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Whale Watching Tour: Hoonah's Majestic Giants
Embark on a thrilling 3-hour small-group whale-watching cruise in Hoonah, Alaska’s Glacier Bay and Icy Strait. Witness the majestic humpback whales and other wildlife in their natural habitat.
Embark on a thrilling 3-hour small-group whale-watching cruise in Hoonah, Alaska’s Glacier Bay and Icy Strait. Witness the majestic humpback whales and other wildlife in their natural habitat.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Local guide
- Snacks
- All Fees and Taxes
- Private transportation
- Local guide
- Snacks
- All Fees and Taxes
Additional Information
Join a small-group, 3-hour whale watching and wildlife sightseeing adventure departing from Hoonah, Alaska. Travel in our specially designed vessels, complete with heated cabins and restrooms. Each season, numerous humpback whales gather in Hoonah to feast on the nutrient-rich waters of Glacier Bay and Icy Strait before heading south for the winter. The…
Join a small-group, 3-hour whale watching and wildlife sightseeing adventure departing from Hoonah, Alaska. Travel in our specially designed vessels, complete with heated cabins and restrooms. Each season, numerous humpback whales gather in Hoonah to feast on the nutrient-rich waters of Glacier Bay and Icy Strait before heading south for the winter. The whales start arriving in Hoonah in May and remain until September.
- 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
- If your ship is docked at the Adventure/Ocean Landing Dock, proceed ashore to the Icy Strait Point Adventure Center. Once inside the Adventure Center walk through the building and exit through door number “2”. (This is clearly marked). Follow the signs on the gravel path to the Excursion Hub. The total walking time is 6-8 minutes, please allow extra time if you are not a slower walker. We ask that you check in for your tour 15 minutes early and we leave on time.
- If your ship is docked at the Wilderness Dock, walk up the dock and to the right. Ride the Green Transporter Gondola(4 minute ride) to the Adventure Landing. Exit left and follow the signs to the Excursion Hub. The total walking time if you ride the free dock to dock Gondola is 6-8 minutes, please allow extra time if you are a slower walker. We ask that you check in for your tour 15 minutes early and we leave on time.
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
4.9
(355 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
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1 star
Kelly_o
Sep 17, 2025
Great experience, Great Staff!! - 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.
Review provided by Viator
Dawn_p
Sep 12, 2025
We saw it all! - 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.
Review provided by Viator
Studara
Sep 9, 2025
A whale of a good time! - 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Keith_b
Sep 3, 2025
Awesome day whale watching. - 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.
Review provided by Viator
727indyj
Sep 1, 2025
Wow! Wow! Wow! Small group, great crew and wildlife everywhere! - 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!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carolinedavis21
Aug 22, 2025
5-star service - 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
S1772
Aug 11, 2025
Awesome marine life & tour! - 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roving07105394972
Aug 7, 2025
Hoonah Whale watching was amazing! - 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!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Figs528
Aug 1, 2025
Must do tour! - 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!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christiep
Aug 23, 2025
Cancelled at the last minute - 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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