Top 13 Hoonah Whale Watching Tours

1.Alaska Whale Watching with bonus Drone viewing of Whales

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 387 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $249Our pick

Join Captain Josh and first mate Jamie for a three-hour whale watch from Hoonah. The 14-passenger boat offers indoor and outdoor viewing, while a professional drone records whales and other wildlife from above. Snacks, soft drinks, pickup, and one USB drive of footage per group are included.

“The captain went the extra mile for us to join in on this fantastic experience. Can't recommend this tour enough! So thankful for the knowledge and care our tour guides provided.”

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2.Hoonah Whale-Watching Cruise – Near Icy Strait Point

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 336 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $225

Ride from Icy Strait Point into Hoonah, then spend about three hours seeking humpback whales and other wildlife with a local captain and naturalist. Boats offer heated indoor seating and outdoor viewing. Captains such as Denise, Paul, and Carson add local stories, wildlife facts, and Tlingit history.

“Denise and Carson were great guides. Highly recommend this tour. The experience was amazing. And the history told by Denise was great.”

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3.Guaranteed Whale Watching Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 254 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $195Best value

Cruise Icy Strait and Point Adolphus from Icy Strait Point on a small boat limited to 24 people. Captains and local guides such as Carl, Bob, Alana, Macy, and Lauren look for humpbacks, orcas, sea lions, otters, seals, eagles, and bears. Dress warmly and bring binoculars if you have them.

“Directions were absolutely incorrect. They did not tell that you have to take a gondola ride. They did not have anything marked and Nobody knew about the tour. It took us 50 + minutes to get to the meeting place. YES, we did see whales from about 250 yards away.”

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4.Wonderful Whales and Wildlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 210 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $285

Meet at Icy Strait Point, ride five minutes to Hoonah, and board a clean boat for a three-hour search for whales, sea otters, and harbor seals. Shawn and the Glacier Wind Charters team keep groups small, with no more than 13 people aboard.

“Fantastic experience. Family run operation. Clean boat, great guides, great experience for our family! 100% recommend!”

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5.“Catch of the day” Whale-watching, Icy strait point, Hoonah

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 203 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $236

Cruise from Icy Strait Point with veteran captains Dennis, Bill, Jay, or their crew aboard a heated 38-foot power cat. In about three hours, you’ll search for humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, bears, eagles, seals, and porpoises, with pickup from the port and room for up to 16 people.

“Our private whale watching excursion was absolutely fantastic from start to finish! Crystal picked us up at the cruise port on time and Captain Dennis and his crew Bill and Jonnie made us feel welcome and right at home on their heated and comfortable boat. We saw orcas, sea otters, sea lions and bald eagles and learned about the various islands around Icy Strait. We were able to get up close and get lots of awesome photos of the wildlife. We also really enjoyed visiting with our hosts and learning about their history in the area. This was truly an unforgettable experience and one of the highlights of our entire…”

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6.Hoonah Whale Tours in Icy Strait

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 173 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $265

Join Captain Jordan for about three hours on Icy Strait, with pickup at Icy Strait Point or in Hoonah. The small boat has a heated cabin, bathroom, outdoor walkaround space, coffee, hot chocolate, and homemade blueberry muffins. Humpback whales are guaranteed, with chances for bears, sea lions, otters, eagles, orcas, and puffins.

“After a short walk off the cruise ship, we were met and then taken to the boat via a van by Maraiya. The boat left promptly and the Captain thought it would be about 45-60 minutes to the whales. After stopping by some otters, we turned around because the whales were sailing down the stretch of water past Hoonah to the south/southwest. Some 10 minutes later…that she blows! A pod of about 4-5 whales (including a baby) and for the next two hours, we chased and passed the whales. We saw them blow and arch and dive! We went to the opposite bank for a few minutes and were able…”

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7.Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 156 reviews · 3 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $258

Join Captain Seth and Vivid Endeavors for a nearly four-hour Icy Strait wildlife trip limited to six people. Ride from the cruise port to Hoonah’s harbor, then search for humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, sea lions, eagles, bears, and more aboard a clean, comfortable catamaran.

“Fabulous opportunity to get up close and personal with those magnificent leviathans of Icy Strait! Captain Seth is so knowledgeable about every aspect of the area, and he clearly enjoys sharing that knowledge. We were thrilled to be surrounded by Humpback Whales frolicking all around the boat, and to have Captain Seth educating us about them.”

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8.Hoonah: Icy Strait Whale Watch with Drone Filmography

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 89 reviews · 3 hours · from $255

Join Captain Josh and his crew for a three-hour whale and wildlife trip from Icy Strait Point. The small boat carries up to 14 passengers, and a certified drone pilot films whales, bears, otters, and passengers from above. You receive the day’s footage on a USB drive.

“we had such a wonderful tour. Alex was so knowledgeable and easy going. everything ran like clock work. We saw whales! and loved how Alex talked about what they look for etc. We also saw porpoises, sea otters (so cute) and seals. The drone footage just ticks it all off...... I would recommend doing this tour above all other's. To see from the sky was just amazing. The boat is very comfortable and spacious with outdoor space to get your own footage. we really do enjoy this experience. memories! thank you Alex and team. (our tour was on 24th June 2025)”

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9.Whale Watching Charters and Bear search through Icy Strat Alaska

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · from $250

From Icy Strait Point, Captain Billy and his daughter Taylour take up to six people into Icy Strait for about three hours. Look for humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, sea otters, eagles, and bears while learning about local ecology and Native culture.

“Billy our captain was great! We got to see whales, otters, sea lions, seals, and eagles. The whales put on a show and made this an amazing experience for us. Billy got us pretty close to get great views.”

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10.14 passenger Whale Watching Tours in Icy Strait aka Hoonah AK

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 45 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $292

Join Captain Jordan for a 2.5-hour private whale-watching trip from Icy Strait Point in Hoonah. The small boat keeps your group together while you look for guaranteed humpbacks, orcas, sea lions, sea otters, bald eagles, and perhaps bears. Hot coffee, cocoa, and homemade muffins help take the chill off.

“Seeing 8 Humpbacks and having 30 minutes with a mother and calf and one right by the boat (by its own choice). To top it all we saw a mother brown bear and three cubs on the shore. All very relaxed, Joardan was amazing and knew exactly where to go to find the whales.”

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11.Hoonah: Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 31 reviews · 3 hours · from $225

Ride from Icy Strait Point to Hoonah, then spend about two and a half hours on the water with a local guide searching for humpbacks, orcas, seals, sea lions, sea otters, and birds. Guides such as Denise, Carson, Patrick, and Paul have helped make this a warm, informative cruise.

“To he honest I don't think it could have been improved. The trip was what it said it was and more . Denise enthralled us all with local stories and traditions and Carson was so knowledgeable about the marine life that we all took extra back home with us . we lucky to have good weather so we could appreciate the beauty of our surroundings and spend the trip outside up close to the whales and seals alike . A most memorable day . With thanks Ade and Debbie”

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12.Icy Strait Shore Excursion: Whale Watching Adventure Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $326

From the Icy Strait Point gates, a small boat carries you into Hoonah’s whale country for about three hours. Look for humpbacks, orcas, sea otters, sea lions, and eagles. Your captain is from the Tlingit nation, and a marine biologist serves as first mate.

“Our captain was from the Tlingit nation and her first mate was a marine biologist. We were able to see whales, sea otters, and sea lions. I think my favorite part was the stories the captain shared from the Tlingit nation. I felt privileged to be able to listen to these wonderful stories. It was an excellent time!”

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13.Ear Mountain Charters tours: whale watching or fishing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 3 - 6 hours · from $284

Choose whale watching or fishing from Icy Strait Point with Ear Mountain Charters. You’ll ride in a small group of up to six aboard a heated 32-foot North River boat, reach Hoonah by van, and spend three to six hours on Alaska’s waters. Whale sightings can include orcas, sea otters, and sea lions.

“Excelente tour, excelente Guía y Capitán. Logramos ver ballenas, orcas, nutrias y leones marinos.”

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