Sitka’s Best Local Whale Watching & Marine Wildlife Tour
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Sitka, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover Alaska’s wildlife on this small-group tour through the waters of Sitka Sound. Keep your eye out for seals, bald eagles, sea lions, whales, bears, and more creatures big and small. Learn about the area’s flora and fauna from your guide as you coast along the water. Perfect for nature-lovers, this intimate tour is limited to six people.
- Great for adventure-seekers
- Service animals are very welcome
- The experience is stroller-accessible
- There are plenty of chances for photos of the stunning scenery
What's Included
- Bottled water
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Harrigan Centennial Hall330 Harbor Dr, Sitka, AK 99835, USA
The meeting point is at Harrigan Centennial Hall in downtown Sitka, Alaska (330 Harbor Drive). This is the location where the cruise ship shuttle buses will drop you off in Town. We will be there waiting under the "Tours & Excursions Banner" holding a sign with your name on it!
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Sitka
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Deborah_D
We had a wonderful tour with Captain Jaren! He was so kind and knowledgeable about the area, as he was born and raised in Sitka. We had a beautiful, sunny and warm day for our boat ride. We saw a bunch of humpback whales and sea otters! All in all, a fabulous day! We would highly recommend!
Reviews
4.8
based on 176 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Aidan_M, Sep 2026
What a wonderful and intimate way to experience the waters of Sitka! Captain Jaren was extremely informative and showed us some incredible spots with spectacular wildlife. Being a small boat with only 5 of us onboard meant we felt even closer to the wildlife and Jaren was able to share many stories from the local area, having grown up and lived in Sitka. Highly recommend!
Kim_L, Sep 2026
This was my favorite excursion on my Alaska cruise. Jared was awesome and super knowledgeable about whales and Sitka.
albaytorres, Sep 2026
If you’re visiting Sitka, Best Local Whale Watching & Marine Tours is an absolute must! We were fortunate to have Captain Brody, and he truly delivered a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Within **three minutes** of leaving the harbor, we had already spotted a majestic bald eagle and four sea lions. From there, we cruised comfortably to the whale feeding grounds, and what happened next was beyond anything we imagined. We counted about eight humpback whales surrounding our boat! They surfaced all around us, giving us incredible photo and video opportunities that we’ll treasure forever.
One of the biggest items on my Alaska bucket list was seeing bears in the wild, and Captain Brody made that dream come true. We found a mama bear with her two cubs feeding along the shoreline. We were able to watch them peacefully as the cubs explored, played, and even tried finding food on their own. It was one of the most incredible wildlife moments I’ve ever experienced.
Captain Brody was knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about sharing Alaska’s wildlife while respecting the animals and their habitat. The small-group experience made it feel like our own private tour, and we never felt rushed.
This was, without question, one of the highlights of our Alaska cruise. If you’re looking for an unforgettable wildlife experience in Sitka, book with **Best Local Whale Watching & Marine Tours**—and if you get Captain Brody, you’re in for something truly special
Kim_C, Sep 2026
Local family tour! This was a perfect excursion for our family, 3 generations ages 45-81. We all thoroughly enjoyed the trip and Brody was so knowledgeable and kind. He answered all our questions and made us feel completely comfortable on the boat. Seals, Bears & Whales! Great trip! Highly recommend
Beth_A, Sep 2026
The tour is easy to find and the communication is great. Joel was friendly and perfectly low-key, which we really appreciated. We saw a mama bear and two cubs and plenty of humpback whales. We really appreciated Joel making an effort for us to see as much as possible, even when the weather was not perfectly ideal.
Nancy_N, Aug 2026
Captain Jaren was the best guide! His knowledge and love of all things Sitka made our trip so enjoyable. We saw seals, eagles, brown bears and so many whales. It was a dream come true for me and my family. The boat was perfect, the amount of time was perfect, communication was outstanding! Take this tour, you won’t regret it.
Marsy_R, Aug 2026
Our guide Brody was very knowledgeable and friendly. He told us where we were headed to and what we were hoping to see. We saw a sea lion, lots of whales and two adult bears and 3 cubs.
Margaret_M, Aug 2026
Highly recommend this tour. Capt. Brody was great, very informative and engaging. Saw eagles, humpback whales, sea otters(up close) and jumping salmon. We had 5 guests and Capt. Brody. Loved the small boat experience.
David_K, Aug 2026
Great experience. Our guide was Joel. Very pleasant and knowledgeable. We saw a bear, lots of eagles, sea lions, sea otters and several humpback whales. One came within 10 ft. of our boat. Highly recommend.
Susan_F, Aug 2026
Amazing experience! We went out to an area where whales had been seen earlier that day and it did not disappoint..we even saw sea otters and other wildlife along the way!! Nice excursion with only six of us, so it wasn’t overcrowded. Thank you Joel!!!
Pamela_R, Aug 2026
Exceeded our expectations. Joel was a very knowledgeable guide. Just as advertised, we saw many wildlife including bear, eagles, salmon, sea otters, sea lions, and harbor seal and whales. Couldn't ask for a better experience. Joel knew lots about the geography and wildlife. What a delight! Would recommend this to anyone visiting Sitka. It well worth our time and money.
Brett_R, Jul 2026
24 foot new aluminum boat. Clean, comfortable, enclosed. Mike was patient friendly and very accommodating. Saw wild bears, humpback whales and sea lions and seals. Vote comfortably fit 4 to 6 people. I like this better than the large boats. Great trip!!!
Jayme_P, Jul 2026
Jaren was great, very knowledgeable about the area and very personable. The boat was perfect as we could move around and see all around us. He went above and beyond, taking videos on my phone so I could watch the whales unencumbered. Would definitely book again!
Jerimy_K, Jul 2026
Excellent tour!!!! We came in on a cruise ship, but didn’t wanna book through their itineraries..we wanted our own personal charter. We booked this through Viator (though you can book directly with them on their website as well). We got in early from the ship and Captain Brody took us out even earlier than our scheduled time. He told us all about the area, and knew exactly where to go to see wildlife. We saw otters, sea lions, seals, grey whales and humpback whales…. I couldn’t recommend Captain Brody and this tour enough!!
Jonathan_S, Jul 2026
Outstanding tour. Weather wasn’t the best but Jerin went out of his way to make sure we saw lots of wildlife! We saw sea lions, otters, seals, whales and balding eagles. Jaren was very communicative. We would absolutely recommend this tour.
Tracy_S, Jul 2026
Great trip - Jaren was determined to show us whales, sea otters and other wildlife. Great tour of the beautiful coastline as well. Highly recommend.
Katie_N, Jul 2026
Brodey was awesome. It was a much smaller intimate environment with only 5 people on board with him. He truly wanted us to see whale & we ended up in a large pod. It was never rushed & he was very informational
Tamayo_A, Jul 2026
This was one of the most fun experience we've had. Captain Dan was incredibly. He went above and beyond, even going as far as to putting my mobility scooter in his both for safety. Highly recommend!
Kevin_O, Jun 2026
We had a great trip. Our guide Joel found a pod of Orca’s and we were so excited to experience them. I understand it’s not easy finding them. Also saw some sea lions feeding on fish, otters and eagles. 5-star trip, highly recommend a smaller boat tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for the kind words! So awesome you were able to view Orca's!
Debbie_W, Jun 2026
Captain Brody was fantastic! He is so knowledgeable about the area and willing to answer any questions about growing up in Alaska. We saw whales, otters, and sea lions. Such a great afternoon on the water! This tour is a definite YES!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for joining! We're glad you enjoyed your time with us!
Rande_S, Jun 2026
Great tour! Small group was great.
Saw whales, sea lions and beautiful Alaska scenery.
Captain Jaren was very friendly and knowledgeable
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks for the kind words!
Coke_S, Jun 2026
Nice small group tour in a small fishing boat with a cabin that fit 4-5 people plus the captain. We saw sea lions up close and seals, otters, and whales from a reasonable viewing distance. The best thing was enjoying the scenery on the water with a local sharing his life experiences growing up in Sitka. Captain Brody was friendly and informative. Would definitely recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the kind review!
Danielle_H, Jun 2026
We had an absolutely amazing experience on our nature and whale watching tour in Sitka, Alaska! The owner took our small group out, and from start to finish the trip was incredible. Their knowledge of the area and enthusiasm for wildlife made the experience even more special.
We were fortunate enough to see bald eagles, sea otters, sea lions, and two different types of whales, which made for an unforgettable day. The small group setting allowed for a more personal experience and plenty of opportunities to take in the breathtaking scenery and enjoy watching the animals in their natural habitat.
You could tell how passionate the owner is about what they do, and that passion made the tour truly exceptional. This was one of the highlights of our Alaska trip, and we highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Sitka. Thank you for an unforgettable adventure!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks! We appreciate the kind review and joining us on tour!
Amanda_M, Jun 2026
Amazing experience. Our guide was great. Super informative. We saw a ton of wildlife. Sitka was awesome.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks!
Becky_R, Jun 2026
Absolutely loved that our captain Brody was from Sitka. His extensive knowledge of Alaska and Sitka was so valuable and made the excursion so much more enjoyable. He was a lot of fun to interact with. Loved that he worked with the other boats to give us the best view of multiple wales. Highly recommend the small boats, it gave us a the best view possible of all of the wildlife. Highly recommend this family run business.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
We appreciate the kind words and joining us on board!
Ossama_K, May 2026
The views were amazing, and the captain was so friendly! The captain was both friendly and knowledgeable, and the views were truly spectacular. Plus, they included snacks and water.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks for joining and the kind review! It's much appreciated
Debbie_L, May 2026
We scheduled an excusion for Whale watching that was cancelled and luckily we rebooked with Sitka’s Best Local Whale Watching & Marine Wildlife Tour. We were fortunate to have Joel, as our captian who did not cancel and was willing to take 2 of us out for a couple hours for whale watching. We did see a couple whales, this is early in the season for Alaskan whale watching so the sightings were not numerous or spectacular. Our captain Joel however was engaging and knowledgeable about the area. We were given a great history of Sitka and Alaskan marine life. I would highly recommend this company and Joel as the captain for your excusion.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you!!
Sandy_C, May 2026
Our guide was amazing. He went to many places looking to find the best wildlife. We was in Ahh of the scenery
Nik, May 2026
Excellent. Very informative and flexible and saw rafts of sea otters,whales and seals. Very worthwhile.
Lynn_M, May 2026
Jared was approachable and welcoming. We had a great afternoon with him looking for whales, otter, sea lions, etc
Response from Host, May 2026
Thanks for the kind words! It was great to have you on tour!
From $200.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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