Whale Watching & Wildlife Viewing in Hoonah / Icy Strait
Get closer to Alaska's wild side with Voyij's unforgettable wildlife and whale watching tours. Cruise alongside humpback whales, spot bald eagles in flight, and watch bears roam the shoreline—all with expert guides who bring the experience to life. Whether by boat, bus, or scenic trail, these tours offer up-close encounters with the incredible animals that make Alaska unlike anywhere else.
6 Activities
Guaranteed Whale Watching
Our local captain, Duane, will guide you through an unforgettable and surreal whale and wildlife watching experience, describing the diversity of wildlife and its cultural connection and significance to the Hoonah Tlingit people. The high accumulation of natural food in these waters makes it a habitual feeding ground for one of Alaska’s largest resident humpback whale populations, providing for a unique experience of “bubble-net feeding”, flipper slapping, and spectacular breaching! Our custom-built whale-watching vessel is highly maneuverable with a low profile design and large windows that allow unrestricted viewing while getting up close and personal to whales and other wildlife, yet staying dry and out of the weather. Viewing platforms on the outer decks allow you to get outside and experience the whales with all of your senses – see them, hear them, and, yes, when they come up close and spout, that whale breath is an experience your nose won’t forget! We will meet you at Icy Strait Point and transfer you to our vessel, Captain and Crew. For 2.5 hours you’ll be traveling through the waters of Icy Strait – home to a wide array of wildlife including Orcas (killer whales), Stellar sea lions, sea otters, Harbor seals, Dall’s porpoise, and the magnificent humpback whale. Keep an eye out for brown bears and Sitka Black-tailed deer meandering the shoreline, and the noble Bald eagle perched on tree-tops. From the village of Hoonah to Pt. Adolphus near Glacier Bay National Park, Icy Strait Whale Adventures will delight in sharing the majestic beauty and culture that is Alaska!
Whale Watching Cruise
See Humpback whales as they make their seasonal migrations through the Alaskan Inside Passage near Glacier Bay and Point Adopholous every year, and witness Orcas (Killer Whales) in their natural habitat. This wildlife tour also affords you the chance to see bears, seals, & other land and sea life. Our Whale Watching Adventure Tour is our premier sightseeing excursion. Hooked Adventures offers historical and wildlife information as we cruise near Hoonah, AK, and Icy Strait. Our Alaskan cruises are focused on educating visitors about how this port city was developed and the migration of spawning salmon that generates an upsurge in wildlife activity – all in search of food sources. Visit the historical Icy Strait Point Cannery, see current logging operations, and cruise out to Icy Strait, known for its humpback whales. Icy Strait is a great place to see wildlife – especially humpback whales – and soak up some of the age-old histories of Alaska. This tour is a must for all sea mammal enthusiasts. There are few places on Earth that can boast 112 different types of mammals, thousands of species of fish, and 489 recorded species of birds! Sit back and enjoy informative narratives, a pleasant boat ride, and many opportunities for wildlife sightseeing and historical Hoonah highlights all packed into one tour. Begin your historical and wildlife Alaskan cruise directly from the main docks of the cruise ships. When you exit your ship, your boat captain will be waiting for you! From there, we’ll guide you to your boat. We place a big emphasis on safety and comfort. Our boats have heat, walk-in heads, and several other amenities to make your trip a comfortable one From the gate of Icy Strait Cannery, we’ll journey southbound toward Hoonah City Dock. Experience the living culture of southeast Alaska’s locals. Here you can view the working fishing boats of the community and see the community that lives on their boats. The town is close-knit and the ride to our boats offers good viewing of the lifestyle of living in a secluded Southeast town. Unlike other sports, you won’t be bombarded by shops and vendors on the streets. All our captains and deckhands have lived, worked, and traveled in the state. Our historical and wildlife sightseeing cruises will answer (or try to answer) questions about living in Alaska. Housing, economy, travel needs for island communities, and much more. Proceeding out of the harbor, you will help the captain look for killer whales (orcas), humpback whales, harbor seals, and other wildlife. During the summer, large numbers of herring come into the bay and travel through the Icy Strait. This brings predators to feed. The yearly spawning of salmon also catapults the entire region into a feeding frenzy and brings all things into life. If the opportunity arises, our cruises will help you witness humpback whales bubble-feeding and orcas traveling in pods to teach hunting skills and feed their young.
Icy Strait Whale and Bear Watching
Amazing whale watching and wildlife viewing await you during your visit to Hoonah, Alaska, near Icy Strait Point. I can't wait to share my knowledge of the humpback whales and the Hoonah area on this special tour! Our tour starts from the George Hull Boat Harbor in Hoonah, Alaska, which is only one mile from the Icy Strait Point cruise port.
Wilderness Island Bear Tour - 3 Hr
This tour is a 3 Hour driving tour with a few very short walks. When you exit ISP’s property, you will drive a beautiful scenic mile and a half following the shoreline before reaching the community of Hoonah. Our guides are lifelong residents of Hoonah and will give you a brief history as you drive through the town before starting your adventure in search of wildlife and beautiful sceneries. This adventure begins by driving down dirt roads used initially for logging timber. Now they are primarily used by the tourism industry. They are an excellent source for tourism to see what Chichagof Island offers. This Driving Tour will be using roads that originated for logging, now converted for tourism uses to view Chichagof Island and all of it's natural beauty and plentiful wildlife. Also feel free to take advantage of several short walks throughout the tour to pick wild berries and see other flora.
Chichagof Island Bear Tour - 2 Hr
Your Alaska cruise on the Eurodam with the Holland America Line or on the Seabourn Odyssey wouldn't be complete without an excursion in the Icy Strait Point area conducted by local, family-owned Wilderness Island Tours, LLC. Our shore excursion of beautiful Chichagof Island has been modified to 2 hours to take into account your 4-hour land time. This excursion will include short walks, picking wild berries, and scenic views of mountains, landscapes, and flowers. Come with us on an unforgettable adventure where you'll experience fascinating wildlife, breathtaking views, and amazing photo opportunities. Your tour guides were born and raised in the Hoonah, AK area and know their surroundings intimately. As the only land-based tour company originating from Hoonah, we offer you one-of-a-kind viewing and learning opportunities. During your time with us, we’ll educate you about the culture of the native Alaskans – the Tlingits – and identify local plants with medicinal properties.
Icy Strait Point Bear Search + Island Adventure
We’ll travel from Icy Strait Point through the Tlingit village of Hoonah, then across the island on old logging roads. We will search for bears who are foraging along remote rivers and beaches. We can remain in the vehicle throughout the tour, or get out and do some short walks if you prefer. You'll travel off the beaten path and visit areas of the island that most cruise ship passengers never see. We will see untouched nature and enjoy the solitude of this wild place. *FAQ - What should I bring? Rain gear, water, snack/lunch, and a sense of adventure! - Do I need to tip my guide? Gratuity is greatly appreciated if you are satisfied with the service of your guide. Although it is customary to tip your guide, it is not required. We are often asked the size of a typical tip. An appropriate guideline is 15% of the cost of the trip. Feel free to alter this as you see fit. - Can we keep our catch? We highly encourage catch and release, but ultimately, the decision is up to the angler. We encourage catch and release for a number of reasons. For one, we don't want to attract bears while on the river. Additionally, Pink Salmon do not freeze very well- they are best eaten the day of. If the primary goal of your trip is to keep fish to take home, we suggest saltwater fishing instead of river fishing. Alternatively, you could book both saltwater and freshwater trips to get a taste of both worlds!
Filters
Join our newsletter
We'll send you 1x/mo updates on local Alaska and The Bahamas as well as holiday promos, available only via email
We care about your data in our privacy policy.