Our 7 Best Sitka Whale Watching Tours

1.Sitka Premier Whale Watching and Wildlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 114 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $190Our pick

Meet Parker, Mike, or another licensed USCG captain at Harrigan Centennial Hall and cruise Sitka Sound in a group of no more than 13. You might see humpback whales, orcas, brown bears, sea otters, sea lions, bald eagles, and jumping salmon. The boat has a bathroom, snacks, water, and an open deck for photos.

“Excellent! Found otters, whales and a bear feeding on salmon. Really enjoyed the commentary, and we had plenty of time to watch the wildlife.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Best Whale Watching and Wildlife Shore Excursion in Sitka

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 103 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $205

Cruise Sitka Sound and the outer coast of Baranof Island with local Captain Rick or another Sitka Sound Tours captain. Groups are limited to six, with outdoor viewing, a heated cabin, snacks, restrooms, and room to move around for wildlife photography. Sightings depend on weather and animal behavior.

“Fantastic day out with Rick in Sabeah Rose from Sitka Sound Tours. Sea Lions, sea otters, bald eagles and grey whales made it a truly amazing day. Thank you Rick.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Amazing Whale Watching and Marine Wildlife Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 74 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $199

Depart Harrigan Centennial Hall in Crescent Harbor for about two hours on the water with Captain Tad and a small private group. Expect live commentary, humpback whales, sea lions, otters, eagles, and possibly orcas or brown bears. A heated cabin offers shelter when Sitka weather turns wet or chilly.

“Tad is an amazing Captain. He went out of his way to make sure we had an experience beyond our wildest dreams. We saw whales with their calves, sea lions, eagles, otters, and a mama brown bear with her 2 cubs. All along, Tad informed us about the local culture, history, and the importance of the local ecosystem. Very approachable, Tad made this a wonderful experience beyond our expectations. We recommend Tad highly and without hesitation.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.A Comfortable Sitka Whale Watching Wildlife Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $225

Join captain Rick of Coastal Tours Sitka for a 2.5-hour wildlife cruise from downtown Sitka. With no more than six people aboard, you will explore Sitka Sound, Baranof Island, and Kruzof Island while looking for humpback whales, orcas, otters, sea lions, eagles, puffins, bears, and seabirds. The boat has heat and snacks.

“Amazing tour! Rick has a spotless boat. My family was very comfortable and loved that he had heat and snacks. We saw whales, otters, sea lions and eagles. It absolutely met all of our expectations and more.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Private Whale Watching and Marine Wildlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $1,095

Set out from Sitka with your private group and captain Tad for about two hours along southeast Alaska’s coastal waters. You’ll search for whales, orcas, sea lions, seals, otters, and other marine life from your own boat, with local commentary, flexible departure options, and hotel pickup and return available.

“Tad is an amazing captain and marine life whisperer! We saw sea lions, sea otters, seals and four whales!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Sitka Whale Watch and Sea Otter Quest

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $159Best value

Join True Alaskan Tours in Sitka for about two hours on the water, departing Crescent Harbor aboard a covered boat with room on the bow and upper deck. You’ll look for whales, sea otters, and other wildlife near a dormant Southeast Alaska volcano. The boat holds up to 49 people, and the trip returns to the harbor.

“Tour was fantastic! Crew was great, a lot of fun! We got some great pictures!! We had a great time!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Premiere Whale Watching and Wildlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 2 hours · from $200

Meet at Harrigan Centennial Hall for a two-hour boat trip through Sitka’s coastal waters. Your English-speaking captain searches for whales, sea otters, bears, puffins, eagles, seals, and sea lions while sharing local stories. Snacks, water, a bathroom, pickup, and drop-off are included.

“We had a great time! Our guide was super nice and knew a lot about the Sitka area.”

Check availability →Read our full review