Private Wildlife Boat Tours in Sitka, Alaska

A private boat tour in Sitka with Sitka Wonders starts at $1,100 for the whole boat, which carries up to six guests. Wild Coast Exploration is $1,100 for 2.5 hours, and Islands of Wonder is $2,200 for four hours with a landing on a remote beach. On Islands of Wonder you can add extra hours for $500 each and Ben Hamilton as your photographer for $1,000 or as your photo coach for $600. For more time on the water, Wonder Journeys are private five-day expeditions starting from $24,000. Every private tour runs with a USCG-licensed captain, and Islands of Wonder and Wonder Journeys add a second crew member as your naturalist.

The Sitka cruise ship dock is about six miles north of our tour meeting point, and the free shuttle takes 10 to 15 minutes. It drops you outside Harrigan Centennial Hall at 330 Harbor Drive, which is where we meet, about fifty steps from the boat. If you are staying in town, the hall is a short walk from most downtown hotels. Look for our crew in mustard gold jackets holding a Sitka Wonders sign.

Yes, you will make it back to your cruise ship on time. Our cruise-day departures are scheduled to return at least 90 minutes before all-aboard, and we check the port schedule every day. If we ever caused you to miss your ship, we would get you to the next port at our cost. It has never happened.

If it rains on a Sitka boat tour, the tour still runs, because rain is a normal day in a rainforest and the whales do not mind. Both of our boats, the Wonder Scout and the Wonder Seeker, have a heated cabin with big windows, so you can watch from inside and step out on deck when something surfaces. We only cancel for safety, and if we cancel you receive a full refund.

The difference between the 2.5-hour and 4-hour Sitka boat tours is time on the water, a remote beach landing, and privacy. Wild Coast Exploration is two and a half hours, built to fit inside a cruise port call, looking for whales, sea lions, and sea otters in Sitka Sound; you can join as a public guest or book the whole boat for up to six. Islands of Wonder is a private four-hour tour that goes farther out: about three hours watching wildlife, then the landing craft's drop bow puts you on a remote beach to explore the tidepools and walk into the forest. If you have the time, the four-hour tour gives you more of this coast and a real taste of Alaskan wilderness.

Yes, every private tour with Sitka Wonders can be customized to your group. Tell us what you are most interested in, such as whales, bears, birds, photography, a beach walk, or a relaxed morning on the water, and your captain builds the route around it. On Islands of Wonder you can also add hours for a longer day ashore. Private tours are the best choice for families with young children or guests with limited mobility, because you can shorten the trip or change the plan at any time. If you are arriving by yacht or small expedition ship, ask about our yacht support services.

In Sitka, Alaska, sea otters, bald eagles, and sea lions can be seen year-round. In March and April, gray whales pass through and the first humpbacks return from Mexico and Hawaii, and gray whales stay through late May. In June and July, humpback whales are at their most numerous, brown bears graze on sedges along the beaches, and seabirds including tufted puffins, murres, and rhinoceros auklets are nesting. From late July through September, the salmon run brings bald eagles to the trees, bears to the river mouths, and whales feeding hard before they migrate. September is quieter, with fewer boats on the water. None of it is on a schedule.

You should book a private tour as soon as you know your dates. Each boat runs one private tour at a time, so summer dates can fill weeks ahead, and busy ship days fill sooner. Cancellation is free up to 48 hours before departure. If your date shows sold out, send us a note and we will tell you honestly whether a different time might work.

The right private tour depends on your time in port. With a few hours, book the whole boat on our Sitka whale watching tour. With a longer port day, or if you want to step ashore on a remote beach, choose the Islands of Wonder private tour. Planning a longer stay? Start with things to do in Sitka, or explore a private multi-day Alaska wildlife trip.