Two and a half hours exploring the wild coast of Sitka Sound with a guide who knows where to look for humpback whales, sea otters, sea lions, and seabirds.
Duration
2.5 Hours
Group Size
1-6 Guests
Starting At
$200
Explore the Wild Side of Sitka, Alaska
Wild Coast Exploration is Sitka Wonders' 2.5-hour small-group whale watching and wildlife boat tour, built to fit inside a cruise port call, and we are rated 5.0 on Google across more than 200 reviews. There's no fixed route. We follow the tide, the weather, and whatever wildlife is active.
The boat holds six guests, with panoramic windows, a warm enclosed cabin, and an open viewing deck. Book a seat from $200, or book the whole boat for your group for $1,100.
We travel through island channels and kelp beds, watching for humpback whales, sea otters, sea lions, and porpoises. Some days it's calm, with otters floating quietly and eagles perched along the shoreline. Other days, things happen fast. That mix of quiet moments and sudden action is what makes each trip different.
Your guide shares what's happening around you in plain language: why animals gather here, how they use the tides, and what makes this stretch of coast so productive. The pace stays relaxed, and questions are always welcome.
All tours depart from Crescent Harbor, steps from the cruise shuttle drop-off at Centennial Hall. Dress in layers and bring a camera. We provide everything else.
Meet your crew on the northeast side of Centennial Hall, facing Crescent Harbor. Look for our mustard gold Sitka Wonders jackets. We're just steps from the cruise shuttle drop-off. A quick safety briefing and we're underway into Sitka Sound. Within minutes, the town is behind you.
There's no set route. Your captain reads the water, the tide, and the weather to find where the wildlife is that day. Some mornings it's humpback whales feeding in open water. Other days, we find sea lions hauling out on rocky ledges or a raft of otters drifting through the kelp. The boat moves with purpose, adjusting course when something surfaces or a flock of seabirds signals activity below. Your guide explains what's happening and why, in plain language. Every trip is unique.
As we turn back toward town, the pace slows. We cruise close along island shorelines and into sheltered coves where eagles perch in the old growth and otters rest in the kelp. This is the quieter side of the trip. Time to take photos, ask questions, or simply watch the coast drift by. These close-up moments are often what people remember most.
We return to Crescent Harbor with at least 90 minutes before your ship departs. It's an easy walk up the ramp to where the buses pick up for the cruise ship, or you can keep exploring downtown Sitka.
Every trip is shaped by tide, weather, and wildlife. No two are exactly the same.
Unique Add Ons to Private Sitka Wonders Tours
$1000
Ben joins your group and photographs the wildlife, the adventure, and natural portraits of your day. You receive 30 fully edited photos within a week, so you can simply be present.
$600
Ben coaches your group on your own cameras or phones, from settings and composition to reading wildlife behavior, so you are ready when something happens. Any camera, any skill level.
Full refund with 48 hours notice. Mention add-ons when you book, or call or text (907) 759-5034. Busy cruise ship days fill early, so check your date first.
Meet Our Crew
Captain & Naturalist
Ellena is a USCG licensed captain and a trained ecologist. She reads the water for whales, loves the questions kids ask, and connects guests to this coast day after day.
Captain & Guide
Brandon is a USCG 100-ton master with years on Southeast Alaska waters. He runs our landing craft and puts the bow on the beach, so stepping ashore is a short walk down a ramp.
Founder & Cinematographer
Ben is a wildlife cinematographer who has filmed this coast for National Geographic and the BBC for nearly two decades, and was a cinematographer on the Emmy-winning series Secrets of the Whales. He founded Sitka Wonders to connect visitors with this place in a deeper way, and guides our multi-day trips and photography add-ons.
Our team rotates across tours, so who takes you out depends on the day.
Sitka Wonders is a family owned, small-group wildlife tour company in Sitka, Alaska, founded by award-winning wildlife filmmaker Ben Hamilton. Here is what shapes every trip we run, starting with what matters most to us.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How We Compare
Humpback whales feed in Sitka Sound throughout our season, from late April through mid-September, and they are one of the animals we most commonly encounter on Wild Coast Exploration. Sightings are never guaranteed, because whales move with their food, the tide, and the weather. Your captain follows what is active that day, and the same trip often turns up sea otters, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, and bald eagles.
Sitka Wonders tours regularly encounter humpback whales, sea otters, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, bald eagles, and seabirds in Sitka Sound. Longer trips like Islands of Wonder can reach the outer islands near St. Lazaria, where tufted puffins nest in summer. In August and September, brown bears are sometimes seen along the shoreline. Wildlife is never guaranteed, and each trip follows whatever is active that day.
A seat on Wild Coast Exploration costs $200 per person. You can also book the whole boat privately for your group of up to six guests for $1,100. The price includes the 2.5-hour guided tour, snacks and hot drinks, binoculars, safety equipment, and all park and permit fees. On a private booking, you can add the Sitka Photo Package, where Ben Hamilton photographs your group, for $1,000.
Yes. Sitka Wonders day tours return to Crescent Harbor at least 90 minutes before your ship departs, and every tour includes our back-to-ship guarantee. The meeting point is about a one-minute walk from the cruise shuttle drop-off. For private tours, we set the departure time around your ship's schedule.
Sitka Wonders day tours meet between Crescent Harbor and Centennial Hall in downtown Sitka. When you step off the cruise shuttle, face Centennial Hall and go to its left side, where our crew waits in mustard gold jackets holding a Sitka Wonders sign. Please arrive 15 minutes before your departure time.
Plan on no restroom aboard Wild Coast Exploration. Please use a restroom in town before meeting us. The tour lasts 2.5 hours from departure to return.
Yes. Every Sitka Wonders day tour includes light snacks, water, and hot drinks such as coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Meals are not included, so we suggest eating before your tour.
Wear warm layers, a waterproof rain jacket, and non-slip shoes, because weather on Sitka Sound changes quickly and rain gear is not provided. Bring a camera if you have one. We provide binoculars, snacks, hot drinks, and all safety equipment. On Islands of Wonder, wear shoes that can handle wet sand and rocks for the beach landing.
Sitka Wonders tours run in rain and wind, which are normal in Southeast Alaska, and the boat has a heated enclosed cabin where you can stay dry between sightings. If our captain decides conditions on the water are unsafe, we cancel the tour and you receive a full refund.
Every Sitka Wonders day tour carries a maximum of six guests. Your crew includes a USCG-licensed captain and a trained naturalist, so there is room at the windows and time for everyone's questions.
Every Sitka Wonders tour requires stepping on and off a boat, which can be difficult, so our tours are not suitable for guests with severe mobility limitations. Islands of Wonder also includes a beach landing, where guests step off the bow onto the shore. Children are welcome. Children under 3 often lose patience on longer rides, so we recommend families with very young children book a private tour so the trip can be adjusted.
You receive a full refund if you cancel a Sitka Wonders day tour more than 48 hours before departure. Cancellations within 48 hours of departure are not refunded. If we cancel a tour because of weather or staffing, you receive a full refund.
Call, text, or email. If we don't answer, we're out on the water, lost in a little wonder ourselves. We'll call you as soon as we're in signal range again.
Call or Text Us
(907) 759-5034Or email us at info@sitkawonders.com
