Alaska Whale Watching Tours
Alaska offers an array of exciting whale-watching opportunities.
Embark on day cruises or water taxis from Whittier and Valdez, to explore Prince William Sound. Or discover the majestic Kenai Fjords from Seward.
In Juneau and Hoonah, you can have other unique whale-watching experiences, such as kayaking adventures, which get you up close to these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat and offer a unique chance to see whales feeding.
Often called the “Salmon Capital of the World,” Ketchikan’s waters are teeming with life. Whale watching tours often include sightings of humpback whales, orcas, and even the occasional gray whale.
Sitka provides a unique whale-watching experience, where you can enjoy scenic beauty and wildlife encounters. The waters around Sitka are rich in marine life, making it a great spot for seeing whales, sea otters, and a variety of birds.
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Whale Watching Tours
Juneau View All
One of the best viewing spots in Alaska. Humpbacks return each year to feed on the nutrient-rich waters around Juneau
Juneau’s glaciers produce nutrient-dense waters making the waters a prime feeding ground for humpback whales. Alaska Tales’ boats are intimate (49 passengers max), and they’re super-fast, so you’ll get out to see the whales in no time. You also have the option of adding a stop at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center prior to your whale watching tour.
Plenty of whale tours let you watch the orcas and humpbacks as they breach and spout from the water — but not many also let you eavesdrop on the big mammals’ conversations. This 3.5‑hour tour out of Juneau is equipped with an amplified hydrophone system; listen to the whales underwater while enjoying the lush rainforest views. Onboard the North Star — a 48-passenger jet boat with large windows, an outside viewing deck, and a comfortable inside ...more
Take a scenic cruise and kayak through gorgeous surroundings as magnificent whales pierce the surface of the water on this six-hour expedition from Juneau. Your destination is the Channel Islands, the whales’ annual feeding ground — and your guides will assess where the most whale activity has been happening.
Seward & Kenai Fjords View All
Resurrection Bay & Kenai Fjords National Park. 2.5 hour drive, or 4 hour train from Anchorage.
This veteran tour operator runs a a fleet of fast, modern boats in Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park. You’ll visit tidewater glaciers as you watch for puffins, sea otters, Dall’s porpoises, sea lions, and more. Some tours are designed to please birders or shutterbugs, while others are perfect for families.
Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords are great places to see wildlife and glaciers. And Major Marine’s vessels, which have cozy heated cabins and an outdoor viewing area, can take you out to see both. This family-owned tour operator has gone above and beyond to give guests an amazing day on the water since 1990.
Hop on board the all-season Missing Lynx and Lost Lynx, the vessels bound for whatever Seward Ocean Excursion suits your fancy. Want to whale watch, see glaciers, go bird watching or just check out hidden coves? Captains Bixler and Krystin McClure will help your small group plan an outing catered to your preferences. No matter the season, you can always catch some excitement in Resurrection Bay!
Get up close to the Alaskan glaciers and wildlife you came to experience by taking a cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park on a custom-built catamaran out of Seward. The difference from other cruises, is that you’ll then get off the boat and into a kayak, paddle around icebergs, and watch for wildlife from your own vessel.
Choose between the 3.5‑hour Resurrection Bay Tour or the 7‑hour Kenai Fjords National Park Expedition, either way, you’ll be treated to spectacular views of glaciers, sea cliffs, and iconic wildlife such as orcas, puffins, and bald eagles. With a maximum of six guests per tour, enjoy a personal and unobstructed view of the natural wonders.
Intimate catamaran cruises into Kenai Fjords National Park from Seward for just 22 passengers, or up to 30 on private charters. Cruise through Resurrection Bay, keeping an eye out for humpback whales, orca whales (killer whales), puffins, Steller sea lions, Dall’s porpoise, harbor seals, and a large variety of bird species. Then make your way into the national park, and stop at the face of a tidewater glacier. You’ll enjoy a delicious lunch ...more
Ketchikan View All
Small group zodiac tours. Visit independently, or look for Ketchikan on your cruise itinerary.
Explore the gorgeous, dynamic scenery and wildlife around Ketchikan by getting out on the water in a low-impact Zodiac — an authentically Alaskan way to travel! Every expedition is different as there’s flexibility for some spontaneity. You can spend extra time in a place if there’s a magical, National Geographic-type moment happening!
Homer View All
Whales in Kachemak Bay. 4.5 hour drive, or 1 hour flight from Anchorage.
Spend 5 to 8 hours plying the gorgeous waters of Kachemak Bay on a luxury vessel. Your private group will have the opportunity to see different types of wildlife: Orcas, Humpback and Minke whales; sea lions; Dall’s porpoise; sea otters; puffins; seabirds; and more. Enjoy a gourmet meal aboard, stop in the village of Seldovia, or take a skiff ashore for beachcombing!
Sitka View All
Visit independently, or look for Sitka on your cruise itinerary.
Join Sitka Expeditions for an intimate wildlife cruise. Choose between a 2‑hour trip to Sitka Sound or a 4‑hour deep wilderness exploration for a truly immersive Alaskan experience. Spot whales, sea otters, and bears while exploring stunning Alaskan scenery and active fisheries. Perfect for cruise passengers and families.
Valdez View All
Look for whales while cruising in Prince William Sound
This family-run company operating out of Valdez will show you the best glaciers, with great customer service along the way. On any given day trip you’ll likely see huge rafts of sea otters, horned and tufted puffins, cormorants, humpback whales, or even bald eagles. Stan Stephens offers two daily tours, one of which features Columbia Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in Southcentral Alaska.
Hoonah / Icy Strait View All
One of the largest populations of humpback whales. Small group tours. Visit Hoonah independently, or look for Icy Strait Point on your cruise itinerary.
You’ll be surrounded in one of the largest summer populations of humpback whales found in Alaska with Glacier Wind Charter’s small group tours. Keep an eye out for other wildlife, like eagles, sea lions, seals, sea otters. You may even see coastal brown bears, eating plants along the shore.
Whittier View All
Look for whales while cruising in Prince William Sound. 1.5 hour drive, or 2 hour train from Anchorage.
Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise, out of Whittier, will take you to 26 different glaciers in just 5.5 hours. Enjoy cozy comforts on the high-speed catamaran and wander its outdoor decks as you come within 300 feet of massive tidewater glaciers. In addition to glaciers, the captain will be on the lookout for wildlife like otters, whales, harbor seals, and marine birds. The trip takes place in the afternoon, and a hot lunch is included in your tour. ...more
Lazy Otter offers classic tours, but this is a water taxi, so they’ll also take you anywhere you want to go within Price William Sound — or just customize a tour to whatever you want to see. Maybe that’s glaciers, or whales, — or maybe it’s quiet time on a secluded beach. Lazy Otter can also help facilitate taking you and your family on a camping trip. You’re not held to any strict schedule, either: if, on a day tour, you can spend more time in one ...more