Alaska Tours & Wildlife Viewing

Small-group Juneau boat tours combining whale watching, Mendenhall Glacier views, and rainforest trail hikes, running 3.75 to 5 hours per departure.

Misty Fjords flightseeing ($385, 2 hrs) and Anan Wildlife Observatory bear-viewing flights ($750, 4 hrs) from Ketchikan.

Homer-based air charter flying small-group bear viewing, glacier, and volcano safaris into Katmai and Lake Clark by helicopter and bush plane.

Whittier Marine Charters also runs sightseeing trips: a 3-hour Blackstone Glacier tour, a 4-6 hour Harriman Fjord glacier tour, and an 8-12 hour whale watching tour.

Private 2- or 4-hour Juneau whale-watching tours for up to 6 guests, plus a separate Tracy Arm Fjord sightseeing tour.

Guided brown bear-viewing trip: a 2-hour boat ride from Homer Harbor across Cook Inlet to Chinitna Bay's viewing platforms.

Guided sea-kayak tours on Sitka Sound, including a Siginaka Islands cruise-and-paddle, from a team with 60+ combined years of guiding.

Two-hour Wildlife Evening Cruise near Kodiak for up to 6 guests aboard a 34-foot catamaran, a flat $1,000 rate.

Fly-out Brooks Falls bear viewing tours near Homer, $1,250 per person for a 6-hour trip to view wild coastal brown bears.

Separate day tours from Wrangell include the permit-limited Bears of Anan bear-viewing trip, LeConte Glacier iceberg tours, and whale watching.

Carpe Diem also runs a separate Scenic Wildlife Tour of Taiya Inlet and Lynn Canal to see seals, sea lions, eagles, and occasional whales.

Family-run Kachemak Bay water taxi from the Homer Spit, shuttling hikers and kayakers for over 20 years under the Lyon family.

Sitka Sea Level Adventures also runs 2- and 3-hour whale watching and wildlife tours ($175-$250/person) aboard a 29-foot C-Hawk in Sitka Sound.

Separately bookable tours to Anan Bears, Stikine River, LeConte Glacier, and whale watching ($350, 7 hrs), each booked via FareHarbor.