A
Great Tour
This was a great tour and we loved it. We saw tons of animals and the captain was so knowledgeable about the area. I highly recommend to anyone.
Private Charter Scenic Wildlife Excursion for Cruise Passengers
+31 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Price from
- $1,191 / person
- Location
- Sitka
- Rating
- 5.0 / 5 · 31 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Private
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Outer Coast Charters
- Meeting point
- At cruise terminal, take free shuttle to town. After you exit the bus, walk towards the water/Crescent Harbor. Take the blue covered gangway down to the harbor/boats. Walk main row to end, then take a right(Row 6, Slip 27). Suzy-Q sits close to the end of Row 6. A 5 to 10 minute walk.
Description
You select your start-time, any time between: 6:00am - 5:00pm. 3 hours are included, however you can shorten or extend your private tour as needed. Your tour guide, a Merchant Marine Captain with over 30-years on the water will tour you around Sitka Sound, Saint Lazaria Islands and Mt. Edgecumbe Volcano for active wildlife sightings. We are based out of Sitka on the western side of Baranof Island, in beautiful Southeast Alaska. We are owned and operated by a year round resident and adventure outfitter. He states, "There's no place I'd rather be or explore than Southeast Alaska. Here we have the bounty of the Pacific Ocean at our doorstep with over 17,000 miles of coastline encompassing the Tongass National Forest, the largest intact temperate rain forest in the world. Our mission is to provide our guests with the rarest of Maritime and Coastal Adventures, while providing an element of added safety as we explore one of the most beautiful places on the edges of the earth."
Tour Options
Itinerary
Outer Coast Charters provides private, small group scenic and wildlife boat tours. Our custom adventures all benefit from the comfort and safety of our Suzy-Q Stabicraft. Built in New Zealand, Suzy-Q is a double-hulled aluminum Stabicraft 2500 Ultracab XL safety boat. Every tour is custom designed depending on the weather and seas, and where wildlife might best be seen each day. If seas allow it, we will travel to the Saint Lazaira Islands. Alternatively, we will cruise Sitka Sound and its endless array of islands and coves to provide your party with the best adventure possible. Your private charter will focus on the best locations for scenic and wildlife and photography which may include: Humpback and Grey Whales, Sea Otters, Sea Lions, Dolphins, Harbor Seals, Orcas, Baranof Brown Bears, Eagles, Puffins, assorted Seabirds, as well as amazing Volcano, Mountain and Ocean Views.
If seas allow, we will travel to the Saint Lazaira Islands. St. Lazaria Island is a nesting bird colony located twenty miles (32 km) west of Sitka, Alaska and is a part of the Gulf of Alaska unit of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. It was originally designated as a "refuge for seabirds" in 1909 and received official Wilderness Designation from congress in 1970. It was added to the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge in 1980. The main island is thought to be the remnants of a now eroded volcano; a "volcanic plug" whose cliffs are home to more than half a 1 million various species of sea birds.
What's included
Included
Private, Fully Equipped+Fueled Coast Guard Approved Boat+Captain, Snacks, Sodas, Water, all Fees+Tax
Heated Cabin
Not included
Gratuities
Alcoholic Beverages
Traveller Ratings
5.0
31 reviews
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Viator will default all tickets to "Adult", but rest assured we are very kid friendly!
- If anyone in your party has mobility issues, we can prearrange to reposition Suzy-Q closer. Just let us know prior to your arrival in Sitka.
- We guarantee return to your shuttle or directly to cruise ship prior to your ship’s departure from Sitka.
- Not recommended for toddlers/infants/frailty.
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 this tour take?
Private Charter Scenic Wildlife Excursion for Cruise Passengers lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 2 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $1,191 per person for this Sitka 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 this tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is At cruise terminal, take free shuttle to town. After you exit the bus, walk towards the water/Crescent Harbor. Take the blue covered gangway down to the harbor/boats. Walk main row to end, then take a right(Row 6, Slip 27). Suzy-Q sits close to the end of Row 6. A 5 to 10 minute walk. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 5 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap Not recommended for toddlers/infants/frailty.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
If anyone in your party has mobility issues, we can prearrange to reposition Suzy-Q closer. Just let us know prior to your arrival in Sitka.
Reviews(31)
A
Best Excursion
Captain Chris was so great to work with. The meet up and communication was easy and smooth. Then he took us the most amazing boat ride where we saw bears, bald eagles, otters and whales. He also knew so much about the area that was interesting to learn. I highly recommend this tour.
C
Amazing experience, amazing captain, wow what a great experience
Yes we saw wildlife and had an amazing tour. Bears, whales, sea otters, eagles, and sea lions, oh my! Don’t hesitate to book with captain chris. He was fantastic. Thank you.
V
A whale of a time!
We had an incredible experience with Captain Chris with Outer Coast Charters. We saw mountains, volcanoes, jumping fish, bald eagles, sea lions, sea otters, and the star of the show - humpback whales. We had four people in our group and felt very comfortable on his boat. The Alaskan toilet is better than expected so don’t worry or be shy. We will have those memories for a lifetime. One whale that we affectionally named “Wilma” came right up the boat. It was majestic and more than we could have asked for. Chris is communicative, helpful, focused on safety, fun and easy to get along with. He is knowledgeable about the Sitka Sound and the area he charters. I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Sitka, AK!
6
Sitka Ak wildlife boat charter
My wife and I took this excursion- It was beyond our expectations. Captain Chris stayed in contact with us a good 2 weeks before the excursion. Once in the boat you find out how personable and professional he is. For a small group ( up to 5) it was one of our favorite site seeing tours. Seen way more eagles than our Eagle preserve tour. Seen many Whales. Sea Otters. Flying Salmon, Sea Lions For us weather was perfect an added bonus But truly Captain Chris makes the trip so worth while
J
Highly Recommend
Glorious day on the water with Captain Chris! He was so accommodating and gracious. We saw Grey Whales, sea otters, bald eagles, and sea lions. Captain Chris is very knowledgeable and shared stories of the wildlife and history of Sitka.
J
Exceeded expectations
Chris is personable, knowledgeable, and willing to cater to guest requests. The boat was comfortable for the two of us with multiple seating options, but could beg crowded with more than four. We experienced remarkable gray whale activity, and Chris was patient and respectful.
S
Best Excursion I have ever experienced
Excellent in every way! The boat was good size, kept in excellent condition, clean, and we felt very safe Captain Chris was so pleasant and accommodating. Made us feel comfortable and welcome. Shared lots of details about the area. Loved it. We had a perfect day from weather to sea conditions to wildlife. I know a lot of this was not within his control, but it was truly the highlight of our entire cruise. Worth every cent!
J
10/10 recommend.
We had a great time and was able to see so much wildlife ranging from grey whales, bald eagles, sea lions, sea otters, seals, and even a couple deer. Captain Chris was very informative and knowledgeable! We had snacks and drinks on board and it was so nice to have a private charter with just our group of 5. We never felt rushed and was able to spend time watching the whales and snapping pictures before moving on. I would highly recommend 10/10. We had a great experience!
M
Great excursion and...
Great excursion and highly recommend! Captain Chris communicated with us many times leading up to the day of the excursion and gave us very clear instructions on how to find the boat, what to bring, etc. He tailored the trip for us and was very flexible in what we wanted to see. We told him we wanted to see wildlife, especially whales. He went out of his way (and very far out) for us to see both humpbacks and grey whales! Super treat! He provided a variety of snacks and drinks too. We highly recommend Captain Chris, his boat and this excursion.
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from$1,191
5.0(31) Free cancellation