Description
- Air-conditioned and licensed round-trip transportation from your Icy Strait cruise pier area!
- English-speaking certified local guides!
- Potential wildlife sightings!
- Exploring the Alaska woods!
- Learn about the local people and their way of life from locals!
- Nature walk!
- Escape the cruise ship shore excursion crowds and enjoy the unique sights of Icy Strait and the surrounding area!
This is a unique opportunity for you to see brown bears, Sitka black-tail deer, and other wildlife up close in the natural scenic beauty of the last frontier, Alaska. A perfect excursion for those looking to get out and experience nature.
After meeting your guide, you will set off into the forest surrounding the small town of Hoonah on Chichagof Island where your ship will anchor off Icy Strait Point. Due to it having the highest concentration of bears in the world (1-2 brown bears per square mile), Chichagof Island is named "Bear Island" by National Geographic. This small group setting will give you a flexible, up-close experience that the large group excursions simply cannot offer.
There are many exciting things to see and do during your nature excursion such as a visit to Muskeg, which is a low-lying marsh area usually home to many birds. Other activities may include viewing some of the ten varieties of edible berries found on the island, walking through an old-growth forest, and potential sightings of the king of the island... its brown bears.
Bears are most commonly seen near the streams, pulling ripe salmon out with their paws or feasting on the many blueberry patches among the brush.
Based on current bear movements, feeding habits, and daytime temperatures, there are shortstops in key locations to scope out a magnificent view of these captivating creatures - and your wildlife guide knows them all. They will also share information about the area and the Tlingit Native population that has lived here for hundreds of years before the white man arrived. Have no fear, the guide will keep you at a safe distance from the bears.
The Chichagof forests also are home to an array of other wildlife that is quite frequently spotted during excursions, including mink, pacific marten, red squirrels, otter, beaver, ducks and seabirds, Sitka black-tail deer, and plenty of bald eagles. So be sure to bring your camera and have it ready!
Please note: Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. As this tour can move from one spot to another quickly, there is a much higher chance of sightings than with the slow-moving, large tour groups with lots of trampling feet.
Where we meet
For this Icy Strait Exclusive Wildlife Excursion, you will meet your local excursion guide near the Icy Strait pier. All necessary details will be printed on your Electronic Shore Excursion Ticket.
Cancellation
For the Icy Strait Exclusive Wildlife and Bear Excursion, we issue full refund for your deposit or full payment to us if: Canceled by client prior to excursion date with a minimum of 48 hours prior notice by email to reservations@shoreexcursioneer.com.
For cancellation reasons below, you must contact us via email within 14 days after your excursion:
- Your ship arrives into port late and you cannot make it in time to the meeting location (we will verify with the tour operator).
- Your ship skips/misses the port.
- Weather conditions or equipment failure prevents the operator from running the excursion.
- A medical problem prevents you from safely participating in the excursion (we will verify with the excursion operator and the guest may send doctor's note). This applies to individuals only and not the remainder of the group.
- Cancellations/deposit refund requests that do not comply with the above may not be subject to refund.
- Refunds may be subject to a service charge fee as determined by the payment processor, please refer to Terms and Conditions for more information.
