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Icy Strait Whale Watching, Bear Search & Wildlife Tour

5.0
7 reviews

Excursion Overview

Get up close with humpback whales and Alaska’s wild coastline!

This intimate whale watching tour ventures into the rich waters of Icy Strait and Port Frederick, which are prime feeding grounds for humpback whales. With a small group of up to six guests, travelers enjoy a personalized experience as knowledgeable crew and captain share insights while tracking whale activity in Alaskan waters.

While observing humpbacks, the crew also keeps a close eye on the shoreline, where bears can sometimes be spotted along the beach. Along the way, guests may encounter sea lions, sea otters, harbor seals, bald eagles, and occasionally orcas.

This tour is typically available from May through September. Our excursions were designed for cruise ship passengers but are available to everyone.

Things You Need to Know

Inclusions:

  • Roundtrip transportation from the Icy Strait Excursion Hub
  • 3 hours of whale watching
  • Light snack and water
  • Restrooms onboard the vessel

Requirements:

  • Minimum of 2 required to book
  • Guests must be comfortable walking up and down a ramp to the vessel. It can be steep at times due to the tide. Guests must also be able to get on and off the vessel from the dock.
  • Minimum of 4 required to operate

Duration: Approximately 3.5 hours (roundtrip from the Excursions Hub)

  • 30 minutes - roundtrip transportation to Hoonah Boat Harbor
  • 3 hours - whale watching and bear search

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 limited mobility accessible. Guests must be able to negotiate a sometimes extremely steep ramp to the boat due to extreme tides. There is minimal storage for collapsible wheelchairs or 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.

    • Fully Wheelchair Accessible: No
    • Limited Mobility Accessible: Yes
    • Stroller Accessible: Yes
    • Collapsible Wheelchair & Stroller Storage Available: Yes

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

This tour utilizes a vessel that can accommodate up to 6 passengers.

Yes, there is a restroom onboard however, guests are encouraged to utilize the restroom before departing.

The waters we operate in are usually pretty calm. If you are prone to seasickness, we recommend Dramamine or a wristband.

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.

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

Layered clothing and waterproof outerwear are recommended. For more detailed packing tips for your Alaskan vacation, check out our What to Pack for Your Alaskan Cruise guide.

A minimum of 2 guests is required to make a booking, and a minimum of 4 guests is required for the tour to operate. If the operating minimum is not met, guests will be contacted and a full refund will be issued accordingly.

 

Guest Reviews

5.0

7 total

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Teri H

On Jun 2026

Wonderful tour! The 6 passenger boat is smaller and faster than the bigger tour boats, so we covered more ground and got closer. We saw whales, bears, sea lions, and otters. The captain was very interesting. Delightful!

Margo C

On Jun 2026

Captain Bill was informative and I really enjoyed learning about the bear, orca, humpback whale, sea lions, otter that we saw. I felt safe with him on the boat!

Valerie F

On Jun 2026

Beautiful, and appreciated all the hard work.

Helen B

On Jun 2026

This tour exceeded our expectations! Captain Billy was amazing! He has so much knowledge and expertise, and told us some great stories! We saw so many humpback whales, and were very lucky to see them bubble feed. He managed to spot a bear for us, and we got a close-up of a sea lion with a halibut it had caught. I loved that we had so much time out on the water, and that we were able to go where the bigger tour boats cannot. Thank you Captain Billy!!!

Kristin C

On Jun 2026

We had an excellent time with Captain Billy -- even got to see bubble net feeding! Loved that it was a small boat/group.

$231.00

Best Price Guarantee!

$231.00

Duration: 3.5 hours

Best Price Guarantee!

Duration: 3.5 hours



Minimum of 2 Required to Book

Passenger: $231.00

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