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Beyond Sitka

Private Charter Scenic Wildlife Excursion for Cruise Passengers

Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Sitka, USA
  • 3 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0
·
· Alana_K ·
Aug 2026
Captain Chris was so great to work with. The meet up and communication was easy and smooth. Then he took us the most amazing boat ride where we saw bears, bald eagles, otters and whales. He also knew so much about the area that was interesting to learn. I highly recommend this tour.
· Christopher_W ·
Aug 2026
Yes we saw wildlife and had an amazing tour. Bears, whales, sea otters, eagles, and sea lions, oh my! Don’t hesitate to book with captain chris. He was fantastic. Thank you.

Overview

Discover the natural beauty of Alaska—and take the guesswork out of sightseeing—on this private boat tour around Sitka, including soft drinks and light snacks. Pass scenic highlights including Mt. Edgecumbe Volcano and the Tongass National Forest, look out for native wildlife including humpback whales, sea otters, and brown bears, and hear stories and insights as you explore. The tour lasts for three hours but can be extended—extra fee.
  • Avoid the crowds and explore the Sitka landscape on a private boat tour
  • Work around your itinerary and select your start time and tour length
  • Maximize your chances of spotting native wildlife on the water
  • Go beyond the guidebook with live commentary from your local captain

What's Included

  • Private, Fully Equipped+Fueled Coast Guard Approved Boat+Captain, Snacks, Sodas, Water, all Fees+Tax
  • Heated Cabin
  • Gratuities
  • Alcoholic Beverages

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • 3-28 Harbor Dr, Sitka, AK 99835, USA

    At cruise terminal, take free shuttle to town. After you exit the bus, walk towards the water/Crescent Harbor. Take the blue covered gangway down to the harbor/boats. Walk main row to end, then take a right(Row 6, Slip 27). Suzy-Q sits close to the end of Row 6. A 5 to 10 minute walk.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Arranged start time

Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
  • 04/15/2026 - 10/04/2026

    Monday - Sunday : 6:00 AM - 5:00 PM

  • 04/15/2027 - 10/15/2027

    Monday - Sunday : 6:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Itinerary

1

Sitka

2 hours Admission Ticket Free

2

Saint Lazaria Islands

1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • 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
  • Viator will default all tickets to "Adult", but rest assured we are very kid friendly!
  • If anyone in your party has mobility issues, we can prearrange to reposition Suzy-Q closer. Just let us know prior to your arrival in Sitka.
  • We guarantee return to your shuttle or directly to cruise ship prior to your ship’s departure from Sitka.
  • Not recommended for toddlers/infants/frailty.
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Phillip_B
Captain Chris made our day on the water one of the most memorable of our entire vacation. We saw a bear eating salmon as well as whales, otters, eagles and sea lions. And he was so knowledgeable about the history of the area. We would definitely work with Captain Chris again.

Reviews

5.0
based on 31 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Sort by: Most insightful

Best Excursion

Alana_K, Aug 2026
Captain Chris was so great to work with. The meet up and communication was easy and smooth. Then he took us the most amazing boat ride where we saw bears, bald eagles, otters and whales. He also knew so much about the area that was interesting to learn. I highly recommend this tour.

Amazing experience, amazing captain, wow what a great experience

Christopher_W, Aug 2026
Yes we saw wildlife and had an amazing tour. Bears, whales, sea otters, eagles, and sea lions, oh my! Don’t hesitate to book with captain chris. He was fantastic. Thank you.

A whale of a time!

Vanessa_T, Jul 2026
We had an incredible experience with Captain Chris with Outer Coast Charters. We saw mountains, volcanoes, jumping fish, bald eagles, sea lions, sea otters, and the star of the show - humpback whales. We had four people in our group and felt very comfortable on his boat. The Alaskan toilet is better than expected so don’t worry or be shy. We will have those memories for a lifetime. One whale that we affectionally named “Wilma” came right up the boat. It was majestic and more than we could have asked for. Chris is communicative, helpful, focused on safety, fun and easy to get along with. He is knowledgeable about the Sitka Sound and the area he charters. I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Sitka, AK!

Highly Recommend

Jade_H, Jul 2026
Glorious day on the water with Captain Chris! He was so accommodating and gracious. We saw Grey Whales, sea otters, bald eagles, and sea lions. Captain Chris is very knowledgeable and shared stories of the wildlife and history of Sitka.

Exceeded expectations

John_W, Jul 2026
Chris is personable, knowledgeable, and willing to cater to guest requests. The boat was comfortable for the two of us with multiple seating options, but could beg crowded with more than four. We experienced remarkable gray whale activity, and Chris was patient and respectful.

Best Excursion I have ever experienced

Shannon_A, Jul 2026
Excellent in every way! The boat was good size, kept in excellent condition, clean, and we felt very safe Captain Chris was so pleasant and accommodating. Made us feel comfortable and welcome. Shared lots of details about the area. Loved it. We had a perfect day from weather to sea conditions to wildlife. I know a lot of this was not within his control, but it was truly the highlight of our entire cruise. Worth every cent!

10/10 recommend.

Jamie_B, Jul 2026
We had a great time and was able to see so much wildlife ranging from grey whales, bald eagles, sea lions, sea otters, seals, and even a couple deer. Captain Chris was very informative and knowledgeable! We had snacks and drinks on board and it was so nice to have a private charter with just our group of 5. We never felt rushed and was able to spend time watching the whales and snapping pictures before moving on. I would highly recommend 10/10. We had a great experience!

Great excursion and...

May_P, Jul 2026
Great excursion and highly recommend! Captain Chris communicated with us many times leading up to the day of the excursion and gave us very clear instructions on how to find the boat, what to bring, etc. He tailored the trip for us and was very flexible in what we wanted to see. We told him we wanted to see wildlife, especially whales. He went out of his way (and very far out) for us to see both humpbacks and grey whales! Super treat! He provided a variety of snacks and drinks too. We highly recommend Captain Chris, his boat and this excursion.

Incredible Experience for ALL ages!

Alyson_H, Jul 2026
Truly, this was one of the most amazing experiences to have ever had. We knew wildlife could not necessarily be promised, but the wildlife delivered! Beyond that, Captain Chris was kind, funny, safety oriented and an incredible guide! 5 of us participated, including my grandmother with her walker. She was able to see animals that’s she’s waited her entire life to see; and she felt safe the entire time. It was a special experience and we are so grateful to Captain Chris for the amazing experience our family had!! Orcas ✅ Gray whales ✅ Humpback whales ✅ Sea Otters ✅ Bald Eagles ✅ Sea Lions ✅

Great tour

BradHobbs, Jun 2026
Captain Chris did a great job and we quite enjoyed this tour and wildlife. Our group was just four and I prefer the small tours.

Highly Recommended

Stacy_V, May 2026
Captain Chris really personalized the experience for us! We had a great time seeing lots of wildlife around the area.

Outstanding!

Jessamine_B, May 2026
Great experience with Captain Chris! Great communication, picked us up on time from our ship and spent a great day on the water! Saw otters, whales, sea lions and eagles - the views from the water were stunning, from quiet inlets and waterfalls to the open water. Highly recommend this tour - safe, reliable and friendly operator!

The Perfecf Day in Sitka.

Phillip_B, Sep 2025
Captain Chris made our day on the water one of the most memorable of our entire vacation. We saw a bear eating salmon as well as whales, otters, eagles and sea lions. And he was so knowledgeable about the history of the area. We would definitely work with Captain Chris again.

Absolutely mindblowing!

Josh_K, Sep 2025
Captain Chris gave us a day we will never forget. The area is so beautiful, and we saw all kinds of wildlife up close. He went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and provided fascinating commentary during the journey. You simply can't get an experience like this with just anyone, and being in a small boat and able to dart to different spots to catch the wildlife is essential. Do yourself a favor and take this tour, skip the group tour. Its worth every penny!!!

Best Excursion of our Alaskan trip!

miboyer, Aug 2025
Great experience with Captain Chris! He gave us a lot of information, and made sure we saw plenty of wildlife; including whales, sea lions and sea otters. Since the tour was just for us, everything was tailored to exactly what we wanted to see- and the pricing was comparable to what we would have paid through the cruise line. Would 100% recommend- best excursion of our trip!

Chris is a great guide...

Sylvia_Z, Aug 2025
Chris is a great guide and captain. Informative and adaptable to what ever we wanted to see. He was responsive to his passengers’ needs and requests. Put us all at ease from the minute we stepped on the boat.

Captain Chris was very...

Corry_D, Jul 2025
Captain Chris was very nice and accommodating. He helped get a shuttle and was great with our 7 yr old and all his questions as well. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good private tour.

Captain Chris was...

Barbara_P, Jul 2025
Captain Chris was awesome. He is very detailed oriented, especially in safety. We had ages from 5 to 67 and he kept everyone engaged. He asked what we wanted to see and was able to deliver.

Wonderful Excursion

Theresa_H, Jun 2025
Captain Chris was wonderful. We saw everything we wanted to see. Whales, eagles, sea lions. He also took us down some hidden passages that were just beautiful. I really liked that he had a closed portion on his boat that we were able to be in while we went from place to place this kept us warm and out of the rain. 100% recommend

See the wildlife in Sitka

Michelle_B, May 2025
Captain Chris was great and he took us to several different spots to find wildlife and one spot for a little peace and tranquility. The weather wasn't the best, but since the cab was fully enclosed we could stop, pop out for photos and then get back inside to stay mostly dry. We always felt safe, even with rain and wind creating some rough seas at times. We saw seals, eagles, a sea otter (that Captain Chris somehow spotted as we were zooming by), gray whales, and jellyfish! A very good time was had by all! Thanks Captain Chris!

Such a wonderful experience from beginning to finish

Lisa_S, Sep 2024
Our experience with Captain Chris was wonderful. He asked us what we wanted to see and gave us several options which he tailored to our liking. From the beginning of the trip and explaining the boat and safety, to the snacks, soda, coffee, knowing where to go to see things, his knowledge of the area and even giving us a history lesson. We saw several humpback whales; as well as a mom and baby, sea lions and sea otters. We all thoroughly enjoyed our trip and highly recommend Captain Chris and his private charter services. Will definitely be passing along his name to friends who will be taking future Alaskan cruises with a stop in Sitka.

Excellent Experience ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rachel_S, Sep 2024
We had a great trip with Captain Chris! An excellent excursion, probably our favorite of our entire trip to Alaska. A much better alternative to those who took a trip with our cruise line. We were able to see it all- whales, sea lions, otters, and eagles. Captain Chris was extremely knowledgeable. He provided great insight and an excellent experience overall. 10/10 for sure!!

From $1,295.00

per group (up to 5)

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 114 days in advance.

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