering mountains and hanging glaciers. The experience concludes with a relaxing riverside picnic before returning by catamaran, leaving you with unforgettable views and memories of Alaska’s wild beauty. If your ship docks in Haines, please consider the Haines Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Rafting Tour.

5. Si tka Wildlife Cruise

Port: Si tka

Best for: First-Time Alaska Visitors, Comfort-First Travelers, Wildlife & Nature Lovers, Scenic and Photography Focused Travlers, Families and Multi-Generational Groups

Departing from Sitka, this marine sightseeing cruise explores the waters of Sitka Sound aboard a modern expedition catamaran, following routes chosen based on seasonal conditions and recent wildlife activity. Along the way, guests may spot bald eagles, sea otters, porpoises, whales, and other marine life while learning about the area's natural and cultural history from the captain and crew. The wildlife cruise offers comfortable indoor seating as well as outdoor observation decks for wildlife viewing and photography.