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Icy Strait: Premier Whale Watching with Guaranteed Sightings and Private Tour Option
Experience premier whale watching in Icy Strait with guaranteed sightings and the option for a private tour. Enjoy a 4-hour excursion with over 3.25 hours on the water, a custom-built catamaran, and a refund guarantee for no whale sightings.
Experience premier whale watching in Icy Strait with guaranteed sightings and the option for a private tour. Enjoy a 4-hour excursion with over 3.25 hours on the water, a custom-built catamaran, and a refund guarantee for no whale sightings.
Duration:
3 hours, 45 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Icy Strait - Icy Strait is a renowned waterway that links the sheltered inside waters of Southeast Alaska to the vast Pacific Ocean. The nutrient-rich waters of Southeast Alaska make it one of the most thriving ecosystems globally. In the summer months, these plentiful fjords become the perfect habitat and feeding area for a significant population…
- Icy Strait - Icy Strait is a renowned waterway that links the sheltered inside waters of Southeast Alaska to the vast Pacific Ocean. The nutrient-rich waters of Southeast Alaska make it one of the most thriving ecosystems globally. In the summer months, these plentiful fjords become the perfect habitat and feeding area for a significant population of Humpback Whales. Humpbacks migrate to this region annually after their winter breeding season in the warmer waters of Hawaii and Mexico. After traveling over 3,000 miles, the same individual humpbacks are often observed returning to Icy Strait year after year.
Humpbacks are not the only wildlife in the vicinity. Our excursions frequently encounter Sea Lions, Seals, Porpoises, Sea Otters, Bald Eagles, Coastal Brown Bears along the shoreline, and our favorite – the magnificent Orca, also known as the Killer Whale.
- Hoonah - On the day of the tour, the operator will meet guests at the cruise ship port and then transport them through the town of Hoonah to the local harbor where the whale watching vessel is docked. The short van ride offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Occasionally, wildlife (including Eagles) can be spotted during the ride to the vessel. After the time on the water, guests will be transported back to the cruise ship docking area. The van ride takes approximately 5 minutes.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- On-board restrooms
- Private transportation
- On-board restrooms
Additional Information
Experience the beauty of Icy Strait aboard our custom-built whale watching catamaran, designed for just 6 passengers. Enjoy the comfort of an enclosed heated cabin, restroom, indoor and outdoor seating, and a 360-degree walk-around viewing deck. By limiting our vessel to a maximum of 6 guests, whether private or mixed groups, we ensure a spacious,…
Experience the beauty of Icy Strait aboard our custom-built whale watching catamaran, designed for just 6 passengers. Enjoy the comfort of an enclosed heated cabin, restroom, indoor and outdoor seating, and a 360-degree walk-around viewing deck. By limiting our vessel to a maximum of 6 guests, whether private or mixed groups, we ensure a spacious, relaxed, and personal wildlife adventure.
On the day of your tour, our team will pick you up from your cruise ship port and return you via van. The excursion lasts 3 hours and 45 minutes from pick-up to drop-off, including meeting, transit, and loading time. This tour is one of the longest whale watching experiences available in Icy Strait, providing ample time to explore the area’s rich marine wildlife diversity.
We guarantee whale sightings, or you will receive a full refund.
Our calendar is designed to accommodate as many ships as possible. You can find a list of specific ships on our Vivid Endeavors website.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(104 Ratings)
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Maggie_p
Jun 9, 2025
Don't wait, book it! - We had the best time on this excursion. This 6 person whale watching experience was my favorite of the trip, and Captain Seth made sure we saw all of the whales and even sea lions and otters. And to add, was very knowledgable on the wildlife and the area itself. After being on a cruise ship, this intimate experience was much needed, and we even made new friends. We booked this based on other reviews and they did not disappoint!
Review provided by Viator
Diana_y
Jun 6, 2025
Excellent, highly recommend! - Our family of four really enjoyed our time with Seth, he is very knowledgeable and knew exactly where to go to see the whales! Great day! So, so many whales! It was spectacular and so memorable!! His boat was perfect, equipped with guide books, binoculars, and snacks and drinks. Thank you for such a wonderful time!
Review provided by Viator
Indoorcamper
Jun 5, 2025
Whale, Whale, Whale… What a Tour! - If you’re thinking about whale watching and not booking with Captain Seth, you’re doing vacation wrong. This guy knows his stuff—like, "marine-life-whisperer meets stand-up-comic" levels of knowledge and charm.
He navigated us right to where the whale action was, skipping the sleepy swimmers and serving up front-row seats to the big splashy show. He answered every question with the patience of a saint and the enthusiasm of someone who really loves his job.
Totally worth the money, absolutely a must-do, and 12/10 would whale again.
@Seth if you read this review, the "presidential' town you were thinking about is Rapid City, SD.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janebarnes313
Jun 2, 2025
Seth was a great guide.... - Seth was a great guide. We saw all we hoped to see and more. Well maintained and comfortable boat. Having just 6 passengers on the excursion was perfect.
Review provided by Viator
Raylene_b
May 31, 2025
Once In A Lifetime Experience - We wanted to book a whale watching excursion that wasn't the big cruise ship experience. Something on a small scale and personalized. We found out about this tour through a Facebook group for our sailing.
Booking was quick and easy. The tour operator, Seth, communicated with us before the tour. He even told us that our itinerary had changed before our cruise ship did.
We were given specific instructions on where to meet, what would happen during the tour and afterwards. It gave us a good feeling that we would be well taken care of.
Seth met us at the specific time and location and took us by van to the harbor. There we boarded the Kohola and set sail.
There were only 6 passengers which allowed all of us a window to watch from. The weather was rainy and cold, but Captain Seth kept our windows wiped clean so we could see everything. He also provided hot chocolate and munchies for our trip.
He told the history about Icy Strait Point and Hoonah and the Tlingit people who live there. It was very interesting.
We watched sea otters with their young on their belly's and one had a Dungeness crab and was munching on it. Along the shoreline, we saw bald eagles and their huge nests. And harbor seals swam alongside of us while we sailed.
The grand finale was the whales and boy did they put on quite a show for us. At first, they were diving, and you could see their tail fins and spouts of water.
Just when we thought it was over we saw a double breach! Talk about lucky! They decided to treat us by playing and slapping their fins on top of the water. It was a sight to behold.
What a fabulous day, it was definitely the highlight of our Alaskan cruise. I highly recommend Seth and his tour company!
Review provided by Viator
Kathy_g
May 29, 2025
Incredible experience, highly recommended for a family friendly excursion in Icy Strait! - This excursion was everything we could have asked for and more! Seth was great to work with, from the time we booked our trip to when he dropped us off to head back to our cruise ship. The details and instructions he provided pre-trip were extremely clear and very helpful for planning purposes. He promptly answered questions I had regarding the trip.
On the day of the trip, Seth picked us up right on time and transported us to the harbor where we boarded the boat. The boat was immaculate and well maintained. There was a heated cabin that we could ride in to get out of the chill and wind, or we could choose to ride outside of the cabin, either in front or behind it. Snacks, water, coffee, and hot chocolate were provided, as were life vests and binoculars.
During our time on the water, we observed a pod of Orcas (the first sighting of the season!), numerous Humpback whales, a sea otter with her baby, sea lions, and bald eagles. Seth was extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife, their behaviors, and where to find them. He was extremely attentive to our comfort and preferences, customizing the trip to provide the ideal experience for our family. He was great with our kids too (ages 7 and 9).
This was an amazing experience, and we highly recommend it for anyone looking for an unforgettable whale/wildlife adventure in Icy Strait!
Review provided by Viator
Jacqueline_g
May 29, 2025
Excellent whale and wildlife tour - Captain Seth provided an excellent small group experience where we saw two different brown bears, sea lions, sea otters, and a baby whale breach multiple times. His catamaran is steady, and he goes where the wildlife is for the day. This was our best excursion in Alaska.
Review provided by Viator
Piper417
May 28, 2025
Perfect - I rarely give out 5 star reviews but for this one I had to. Captain Seth was a great tour guide, he lives there and knows the area, answered all our questions and told us all about the area. We booked months in advance and communication with him was great. He has a great vintage van to pick you up not far from the dock and will make sure you get back in time for your departure. He also had some great hot chocolate and coffee. It was nice not having to fight others for a rail seat as all the places on his boat had a great view. We saw whales, sea lions, otters, eagles and a bear. So don't hesitate to book Capt Seth, you will be happy you did. Thank you Capt Seth from the 3 generations.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Catherinem78
May 25, 2025
Best trip - look no further - We had done a fair bit of research about whale watching trips & Vivid endeavours stood out from the reviews. So glad we booked it, well worth every penny. Only 6 in each tour so really easy to get great views from the boat & space for all inside the cabin if it gets wet / cold.
Captain Seth was outstanding, very knowledgeable, enthusiastic & ready to answer any questions.
We were super lucky to see a humpback mum & calf - the calf jumped around for a couple of hours, so special to witness. Great view of a sea otter family & bear foraging on the shore.
If we ever get the chance to return we'll be booking this trip again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
David_s
May 23, 2025
Highly recommend Sethwhale watching excursion - Seth was excellent. He knew the waters and what to look for to find whales, sea otters, eagles, etc.
Review provided by Viator