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Icy Strait Exclusive Wildlife and Bear Search Tour

4.5
239 reviews

Excursion Overview

Discover the secrets of Icy Strait on this exciting wildlife search!

Chichagof Island has been named "Bear Island" by National Geographic because it has the highest concentration of bears in the world at 1-2 brown bears per square mile, making it a great destination for bear watching from Icy Strait Point. This Exclusive Wildlife and Bear Search small group tour will give you a flexible, up-close experience that large group tours simply cannot offer.

On this 4-hour van tour journeying through the forest on dirt paths, there are many exciting things to see, such as the scenic view of muskeg, some of the ten varieties of edible berries found on the island, viewing an old-growth forest, and potential sightings of the king of the island: brown bears.

Based on current bear movements, feeding habits, and daytime temperatures, there are short stops in key locations to scope out a magnificent view of these captivating creatures - and your wildlife guide knows them all! They will also share information about the area and the Tlingit Native population.

There is also a host of other wildlife that are quite frequently spotted during excursions, including mink, marten, red squirrels, otter, beaver, ducks, sea birds, Sitka black-tail deer, and plenty of bald eagles. So be sure to bring your camera.

Please note: Your departure time for this tour can start 30 minutes (or more) after your cruise ship's arrival to Icy Strait. Wildlife is not guaranteed.

Cruising to Alaska in 2025? Complete our excursions inquiry form.

Click here to sign up to be notified about excursions for 2025. Once your requested tour becomes available, our team will notify you via email. All of our tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so completing our Excursion Inquiries Form gives you the best chance of booking all of your desired experiences for next year.  

Things You Need to Know

Inclusions:

  • Roundtrip guided transportation from Icy Strait Excursions Hub to the wildlife viewing locations through the Icy Strait terrain including dirt paths through the forest and island.
  • Bottled water

Requirements:

  • There are no additional requirements for this excursion.

Duration: 4 hours (Roundtrip from cruise ship terminal.)

  • 4 hours narrated scenic drive around the island

Meeting Instructions:

  • This tour meets at the Icy Strait Excursions Hub. Fully detailed instructions are included on your finalized ticket vouchers.

ADA Accessibility of Tour:

  • This tour is limited mobility accessible. Guests must be able to climb 4 steps into and out of the van. There is limited space for collapsible wheelchairs and walkers. There is no storage available for motorized scooters. Please leave a comment during checkout if accommodations for collapsible equipment will be required on tour.

Refund Policy:

  • You may cancel for any reason up to seven (7) days prior to the date of the tour for a full refund.
  • Please see our Refund Policy Page for complete details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tour van size can vary from 12 to 14 passengers.

Our success rate for seeing bears is very high, however, wildlife cannot be guaranteed. Our area has more bears per square mile than any other place in Alaska with 1.7 bears per square mile.

A large male brown bear can be over ten feet from tail to nose and weigh up to 1800 lbs.

Yes, we have one car seat available upon request. Please leave a note at checkout if you will require a car seat.

We have one car seat available and you are more than welcome to bring your own car/booster seats with you. Our vans have seatbelts.

 

Guest Reviews

4.5

239 total

70%
18%
8%
3%
1%

Stephen W

On Jul 2024

Too long got a bit boring. We found a bear only thought help of a co- passenger.

Cheryl W

On Jul 2024

This was amazing. Mike was a wonderful guide, we saw 2 bears including a bear catching a fish is the river. His tales of growing up in the area just added so much more to the excursion. Highly recommend it.

Gerald S

On Jul 2024

My daughter and I had a wonderful time. Saw a bear and some deers.

Daniel S

On Jun 2024

Was a fun time, despite not getting close to bears. Thanks to Michael for the entertaining time and keeping us safe.

Ivo Q

On Jun 2024

The day started slow, what to say, you expect to see some bears and sometimes that isn't possible. It's plain luck, however, maximum effort was put in by our guide, who was local to the area and he kept the ride filled with entertainment by telling stories, he also had extensive knowledge of wildlife, plants, and local area history. In the end, we ended up seeing three bears, not close up but approximately 100 yards away, binoculars are a must. We had a great time, and no one was disappointed.

$150.00

Best Price Guarantee!

$150.00

Duration: 4 hours

Best Price Guarantee!

Duration: 4 hours



Ages 16+

Adult: $150.00

Child (6-15): $75.00

Infant (5 and Under): $0.00

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