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Icy Strait Whale Watching Tour

Your tour begins when you meet your local guide and captain, Duane. As you embark on your whale and wildlife watching experience, you'll also learn about the cultural connection of wildlife and the Hoonah Tlingit people.

There is an abundance of natural food in the waters around Icy Strait, which makes it the best feeding ground for large amounts of humpback whales. Enjoy spectacular views of the unique bubble-net feeding, flipper slapping, and breaching of the whales from our custom designed, small-group vessel. This boat was built with a low-profile design, which allows it to easily maneuver through the water. Large paneled windows allow for you to have the best whale watching experience from the comfort of your seat! Of course, you are welcome to walk around and go outside onto the viewing platforms for the ultimate view.

Keep an eye out for brown bears, and Sitka Black-Tailed Deer meandering the shoreline while the search for humpback whales (and potentially even orca whales!) on this Icy Strait must-do whale watching adventure.

Whale sightings are guaranteed. If you do not see a whale on your tour, you will be fully refunded.

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

Inclusions:

  • Roundtrip transportation from Icy Strait Point gates
  • Restrooms onboard

Duration:  3 hours. Tour time below are approximate:

  •  30 minutes - check in, approx. 2-minute walk to the harbor 
  •  2.5 hours - whale watching

Meeting Instructions:

  • This tour meets at the 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 into the boat. There is no storage available for motorized scooters. Please leave a comment during checkout if accommodations for collapsible equipment will be required on tour.

Will I get seasick?

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. 

How many passengers does the boat hold?

The charter boats used have a capacity of 24 passengers.

What is the seating arrangement in the boat?

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

Is there an inside seating area on the boat, is it heated?

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

Are there restrooms on the boat?

Yes, the boats are equipped with restrooms.

How close will we get to the whales?

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.

Are whale sightings guaranteed?

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

What is the temperature on the water? 

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

Are there any age restrictions for children?

There are no age restrictions for this tour.

Can I bring a backpack?

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

Can I bring my own food or drink?

Non-alcoholic beverages in a closeable containters and snacks are allowed on tour.

Are food and drink included?

Food and drinks are not included.

Not seeing answers to your questions?

Check out other frequently asked questions here!

Customer Reviews
Aug 2022 - Lilin Z.

We were able see groups of whales cruising and feeding. It s the best nature sighting in my life!

Aug 2022 - Pamelia S.

Albert, the boat captain, and first mate Kinsey were just great on our Whale Watching tour! They located a pod of 5 to 6 humpback whales and we were able to follow them in the area for an hour or more. The boat was not overcrowded like the boats that the cruise lines book with. The service was very personable and our captain really knows the area and the waters around Icy Strait Point. My family and I thoroughly enjoyed this outstanding tour. I have been to Alaska on cruises several times and this is one of the top tours I have taken.

Aug 2022 - Leslie M.

Awesome tour! We saw at least 10-12 whales spouting and a couple even breached right in front of us! Albert, Ashley, Kinsey were a great and knowledgeable crew. We would go on this tour again!

Aug 2022 - Jose T.

Great excursion where we had the opportunity to see several whales very close. Since the size of the boat is small there is less people and therefore a lot more flexibility from the captain to answer questions. Also important to say that Icy Straight Point is a place where the probability to see whales are bigger than other ports in Alaska.

Jul 2022 - Ruth B.

So cool! Our excursion was so much better than the ones the ship offered according to all we talked to!

Jul 2022 - Adriane T.

Really great excursion! We did see humpback whales as well as orcas/killer whales! You will absolutely see whales on this excursion. The team was awesome, from the captain to the excursion tour guide. Dress in layers and bring a rain jacket! Loved it and would definitely use this company again. Wonderful experience!

Jul 2022 - Arlene A.

We had a good time whale watching. The captain did a good job of finding the whales and it was fun trying to see where they would pop up next. I do wish there was more narration from the other team members about the whales or wild life or area in general.

Jul 2022 - Paula L.

This was a great tour! The guide/driver was awesome and made sure we saw whales and also the sea lions and funny little otters. As a bonus, one of the guides had a degree in marine biology -very knowledge and interesting. Beyond the whales, overall the area is beautiful-definitely recommend!

Jul 2022 - Donovan R.

What an absolutely AMAZING experience!!! This tour went above and beyond our expectations of whale watching. The boat was comfortable and had pull out windows to allow for panoramic viewing as well was ample viewing space at the front and back of the boat. Our captain Albert was a great guide and knew just where to go to find the whales. Our guide Kinsey was very kind and knowledgeable. We were lucky to see multiple groups of humpback whales bubble feeding and breaching on our tour. We also saw puffin, bald eagles, seals, and sea otters. We had such an amazing time on our first tour, we signed up for the following tour and went back out again. We can't wait to visit again in the future!

Jul 2022 - Angela A.

Captain Albert and guide Kaya did a great job finding whales, sea otters, and seals for us. We located a Humpback whale that was jumping, flopping, and having fun for close to 30 minutes! That really was a show of a lifetime. Highly recommended.

Jul 2022 - Jane L.

We saw pods of both Humpback and Orcas. It was amazing!!!

Jul 2022 - Teresa C.

Best excursion of our entire trip! We saw ten orcas and two or three humpbacks up close! The captain and deckhand were super nice and knowledgeable, too.

Jul 2022 - Jennifer L.

This was an amazing excursion. The staff was top notch and very knowledgeable about the area and wildlife. The boat and facilities were very nice. This is a must do excursion in Icy Straight point. We saw numerous whales, moose, and eagles.

Jun 2022 - Marquita B.

Excellent guide and crew. Viewed several whales as well as porpoises and even a Brown Bear!

Jun 2022 - April M.

We had a great time. Boat was comfortable, guides were knowledgeable, and we saw a ton of wildlife; bear, otters, sea lions, seals, humpbacks, and eagles.

Jun 2022 - Marsha H.

Fabulous Excursions. Saw a LOT of whales and other wildlife throughout the trip. Small boat got up close and wasn't crowded.

May 2022 - Rashele M.

The crew made the trip so much fun and they were very knowledgeable. We saw so much more than whales on our tour!

Oct 2021 - Melinda P.

We throughly enjoyed our excursion. Everyone on board where pleasant, helpful and informative. My husband is handicapped and they were very patient with him and made his experience enjoyable. We said plenty of whales and porpoises. Hated that one didn t come out of the water but the pictures and videos are awesome anyway. Great excursion

Sep 2021 - Paul S.

Captain and crew were very helpful and did what they needed to do to make this an excursion well worth our while. Thanks.

Sep 2021 - Christopher F.

Very responsive in getting us on the tour at the last minute. Tour itself was great. Crew was very good at positioning ship close to whales and giving passengers excellent views. Wished we had seen Orcas, but, overall, an excellent experience!

Sep 2021 - Sharon H.

Had a great time. Everyone was friendly and helpful.

Sep 2021 - Michael S.

Very nice boat. Saw lots of whales

Sep 2021 - Roger H.

Fabulous! Our hosts Maddie and Ashley were friendly and knowledgeable. Our captain knew where to look, and we saw maybe 8 whales on our trip, including 2 Orcas that passed within 10 feet of the boat. Highly recommended, not least because the price was much better than the ship's equivalent tour.

Aug 2021 - Brandon C.

This tour was excellent! We saw tons of humpback whales and our guide, Andrew, was amazing!

Sep 2019 - Camron N.

Saw the whales up close. It was stunning

Sep 2019 - Thomas P.

A great experience to see the whales, the staff were friendly and very knowledgeable. This smaller type boat was fast, clean and appropriate for this excursion.

Sep 2019 - Jerry B.

Had an absolutely great experience! Saw plenty of whales feeding on the surface with mouths wide open scooping up schools of tiny fish. Would loved to have seen some tails in the air but that wasn't the feeding pattern for the day. The ship was clean and in excellent condition with a crew that were very informative and intent on finding the whales. Bonuses included seeing a bear on shore, some seals, and a sea otter enjoying the water. I highly recommend this excursion.

Sep 2019 - Olivia C.

Friendly staffs, clear directions. Boat was comfy and spacious, providing hot & room-temperature drinks and snacks. We got to see a lot of whale actions, very satisfied :)

Sep 2019 - Andrea B.

We had a wonderful experience. The day was perfect, the boat was too and we had the chance to see killer and humpback whales. We enjoyed the snacks and beverages during the trip. Also we enjoyed that the boat was for a very few people, that let us have a perfect view almost all the time.

Sep 2019 - Gerard C.

Great experience but could have received some commentary.

Aug 2019 - Jonathan P.

Tour was amazing and the team including the boat lead and his two girls made the trip spectacular. Would definitely recommend this to everyone.

BEST PRICE Guarantee!

$170.19

BEST PRICE Guarantee!

Duration: 3 hours



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Passenger : $170.19

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  • 212 Admiral Way Ste. 5 Juneau, Alaska 99801
  • 1-888-586-8489