Leave downtown Juneau and drive out to Auke Bay to board the friendly boat for your Whale Watching Adventure.

The captain and naturalists will take you on a search for whales in Favorite Channel, Stephens Passage, Lynn Canal or Saginaw Channel. This is your chance to see bald eagles, seals, sea lions, and other wildlife in the amazing Alaskan wilderness. Binoculars are provided for your added viewing pleasure.

However the highlight of this Whale Watching Adventure is seeing the humpback whales which are feeding in the nutrient rich Alaskan waters. Once a whale is spotted your captain will slow down to allow you outside on the viewing decks for excellent picture opportunities and an up close experience. In addition, hydrophones may be lowered into the water to allow you to hear the whales communicate with each other.

Boats are covered with outdoor viewing areas. In addition, each boat has water jet drives to ensure quiet underwater operation without dangerous propellers that may frighten or harm animals. Your captain is specially trained to follow federal viewing guidelines from a safe distance.

Each boat is fully enclosed and heated with a marine restroom on board. In addition, each boat has plenty of seating and space for the added comfort of all passengers on board. All group sizes are kept under 50 passengers per boat. The small groups create a great environment for wildlife viewing in the great Alaskan outdoors.

Whale Sightings Guaranteed! If no whale is sighted on the tour, you will be given a refund of $100.00 per adult/$50.00 per child.

Schedule Details

Departure Dates:

Seasonal
1 May to 30 September, 2008
Daily

Departure Point:

Tram parking area, Juneau within walking distance of the Alaska Steam Dock and Cruise Ship Terminal

Departure Time:

• 9:00am
• 11:00am
• 1:00pm
• 3:00pm
• 5:00pm

Return details:

Tour returns to original point of departure

Hotel Pickup:

Hotel pick up not available

Itinerary:

Which animals may be sighted on the Juneau Whale Watching Adventure?

Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)
During the season Humpback Whales are spotted on more than 99% of tours. There are many humpback whales that feed, socialize and play in the waters near Juneau from mid-April through October. Humpbacks are among the most playful whales, and often breach (leap from the water), bubble net feed, and slap their tails. Humpback whales are seen more often than any other mammal. Most of the humpback whales here in Juneau spend their winter in Hawaii. There are a few humpback whales that can be found here year around.

Orca (Orcinus orca)
Orca whales, also known as "Killer" Whales, can be seen any day of the year in the Juneau area. These hunters search for salmon and small marine mammals over a large area. A "pod" of Orca are spotted about every 5 to 15 days during the summer, as they hunt nearby. Orca whales are active and fast moving, and stay in tight family groups for their entire lives. The family pod will travel together with the dominate males traveling in a separate group nearby. The orca whales can be seen with their fins rising out of the water. The alpha male of the group will have the tallest fin, sometime up to 6 ft. out of the water. These whales are found in all oceans over the world. Length up to 30 ft. (9.1 meters).

Dall's Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli)
This strikingly marked, fast swimming porpoise loves to ride the bow wave of a boat...sometimes. They are very playful and will often jump out of the water. These animals are seen on most trips until July, and then occasionally through September. These fun playful animals are a wonderful addition to any trip. Length up to 6.5 ft. (2 meters).

Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
These quiet, shy animals are hard to spot and rarely surface more than once near boats. Occasionally seen in passing. Length up to 6 ft. (1.8 meters).

Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus)
Steller Sea Lions are curious and often approach the boat singly or in groups. Occasionally, these animals are known to steal fish from your fishing line. These animals can be seen hauled out on channel markers or rocks from April through September. In addition, these animals can be herd grunting continually while they sun themselves on the haul outs. Hundreds live near Juneau. Endangered and population declining in western Alaska, but they are doing better in Southeast Alaska. Males are up to 10.5 ft. (3.2 meters), Females are up to 7 ft. (2.1 meters).

Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina)
Harbor Seals are common, but shy and reclusive. These animals often haul out on rocks or blocks of ice. They can be seen as their small round heads bob in and out of the water. Seals exhale as they dive and can reach great depths. Hundreds live near Juneau and are seen on many of our tours. These cute little animals are a favorite picture opportunity for many passengers on tour. Length up to 5 ft. (1.5 meters).

Additional Information

Inclusions:

• Cruise
• Use of binoculars

Exclusions:

• Gratuities (optional)
• Hotel pick up and drop off

Additional Info:

• This tour must be booked at least 48 hours in advance of your travel date
• Confirmation for this tour will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 5 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability

Local Operator Information:

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.

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