Hoonah Whale-Watching Cruise - Near Icy Strait Point

Overview

Available languages

English

3 hours

Mobile ticket

Embark on a small-group, 3-hour whale watching and wildlife sightseeing tour from Hoonah, Alaska in our custom built vessels with heated cabins and restroom. Every season humpback whales come in large numbers to Hoonah to feed on the nutrient-rich waters of Glacier Bay and Icy Strait before migrating south again for the winter. The whale population begins to arrive in Hoonah in May, and stays through September.

Additional Info

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Children must be accompanied by an adult

At time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the following information: ship name

Departure times are dependent upon arrival and departure of your cruise ship

No smoking allowed

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Private transportation

Local guide

Snacks

All Fees and Taxes

What To Expect

You will be picked up at the Icy Strait Excursions Hub , then driven into Hoonah where you will board your whale watch boat. Then off you go to view Alaska's beautiful scenery and wildlife. You will see humpback whales, you may see Orca's, Seals, Sea Lions, Sea Otters and a large amount of birds. Afterwards you can choose to stay in town for a bit or head back. We have shuttles that run every 30 minutes from the Hoonah Travel Adventures Transportation Hub.

Options

Tour

Pickup included

Reviews

4.86

336 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

310

Great experience, Great Staff!!
Kelly O,
Sep 17, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We found this to be a great experience, with the guide, being incredibly informative about all things about not only the whales, but also the area. The boat was very comfortable as well.
We saw it all!
Dawn P,
Sep 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was an amazing day! We saw Orcas, Humpback whales, sea lions, sea otters and whales even sang to us! We also saw a bear on the beach.And we stayed dry and warm.
A whale of a good time!
studara,
Sep 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Crew was great. Captain was very informative, shared awesome stories and pictures from his iPad. Made sure to tell us where all the whales were from each vantage point around the boat. Very enjoyable.
Awesome day whale watching.
Keith B,
Sep 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Had a great time. We watched some ne whale breach 7 times which is highly unusual. Boat was very comfortable and the captain and crew were very attentive to guests.
Wow! Wow! Wow! Small group, great crew and wildlife everywhere!
727indyj,
Sep 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Best excursion ever!! We saw so many whales it was surreal!! This was 1 of 3 whale watching tours I did while cruising Alaska and by far the best! Firstly, Captain Paul and Patrick were exceptional. They were entertaining, knowledgeable and it was obvious how much respect they have for the wildlife. Patrick made sure everyone had a chance to enjoy the experience, take photos and spend a good amount of time watching the whales. At no point did he rush us. He kept his eyes on the water so he could quickly tell us where to look. The boat is the PERFECT size as it was a small group making the whole experience feel personalised with enough outdoor space to enjoy the magic. Patrick communicated with other boats on his radio so he and Paul knew exactly where to take us for all the wildlife action. We saw numerous humpbacks, orcas (life long wish fulfilled!) seals hunting and otters and all while we basked in the sun. Thank you Hoonah Travels for an amazing experience I’m sure others like me will treasure forever. Highly recommended!
Cancelled at the last minute
ChristieP,
Aug 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
I booked this tour 8 months in advance because I wanted a small group not the crowded boat from the cruise line. When we arrived at Icy Strait Point, it was foggy, but it started to lift and we saw other tour boats going out. We met Paul at the Excursion Hub at 10:30 AM, and he promptly said our tour was cancelled due to the fog, and we would receive a refund. My husband and I were heartbroken because we really wanted to do this tour! We ran back to the tour desk and were able to book a last-minute tour at 11:00 AM for $119 more. By the time we got on that boat (which was the 100-person boat we did NOT want), the fog started lifting. By the time we got to the whale area, it was a beautiful clear sky with no fog. I watched my credit card statement for several days, and I never received the promised refund. I have opened a dispute with my credit card company to get my money back.
5-star service
Carolinedavis21,
Aug 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I am giving this a 5-star review, though sadly our whale excursion was cancelled that morning due to heavy fog in Hoonah. However, we did not receive the message before we headed off the ship, and were still greeted by a lovely woman named Angie from the company, in the meeting spot off our ship. She saw our sadness about the trip being cancelled and offered to drive us into the downtown of Hoonah (tiny tiny spot) and gave us informative tips and history along the short drive. She also offered to secure a ride back to Icy Strait for us also, all for free, which was so kind. PS- Hoonah and Icy Strait Point are near each other but are not the same thing. Icy Strait is a business spot/shopping area created by and for cruise lines, where as Hoonah is the nearby town. The Hoonah locals were quick to tell us the difference. While a very tiny town, our few hours in Hoonah were informative and a real glimpse into remote Alaska living.
Awesome marine life & tour!
S1772,
Aug 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Wow! What a wonderful tour! We saw humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, eagles, and more. Plus the scenery is beautiful and amazing. We learned from the knowledgeable crew too. I highly recommend this tour. Plus they have a fantastic gift shop so you can shop local.
Hoonah Whale watching was amazing!
Roving07105394972,
Aug 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Captain Paul and Patrick were great! We saw multiple humpbacks diving and bubble feeding - you could hear the whales bellowing! We also saw seals and a few sea otters. Sun cam out and made it great for viewing! Definitely worth it for the memories!
Must do tour!
figs528,
Aug 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great experience! Paul amazing. He was so knowledgeable and a great story teller. Loved all his gorier. And even more the personal pictures. We got to see see breaching humpbacks and orcas. Orcas!!! Patrick also so sweet and on point on spotting the diving whales. A must tour!!