Sitka Premier Whale Watching and Wildlife Tour
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Sitka, USA
+12
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Get closer to nature than you could on your own during an adventure around Sitka Sound, home to majestic whales, brown bears, eagles, and many other rare species. Create lasting memories of seeing these wonderful animals in their natural habitats while learning more about them from the experts. Whether you’re calling at Sitka during your cruise or staying in town, this activity is an ideal introduction to the area for wildlife enthusiasts.
- Cover lots of ground in a short space of time
- Maximize your chances of spotting multiple species on a guided tour
- Relax and enjoy the views while somebody else does the driving
- Enjoy uninterrupted views and photo ops from the spacious deck
What's Included
- SnacksWater and Snacks
- Onboard spacious bathroom
- Designated pickup and drop off arrangements
- Spacious deck space to view and photograph wildlife from
- Experienced and licensed USCG captains!
- Ground transportation
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Harrigan Centennial Hall330 Harbor Dr, Sitka, AK 99835, USA
Please meet behind the Harrigan Centennial Hall near the backdoor of the building facing the harbor. We will send you your pickup instructions days prior to your tour. If you are docked at the Sitka Cruise Terminal, please ensure you board a shuttle to downtown Sitka.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Sitka Sound
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- No land pickup available. We will meet you at 330 Harbor Drive (where the shuttle buses drop you off on the backside of the building.)
- No stress guaranteed for return time to the ship.
- This tour is weather dependent, if the captain deems the weather too bad you will be issued a full refund or a different tour
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 21 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
We had a great whale watching tour!!! Mike is a very friendly & fun guy! This is an awesome way to get up close to nature!!! It is a small boat & there were just 4 passengers!
Mike gave us great information about everything that we were looking for & that we saw!!! We saw many humpbacks , sea otters & stellar sea lions…and , a beautiful bald eagle!
I would book this tour again in a heartbeat!!!!!!!!
Reviews
4.9
based on 243 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
It was beautiful and we saw lots of wildlife! We saw whales bear, eagles, sea otters, sea lions and lots of salmon.
Whales, otters and eagles. Great trip with an amazing guide. Every few minutes the whales would dive providing a great view of their tails.
Soggy Sitka by the Sea. Our tour bus driver coined that and it’s so true. Despite the rain, Parker still gave us great experience. We saw bears and 2 whales. The water was choppy so the otters and sea lions hid from us that day. Parker was super knowledgeable and friendly. Loved his banter and knowledge of the animals and the area. Animals are unpredictable and we were happy to have at least a few spottings. Thank you!
Very nice Small boat experience got to see whales bears sea lions, salmon. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining, and she took great pictures with her wonderful camera and shared them with those who wanted closer up pictures of the bears and wildlife. We were lucky enough to see a whale breach and another person on the boat got a great shot and shared it with the rest of the group. It was a small intimate affair with about 20 people highly recommend this tour.
This was a wonderful tour with an exceptional tour guide (Jac) and boat captain (Frank) We saw whales and bear and sea lions and jellyfish. Great information on the area and the fishing industry.
Great experience. Saw lots of whales. Wish we could have gotten a little closer. Saw other animals as well. Staff was friendly and very knowledgeable. Very good experience overall.
Great trip with lots of wildlife. Very comfortable seats for when the seas get rough. The staff did a great job of keeping you informed and getting you too the best wildlife each day. We had a very active humpback that put on an amazing experience, sea others flooring around, lots of bears and sea lions.
Captain Mike took us on a fantastic boat ride to see all kinds of wildlife! He was so knowledgeable and made sure we had the opportunity to see as much as possible. Our group of four got personal attention on this amazing tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for the great review, Kari! We are happy you had a wonderful day out on the water with Captain Mike!
Guide was very knowledgeable and personable driving boat was very personable to. We had a great ride. Got to see many whales
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Yay! We love it when our guests get to experience a wonderful whale show 🐋 Thank you for joining us, Patricia!
We had so much fun on this excursion! Our boat captain put us right in the middle of a pod of humpbacks. They were so close! Twice a humpback came up and even nudged the boat. We were so close that we could see its eyes!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
That's awesome, Kim! Everyday you hope to see a curious whale, but you actually got to meet one! We can never predict where the whales will go during their feeding dives, but sometimes they just pop up next to you Thank you for joining!
This was an amazing experience! After 46 years I finally saw a whale up close and personal! Couldn’t have asked for a better day. My whole family left amazed! Thank you Parker :)
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Wow, Sara!! It's always so special being able to help check off bucket list adventures🐋 Thank you for coming out with us!
Parker and the rest of the team were great! There were 6 of us and we were able to see bears, whales, and otters. We lucked out with great weather but our captain expertly navigated the waterways, the boat was very nice, and he stayed in communication with other vessels that went out at the same time giving us multiple eyes and ears out for wildlife. He had decent binoculars for us to use which we would have been lost without.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Sounds like a great time! Thank you for bringing the sunshine and coming out with us 🌤️😎
Our captain, Parker did an extraordinary job keeping us safe, dry and we saw lots of wildlife! Highly recommend this small boat experience! Cheers!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for coming out! We're glad you had a great time🥳
As with any tour for wildlife there is a chance you may see very little but we got to enjoy watching a momma bear and her 3 cubs; lots of whales; sea lions; otter rafts and pretty sure I saw a puffin speed by the boat.
The staff were very knowledgeable and friendly.
I definitely recommend this excursion team.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Karen, we're so happy you got to see it all!! Thank you for joining our expedition!
Absolutely wonderful. Saw a grizzly and three cubs. Humpback whales and otters and a beautiful boat ride
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for coming out with us! It's great to hear that you had a wonderful time 🤗
This excursion was by far the best excursion we have ever been on. Our guide was so knowledgeable and friendly. Our captain was also awesome getting us in as close as we can to see the momma bear and her three cubs. The otters, the sea lions the whales. We seen it all on n our excursion! Simply the best. What a difference it makes to have guides that love their job and the public.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Cindi, it was great having you aboard!! The bears were such a highlight on the tour! Thank you for coming out with us 🤠
I can’t believe how incredible this was. We saw a momma bear and her two cubs, so many whales, otters, seals and eagles! Our tour guide was so nice and knowledgeable. The boat was beautiful and smooth. It was a once in a lifetime experience and so worth the money. A must do!!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Rachel, we're ecstatic to hear you enjoyed your time out with us! Thank you for joining 😄
It was just beautiful. The scenery was breathtaking and out guide very friendly and knowledgeable. Would recommend this excursion to anyone.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Hi Mary, thank you for the great review! We appreciate you exploring Sitka with us 🤠
The day was rainy and gloomy, but that didn't stop our team from taking us on the excursion. The boat held about 14 people plus 2-3 crew. The smaller size allowed us to be closer to the water and the windows opened, allowing unobstructed viewing. We saw a mama bear and her 3 cubs as well as several humpback whales! It was a wonderful experience.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Hi Ann, thank you for the wonderful review! Everyday here in Sitka is beautiful as long as you know where to look and we are so glad you got to see that 🤩
HIGHLY recommend this tour! For starters, it was a small group and the boat was extremely clean and nice! Parker was the captain and knew the perfect spots to take us to see the wildlife. Better than I expected!!!!!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for the kind words, Robyn! Sitka has it all, and we were glad to show you all the best spots!
Outstanding, saw lots of wildlife, guide and captain were great. Whales, otters, bald eagles, sea lions!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for coming out, Theresa! Glad you had a great time :)
Both the guide and boat captain wee great. Super informative. Saw s o me beats, eagles, whales, and more.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for coming out on the boat with us! Glad you got to see what we call a grand slam (Otters, sea lions, eagles, humpback whales, and bears seen on one tour)!!!
Parker is a knowledgeable and friendly captain. He managed to show us a brown bear and her cub, six or seven whales and otters. Awesome time.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Sounds like a great tour, Jerry! Thank you for choosing to come out with us :)
I had a great experience i was greeted by my driver Lance he was very friendly and kind. The weather was absolutely Beautiful in early August. Lance had a very clean and updated boat and his hospitality was top tier.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Sounds like a great tour! We're glad guests appreciate Captain Lance as much as we do 😄 Thank you for joining!
The trip was very good. We covered a lot of area in a short amount of time. We saw bears, whales, otters and sea lions. The naturalist on board was very knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you, Linda, for your kind review! It always amazes me how much we cover in just two hours, but it is always a wonderful time. We appreciate you choosing us as your adventure buddy🐻🐋🦦 🦭
The team did a great job! We seen bears, sea otters, whales , and sea lions. We had a fabulous time. Highly recommended.!!!!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We appreciate you joining, Eddie! What a successful trip! We're happy you had a good time 🐋🐻
The communication was great, and the guides were extremely knowledgeable. We saw whales, a bear and sea lions. The experience was really great!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Yay! Sounds like a successful tour 😎 Thank you for joining!
So many whales! Very knowledgeable captain. Extra touches put this trip over the top. Best day in Alaska.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
The whales have been incredible this year, so happy you got to experience it! Thank you for exploring with us 🤠
Memorable and great educational experience, this was likely one of our favorite excursions of the cruise, highly recommended
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you, Jayson! We take pride in not only showing the best sights of Sitka, but also sharing all the cool facts about it 🤓. Being one of your top excursions is wonderful to hear! We appreciate you coming out with us!
Our whale and wildlife watching tour in Sitka was fabulous! We had great guides and animal sightings!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
That's wonderful to hear! Glad it was a great tour 😃Thank you for joining!
From $199.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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