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Icy Strait Premier Whale Watching Adventure

4.9
323 reviews

Excursion Overview

Whale Sightings & Wildlife Wonders: An Unforgettable Whale-Watching Adventure

Your Icy Strait whale watching tour (with guaranteed whale sightings!) begins when a transport picks you up just outside the gates of Icy Strait. You'll be whisked away to Hoonah Harbor dock to meet the charter boat. Along the way, you may spot some of our local wildlife, including Alaskan Brown Bears, bald eagles, blacktail deer, and more. Once aboard and traveling along the shorelines, sightings of bears, deer, coastal ducks and geese, blue herons, puffins, swans, terns, cormorants, and more are common.

In the water, you may get a chance to spot, orcas, sea otters, sea lions, porpoises, and seals in addition to the feeding humpbacks. Humpback whales come to Hoonah in huge numbers to feed on the nutrient-rich waters of Glacier Bay and Icy Strait every summer beginning in May before migrating south again in September for the winter.

Humpback whales are large baleen whales that can reach over 50 feet in length and weigh as much as 30-50 tons. Humpbacks are amazingly active and typical whale sightings will include diving, blows, and flukes (tails). Lucky whale watchers may get to see breaching and bubble-net feeding, a cooperative feeding method where a pod forms a circle and dives under the water; they then blow air to create a wall of bubbles that force krill and plankton to the surface where the whales can eat them. Observing humpbacks practice bubble-net feeding is a real treat and a truly thrilling experience.

Whale Watching Charter and Transportation

The charter boat is built for speed and comfort and is perfectly suited for travel along Alaska's waterways. Guests will stay warm and dry with viewing decks and heated cabins as they experience the wonder and beauty of our whale-watching trip. We will return to the docks and transport you back to Icy Strait with plenty of time to board your ship or explore downtown Hoonah.

Things You Need to Know

Inclusions:

  • Whale sightings are guaranteed. If you do not see a whale on your tour, you will be fully refunded.
  • Restrooms onboard
  • Roundtrip transportation from the Icy Strait Excursions Hub

Requirements:

  • There are no additional requirements for this excursion.

Duration: 3 hours (Roundtrip from the Excursions Hub.)

  • 30 minutes - roundtrip transportation to Hoonah City Commercial Dock
  • 2.5 hours - whale watching

Meeting Instructions:

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

ADA Accessibility of Tour:

  • This tour is not wheelchair or limited mobility accessible. Guests must be able to negotiate a sometimes extremely steep ramp to the boat due to extreme tides.

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

There are no age restrictions for this tour.

Sightings are guaranteed or you'll receive a full refund for your tour.

Humpback whales and other sea animals are protected species and a safe distance of at least 100 yards must be maintained at all times according to NOAA regulations.

Air temperature can drop as much as 20°F with the wind chill factor when viewing whales outside.

The interior of the boat is heated when needed due to weather conditions to keep a comfortable environment.

The charter boats used have a capacity of 18, 30, or 42 passengers.

Every boat has open seating as well as outside viewing areas when permitted.

We get this question a lot. The waters we operate in are usually pretty calm. If you are prone to seasickness, we recommend Dramamine or a wristband. Over the years, less than 1% of our guests have gotten seasick.

Yes, the boats are equipped with restrooms.

Water & Snacks are available for purchase onboard. We highly encourage guest to bring a reusable water bottle on their cruise.

Non-alcoholic beverages in closeable containers and snacks are allowed on tour.​

Backpacks, small bags, and purses are allowed on this tour.

 

Guest Reviews

4.9

323 total

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Gina L

On May 2025

Amazing! Such a fun guide. So glad we booked this smaller group one than the huge ones we saw on the water

David V

On May 2025

Captain was very knowledgeable. He shared great information about Alaska life in addition to the whales and bears we saw.

Robin B

On May 2025

This was my favorite excursion of my Alaskan trip. Paul was our guide and he was fantastic! Not only did he personally know the whales we saw, but he was full of local stories.

Curtis E

On May 2025

Great whale watching experience where we saw multiple humpback whales, 5 brown bears on the shore along with a beautiful sunset. The boat was comfortable and guides were nice people.

Sandra S

On May 2025

It was an amazing excursion. The entire experience was filled with excitement and Captain Denise was so well versed on the area, the history, and she made sure we were able to see the whales. I enjoyed the culture information she provided and she was such a pleasant person. I would highly recommend this tour to others . Denise made our experience one that we will never forget.

$180.00

Best Price Guarantee!

$180.00

Duration: 3 hours

Best Price Guarantee!

Duration: 3 hours



Adult (13+): $180.00

Child (12 and Under): $180.00

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