Explore Icy Strait in style aboard our custom built 6 passenger whale watching catamaran with an enclosed heated cabin, restroom, indoor seating, outdoor seating, & 360 degree walk around viewing deck. We limit our vessel to 6 passengers max (whether private or mixed) to provide our guests with an uncrowded, relaxed, and intimate wildlife experience.
On the day of your tour, we will pick you up from your cruise ship port and return you via van. Our excursion is 3 hours and 45 minutes from pick up to drop off (includes meeting, transit, & loading time). We designed this excursion to be one of the longest whale watching tours offered in Icy Strait. This extra time on the water allows us the opportunity to fully experience Icy Strait's rich diversity of marine wildlife.
We guarantee whale sightings or you will receive a full refund.
We designed our calendar to accommodate as many ships as possible. A calendar listing specific ships can be found on our Vivid Endeavors website.
Tour Options
Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor
Pickup included
Itinerary
Icy Strait
180 min
Icy Strait is a legendary body of water that connects the protected inside waters of Southeast Alaska to the open Pacific Ocean. The nutrient rich waters of Southeast Alaska make it one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. During the summer months, these abundant fjords become the ideal home and feeding ground for a large population of Humpback Whales. Humpbacks travel to the area every year after their winter breeding season in the warmer waters of Hawaii and Mexico. After navigating over 3000 miles, we often see the same individual humpbacks return to Icy Strait year after year.
Humpbacks aren’t the only wildlife in the area. Our trips often encounter Sea Lions, Seals, Porpoise, Sea Otters, Bald Eagles, Coastal Brown Bears along the shoreline, & our favorite – the awe inspiring Orca better known as the Killer Whale.
Hoonah
Pass by
On the day of your tour, we will meet you at your cruise ship port and then transport you through the town of Hoonah to the local harbor where our whale watching vessel is docked. Our brief van ride offers beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. Occasionally, we'll even see wildlife (including Eagles) on our ride to the vessel. After your time on the water, we will transport you back to your cruise ship docking area. The van ride is approximately 5 minutes.
What's included
Included
Private transportation
Restroom on board
Pickup Locations & Times
We will meet you at your cruise ship port at the EXCURSION HUB – a large outdoor meeting spot for guests and vendors. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes prior to your scheduled tour start time. Please note the Excursion Hub is an open air meeting spot - NOT a building.
At the Excursion Hub, we will have a small handheld sign that says VIVID ENDEAVORS. Don’t worry if you don’t see us/our sign holder there early; the driver/sign holder may arrive right on time as we coordinate our tour start times very precisely to avoid congestion at the hub.
There are two separate cruise ship docks on site at the Icy Strait port. Your ship will be coming into either the OCEAN LANDING or the WILDERNESS LANDING.
If your ship docks at the Ocean Landing – walk to shore and through the Adventure Center (a large beautiful building) and exit through the door marked #2. Follow the gravel path and look for an Excursion Hub sign that directs you slightly to the right and continue walking that path to the Excursion Hub. From the ship to the Excursion Hub is about a 5 - 10 minute walk. If there are mobility issues, please contact us ahead of time for extra details.
If your ship docks at the Wilderness Landing – walk to shore and to the green Transporter Gondola where you can catch a 5 minute ride to the main area of the port (this is a free and pleasant gondola ride that will save you a lot of time compared to walking on foot from the wilderness dock). After exiting the gondola look for the sign directing you to the Excursion Hub and follow the path and signs. From the gondola drop off location to the Excursion Hub, the walk is about 5 minutes. If there are mobility issues, please contact us ahead of time for extra details.
After we meet at the Excursion Hub, we will drive you via van through the town of Hoonah to the harbor where you will board our whale watching vessel. We provide return transportation back to the port after your tour.
Additional Information:
Due to Icy Strait’s remote location and influx of people throughout the day - cell phone coverage including data/internet capabilities on the day of your tour can be spotty at best. Please try to call or text ahead of time with any questions. Additionally, please consider either printing or taking a screen shot of our meeting instructions beforehand.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
249 reviews
5
249
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
0
Important Information
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor take?
Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor lasts about 3h 30min. The itinerary has 2 stops.
How much does Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor cost?
Prices start at $287 per person for this Alaska experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. We will meet you at your cruise ship port at the EXCURSION HUB – a large outdoor meeting spot for guests and vendors. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes prior to your scheduled tour start time. Please note the Excursion Hub is an open air meeting spot - NOT a building.
At the Excursion Hub, we will have a small handheld sign that says VIVID ENDEAVORS. Don’t worry if you don’t see us/our sign holder there early; the driver/sign holder may arrive right on time as we coordinate our tour start times very precisely to avoid congestion at the hub.
There are two separate cruise ship docks on site at the Icy Strait port. Your ship will be coming into either the OCEAN LANDING or the WILDERNESS LANDING.
If your ship docks at the Ocean Landing – walk to shore and through the Adventure Center (a large beautiful building) and exit through the door marked #2. Follow the gravel path and look for an Excursion Hub sign that directs you slightly to the right and continue walking that path to the Excursion Hub. From the ship to the Excursion Hub is about a 5 - 10 minute walk. If there are mobility issues, please contact us ahead of time for extra details.
If your ship docks at the Wilderness Landing – walk to shore and to the green Transporter Gondola where you can catch a 5 minute ride to the main area of the port (this is a free and pleasant gondola ride that will save you a lot of time compared to walking on foot from the wilderness dock). After exiting the gondola look for the sign directing you to the Excursion Hub and follow the path and signs. From the gondola drop off location to the Excursion Hub, the walk is about 5 minutes. If there are mobility issues, please contact us ahead of time for extra details.
After we meet at the Excursion Hub, we will drive you via van through the town of Hoonah to the harbor where you will board our whale watching vessel. We provide return transportation back to the port after your tour.
Additional Information:
Due to Icy Strait’s remote location and influx of people throughout the day - cell phone coverage including data/internet capabilities on the day of your tour can be spotty at best. Please try to call or text ahead of time with any questions. Additionally, please consider either printing or taking a screen shot of our meeting instructions beforehand.
What languages is Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 6 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 249 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Vivid Endeavors.
Reviews(249)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
P
P5304WZdeborahp
September 26, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Fantastic Whale watching Trip
Wow what a trip!
Right from the start captain Seth’s communication was excellent. He contacted me 2 weeks prior to trip, fully explaining meeting point for trip and being very open for any questions. On the day no problem with meeting, capt Seth there to pick up and promptly taken to boat for tour. Very nice, comfortable vessel and only 6 passengers, making the trip far more enjoyable! Coffee, hot chocolate and snacks all complimentary and also use of binoculars! Capt Seth was very knowledgable, but also went the extra mile to make the whole trip extra special! We would highly recommend this trip in Icy Straight! Thank u Kevin and Debbie
L
L2455ATnickh
September 24, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
40th Wedding Anniversary
Seth our captain was first class. He was professional in every way and was totally dedicated to ensure we had a once in a lifetime trip meaning we got to see numerous Humpbacks and Orcas. So close we could almost touch them. He also pointed out other species of bird and mammal.
The boat is very pleasant and has all the relevant luxuries one would expect. He is a real professional and it was the best 3 hours we have spent in a long time.
C
Chris_M
September 22, 2026 · via Viator
Seth, the captain and...
Seth, the captain and tour guide was amazing, saw lots of whales, sea otters, sea lions and eagles. Definitely will do this tour again when in Icy Strait. Being a small group tour (limit 6 people) we only had 5 of us on the boat was a definite plus.
M
M5929AOpattib
September 21, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Awesome tour
This was an excellent whale watching tour, we went In the middle of September 2026. There were just 6 of us so it was very easy for all of us to see everything. We saw humpback whales, a ton of orcas, seals, sea lions, a sea otter and eagles. I would highly recommend this company and this tour. The boat is very nice with plenty of room and places to sit. Our Seth was extremely knowledgeable as well
R
Rebecca_S
September 19, 2026 · via Viator
Perfect number of...
Perfect number of passengers (only 6 of us). Very knowledgeable about the area. Seth knew when and where to be looking for whale activity and he didn’t disappoint!! Great day!
M
Mayra_h
September 19, 2026 · via Viator
Great whale encounters
It was a great experience. Captain Seth was wonderful. Got to see whales.. an other wildlife. I will do this again in 2028.
J
Janet_F
September 19, 2026 · via Viator
Icy Strait Whale Watching
Wonderful..isn’t enough. Amazing..isn’t enough. Spectacular..isn’t enough. This excursion was the highlight of our trip! Sean communicated with us throughout the several months prior to our trip. His boat was perfect for looking for wildlife as there were only 6 of us on board. His knowledge of where to find Orcas and Humpbacks was amazing. He is personable and friendly. We saw Orcas up close and the beautiful Painted Lady Humpback. Sea otters and of course sea lions! We would HIGHLY recommend this excursion to anyone who visits Icy Strait and the town of Hoonah. Thank you Sean!!!
T
Tayler_J
September 18, 2026 · via Viator
Absolutely incredible...
Absolutely incredible experience, would 100% recommend Seth at Vivid endeavors. We had a great day and saw multiple humpback whales, brown bears off the coast and a sea otter. His boat was wonderful with no crowds to fight for a view. We hope to be back in the future as this was our favorite day on our Alaskan cruise.
R
Randy_P
September 17, 2026 · via Viator
It is a small boat, 6...
It is a small boat, 6 passengers. The owner and his wife operate the business and do a tremendous job. The boat has a cabin that can accommodate all six passengers. The small size and personalized service are wonderful in this setting. Seth was very known and seemed to be ably to predict the whales behavior.
F
F487VDsheilat
September 17, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Best whale/wildlife excursion
BEST whale-watching excursion through Viator — Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor!
This small-group tour was absolutely incredible! With only 6 passengers on board, it felt like our own private wildlife adventure. Captain Seth was fantastic and knew exactly where to go. We saw humpback whales, orcas, Dall’s porpoises, sea lions, a sea otter lounging on his back, and bald eagles! 🐋🦅🦦
Seth even took us to an area where coastal bears had been frequently spotted. The bears decided not to make an appearance for us, but with everything else we saw, we certainly couldn’t complain!
Hands down, this was the best whale-watching experience we’ve ever had and one of the highlights of our Alaska trip. If you’re visiting Icy Strait Point, I highly recommend this excursion.
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