Whale Watching

You will drive along Shaman Point to the Hoonah City Commercial Dock where our charter boat will be waiting for us. Along the way you may spot some of our local wildlife including Alaskan Brown Bears, Bald Eagles, Blacktail Deer, and more. Hoonah is home to the largest concentration of Alaskan Brown Bears in the world.

Then you will board the boat and leave Hoonah Harbor in search of whales. While traveling along the shorelines, sightings of bears, deer, coastal ducks and geese, blue heron, puffin, swans, terns, cormorants and more are common. In the water you may get a chance to spot humpback, orca, sea otters, sea lions, porpoises, and seals. The captains are knowledgeable guides and will be happy to share their wealth of knowledge with you. They pride themselves in having a 99% track record in sighting whales for visitors, and does everything they can to ensure guests have the experience of a lifetime. While we can’t guarantee whales, we do guarantee we will do everything we can to find them for you.

Humpback whales come to Hoonah to feed on the nutrient rich waters of Glacier Bay and Icy Strait every summer in huge numbers before migrating south again in the winter. The whale population begins to arrive in Hoonah in May and stay through September. Humpback whales are large baleen whales that can reach over 50 feet in length and weigh as much as 30-50 tons. They are perhaps most famous for their whale songs, thought to be used by males as a mating call.

During our trip we may be able to listen to these songs using a Hydrophone if the conditions are right. Humpbacks are amazingly active and typical whale sightings will include diving, blows, and flukes (tails). Lucky whale-watchers may get to see breaching, 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.

Our boats are built for speed and comfort, and are perfectly suited for travel along Alaska's waterways. With a covered deck and heated cabin guests will stay warm and dry 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 Point with plenty of time to board your ship or explore downtown Hoonah.

Departures (Local Time)

8:00 AM (Hours: 3)

12:00 PM (Hours: 3)

4:00 PM (Hours: 3)