Top Hoonah How to Get Around

Experience an authentic local crab feast with freshly caught shellfish that you’ll first see in the fishing boat, where you’ll learn about crabbing and choose your crab. Your local hosts will then take you and a small group on a tour of Hoonah and Icy Strait Village with totem carving and foraging forest visits. The grand finale is a hand-cooked crab feast at a coastal home with ocean views.

See Alaskan wildlife on this whale-watching tour in Hoonah that takes you out onto the waters of Glacier Bay and Icy Strait, where humpback whales arrive each year to feed before heading south for the winter. The Hoonah whale season is roughly May to September. From the boat, you may also spot orcas, seals, and sea otters.

The Chichagof Island Tour offers an unparalleled two-hour excursion experience, specifically modified to conveniently accommodate cruise ship guests with limited port schedules in Hoonah. What truly sets this land-based adventure apart is its origin as the only tour company operating from Hoonah, assuring one-of-a-kind viewing and learning opportunities led exclusively by local Alaskan Native guides who are lifelong residents intimately familiar with the area. Guests gain unique cultural knowledge, receiving education about the native Alaskan Tlingit culture and learning to identify local plants with medicinal properties. In addition to promising fascinating wildlife, breathtaking views, and fantastic photo opportunities, the itinerary includes the possibility of picking wild berries when in season or going on short walks, if time allows. Also allows you to take other excursions while at Icy Strait Point.

Discover the beauty of Alaska’s Icy Strait on this exclusive 6-passenger, small-group boat tour, and maximize your chances of spotting whales. The custom built catamaran has both indoor and outdoor seating, a spacious deck for photography, an enclosed heated cabin, as well as an onboard restroom. In addition to humpback whales, other exciting Alaskan wildlife may be encountered, including orcas, brown bears, sea lions, otters, eagles, and more.

Embark on Alaska’s premier whale-watching adventure aboard the most comfortable and specialized boat in Icy Strait. This 3-hour small-group tour guarantees whale sightings, bringing you up close to humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, and more. Enjoy protected indoor seating with panoramic views. Led by local experts, this unforgettable experience ensures timely return for your cruise ship departure.

Spend three hours exploring the scenic and remote Chichagod Island on this small group tour that showcases life on the tiny island. Learn from your local guide about the Alaskan wilderness and wildlife while you explore this island that's home to the largest concentration of bears on earth. With just 750 residents, you'll feel far off the beaten path on this tour that's perfect for nature lovers.

Take a 4-hour shore excursion from Hoonah to Icy Strait in search of bears. This area is known as ‘Bear Island’ because it has the highest concentration of brown bears per square mile in the world. Learn about the area’s other wildlife from your informative guide and about the native Tlingit population. Take in the beautiful Alaskan scenery and bring your camera to snap some photos of the wildlife.

Focus on spotting native Alaskan wildlife on this half-day shore excursion on Icy Strait. Once your cruise ship docks in Hoonah, transfer to a boat and embark on a whale-spotting tour in Icy Strait. Listen to in-depth guided commentary on local Alaskan flora and fauna while keeping an eye out for whales, geese, coastal ducks, deer, and bears.

Come join us and choose your own adventure on this 26-foot Hewescraft vessel. This boat was built specifically for whale watching or fishing in extreme comfort. This small group excursion will take you away from the crowds and will allow you to view whales up close and personal or take you on a Halibut fishing adventure. Call for private charters. This boat takes only five passengers at a time for whale watching, and only four passengers for fishing.

Your experience is very unique because it is on a specifically designed whale watching boat. There will be only up to 13 guests aboard so there is plenty of room inside and out for everyone. Your experienced captain is a local resident with a great deal of knowledge of the wildlife and area, and lots of good stories to tell. Our tour length ensures that you have plenty of time to relax and enjoy the beauty of our area and the incredible wildlife. We’ve been sharing our part of the world with enthusiastic guests for over 25 years and would love to share it with you, too.

Optimize your chances of seeing humpback whales on a catamaran tour of Hoonah’s Icy Strait. Absorb views of the Alaskan landscape as you explore, and look out for other native fauna including bald eagles, sea lions, and bears. Keep energized with homemade snacks provided on board, and gain insight into the region’s history, culture, and wildlife from your captain.

This 3-hour driving excursion offers a truly unparalleled Alaska cruise experience, inviting you beyond the ordinary into the authentic heart of the Icy Strait Point area. What sets this tour apart is its immediate immersion into local culture, starting with a beautiful scenic drive leading you directly to the community of Hoonah. Here, you'll be welcomed by Alaskan Natives and lifelong residents who serve as your guides, sharing intimate historical insights as you journey down unique dirt roads initially built for logging timber. These historic routes, now repurposed for tourism, provide exclusive access to the pristine interior of Chichagof Island, unveiling breathtaking landscapes and prime opportunities to spot Alaska's diverse wildlife. Combining comfortable driving with a few very short walks, this tour offers a distinctive blend of local perspective, history, and rugged natural beauty that truly captures the wild spirit of Alaska.

Head into the Icy Straits on a private whale-watching tour. Keep your eyes peeled for humpback whales, Orcas, sea otters, and more. Your captain takes you to the best spots off Hoonah to spot these giant creatures. Relax onboard, sipping provided hot coffee or tea, and be ready to capture wildlife like bald eagles and sea lions.

This isn't just a wildlife tour, it's an immersive experience led by passionate ocean experts. What makes our 3-hour marine wildlife tours truly unique is the decades of combined experience our captains bring to the water. They're not just following a route; they're drawing on a lifetime of knowledge and intuition to find the best wildlife viewing opportunities. Above all, we prioritize respectful practices and the safety of our passengers, ensuring both the animals and you are treated with care. But perhaps what truly sets us apart is the genuine enthusiasm of our guides. They spend their time off exploring the ocean, and their passion for marine life is infectious, making for an unforgettable and educational tour.

This isn't just a wildlife tour, it's an immersive experience led by passionate ocean experts. What makes our 3-hour marine wildlife tours truly unique is the decades of combined experience our captains bring to the water. They're not just following a route; they're drawing on a lifetime of knowledge and intuition to find the best wildlife viewing opportunities. Above all, we prioritize respectful practices and the safety of our passengers, ensuring both the animals and you are treated with care. But perhaps what truly sets us apart is the genuine enthusiasm of our guides. They spend their time off exploring the ocean, and their passion for marine life is infectious, making for an unforgettable and educational tour.

Our newer, more spacious catamaran allows for better viewing and more space to move around in. With almost floor to ceiling windows and more comfortable seating the heated main cabin boasts a luxurious whale watching experience. The second deck allows guests a view from above, giving a birds eye view of these magnificent animals in all their glory. This 49 passenger vessel is great for families, small children and larger groups. Our incredibly stable vessel offers a smoother ride and spectacular viewing for all ages!