Hoonah Whale Watching Tours

A quarter of an hour after you step off the ship at Icy Strait Point you can be on a small boat in Hoonah harbor, heading out to the humpbacks that spend every summer feeding in Icy Strait. From every Hoonah whale watching tour on GetYourGuide and Viator we handpicked six: a captain who films the whales from a drone, the busiest cruise with departures all day, three family-run boats of thirteen to sixteen guests, and a catamaran that refunds you if no whale shows up. What each one costs, where it meets you in the port, and what the listings tuck into the small print.

  • Best season: June to AugustHumpbacks feed in Icy Strait from May to September
  • Sells out months aheadBooked 3 to 5 months in advance on average, so lock in your port day early

In a hurry? Our top pick for whale watching in Hoonah is Captain Josh's whale and drone tour, from ~$250 and rated 5.0 by 516+ travelers. Book it here:

Book on Viator Book on GetYourGuide Compare all 6

Hoonah whale tours at a glance

  • Three hours, port to portAbout two and a half of them on the water, the rest in a short van ride to the harbor and back
  • Small boats, local captainsThe listings cap groups at 13 to 24 guests, and several of the boats are family run
  • Pickup at the Excursions HubMost tours collect you a few minutes' walk from the gangway. One meets at the port's main entrance instead
  • Humpbacks May to SeptemberRecent reviews report whales on nearly every trip, orcas on some. Two tours put a guarantee in writing

Out on Icy Strait, photographed

Bubble-net feeding off the spruce shore
A skiff waits while the group surfaces
A flipper raised below snowy peaks
A humpback from above, gulls circling
A breach in the drizzle
Three orcas cruising through green water
Two open mouths breaking the surface
A leap beside a wooded islet
Rain, gulls and a rising humpback

If you only have a minute

Which Hoonah whale watching tour should you book?

If a friend on the same cruise asked us at breakfast which whale boat to book in Hoonah, this is what we would say before the coffee went cold.

The best Hoonah whale watching tour for most cruise passengers is Captain Josh's whale and drone trip with Alaska Whales & Drones, from ~$250. Fourteen guests at most, a captain the reviews keep naming, and a drone that films the whales from above while you watch them from the deck, with the footage handed over on a USB stick at the end. It holds a 5.0 from 516+ reviews on Viator and 4.9 from 160+ on GetYourGuide, and it cancels for free up to a day before.

Want the lowest price and the most departure times? Hoonah Travel Adventures runs boats all day from ~$225. Catch of the Day is the small local boat we would pick at ~$236, with orcas in many recent reviews. Glacier Wind takes thirteen guests and holds a near-perfect score. For a whale sighting backed by a promise, look at Icy Strait Whale Adventures, which leaves straight from the port, or Hoonah Whale Tours' catamaran with its money-back guarantee.

Two of the six cannot be refunded if your ship skips the port. Read what a Hoonah whale tour costs and how the port day works at Icy Strait Point, see how long each boat stays out, then check what the listings leave unsaid before you pay.

Our pick

The Hoonah whale tour we would book: whales and a drone

Not the cheapest seat in the strait. It is the three hours that give you the most for one booking: a small boat, a captain who finds whales and waits for them, and a view of the animal you could never get from a deck.

A small whale-watching boat in Icy Strait with snowy peaks behind and the crew's drone hovering above Our pick

Alaska Whale Watching with Drone Footage, Alaska Whales & Drones

5.0 / 5 from 516+ reviews on Viator · 4.9 / 5 from 160+ on GetYourGuide

The crew meets you at the Excursions Hub, a short walk from either cruise dock, and drives you the few minutes into Hoonah, where the boat waits in the harbor. It is a small custom boat with a warm cabin and an open deck, and the listing caps it at fourteen passengers. Captain Josh, whom reviewer after reviewer names, takes you out into Icy Strait to look for humpbacks, and the crew claims they have never come back without finding one.

The twist is overhead. Once the whales are near, a deckhand launches a large filmography drone from the boat and films them from above, so the footage shows the whole animal under the surface, the bubble rings of a feeding group and the boat itself. You see the clips on board before you head back, and the group leaves with a USB drive of the day's footage (several reviewers also had it sent straight to their phones). Snack bars and bottled water are on board.

Price
from ~$250 per person on Viator, about $267 on GetYourGuide
Duration
About 3 hours from the Hub and back
Group
14 passengers at most
Rating
5.0 / 5 (Viator) · 4.9 / 5 (GetYourGuide)
Pickup
Excursions Hub, Icy Strait Point
Extra
Drone footage on a USB drive, one per group
Ages
All ages, infants on a lap at a lower rate
Cancellation
Free up to 24 hours, pay later on both sites
Viator GetYourGuide

Live availability and prices on GetYourGuide

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How the three hours run

Start times follow the ships in port that day. The order below comes from the listings and what recent guests describe:

At the port

  • Check in at the Excursions Hub, a few minutes from the gangway
  • The short van ride into Hoonah harbor

On Icy Strait

  • The run out to wherever the whales are feeding that day
  • Time with the humpbacks, from the deck or the warm cabin
  • The drone goes up and films the whales from above
  • Sea otters, sea lions or a bear on the beach on the way back, when they show
  • A look at the footage, then the drive back to the port

What the price covers

The ticket buys the transfer, the boat and the film. Lunch and the crew's tip are up to you.

Included
  • Pickup and drop-off at the Excursions Hub
  • About 3 hours on a boat of 14 at most
  • Drone filming and a USB drive of the footage
  • Snack bars and bottled water
Not included
  • Lunch (eat before or after)
  • A promise of whales, though the crew claims a perfect record
  • Room for electric wheelchairs
  • Alcohol on board

Between us, before you go

A word from one cruise passenger to another. There is no phone signal or wifi to speak of around the port, and a few guests had trouble finding the meeting point at the last minute, so save the confirmation and the directions offline before you leave the ship. It costs more than the busiest cruise in town, and on GetYourGuide the same trip lists a little higher than on Viator.

Dress for a cold, wet deck even in July. Our guide to what to wear on the water covers layers, gloves and keeping a phone dry.

Why it beats a bigger boat

On a small boat everyone gets a place at the rail, and the captain can stay with one group of whales instead of keeping to a schedule. The drone answers the frustration everyone has on a whale trip, that you only ever see a back, a blow and a tail. From above you see the whole animal, and your own boat in the frame. Photographing whales from the boat explains why the footage is worth more than your own pictures.

Who we would not send on it

Travelers on a tight budget, who will see the same whales on Hoonah Travel Adventures' cruise for less. Anyone who wants a written guarantee, who should look at Hoonah Whale Tours. And passengers who need a wheelchair on board, since none of the six boats is set up for one.

Book it if

You have one port day in Hoonah and want the whale trip you will still be showing people at home. The boat is small, the captain is the reason the reviews read the way they do, and the drone footage is a souvenir no other boat in the strait offers. All you bring is warm layers and the confirmation on paper.

Skip it if

Ready for Icy Strait?

Viator lists it a little cheaper and carries three times as many reviews; both sites let you cancel for free up to 24 hours before and reserve now, pay later. Boats fill months ahead in July and August.

Viator GetYourGuide

The trip itself

How a Hoonah whale watching tour works

Every tour on this page fits inside a port day at Icy Strait Point. What differs is where you meet the crew, how far the boat is from the dock, and which month your ship arrives.

Style · van to Hoonah harbor

Hub, van, harbor, boat

Alaska Whales & Drones, Hoonah Travel Adventures, Catch of the Day, Glacier Wind, Hoonah Whale Tours

3 ha few minutes by van each way, about 2.5 hours on the water

The crew meets you at the Excursions Hub (Catch of the Day at the port's main entrance) and drives you the mile and a half into Hoonah, where the small boats tie up. Hoonah Travel Adventures lets you stay in town afterwards and ride a shuttle back later.

Style · straight from the port

Walk to the dock and board

Icy Strait Whale Adventures

2.5–2.75 hno van, a boat for up to 24 at its own dock in the port

You meet at the Hub half an hour early and walk to the boat. No transfer means a little less time off the ship, and a refund is written into the listing if your ship cancels the call or comes in late.

Icy Strait whales and weather, month by month

  • Whales and tour boats on the strait
  1. Jan34°F high1 °C

    No ships, the port asleep for winter

  2. Feb36°F high2 °C

    A few humpbacks stay, no tours run

  3. Mar40°F high4 °C

    Herring gather, boats still ashore

  4. Apr48°F high9 °C

    The first whales back from Hawaii

  5. May55°F high13 °C

    First ships, snow still on the peaks

  6. Jun60°F high16 °C

    Longest days, often the driest month

  7. Jul63°F high17 °C

    Most ships, most whales, book early

  8. Aug62°F high17 °C

    Group feeding reported on many trips

  9. Sep56°F high13 °C

    Rain returns, whales still feeding

  10. Oct47°F high8 °C

    Last ships gone, wettest month

  11. Nov39°F high4 °C

    Storms and short days

  12. Dec35°F high2 °C

    Dark, quiet water, no tours

Temperatures are typical daytime highs in Hoonah; out on the water the wind takes ten degrees or so off them. The bars show roughly how much is happening on the strait, whales and boats together. Highlighted months are the ones we would pick for long days, warm-ish weather and feeding humpbacks. The season in detail.

How long you are on the water

  • Time on the water
  • Van or walk to the boat
  • May run longer

Times come from the listings and recent reviews. The short bars at each end are the van ride or the walk to the boat, and the dashed ends show where a tour may stay out longer or where you can linger in Hoonah before the shuttle back. Allow half an hour on top for checking in.

  1. Book before you sailHoonah boats carry thirteen to twenty-four people, and Viator says they sell out months ahead. The port day, step by step.
  2. Match the slot to your shipPick a start at least an hour after the ship docks, and a return well before all-aboard. Independent boats cannot hold the ship for you.
  3. Read the refund lineFour of the six cancel for free up to a day ahead. Glacier Wind and Hoonah Whale Tours keep your money whatever happens.
  4. Dress for the deckIt is often 50 °F (10 °C) and wet on the water in July. Pack a warm hat and a rain shell. What to wear.

The best time for whales in Hoonah goes through the season month by month, from the first ships in May to the last whale-feeding weeks in September.

How to choose

How to pick the right whale boat in Hoonah

The whales are the same for everyone in the strait. What differs is how many people share your rail, what happens if your ship does not come in, and what you take home.

Refund rules

Four tours cancel for free up to 24 hours ahead. Two keep your money even if the ship skips Hoonah. Prices and refund terms.

Boat size

Glacier Wind takes thirteen, Icy Strait Whale Adventures twenty-four. Smaller means a better spot at the rail. Boats compared.

Guarantees

Icy Strait Whale Adventures promises a sighting and Hoonah Whale Tours refunds you if there is none. Read the terms on the listing. What you might see.

Who is coming

Glacier Wind starts at age 9, Catch of the Day at 5. The drone tour and the catamaran welcome babies. Whale tours with kids.

Weak stomachs

The strait is sheltered, but the run out can bounce. A catamaran rides steadier side to side. Seasickness tips.

Price

From ~$225 with Hoonah Travel Adventures to ~$314 for the catamaran, per person, transfers included. Every price in one table.

Everything else to do in Hoonah and at Icy Strait Point

The 6 tours

Six Hoonah whale watching tours, side by side

We read every whale watching listing for Hoonah and Icy Strait Point on both booking sites and kept the six we would book ourselves. Four sell only on Viator. Price, rating, operator and the catch for each, with a button for every site that sells it.

Drone view of a humpback whale rolling at the surface of Icy Strait Our pick

Alaska Whale Watching with Drone Footage, Alaska Whales & Drones

The one we would book for our own parents' anniversary cruise.

Captain Josh's small boat, fourteen guests at most, out of Hoonah harbor for about three hours. While you watch the humpbacks, the crew films them from a drone, shows you the clips on board and hands over a USB drive of the footage.

  • DurationAbout 3 hours from the Hub
  • OperatorAlaska Whales & Drones
  • RatingViator 5.0 (516+) · GetYourGuide 4.9 (160+)
  • PickupExcursions Hub, Icy Strait Point
  • StrengthsA beloved captain, a small boat and a souvenir no one else offers
  • Ideal forCouples, families and anyone who wants the whole whale on film

Good to know: Not the cheapest, and about $267 on GetYourGuide against ~$250 on Viator. No phone signal at the port, so carry the directions on paper. Not for passengers who need a wheelchair on board. Whale photography.

~$250per person
Viator GetYourGuide
A humpback whale breaching backlit by the sun, spray flying off its body Lowest price

Hoonah Whale-Watching Cruise near Icy Strait Point, Hoonah Travel Adventures

The easy yes when your ship's schedule is tight.

The most booked whale tour in Hoonah, with departures through the day. A seven-minute van ride to the harbor, about two and a half hours on a boat with a heated cabin and a viewing deck, then the choice of half an hour in town before a shuttle back.

  • DurationAbout 3 hours, 2.5 on the water
  • OperatorHoonah Travel Adventures
  • RatingViator 4.8 (487+) · GetYourGuide 4.8 (105+)
  • PickupExcursions Hub, rep in a blue shirt or raincoat
  • StrengthsThe lowest price, many start times, town time afterwards
  • Ideal forBudgets and short port calls

Good to know: The biggest operation in town, so more people share the strait with you. Some guests wanted clearer word on how close the boat can get. Check in 15 minutes early, they leave on time. The port day.

~$225per person
Viator GetYourGuide
A white whale-watching boat with a wide windowed cabin moored at a Hoonah dock Orcas on many trips

Catch of the Day Whale Watching, Icy Strait Point

A mom-and-pop boat with an uncanny knack for orcas.

A 38-foot boat with a heated cabin and plenty of open deck, sixteen guests at most. Thirty minutes of driving and two and a half hours on the water, with recent reviewers reporting killer whales on trip after trip as well as the humpbacks.

  • Duration3 hours, 2.5 on the water
  • OperatorCatch of the Day
  • RatingViator 4.9 (304+)
  • PickupThe port's main entrance, not the Hub
  • StrengthsSmall local crew, room on deck, free cancellation
  • Ideal forWildlife fans who can manage a short walk

Good to know: The pickup is at the far side of the port from the ships, a flat 10 to 15-minute walk. No children under 5. Bring your own water bottle, as the crew has said bottled water is going. Viator only. Orcas and humpbacks.

~$236per person
Viator
Passengers on the deck of a small blue-and-white whale-watching boat off a forested shore Smallest group

Wonderful Whales and Wildlife Tour, Glacier Wind Charters

For travelers who want a quiet boat and a captain with stories.

A boat built for whale watching, thirteen guests at most, with room inside and out and a restroom on board. The family has run trips from Hoonah for more than 25 years, and the local captain keeps in touch with other boats to find the whales.

  • DurationAbout 3 hours from the Hub
  • OperatorGlacier Wind Charters
  • RatingViator 5.0 (318+)
  • PickupExcursions Hub, 5 minutes by van to the harbor
  • StrengthsThe smallest group, a near-perfect record, hot chocolate
  • Ideal forCouples and adults who like a calm, unhurried trip

Good to know: Non-refundable and cannot be changed, even if your ship misses Hoonah. Minimum age 9, and not for heart conditions. Confirmation can take up to 48 hours. Viator only. Boats compared.

~$285per person
Viator
A red-and-white whale-watching boat with passengers on deck below snowy mountains Sighting guaranteed

Guaranteed Whale Watching Adventure, Icy Strait Whale Adventures

For the passenger who has been skunked on whale trips before.

The only boat here that leaves from the port itself, so there is no van. A captain and a naturalist take up to 24 guests out for about two and a half hours, sometimes as far as Point Adolphus, with indoor seats beside windows that open. Rain gear and binoculars are on board.

  • DurationAbout 2.5–2.75 hours on the water
  • OperatorIcy Strait Whale Adventures
  • RatingViator 4.8 (391+)
  • Meeting pointExcursions Hub, 30 minutes before departure
  • StrengthsA sighting guarantee, refund if your ship is late, kids' rates
  • Ideal forCautious planners and limited mobility (a cart from the gangway)

Good to know: The largest group of the six, and one of the priciest. It runs in all weather short of a small craft advisory, so dress for it. Viator only. What the guarantees mean.

~$302per person
Viator
A group of humpback whales lunging open-mouthed through the surface near a rocky shore Money-back promise

Hoonah Whale Tours in Icy Strait, Hoonah Whale Tours

Warm muffins, a dry cabin and your money back if the whales stay away.

A family-owned catamaran with a heated cabin and a restroom, fourteen guests at most. The captain grew up fishing Icy Strait, the blueberry muffins are homemade, and if you see no whales the listing promises your money back.

  • DurationAbout 3 hours from the port
  • OperatorHoonah Whale Tours
  • RatingViator 5.0 (193+)
  • PickupIcy Strait Point or anywhere in Hoonah
  • StrengthsA steady catamaran, infant seats, a whale guarantee
  • Ideal forFamilies and anyone worried about a rough ride

Good to know: The priciest of the six, and non-refundable. You get no refund or change if your plans move, only if they cancel for weather. Drinks with alcohol cost extra. Viator only. Steady boats and seasickness.

~$314per person
Viator

A small heads-up. These are GetYourGuide and Viator affiliate links, so when you book through one we earn a little commission and you pay exactly the same. It keeps this guide going and never touches our ranking or the catches we point out.

Before you go

Eight things about Hoonah whale tours that no listing puts in big letters

None of these sits at the top of a booking page, and each one decides whether you come back thrilled or standing on the dock watching your ship.

What you should know

  1. There is almost no signal at the port. Hoonah Travel Adventures warns that the port area has no wifi or cell service. Print or screenshot your confirmation and the meeting directions before you leave the ship.
  2. Not everyone meets at the Hub. Most crews wait at the Excursions Hub. Catch of the Day picks up at the far side of the port instead, so allow time for the walk. Where each tour meets.
  3. "Non-refundable" means it. Glacier Wind and Hoonah Whale Tours keep your money if you cancel or change, and the listings do not promise a refund if your ship skips the port.
  4. A guarantee is a policy, not a whale. Icy Strait Whale Adventures guarantees a sighting and Hoonah Whale Tours refunds a trip without whales. Read what each one actually pays out.
  5. Boats stay 100 yards away. Federal rules keep boats at least 100 yards (91 m) from humpbacks in Alaska. The close encounters in reviews happen when a whale chooses to come over. Whales and the rules.
  6. The deck is cold in July. Expect about 50 °F (10 °C) with wind and drizzle on the water. Hat and gloves are not overkill. What to wear.
  7. The ship will not wait. Independent tours time their trips to your ship, but if a boat runs late the ship sails anyway. Leave a buffer of an hour before all-aboard.
  8. Hoonah boats sell out early. Viator says these tours are booked three to five months ahead on average. Summer sailings fill first. When to go.

Everything in one table

Six whale tours, catch included

The six tours side by side, with the strength and the catch of each one in the same row.

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →

Tour Ideal for Price On the water Meeting point Operator and rating Strength and catch Book
Whales + drone footage (our pick) A once-only port day ~$250 About 2.5 h, 3 h in all Excursions Hub Alaska Whales & Drones
Viator 5.0 (516+)
GetYourGuide 4.9 (160+)		 14 guests, drone film on USB. Not the cheapest.
ViatorGetYourGuide
Hoonah Travel Adventures Budgets, tight schedules ~$225 About 2.5 h, 3 h in all Excursions Hub Hoonah Travel Adventures
Viator 4.8 (487+)
GetYourGuide 4.8 (105+)		 Cheapest, departures all day. The busiest operator.
ViatorGetYourGuide
Catch of the Day Orcas, open deck ~$236 2.5 h, 3 h in all Port main entrance Catch of the Day
Viator 4.9 (304+)		 38 ft boat, 16 guests. A walk to the pickup, no under-5s.
Viator
Glacier Wind Charters A quiet, small boat ~$285 About 2.5 h, 3 h in all Excursions Hub Glacier Wind Charters
Viator 5.0 (318+)		 13 guests, restroom aboard. Non-refundable, ages 9+.
Viator
Icy Strait Whale Adventures A written guarantee ~$302 2.5–2.75 h Excursions Hub, own dock Icy Strait Whale Adventures
Viator 4.8 (391+)		 Guaranteed sighting, no van. Up to 24 guests.
Viator
Hoonah Whale Tours Families, steady ride ~$314 About 2.5 h, 3 h in all Port or town pickup Hoonah Whale Tours
Viator 5.0 (193+)		 Catamaran, money back without whales. Priciest, non-refundable.
Viator

About the numbers. Prices are per-person "from" rates in US dollars (the lower one when a tour is on both sites), and ratings are what each site showed when we compared. Dates, group size and offers move them a little, so peek at both. The booking page has the final word.

Who went

Reviews from travelers who went out on Icy Strait

Eighteen cruise passengers, some who had whales around the boat all morning and some who waited a long time for one, on what won them over and what they would change.

★★★★★Whales + drone footage

We booked this for our 40th anniversary and it was the right call. Eight of us on the boat, so nobody fought for the rail. Captain Josh found a group of humpbacks within half an hour and then just let us sit with them, engine off, listening to them breathe. When the drone went up I thought it would be a gimmick. Then he showed us the footage on a tablet: the whole whale under the green water, our little boat beside it, the bubble ring before they came up. My husband has watched it every night since.

LPLinda P. · Sacramento, CaliforniaWhales all around
★★★★★Whales + drone footage

Bubble-net feeding twice, a bear on the beach, drone video of all of it. Best morning of the cruise.

GRGareth R. · Cardiff, WalesWhales all around
★★★★☆Whales + drone footage

The tour itself was excellent and the captain knew where to go. One star off because we nearly missed the pickup: no signal at the port, and our confirmation was in an email we could not open. Save it offline. The USB stick with the drone film was a lovely surprise.

AKAnja K. · Hamburg, GermanyWhales all around
★★★★★Hoonah whale cruise

Cheapest whale tour at the port and we still had humpbacks on both sides of the boat. Easy pickup, good crew.

MTMarcus T. · Atlanta, GeorgiaWhales all around
★★★★★Hoonah whale cruise

Our ship was only in Hoonah until two, so the number of start times decided it for us. The rep in the blue raincoat was easy to spot at the Hub, the van took about seven minutes, and the boat had a warm cabin for when the drizzle set in. The young guide talked about the Tlingit names for the islands on the way out. We found the whales after about forty minutes and stayed with a mother and calf until it was time to turn back. Afterwards we walked around Hoonah harbor for half an hour and took the shuttle back.

SNSophie N. · Brisbane, AustraliaA slow whale day
★★★★☆Hoonah whale cruise

Plenty of humpbacks and a kind crew. The boat was busier than I had hoped, so I spent some of the time looking over shoulders, and one whale that surfaced close to us was gone before I got to the other side. Good value for the price, I would just go early in the day.

RDRobert D. · Leeds, EnglandWhales all around
★★★★★Catch of the Day boat

Seven orcas. Seven. Then humpbacks on the way home.

JCJenna C. · Halifax, Nova ScotiaWhales all around
★★★★★Catch of the Day boat

Read the pickup instructions twice: they wait at the main entrance, not the Excursions Hub. It is a flat walk of ten minutes or so through the shops, and we were glad we left early. After that everything was easy. The boat is not big, maybe sixteen seats, but the cabin was warm and the deck runs all the way round so everyone had a view. The captains talked to each other over the radio the whole time and suddenly turned hard to port. A pod of orcas, the big male with the tall fin first. We followed them for twenty minutes before we even got to the humpbacks.

WBWalter B. · Omaha, NebraskaWhales all around
★★★★☆Catch of the Day boat

Proper locals, a small boat and a very funny captain. Bring your own water bottle.

EHEmma H. · Dublin, IrelandA slow whale day
★★★★★Glacier Wind small boat

Only eleven of us aboard, a captain who has fished these waters all his life and a cup of hot chocolate when the rain came in. He spent ten minutes on a raft of sea otters before we even reached the whales, explaining how they crack clams on their chests. Then three humpbacks feeding along the shore, and a fluke so close we could see the barnacles. A quiet, unhurried trip. The only thing to know is that you cannot get your money back, so be sure of your date.

PLPaul L. · Vancouver, British ColumbiaWhales all around
★★★★★Glacier Wind small boat

Small boat, a clean restroom and a family that clearly loves its work. We saw whales and a row of sea lions on a buoy, and hardly any other boats nearby. Wear gloves.

YSYuki S. · Osaka, JapanWhales all around
★★★★☆Glacier Wind small boat

A slow whale day for everyone in the strait, the captain said, and we waited a long while before the first blow. He did not rush us back once we found them, which I liked. My grandson is eight, so we booked another tour, as the minimum age is nine. Check that before you book.

MRMonica R. · Phoenix, ArizonaA slow whale day
★★★★★Guaranteed whale cruise

We have done whale tours in Maui and in Juneau and never had a guide this good. The boat leaves right from the port, no van, so we were on the water fifteen minutes after checking in. The naturalist knew individual whales by the pattern on their tails, including one the crews call Wedgie, and she had binoculars and rain jackets ready for everyone. We went across toward Point Adolphus and watched a group lunge-feeding with a few hundred gulls going crazy above them. On the way back, a brown bear and two cubs turning over rocks on the beach.

DADavid A. · Austin, TexasWhales all around
★★★★★Guaranteed whale cruise

The windows open right up, so even sitting inside you get photos without glass. Whales in ten minutes.

CFChiara F. · Milan, ItalyWhales all around
★★★★★Guaranteed whale cruise

My wife uses a scooter, and the company arranged the care cart from the gangway to the dock. That alone earned the five stars. Big boat by Hoonah standards, about twenty people, but with a naturalist on board everyone heard everything. The guarantee was never needed.

HOHank O. · Tampa, FloridaA slow whale day
★★★★★Catamaran with a guarantee

Fog held our ship outside the harbor for an hour, and I spent breakfast sure we had lost the tour. We made it to the van with minutes to spare, and the driver was calm about it. The catamaran is wide and steady, which my seasick sister appreciated, and the cabin was warm, with coffee and homemade blueberry muffins. Whales feeding near Grassy Island, a seal on a rock, and a bear walking the beach on Chichagof. Pricey, and non-refundable, but they could not have done more for us.

KMKerry M. · Christchurch, New ZealandWhales all around
★★★★★Catamaran with a guarantee

We chose it for the money-back guarantee and never needed it. Humpbacks everywhere.

NBNadia B. · Montreal, QuebecWhales all around
★★★★★Catamaran with a guarantee

Two kids under seven and a three-hour boat trip, and nobody melted down. The restroom and the heated cabin did a lot of the work, the muffins did the rest. The captain let the children look through his binoculars and counted blows with them. Fourteen people at most, so there was always a free spot at the rail.

TGTom G. · Denver, ColoradoA slow whale day

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Binoculars ready

Book Captain Josh for your Hoonah port day

If your ship gives you one morning in Hoonah and you want the whale trip you will talk about for the rest of the cruise, we would book the drone tour. A small boat, a captain who waits for the whales instead of the clock, and a film of the animals from above to take home.

More than 500 travelers rate it 5.0 out of 5 on Viator, and both sites let you hold a place now, pay nearer the date and cancel until 24 hours before. Pack a hat, gloves and the directions on paper.

~$250

per person · about 3 hours · from the Excursions Hub

Viator GetYourGuide
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
  • ✓ Reserve now, pay later on both sites
  • ✓ Drone footage on a USB drive
  • ✓ Pickup a few minutes from the ship

Good to know

Why the whales come to Icy Strait, and whose shore you are visiting

Five minutes of reading, and the old cannery on the dock, the gulls wheeling over a patch of calm water and the captain's sudden turn will make a lot more sense.

Icy Strait is the channel between Chichagof Island and the mainland, right at the mouth of Glacier Bay. Cold tides pour in and out of the bay twice a day and stir up the plankton, herring and krill that humpbacks cross the Pacific to eat. That is why a village of under a thousand people has some of the most reliable whale watching in Alaska a few minutes from its harbor.

01The Huna Tlingit

Hoonah, Xunaa in the Tlingit language, is the largest Tlingit village in Alaska. The Huna people trace their homeland to Glacier Bay across the strait, and many families still fish and hunt the same waters the whale boats cross. A fire in 1944 burned most of the old village, which is why the town you drive through looks younger than its history. Your port day in Hoonah.

02A cannery turned cruise port

Icy Strait Point grew around a salmon cannery built in 1912, about a mile and a half from town. Huna Totem Corporation, owned by Hoonah's Tlingit shareholders, opened it to cruise ships in 2004. The old cannery buildings now hold a museum and shops, and the long zipline runs down the hill behind them. The whale boats leave from the town harbor or from the port's own dock.

03Why humpbacks feed here

Most of the humpback whales you see off Hoonah spent the winter breeding near Hawaii, where they barely eat. They arrive in spring thin and hungry and spend the summer feeding, some of them on the same stretch of water year after year. Point Adolphus, on the far side of the strait, is one of the best-known feeding spots in Southeast Alaska. When they arrive.

The moment most people remember is not a breach. It is the hush on deck when the gulls gather over flat water and the captain says to watch that spot.

04Bubble nets

Some humpbacks here hunt as a team. One whale blows a spiral of bubbles under a school of herring, the others call and herd, and the whole group bursts up through the middle with mouths open. It is called bubble-net feeding, recent reviewers describe it on many summer trips, and no captain can promise it. The gulls usually see it coming before anyone on the boat does.

05Who else lives in the strait

Orcas pass through in family groups, Steller sea lions haul out on the channel buoys, and sea otters float on their backs in the kelp cracking shellfish on their chests. Harbor seals and Dall's porpoise turn up too, bald eagles watch from the spruce, and brown bears walk the beaches of Chichagof Island, which has among the densest bear populations anywhere. What you might see.

06Manners on the water

Federal rules keep boats at least 100 yards from humpbacks, and the good captains cut the engine and let the whales decide. Stay seated when the boat moves, keep the deck clear when the crew asks, and leave your own drone in the bag. If a whale surfaces beside the boat, enjoy it quietly; that is the moment everyone came for. Whale tours with children has more on keeping small passengers happy on deck.

1912The cannery at Icy Strait Point is built

2004The first cruise ships call

100 yardsMinimum distance from a humpback

40 tonsAbout what a grown humpback weighs

Does Hoonah beat Juneau for whales if your ship calls at both? Our guide Hoonah or Juneau for whale watching? compares the two ports.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions about Hoonah whale watching

Fourteen questions cruise passengers ask us again and again, with the full answer.

How much does a whale watching tour in Hoonah cost?

The six tours on this page run from ~$225 per person with Hoonah Travel Adventures to ~$314 for Hoonah Whale Tours' catamaran, with the transfer from Icy Strait Point included in all of them. Our pick, the drone tour, costs ~$250 on Viator. A tip for the crew is customary on top. Every price and refund rule is in our cost guide.

Which Hoonah whale watching tour is the best?

For most cruise passengers, Alaska Whales & Drones: a boat of fourteen at most, a captain the reviews keep naming, and drone footage of the whales to take home, rated 5.0 from 516+ reviews on Viator. On a budget, Hoonah Travel Adventures from ~$225; for orcas, Catch of the Day.

Will I see whales on a Hoonah tour?

Very likely between June and September, when humpbacks feed in Icy Strait all summer, but no one controls nature. Two operators back their trips with a sighting guarantee or a refund, so read the terms on those listings. What you might see.

Where do the whale tours meet at Icy Strait Point?

Most meet at the Excursions Hub, a few minutes' walk from either cruise dock along signed paths. Catch of the Day is the exception and collects at the port's main entrance, a 10 to 15-minute walk from the ships. Directions from each dock.

How long is a whale watching tour in Hoonah?

About three hours from the port and back, with roughly two and a half on the water. Icy Strait Whale Adventures boards at the port itself, so its whole trip is a little shorter. Allow time to check in 15 to 30 minutes before the start.

Is it safe to book a whale tour independently of my cruise line?

Yes, if you leave a buffer. The local operators time their trips to the ships in port, but the ship does not wait for an independent tour. Choose a start at least an hour after docking and a return an hour or more before all-aboard, and prefer a tour with free cancellation.

What happens if my ship skips Hoonah?

With free cancellation you can cancel up to 24 hours ahead, and Icy Strait Whale Adventures refunds you if the ship cancels or arrives late. Glacier Wind and Hoonah Whale Tours are non-refundable, so a missed port call can cost you the full price.

Are Hoonah whale tours good for kids?

Yes, with the right boat. Hoonah Whale Tours has infant seats and a restroom, and the drone tour takes babies on a lap. Catch of the Day takes children from 5 and Glacier Wind from 9. Three hours is long for toddlers, so bring snacks and warm layers. Whale tours with kids.

Will I get seasick on Icy Strait?

Most people do not. The strait is sheltered from the open ocean, though wind can chop it up on the run out to the whales. Sit low and in the middle, keep your eyes on the horizon and stay in fresh air. More seasickness tips.

What should I wear whale watching in Alaska?

Warm layers under a waterproof jacket, a hat and gloves, and shoes with grip for a wet deck, even in July. It is often around 50 °F (10 °C) on the water. Sunglasses help with glare on bright days. What to wear and pack.

Can I see orcas in Hoonah?

Sometimes. Killer whales pass through Icy Strait in family groups and turn up in many recent reviews, especially on Catch of the Day, but they move fast and come and go. Humpbacks are the whales you can count on most in summer.

Do I need to tip on a Hoonah whale tour?

A tip for the captain and crew is customary in the United States, and some listings mention gratuities; check yours before the trip. Bring some cash, since there may be no signal for card or app payments at the harbor.

How far ahead should I book?

As soon as you know your port date. Viator shows these tours booked about three to five months ahead on average, and July and August sailings fill first. Tours with free cancellation let you book early without much risk. Best months to go.

Is whale watching better in Hoonah or Juneau?

Both are among the most reliable whale waters in Alaska. Juneau has more boats and lower prices; Hoonah has fewer boats on the water, a shorter ride from the dock and small local crews. Pick by what else you want from each port day. The two ports compared.

Read before you sail

Guides to whale watching from Hoonah

Ten questions that keep coming up, each with the long answer instead of the short one.