Hoonah Whale Watching with Drone Footage 3 hr - Image 1
Hoonah Whale Watching with Drone Footage 3 hr - Image 2
Hoonah Whale Watching with Drone Footage 3 hr - Image 3
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Hoonah Whale Watching with Drone Footage 3 hr

TourTruth score 9.4 out of 10

ExcellentTop 8% in Hoonah

592 reviews · Rated on 2 providers · How we score

  • Hoonah
  • 3 hrs
  • Updated November 2, 2026

Watch humpback whales in Icy Strait on a small-group Hoonah boat tour, with drone footage of wildlife to take home on USB.

About this tour

Set out from Hoonah into the wildlife-rich waters of Icy Strait, where humpback whales rise, feed, and dive against an expansive Alaskan backdrop. This 3-hour Hoonah whale watching tour pairs time on the water with a distinctive aerial perspective: a certified drone pilot captures footage of whales and other wildlife as you watch from the boat.

Captain Josh guides the trip aboard a whale-watching vessel with room for up to 14 passengers. Keep an eye out for humpbacks, sea lions, and otters, with orcas, brown bears, and other wildlife also possible. Between viewing spots, you can see footage captured during the excursion; afterward, take home a USB drive with drone video from the day. Snacks, soft drinks, and bottled water are provided, and pickup and drop-off are available at the cruise ship dock.

Check in at the Excursions Hub 15 minutes before departure, allowing extra time to reach it from your dock. For a memorable Hoonah whale watching experience, bring your curiosity and enjoy the view from both the water and above.

Highlights

  • Watch humpback whales surface, feed, and dive in Icy Strait
  • See wildlife from above with drone footage captured during the tour
  • Look out for sea lions, otters, orcas, and brown bears
  • Take home a USB drive with footage from your trip

What's included

Included

  • 3-hour whale and wildlife watching excursion by private boat
  • Cruise ship dock pickup and drop-off at the Excursions Hub
  • Snacks and soft drinks
  • Bottled water
  • Drone viewing of whales and wildlife
  • USB drive with drone footage; one per group

Not included

  • Gratuities

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

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Themes that come up most in this tour's reviews.

Important information

  • Check in 15 minutes before departure; the boat leaves on time
  • From the Adventure Dock, allow 6–8 minutes to walk to the Excursions Hub
  • From the Wilderness Dock, the walk to the Adventure Center takes about 25 minutes; the Transporter Gondola ride takes about 3 minutes
  • Round-trip transport is provided by Hoonah Travel Adventures; check in with staff at the Excursions Hub
  • Infants and small children may ride in a stroller; infants must sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Frequently asked questions

How long is the tour?

The whale and wildlife watching excursion lasts 3 hours.

What wildlife might I see?

Humpback whales are commonly sighted, and you may also see sea lions, otters, orcas, brown bears, and other wildlife.

Is drone footage included?

Yes. Drone footage is captured during the tour, and a USB drive with footage is provided, one per group.

Where do I meet the tour?

Check in at the Excursions Hub. Pickup and drop-off are provided at the cruise ship dock.

How early should I arrive?

Check in 15 minutes before departure. The boat leaves on time.

How this score is calculated

This tour scores 4.97 on Viator and 5.00 on GetYourGuide. Ratings on these sites cluster near the top of the 5-star scale, so we compare each one with all other ratings on the same site before combining them.

How the score works and rating distribution in Hoonah
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 9.4. Top 8% in Hoonah means it ranks in the top 8% of tours in Hoonah by this score.

Provider rating distribution in Hoonah

How many tours in Hoonah have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

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