How likely am I to see whales on this tour?

Whale sightings are common, especially humpbacks and orcas, as the Misty Fjords are part of their feeding and migration routes.

Is this trip suitable for children or elderly travelers?

Yes, the tour is family-friendly and suitable for most ages, but anyone with mobility or sea sickness issues should prepare accordingly.

What wildlife besides whales can I expect to see?

Visitors often spot black and brown bears, Sitka deer, mountain goats, and occasionally wolves along the shoreline.

Are meals or snacks provided during the trip?

Reel Alaska offers snacks and drinks onboard, and you may bring your own lunch or request custom provisions.

What is the cancellation policy?

For details about deposits and refunds, please refer to Reel Alaska Fishing Charter’s policy at their site.

Where do tours depart from?

Tours depart from Ketchikan, with pickup options available for cruise ship passengers downtown or Ward Cove.

Whale Watching & Misty Fjords Tour with Reel Alaska

The Misty Fjords National Monument stretches over 2.3 million acres in southeastern Alaska, offering one of the continent’s most dramatic and rugged wilderness landscapes. It’s here that Reel Alaska Fishing Charter delivers a private, high-speed boat tour that plunges visitors deep into this frozen-in-time world of sheer cliffs, temperate rainforests, and glacier-carved waterways. This roughly 4.5-hour journey is an intense immersion in raw nature, where every bend in the waterway promises powerful wildlife encounters and geological wonders.

Setting out from Ketchikan, the gateway city for southeast Alaska’s outdoor adventures, guests speed toward the iconic New Eddystone volcano. This ancient volcanic cone, last active roughly 15,000 years ago, stands as a stark reminder of the region’s fiery geological past. The volcanic formations here differ sharply from the surrounding fjord’s polished granite surfaces, adding striking contrast to the scenery.

The tour also doubles as a live animal safari. Whales—typically humpbacks and occasionally orcas—often breach near the vessels, while attentive eyes might catch glimpses of black and brown bears along forested shoreline slopes. Sitka deer and mountain goats sometimes mill about the cliffs, and wolves have been known to patrol more remote areas. The variety of wildlife within such a short excursion makes this trip a singular way to experience Alaskan fauna.

What sets Reel Alaska apart is its blend of expert local knowledge and the adrenaline rush of high-speed boating. The team tailors each outing to maximize wildlife sightings and to provide an adventurous route through this vast wilderness. Their approach respects the natural environment, making the trip both thrilling and sustainable.

For travelers keen on Alaskan landscapes beyond the usual cruise experience, this tour offers a deep dive into a remote, little-visited corner of North America’s last frontier. From the jagged cliffs to the depths of the rainforest, the Misty Fjords reveal Alaska’s grandeur with a side of exhilaration few other excursions can match.

About Reel Alaska Fishing Charter

Reel Alaska Fishing Charter operates from Ketchikan, Alaska, providing guided fishing charters and wildlife excursions throughout Southeast Alaska.

The company offers a range of trips including Full Day Combo Fishing Tours, Half Day Salmon Fishing Excursions (maximum six clients per vessel), Half Day Bottom Fishing & Nature Tours, Ketchikan Crabbing, Whales & Wildlife Excursions, Ketchikan Whales & Wildlife Excursions, Backwater Bears & Whale watching Excursions, and Private Whale Watching & Misty Fjords National Park Tours.

Excursions range from two-hour wildlife searches departing directly from cruise ships to extended backwater journeys of 50–100 miles into the Tongass National Forest and 4.5-hour private passages into Misty Fjords National Monument. Target species listed in trip descriptions include halibut, all five species of salmon, lingcod, and Dungeness and rock crabs. Several tours combine fishing with whale and wildlife viewing; wildlife highlights named in trip copy include humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, and coastal bears, and scenic features such as New Eddystone volcano.

Trip information indicates options to ship fresh catch home after crabbing or fishing trips and notes private charter options for customized itineraries. The Private Whale Watching & Misty Fjords National Park Tour description references high-speed boating through wilderness channels. Several excursions explicitly depart directly from cruise ships, offering shore-friendly options for cruise passengers visiting Ketchikan.

Itineraries focus on angling for halibut, salmon, and lingcod, combined with guided wildlife observation across Southeast Alaska locations including the Inside Passage, Misty Fjords, Neets Bay, and Traitors Cove.