Alaska Whale Watching with Drone

Experience Alaska’s unique drone-integrated whale watching tour with Captain Josh. Witness Humpback whales, Orcas, and more in Icy Strait’s pristine waters.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Icy Strait - You will travel out into Icy Strait with company owner Captain Josh in his small 14-passenger boat, and seek out wildlife, such as Humpback Whales, Orcas, Coastal Brown Bears, Sea lions, seals, and more! He has a 100% success rate with finding Humpback Whales on tours! His custom boat is also designed to give you excellent indoor and…
What's Included
  • Carbonated beverages
  • USB drive with Drone Shots of Whales! (one per group)
  • Snacks
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Whale watching in the wild and pristine waters of Icy Strait, where Humpback whales are abundant and sighted on every trip, with small business owner Captain Josh! Otter and Steller Sea Lions are also very common, with Orcas, Brown Bears, and other wildlife frequently sighted!
Owned and operated by our own Captain Josh, he will be your personal guide as…

Location
Excursions Hub
If you are meeting us in town, please head to The Shops by HTA at 335 Harbor Drive and check in inside at the tour desk. It's located right in front of the harbor with big signs and flags saying "tours and gifts." Again, please check in 15 minutes early.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(388 Ratings)
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Kathymb8519wp
Oct 25, 2025
GREAT EXPERIENCE & SO WORTH IT!!!! - Although this excursion is a bit more than others I've seen, IT IS WORTH IT!!!! The thumb drive I was given at the end of the trip made all the difference, because the overhead videos were incredible. Our captain and assistant were great, taking us as close as legally possible to humpbacks, sea lions, and sea otters. The drone could get much closer to the wildlife than what we could due to distance regulations (protecting the wildlife). This adventure was the epitome of my cruise to Alaska.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nancy_a
Oct 20, 2025
We went on this whale... - We went on this whale watching tour in Early September . It was a fantastic experience The owner and captain of his boat was so friendly and informative. We saw tons of whales sea otters, harbor seals sea lions so much . We were a small group only 10 of us and you could stand outside the front and back. The best was receiving the drome video on a pen drive or directly to your phone . Worth every penny
Review provided by Viator
Bonnieml6614hi
Oct 13, 2025
Definitely get the tour with drone - so worth it! - Josh and Jamie did an awesome job with this tour! We were delighted to see humpback bubble feeding and then an unexpected pod of 5 Orcas! The drone footage is amazing, I'm so glad I chose this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
G5999zqgp
Oct 6, 2025
Excellent Excellent Lifetime Memories with Captain Josh!!! - Experience of a lifetime led by Captain Josh, an amazing amazing guide, who is both able and willing to go the distance to ensure you make an extraordinary memory. Really a superior to be in a smaller boat with a sincere & knowledgeable Captain Josh. Hands down best experience of our trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Familyinlouisiana
Oct 3, 2025
A+ tour - Very professional. Josh and Andrew teated us like family and were excellent. Found at least 12 whales for us to see. Enjoyed every second of this excursion. Worth every penny to us!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carla_l
Oct 1, 2025
Fantastic experience! - Fantastic experience! Josh was a great captain and tour guide. He was very friendly, knowledgeable and knew where to find the whales! The drone footage is an incredible bonus to this tour. This did not bother us at all and I am only mentioning it so that others are prepared.....There are no drinks or snacks available so plan accordingly. We brought our own so it was a nonissue. I would highly recommend this tour. Whales are a must see in Alaska! Thank you Josh for taking such good care of us.
Review provided by Viator
Elle_l
Sep 26, 2025
Worth the bucks!! Must do activity - Captain Josh was really informative and knowledgeable, he brought us to wherever there are animal sightings. We saw orcas, humpack whales, porpoises and otter. As the captain said "You see what everyone else sees, and you get what everyone else doesn't" It was the drone footage, super clear videos of everything we see on boat. Makes such great memories
Review provided by Viator
Cynthia_d
Sep 25, 2025
BEST tour of the vacation! - What an absolutely amazing day! Instead of the 250 people on the excursion boat from the ship, we had 10 people on a small boat. Our captain was so knowledgeable and spotted whales before we were able to. We saw whales, seals, sea otters, porpoise and a harbor seal. Amazing how close we could get-able to stand in the front or the back of the boat so there were no blocked views. The drone videos of all were saw were awesome and they gave a flash drive or sent it to all I Phones. It is a day I’ll never forget and I would gladly do it again!
Review provided by Viator
Rachrosalee
Sep 24, 2025
Don't think.. just book it! You won't regret it. My Alaskan dreams came true! - If you’re considering this excursion... stop thinking and just book it. This was hands-down the highlight of our entire cruise. Captain Josh and his assistant Jamie were phenomenal—knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about what they do. They knew exactly where to find wildlife and stayed in constant communication with other boats to make sure we didn’t miss a thing. We saw it all: seven humpback whales bubble feeding, breaching, and swimming together, three orcas that swam right under our boat, bald eagles on the islands, an otter cracking open a crab, a bear catching and eating salmon in the river, plus seals feasting on salmon. It was absolutely spectacular—like a front-row seat to nature’s best show. The boat itself was the perfect size—small enough to feel intimate, with no crowds or pushing for the best photo spot. As a photographer, I left with a full heart and unforgettable memories. And the drone footage? 1000% worth it. It set this tour apart from anything else we could have booked. Truly the best bang for your buck. While we were originally nervous about not booking through the cruise line, Josh reassured us about getting back to our cruise on time, and he’s never had an issue—we made it back without any stress. This excursion left me with a “nature high” that I’ll never forget. Book it—you absolutely won’t regret it! I walked away feeling like I had truly experienced Alaska, and nothing else on our cruise could top it. For the rest of the trip, I was able to relax knowing I had already witnessed the best. Extremely satisfied. Thank you Captain Josh!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karen_m
Sep 24, 2025
The best of the watches! - Incredible Captain Josh is a wealth of knowledge. Of 6 whale watches this year, this was the best experience! His boat holds about a dozen people so good views are everywhere. The drone video is a wonderful bonus and souvenir.
Review provided by Viator