Discover the wild heart of Sitka, Alaska.

Our one of a kind multi-day wildlife trips, whale watching boat tours, and award winning wildlife films inspire connection and protection in Sitka, Alaska.

★★★★★
5.0 on Google
Aerial view of an Alaskan river delta with branching streams flowing into a deep blue-green body of water, surrounded by green vegetation and light sandy areas.
Sitka Brown bear standing on hind legs in a grassy field with green foliage in the background.
Winding river reflecting purple and orange hues at sunset in Sitka, Alaska.
Child wearing a blue cap and gray shirt walking through green bushes on a mountain trail with rugged peaks in the background outside of Sitka, Alaska on Baranof Island.
Oystercatchers with bright orange beaks standing on mossy rocks near water.
A mother bear with three cubs in a grassy clearing near trees, one cub standing on its hind legs in Sitka, Alaska.
Person kayaking on calm water at sunset with Mt. Edgecumbe the volcano behind them in the distance.
Audience seated in a dark theater watching sea lions swimming underwater on a large screen Sitka's Hidden Wonders.
Tufted puffin swimming in the blue ocean waters of Sitka Sound with distinctive orange beak and white facial feathers.
Aerial view of a small, densely forested island with clear turquoise water and a white sandy beach, surrounded by dark blue ocean in Sitka Sound.
Calm body of water reflecting pastel colors of sunrise with silhouetted islands and distant mountains in Sitka Sound.
Man jumping off a boat into a calm bay with forested shore and sun low in the sky.
★★★★★
5.0 on Google
Cruise-friendly timing
Small Groups
1-6 Guests
Multi-day Wonder JOurneys
USCG Captain / Naturalist

Explore the Wild Side of Sitka, Alaska

Choose your adventure

Our season runs from late April to mid-September. Every trip carries a maximum of six guests with a USCG-licensed captain and a trained naturalist, whether you have a week to spend or a few hours in port.

A couple stands on a mountain ridge above Sitka Sound at sunset, looking out over islands and distant peaks

Wonder Journeys

5 Days | 6 Guests Max
Private
From $24,000

Plan your journey →
MULTIDAY
A horned puffin in flight low over the water near St. Lazaria Island

Islands of Wonder

4 Hours | 6 Guests Max
Private
$2,200 per group

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FULL DAY
Humpback whale tail in Sitka Sound

Wild Coast Exploration

2.5 Hours | 6 Guests Max
Public or Private
From $200 per person

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HALF DAY
Ben Hamilton smiling with a long telephoto lens, mountains behind him

Trip Photography

Add-on | Any Private Tour
Professionally Shot
$1,000

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Photo Package
Ben Hamilton smiling with a long telephoto lens, mountains behind him

Photo Workshops

Add-on | Any Private Tour
Coaching With Ben Hamilton
From $600

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Workshop
Golden evening light over a braided river estuary and forested mountains near Sitka

Sitka's Hidden Wonders

40 Minutes | Award Winning |
$15 Rent Online

Watch the trailer →
FILMS
From the founder

"There's a reason I've spent nearly twenty years filming this coast. It still surprises me every single day. The wildlife, the landscape, and the community here come together in a way that's awe-inspiring. We built Sitka Wonders to share this place in a deep way. Whether you have a few hours or a full week, our team passionate naturalist, a crew who know these waters, a custom-built vessel, permits to reach beaches few others ever set foot on, and the comfort and care that let small groups of guests connect deeply with wilderness instead of passing it by. We hope everyone who joins us falls in love with this place and leaves a bit more curious about the world. Trip after trip, we see that happen."

Ben Hamilton

Founder · filming this coast since 2007

The place

Why Sitka

A small town, steps away from real wilderness
Sunset over the islands and channels of Sitka Sound from a mountain ridge

The Island

Only by plane or boat

Sitka is on an island on the open Pacific, with no road in or out. Around it is the Tongass, the largest national forest in America. Under 30 miles of road, and then seventeen million acres of wild public land.

The Water

Whales, otters, and sea lions

Humpback whales feed in Sitka Sound all summer, fifteen minutes from the dock. Sea otters raft in the kelp forests, sea lions gather in huge haul-outs, and harbor seals, orcas, and porpoises pass through the sound.

A humpback whale breaching in Sitka Sound
A brown bear sow with two cubs wading a salmon stream in the Tongass

The Land

Bears, Eagles, and Salmon

Millions of salmon return to the streams around Sitka every summer. They feed one of the densest brown bear populations on Earth, and bald eagles in numbers you will not see anywhere else.

St. Lazaria

500,000 nesting seabirds

Just outside the harbor, St. Lazaria Island holds half a million nesting seabirds: puffins, murres, auklets, and petrels. It is the largest seabird colony for a hundred miles.

Two tufted puffins touching beaks on the water off St. Lazaria Island
Sitka harbor and downtown at dusk with mountains behind

The Town

A real town, not a lodge

Most wild places in Alaska mean a lodge or a ship. Sitka is a real town with Tlingit and Russian history, working boats, and local  restaurants. You sleep in the same comfortable bed all week and step into the wild every morning.

Our Approach

Why Sitka Wonders

The Sitka Wonders Difference

Our Life's Passion

We are naturalists, captains, and expedition leaders, led by wildlife filmmaker Ben Hamilton, and we have built our lives around connecting people with wild places because we love them.

Small Groups for Connection

With six guests at most, there is no loudspeaker and no crowd blocking the view. We want to get to know our guests and connect them with the reason they came to Alaska: to experience real wilderness.

Safety Comes First

Every trip runs with a USCG licensed captain, and both of our boats have heated cabins for rainy days, non-slip decks, and all necessary safety equipment, including life jackets in every size.

More Than a Bucket List

We don't just want to check a box for visitors. We want to share the story behind what you see, from why humpbacks feed in these waters to how salmon help grow the rainforest, so you leave understanding this coast and life in a deeper way.

Respect for Wildlife & Place

We follow federal viewing guidelines, including staying at least 100 yards from marine mammals, and we work to leave every beach and trail cleaner than we found it, following Leave No Trace principles.

Giving Back

We partner with Sitka's conservationists, scientists, and locals to support long-term research and protection of this environment, and we donate a portion of every trip to support these causes.

An orca slapping its tail on the surface of Sitka Sound with a forested island behind

Start Planning Your Journey

Stories from the coast

Keep Reading

Stories from the Coast

Join the Newsletter

A few times a season, we send a short letter from the water: what the whales and bears are doing, notes from Ben behind the camera, new films and articles, and first word on Wonder Journeys dates before they open to everyone. No noise, and you can leave any time.