THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Board Captain Josh’s custom 14-passenger boat from Hoonah for a 3-hour Icy Strait outing that pairs close-up whale viewing with professional drone footage you keep. Expect reliable humpback sightings, sea lions, otters and a strong dose of coastal Alaskan geology and Tlingit history.
Board Captain Josh’s custom 14-passenger boat from Hoonah for a 3-hour Icy Strait outing that pairs close-up whale viewing with professional drone footage you keep. Expect reliable humpback sightings, sea lions, otters and a strong dose of coastal Alaskan geology and Tlingit history.
The boat slips from Hoonah’s harbor and the sound of the engine becomes a promise — open water, islands, and the high arcing blows of humpbacks ahead. Salt wind cuts through your layers and the aft rail offers a stage: otters pop their heads like punctuation, Steller sea lions jostle on rocky ledges, and the captain scans for the telltale tail slaps that mark feeding whales.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Alaska Whales & Drones Tours · Hoonah, Alaska
The boat slips from Hoonah’s harbor and the sound of the engine becomes a promise — open water, islands, and the high arcing blows of humpbacks ahead. Salt wind cuts through your layers and the aft rail offers a stage: otters pop their heads like punctuation, Steller sea lions jostle on rocky ledges, and the captain scans for the telltale tail slaps that mark feeding whales.
Icy Strait is a glacially carved corridor between Chichagof Island and the Alaskan mainland, where deep channels and strong tidal flows concentrate baitfish. That abundance has shaped a human history here too: Hoonah is a Tlingit community with a long maritime culture built on fishing and trade, and the shoreline shows both old clan sites and more recent commercial fishing infrastructure.
Captain Josh runs a 14-passenger boat designed for clear sightlines and stability, pairing traditional spotting with an FAA-approved drone to capture aerial behavior — you leave with a USB of footage. Tours run about three hours and aim for close, nonintrusive viewing of humpbacks, orcas, seals, and the occasional brown bear onshore.
Practical guide: dress warm in layers, bring motion-sickness prevention if you’re sensitive, and a camera or binoculars for on-deck viewing. Respect the wildlife distance set by your captain; drone use is managed to avoid disturbance. Plan for variable weather, check tide and wind forecasts, and arrive at the tour desk on Harbor Drive 15 minutes early. This trip balances cinematic aerial perspective with hands-on natural history — a compact, accessible way to experience coastal Alaska’s megafauna.
easy.
3 hours.
Suitable for most fitness levels; you should be able to climb a short gangway and stay steady on a moving boat.
Check in at The Shops by HTA at 335 Harbor Drive in Hoonah and arrive 15 minutes early to board on time.
Humpbacks are abundant and the operator reports very high sighting rates, but wildlife is never guaranteed; sightings vary with season and sea conditions.
Yes — the tour deploys a professional drone and provides a USB drive with filmed footage for each group.
Tours may be canceled for safety in bad weather; the operator’s policy allows a full refund if canceled at least 24 hours before departure and may cancel if conditions are unsafe.
Hoonah is a contemporary Tlingit community with roots in coastal harvesting; the town’s maritime economy has long centered on fishing and boat travel.
Operators follow distance and disturbance guidelines; drone flights are managed to minimize stress on animals and visitors are urged to pack out waste and avoid approaching wildlife.
Alaska Whales & Drones Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The boat slips from Hoonah’s harbor and the sound of the engine becomes a promise — open water, islands, and the high arcing blows of humpbacks ahead. Salt wind cuts through your layers and the aft rail offers a stage: otters pop their heads like punctuation, Steller sea lions jostle on rocky ledges, and the captain scans for the telltale tail slaps that mark feeding whales.
The boat slips from Hoonah’s harbor and the sound of the engine becomes a promise — open water, islands, and the high arcing blows of humpbacks ahead. Salt wind cuts through your layers and the aft rail offers a stage: otters pop their heads like punctuation, Steller sea lions jostle on rocky ledges, and the captain scans for the telltale tail slaps that mark feeding whales.
Icy Strait is a glacially carved corridor between Chichagof Island and the Alaskan mainland, where deep channels and strong tidal flows concentrate baitfish. That abundance has shaped a human history here too: Hoonah is a Tlingit community with a long maritime culture built on fishing and trade, and the shoreline shows both old clan sites and more recent commercial fishing infrastructure.
Captain Josh runs a 14-passenger boat designed for clear sightlines and stability, pairing traditional spotting with an FAA-approved drone to capture aerial behavior — you leave with a USB of footage. Tours run about three hours and aim for close, nonintrusive viewing of humpbacks, orcas, seals, and the occasional brown bear onshore.
Practical guide: dress warm in layers, bring motion-sickness prevention if you’re sensitive, and a camera or binoculars for on-deck viewing. Respect the wildlife distance set by your captain; drone use is managed to avoid disturbance. Plan for variable weather, check tide and wind forecasts, and arrive at the tour desk on Harbor Drive 15 minutes early. This trip balances cinematic aerial perspective with hands-on natural history — a compact, accessible way to experience coastal Alaska’s megafauna.