ACTIVITIES
surrounding Sitka. Prefer to keep your feet on dry land?
The crew can share Sitka’s wildlife with you while traveling
in their custom, climate-controlled van.
Another option is Four B Charters, run by experienced
Cruising with
Alaska's Creatures
pilot and captain Francois Bakkes. He’ll gladly spend an
afternoon with you out on the water, showing you some
of his favorite spots for wildlife viewing. Take advantage
of the Four B’s onboard high-resolution PermaFocus
binoculars, which are perfect for bird watching around St.
Lazaria. In addition to wildlife tours, Four B Charters also
offers sportfishing packages and year-round taxi services
to neighboring islands.
For a more adventurous expedition, check out Ocean Raft
Adventures available through Sitka Alaska Outfitters.
You’ll spend a few hours cruising around Kruzof Island’s
You're standing on deck when a massive humpback whale breaches out of the
water and crashes back into the sea with a thunderous splash. If it wasn’t for the
ripples rocking the boat, you wouldn’t believe what you’ve just seen.
rugged, volcanic coast aboard the Adventure Raft 1,
an expedition raft that can reach speeds of 50 mph.
Along the way, you’ll learn more about this area’s jagged
geological features and complex ecosystems while
viewing marine wildlife like whales, otters, and seabirds.
than
these magnificent creatures is how, even from
a distance, your captain recognizes them with
an easy familiarity, distinguishing between
them like the faces of old friends. As unique
as fingerprints or as helpful as a name tag,
the patterns on a humpback whale’s tail fins
indicate its identity.
WHAT IMPRESSES YOU EVEN MORE
Your wildlife trip isn’t just about the whales, however. To
your delight, a sea lion pops its head out of the water. Then,
you pass a raft of drifting sea otters. They stare at you for a
moment before diving, one after the other, underwater.
Another stop your tour may include is St. Lazaria Island, a
protected bird nesting colony and wildlife refuge in the Sitka
Sound. Here, thousands of common murres nest on rock
ledges and in caves; your captain cuts the engine and lets
you listen to the wondrous cacophony of bird calls. Amidst
the flapping of wings, you also spot storm petrels, auklets,
and even a puffin.
When it comes to wildlife viewing, it hardly gets better
than this. Sitka is a premier bird-watching location, and our
waters are teeming with whales, porpoises, otters, and sea
lions. Our spectacular old-growth rainforests, meanwhile,
are inhabited by everything from bald eagles to brown bears.
V I S I T
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Ocean Raft Adventures will provide all the rain gear and
No matter what it is you want to see, one of our many world- equipment you’ll need, so just remember to bring your
class wildlife tour operators will be sure to get you there. camera along for an unforgettable experience!
With over 45 years of operation under their belt, family- For even more options, check out page 54 of our
owned Allen Marine Tours promises high-quality, directory, or when in town, visit Harrigan Centennial Hall
thoughtfully designed tours for guests. They have an where you’ll find friendly tour operators waiting to take
extensive fleet of over 30 durable aluminum vessels you on the adventure of a lifetime.
Lione Clare
custom-built in Sitka; most of these are high-powered
catamarans perfect for cruising Sitka’s waterways and
neighboring islands.
Each of Allen Marine’s tours has its own special flair. On the
Wildlife Quest & Fin Island Lodge tour, guests are invited
to enjoy fresh-caught Alaska king crab and wild salmon
cooked over an alder wood fire grill at Fin Island Lodge after
an afternoon of breathtaking wildlife viewing. The Alaska
Up-Close Exclusive Cruise Adventure is more self-directed,
giving a small private party of guests the opportunity to
choose their own itinerary and pacing. On most Allen Marine
vessels, you’ll find an onboard naturalist eager to share their
passion for Sitka’s wildlife.
Sitka Wildlife Tours offers private marine and land tours,
making their itineraries highly customizable and allowing
small groups to choose their own adventure on and around
the waters of the Sitka Sound. Book your trip in late March to
early April during Sitka’s amazing herring spawn. View pods
of humpback and orca feasting on the herring, which return
each year to lay their eggs on the kelp and rocky coastlines
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Wildlife
Tours
»
A Whale's Song awhalessongexpeditions.com / Alaska Wild Coast alaskawildcoast.com / Alaska Wildlife
Tours & Water Taxi [email protected] / Gallant Adventures gallantadventures.com / Ocean Raft
Adventures sitkaalaskaoutfitters.com / SeaMarine Wildlife Excursions sitkaseamarine.com / Sitka Sound Tours
sitkasoundtours.com / Sitka Wildlife Tours sitkawildlifetours.com
V I S I T
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