Hoonah Whale-Watching Cruise - Near Icy Strait Point
Description
Embark on a small-group, 3-hour whale watching and wildlife sightseeing tour from Hoonah, Alaska in our custom built vessels with heated cabins and restroom. Every season humpback whales come in large numbers to Hoonah to feed on the nutrient-rich waters of Glacier Bay and Icy Strait before migrating south again for the winter. The whale population begins to arrive in Hoonah in May, and stays through September.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
PLEASE ARRIVE 15 MINUTES BEFORE YOUR TOUR IS SCHEDULED TO DEPART, OUT OF COURTESY TO OTHERS WE LEAVE ON TIME. If your ship is docked at the Ocean Landing Dock, proceed ashore to the Icy Strait Adventure Center. Once inside the Adventure Center walk through the building and exit through door number"2". (This is clearly marked above the door.) Once outside, follow the signs along the gravel path to the Excursion Hub. The total walking time from the ship is 10 minutes, please allow extra time if you are not a fast walker. We ask that you check in 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 the Gondola and go left, follow the signs to the Excursion Hub. If you don't take the Gondola there is a trail that you can walk - it is a 1/2mile walk. As you exit the woods start looking for the sign that says Excursion Hub on your left. Follow the gravel path to the Excursion Hub. Please check in with the Hoonah Travel Adventure Representative when you arrive at the Hub! If you are arriving via AK Seaplanes or AK Marine Highway please call us before your trip to make other arrangements.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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.
- There is NO WIFI or Cell Service at the port area. You will NOT Be able to pull up your email or see you reservation online. Print your connecting instructions!!!
Reviews(446)
Wonderful tour. The operator was reliable, the boat was beautiful, spotless, and comfortable, with plenty of outdoor access and enough space for everyone despite being a medium-sized group. A knowledgeable young lady on board provided interesting explanations about the city, wildlife, orcas, and humpback whales. We were lucky to encounter a group of several orcas, as well as numerous whales. The highlight was seeing a humpback whale breach completely out of the water very close to our boat, an absolutely extraordinary experience! We highly recommend this tour and would gladly do it again.
We had an amazing whale-watching tour with Hoonah Travel Adventures! Captain Denise Gray was professional, warm, and welcoming from the moment we arrived. She was incredibly knowledgeable and shared fascinating information about Hoonah’s history and culture, along with many interesting facts about the local wildlife. Her passion for the area made the experience both exciting and educational. We highly recommend Captain Denise and Hoonah Travel Adventures to anyone visiting Hoonah!
This was one of the most amazing travel experiences you could hope for. Captain Denise was amazing, full of stories and lore of the area, and we were so lucky to see orcas that followed our boat and a humpback whale that breached multiple times right in front of us. Then, a bald eagle was soaring overhead and then dove and caught a fish right next to our boat. Naturalist Annalise was the perfect fit for this tour, and was as excited as we were to see these amazing creatures.
Viator description says water provided. It is not. Bring your own. Boat holds 30 guests, and our group was 30. Saw humpback whales, orcas and otters. Hard to get good photos, because so many crowded to front deck
We saw so many whales . Amazing tour!!! We got so many videos that day. We took a 5 pm tour . We were by the ship before 8 . So it was plenty of time with a 9 pm departure
Comfortable boat with excellent captain and crew member. The stories shared by the captain were entertaining.
We had an amazing time and great experience. Captain Denise, along with the rest of the crew, was a brilliant tour guide. It was lovely to hear about life in Hoonah and to learn more about Captain Denise’s own life and experiences. The wildlife experience was fantastic—we saw lots of humpback whales as well as sea otters. One of the highlights was being able to listen to the sounds the whales make underwater through a hydrophone, which made the experience even more special and memorable. A wonderful, personal, and unforgettable tour that we would highly recommend.
It was very nice with a knowledgeable guide and captain. Beautiful day and memorable experience. Small group made it even better.
I would not recommend Hoona Travel Adventures. Our experience in July 2026 was ruined .. a whole day set aside for Whale watching while on a cruise. We are seasoned travelers and have taken a whale excursion many years ago in another part of Alaska and this was not normal. We had 17 family members mostly all adults except 3 children.. and booked months in advance. We were put in a type boat that was covered , with windows and indoor seating. The driver of this boat.. not sure if it was the owner .. but he drove this boat so dangerously fast that we were struggling to stay in our seats. Every single person was struggling to stay seated because we were coming out of our seats and frantically trying to hold on.. The hard pounding as we hit waves at a high rate of speed was frightening and very painful as we had no relief for almost an hour.. He never once reduced his speed during this hour..we absolutely did not feel safe at the fast speed he was going. We had 17 family members of all ages. The 30’and 40 year old adults and their teenage boys in our family ..ALL struggled with staying in our seats.. and everyone was trying to protect backs and necks as he hit waves at full force … There were grandparents and one year old baby also at risk for injury from neck and back at the pounding of the full force of this boat hitting waves at the ridiculous high dangerous speed he was driving. We all were hurting by the time he stopped and checking each other to see if there were indeed injuries. He never spoke to us or acknowledged the speed he was driving. Only the guide spoke to us. After a most harrowing and unpleasant trip to a place to look for whales.. we stopped and tried to recover from what we had just been through. A few whales from afar off and then we had to return back. A terrible experience. His disregard of our well being was agreed upon by everyone in this boat. We feel he should be reported for the lack of concern for the safety and well being of his passengers. His speed was extreme and very fast . He turned this boat into a speed boat with 17 family passengers and one random for a total of 18. The guide was well aware of our discomfort and told us not to scream. I can’t express enough how to avoid this experience and not come away with the disappointment that we experienced on what was supposed to be the highlight of our cruise. .. and the money we paid for this “Adventure”. Please choose another reputable company. Angie was involved in booking and this is stated to insure the correct whale watching company is receiving this review.
We are very sorry that you and your family found the ride uncomfortable. We do remember this particular trip because the captain reported upon returning that the water conditions were unusually rough that day. Whales are wild animals, and at times we need to travel a considerable distance to reach the area where they are being seen. When the seas are choppy, even speeds of 30 mph or less can feel much faster because of the movement and pounding of the boat. That said, our captains are expected to operate our vessels according to the conditions and with the safety of our guests as their first priority. We take any safety concern seriously. In 16 years of operating whale-watching tours, this is the first complaint of this nature that we can recall, and we are sorry that what was intended to be a highlight of your Alaska vacation instead became an uncomfortable experience for your family. We certainly hope the rest of your Alaska travels were wonderful—and perhaps someday this particular rough-water Alaska adventure will become one of those family stories that gets a little better with every retelling around the dinner table.
Wonderful experience. Saw many humpbacks, plus an otter, bald eagles and sea lions. Crew was really great.
