Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor
Overview
Available languages
3 hours 45 minutes
Mobile ticket
Explore Icy Strait in style aboard our custom built 6 passenger whale watching catamaran with an enclosed heated cabin, restroom, indoor seating, outdoor seating, & 360 degree walk around viewing deck. We limit our vessel to 6 passengers max (whether private or mixed) to provide our guests with an uncrowded, relaxed, and intimate wildlife experience.
On the day of your tour, we will pick you up from your cruise ship port and return you via van. Our excursion is 3 hours and 45 minutes from pick up to drop off (includes meeting, transit, & loading time). We designed this excursion to be one of the longest whale watching tours offered in Icy Strait. This extra time on the water allows us the opportunity to fully experience Icy Strait's rich diversity of marine wildlife.
We guarantee whale sightings or you will receive a full refund.
We designed our calendar to accommodate as many ships as possible. A calendar listing specific ships can be found on our Vivid Endeavors website.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Restroom on board
What To Expect
Icy Strait
Icy Strait is a legendary body of water that connects the protected inside waters of Southeast Alaska to the open Pacific Ocean. The nutrient rich waters of Southeast Alaska make it one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. During the summer months, these abundant fjords become the ideal home and feeding ground for a large population of Humpback Whales. Humpbacks travel to the area every year after their winter breeding season in the warmer waters of Hawaii and Mexico. After navigating over 3000 miles, we often see the same individual humpbacks return to Icy Strait year after year. Humpbacks aren’t the only wildlife in the area. Our trips often encounter Sea Lions, Seals, Porpoise, Sea Otters, Bald Eagles, Coastal Brown Bears along the shoreline, & our favorite – the awe inspiring Orca better known as the Killer Whale.
Hoonah
On the day of your tour, we will meet you at your cruise ship port and then transport you through the town of Hoonah to the local harbor where our whale watching vessel is docked. Our brief van ride offers beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. Occasionally, we'll even see wildlife (including Eagles) on our ride to the vessel. After your time on the water, we will transport you back to your cruise ship docking area. The van ride is approximately 5 minutes.
Options
Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor
Pickup included
Reviews
144 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Best tour ever
Julie C,
Sep 3, 2025
- Viator
5.00Whale watching with Captain Seth was a dream. It was on my bucket list and it was everything that I wanted! Seth takes 6 people and the boat is so clean, stable and comfortable. You aren’t fighting for a spot, you can walk around the entire boat and take pictures. Even though the boat is small, it was stable and safe. Seth was very informative and was talking to others about where things were. We saw orcas, humpbacks, sea lions and otters. We even saw the humpbacks creating a bubble net very close to the boat. Seth was on time and the tour was the best that we have ever been on. Don’t fight the crowds, book this tour and enjoy!
Incredible experience....
Johanna D,
Aug 27, 2025
- Viator
5.00Unbelievable experience. Seth is very kind and has provided us with a lot of information about local wildlife. Thanks to him we were able to observe several whales hunting in groups, sea lions, otters and sea lions.The boat is extremely comfortable and the fact of being only 6 maximum on top a huge plus. We recommend with your eyes closed!!
Fabulous whale watching trip - bucket list proportions!
angelamorrell268,
Aug 27, 2025
- Viator
5.00Fantastic trip. Seth was amazing. Pick up was very easy and we made our way to his catamaran with no trouble what so ever. He was very informative and obviously loves his job and his life! We looked for orca but they were not around unfortunately so we went to where the hump back whales were bubble net feeding in a large group. We watched this behaviour for a long time and got some great shots and video with Seth keeping us informed and in the right place to see clearly. Fabulous trip. Highly recommended, loved the small group (only 5 of us) and the complimentary hot drinks were very welcome too.
Highly recommend!! We saw a wonderful whale display for an extended time Seth does a great job kind & considerate.
MTimothy H,
Aug 22, 2025
- Viator
5.00Very personal small group excursion w/kind attention to all. Seth is an amazing guide. Highly recommend! Everything was neat; clean & safe. Seth was good at communicating & very helpful. Can’t give this experience a HIGH enough rating. Smaller boat with ability to move into different areas than a large boat experience. Money well spent.
Captain Seth Rules the Waves
Chrystine R,
Aug 16, 2025
- Viator
5.00Fabulous 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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Operated by Vivid Endeavors