Guaranteed Whale Watching in the Icy Strait Point, Alaska Area

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Trip Highlights

  • spot local wildlife

  • whale sighting guarantee

  • possibly spot orcas, seals, sea lions, sea otters and more!

  • view Alaska's beautiful scenery

Description

Our Hoonah whale watching tour begins when we pick you up at the Icy Strait Point Excursions Hub. We drive along Shaman Point to the Hoonah City Harbor where our charter boat is waiting. Along the way, you may spot some of our local wildlife, including bald eagles, blacktail deer, and more. Hoonah is home to the largest concentration of Alaskan brown bears in the world, so keep your eyes open!

We then board the boat and leave Hoonah Harbor. While traveling along the shorelines, sightings of bears, deer, coastal ducks and geese, blue heron, puffin, terns, cormorants, and more are common. In the water, you may get a chance to spot humpbacks, orca, sea otters, sea lions, porpoises, and seals.

Large numbers of humpback whales come to Hoonah to feed in the nutrient-rich waters of Point Adolphus, Glacier Bay and Icy Strait every summer before migrating south again in the winter. The whale population begins to arrive in Hoonah in May and stays through September. Humpback whales are large baleen whales that can reach over 50 feet in length and weigh as much as 50 tons. They are most famous for their whale songs, thought to be used by males as a mating call. Humpbacks are amazingly active and typical whale sightings include diving, blows, and flukes (tails). Lucky whale watchers may get to see breaching or bubble-net feeding, a cooperative feeding method where a pod forms a circle and dives under the water. They 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. We have a $100 whale sighting guarantee! If a whale is not sighted on your tour your will be credited $100.

Tour info

Duration
3 hours
Group Size
Up to 30
Price starts at
$180
Languages
English
Meeting Point

Icy Strait Point Excursion Hub

Open in Google Maps

Why take this tour?

Our boats are built for speed and comfort, and perfectly suited for travel along Alaska’s waterways. With viewing decks and heated cabins, you stay warm and dry as you experience the wonder and beauty on our whale watching trip. We return to the docks and transport you back to Icy Strait Point with plenty of time to board your ship or explore downtown Hoonah.

Join our whale watch!

Included

  • Round-trip shared transfer from Icy Strait Point

  • Local Guide

  • Return to Ship Anytime Pass

Excluded

  • Gratuities

  • Drinks/Snacks

Frequently asked questions

Hoonah summer time weather can range from 45 degrees and raining to 75 degrees and sunny. We tell guest to plan for 50s & 60s, to dress in layers with a light packable rain layer. It is best to check 10 day forecast online and pack accordingly.
Yes, all boats have a Marine Head on board. While they are considered bathrooms, they are small and really only suited for #1 visits:) We highly recommend guests use the full size restrooms located at the Icy Strait Point Excursion Hub pick up point just before departure.
We do not have the ability or space to transport or store, walkers, collapsible wheels chairs, scooters or strollers. Guest must also be able to negotiate 3 TALL steps onto the bus, 3 TALL steps on to the boat, then down into the boat, and negotiate what is sometimes a 35 Degree ramp to the dock depending on the tide.
Yes, both boats heated. However, we are in Alaska, the boats are aluminum, the water is just over 40 degrees. Guests will be going in and out opening the doors letting heat out. So check the weather forcast the week of your trip and dress in layers.
If your are prone to sea sickness we encouage you to use a patch or dramamine just in case. Having said that, the waters we explore are typically very good and not the swell type that typically affect people prone to sea sickness.
We used to provide each guest with a bottle of water. What we found was the vast majority of bottles were left on board barely consumed and thousands of bottles per season were going to the dump to be burned. We made a company choice to stop this cycle so we no longer provide water, however, Water & Snacks are available for purchase onboard. We highly encourage guest to bring a reusable water bottle on their cruise.
We always encouarge guests to bring binos on their Alaska cruise if they have some. They are not a necessity on this particular tour.
Yes
If your ship is docked at the Adventure Dock, proceed ashore to the Icy Strait Point Adventure Center. Once inside the Adventure Center walk through the building and exit through door number “2”. (This is clearly marked above the door). Once outside the door, look for the Excursion Hub Sign(s). Follow the signs on the gravel path to the Excursion Hub. The total walking time is 6-8 minutes, please allow extra time if you are not a fast walker. We ask that you check in for your tour 15 minutes early and we leave on time.
If your ship is docked at the Wilderness Dock, exit the ship and walk up the dock and to the right. Ride the FREE Green Transporter Gondola(4 minute ride) to the Adventure Landing. Exit the Gondola and go left, follow the signs down the gravel path 3 minutes to the Excursion Hub. We ask that you check in for your tour 15 minutes early and we leave on time. While the Gondola transports up to 2K guests per hour, please account for longer lines when the ship first arrives.
Our largest group will be up to 30 passengers. The company your cruise ship uses exclusively for whale watching just built their second 150 passenger whale watch boat. Not the experience we want for our guests!
Yes! The walk to town is beautiful! It is about 1.5 miles. If you decide to wak to town be sure and give yourself enough time. You will need to Check In at the tours desk inside, "The Shops by HTA"(See location on Google) in front of the Hoonah Harbormaster office. They will get you a wristlet and tell what time you need to be in front of the store to connect with your tour guide.

Things to know

Age

All ages are welcome

All ages are welcome

Group Rate

$10 off Per Person off when booking for 4 or more on a single credit card!

$10 off Per Person off when booking for 4 or more on a single credit card!

Shuttle

We have shuttles that run every 30 minutes from the Hoonah Travel Adventures Transportation Hub.

We have shuttles that run every 30 minutes from the Hoonah Travel Adventures Transportation Hub.

Cancellation Policy

To receive a full refund guests may cancel up to 24hrs before the date of their experience. If your cruise ship is scheduled to come to our port and does not make it to our port, or we have to cancel, this would also be a 100% refund. If you book for the wrong port and do not give the appropriate...

To receive a full refund guests may cancel up to 24hrs before the date of their experience. If your cruise ship is scheduled to come to our port and does not make it to our port, or we have to cancel, this would also be a 100% refund. If you book for the wrong port and do not give the appropriate 24 hour notice No Refund will be given, so please. double check the port and date before booking.
If you book a party of X and only show up with a party of Y, and do not give the appropriate notice, No Refund will be given. There will be no refund for cancelations less than 24hrs from the date of the expereince. We need at least this small period of time to try and sell last minute abandoned slots. Thank you for understanding! ***There is a booking fee applied to all online bookings. This fee will not be refunded on partial cancellations. It is refunded on full cancellations. We unfortunately have no control over this as a business.***

Not Limited Mobility Accessible

We unfortunately do not have room in the transport vehicles or on the boats for Walkers, Wheel Chairs of any kind, Mobility Scooters or strollers.

We unfortunately do not have room in the transport vehicles or on the boats for Walkers, Wheel Chairs of any kind, Mobility Scooters or strollers.

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