HOONAH BOAT TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Above the Blow: Drone-Filmed Humpbacks and Orca from Hoonah
A 3-hour boat tour out of Hoonah that pairs guaranteed humpback and orca sightings in Icy Strait with operator-launched drone footage of whales and other marine life.
Above the Blow: Drone-Filmed Humpbacks and Orca from Hoonah.
Off Hoonah in Icy Strait, this short boat trip guarantees encounters with humpback whales and orcas while combining traditional viewing with a filmography drone that captures aerial footage of whales, seals and sea lions — footage the crew reviews with you on the return to dock.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Guaranteed Humpback and Orca Sightings
The operator reports humpback whales on every outing and guarantees sightings of humpbacks and orcas, making the trip a reliably dramatic marine-wildlife experience in Icy Strait.
Aerial Perspectives with a Filming Drone
While you watch wildlife traditionally from the boat, the crew launches a filmography drone to capture elevated footage of whales and other animals, then shares that footage during the return run to the dock.
More Than Whales: Seals, Sea Lions and More
Beyond humpbacks and orcas, the tour commonly encounters seals, sea lions and otters, with occasional brown-bear sightings along the shoreline — a compact window into Icy Strait’s wide-ranging marine life.
What the day feels like
What the Trip Feels Like
In three hours from Hoonah you transit into Icy Strait to track marine mammals; sightings of humpbacks occur on every trip, and the operator supplements boat-based observation with a filmography drone that records aerial footage of animals and is played back for guests on the way back to the dock.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip suits — and who should check first.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The outing is a three-hour boat tour operating out of Hoonah into Icy Strait; confirm departure times with the operator.
Bring layered outerwear suitable for marine conditions; consult the operator’s guidance for any additional gear recommendations.
Departures begin from Hoonah, Alaska; guests should arrive at the listed meeting location before the scheduled departure.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the tour?
The tour lasts three hours.
Where do we meet?
The meeting location is in Hoonah, Alaska.
Are whale sightings guaranteed?
The operator advertises guaranteed sightings of humpback whales and orcas on this outing.
Is a drone used on the tour?
Yes — the crew launches a filmography drone to capture aerial footage of wildlife and shows that footage to guests on the return to dock.
What other wildlife might we see?
In addition to humpbacks and orcas, guests commonly see seals, sea lions and otters, and there are occasional brown-bear sightings along shorelines.
When is the drone footage shown?
The operator reviews the drone footage with guests on the way back to the dock at the end of the trip.