Whale Watching and Wildlife Excursion

Whale and Wildlife Excursion

Glacier Wind Charters provides customized, small group whale watching tours aboard our specially designed catamarans.

Our tours afford you plenty of space to spread out on the boat and enjoy an uncrowded, relaxing Alaskan whale watching adventure. Our attention to detail with the cleanliness of our boats, comfort levels of our guests, and little thoughtful extras are second to none.

Guests must be at least 9 years old and able to walk short distances to get on/off the boat and in/out of a van.

For those with mobility issues, before booking, please read the details under guest information or FAQ.

Booking Options

You can easily book online right from this page. Payment in full is required.

If you prefer to book directly with us, please call or email. A credit card deposit of $50 pp is required to secure the reservation. Reservations made after April 1st will need to be paid in full.

Tour Times and Duration

Your tour will be 3.5 hours

Please use the calendar to see our tour times and availability. There are many days with more than one ship in port at Icy Strait Point, so please check your itinerary carefully before booking so that the tour you choose also fits with your ship’s departure time.

What to Bring

• Camera
• Binoculars
• Extra camera battery
• Rain jacket (if you have one)

Learn more >

What to Expect

Icy Strait is home to a regular population of humpback whales. We travel the waters of Icy Strait and Port Frederick where the whales and other marine mammals congregate to feed on the huge schools of bait fish concentrated in the cold currents that meet in this rich area.

Humpback whales can often be seen feeding at the surface using their unique “bubble nets.” Singles and small groups of whales are often spotted using this unique method of catching fish along the shoreline between Icy Strait Point and the harbor in the town of Hoonah. On occasion, we are able to find a super-pod (as many as 20 individuals) bubble feeding near town. The bubble feeding technique is used in only a few areas of the world and the beaches near Hoonah are one of these locations.

Along with feeding, the whales engage in all sorts of frolic; breaching, slapping their flippers, waving their tails and exchanging trumpets, groans, and grumbles. Enjoy hearing what the whales are “saying,” with our onboard hydrophone.

Frequently during the summer, a group of orcas moves through the area giving us the opportunity to watch these magnificent animals in their natural element. Elusive and awesome, seeing these playful but efficient hunters make for a truly special day on the water.

The waters and shoreline of Icy Strait and Port Frederick also afford us some amazing wildlife viewing and photography opportunities as we travel back and forth to the most productive whale watching areas. You can expect to see stellar sea lions, harbor seals, and porpoises as well on your whale watching tour in Hoonah. Many days we also find a brown bear feeding near the shoreline.

Refreshments

Snacks, such as individually packaged chips, and beverages – water and hot chocolate are available on board. Guests are welcome to bring their own snacks, especially those with dietary restrictions.