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Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor

82 Reviews 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 82 reviews collected by Cool Alaska and TripAdvisor |
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
Hoonah, USA

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This is usually booked 22 (0) days in advance.

3 hours 45 minutes (approx.)
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Overview

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 – Icy Strait Point 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 to take full advantage of 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.

What's Included

  • Private transportation
  • Restroom on board

    Meeting and Pickup

    Pickup point
    Pickup details

    We will meet you at your cruise ship port, Icy Strait Point, 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 at Icy Strait Point. 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.

    Start Times

    What To Expect

    Icy Strait

    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.
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    3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

    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 Port Frederick and 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.
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    Additional Info

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

    Frequently Asked Questions

    (6)

    Q: Is this an accessible Tour?

    A: Accessibility information for the Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor is as follows:Service animals allowedPublic transportation options are available nearbySuitable for all physical fitness levelsApr 2025

    The answers provided below are based on answers previously given to customers' questions.

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    Still have questions?

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    Activity code: C-418413P1

    Traveler Photos

    Reviews

    5.00
    82 reviews

    Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 82 traveler reviews collected by Cool Alaska and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

    5 stars
    82
    4 stars
    0
    3 stars
    0
    2 stars
    0
    1 star
    0

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    This is usually booked 22 (0) days in advance.

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    Cancellation Policy

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    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (AKDT).
    • This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
    • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

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