A Whale's Song Expeditions
A Whale's Song Expeditions
5
Boat ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife ToursPhotography Tours
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About
Ever wanted to witness one of nature’s great events? Want to watch humpback whales and hear them communicating with each other? Do you think Puffins and Otters are adorable? Look no further, we got the tours for you. Get courtside seats while whale’s supply the play by play announcing as you eavesdrop on their communication with our amplified hydrophone. Our whale & wildlife tours are naturalists led and designed to enhance your awareness of whales, marine wildlife life and their habitat. Is nature photography your passion? Join one of our customized photography tours where our photo experts help you capture inspiring and frame worthy images. Imagine the Alp-like peaks of the Tongass Forest and the crimson streaked Mt Edgecumbe volcano as the background while you photo iconic Alaskan wildlife. Attain tack sharp images with the right composition that communicates the story of that moment in time. Savor the solitude and the most plentiful wildlife that Sitkans treasure!
Sitka, Alaska
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
95 reviews
Excellent
93
Very good
1
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Cindy C
Saint Paul, MN203 contributions
Jun 2021
We booked the morning Whale and Wildlife Watching Tour because A Whale’s Song’s boat has equipment that lets you hear the whales. (And how cool would that be?!?) However, in the end, we decided to skip the whales (there weren’t many around) and focus on birdwatching instead. (You can do that if you aren’t on a big group tour.) And it was awesome. The highlight of the trip was birdwatching along St Lazaria Island, part of a national wildlife sanctuary with almost half a million birds, but that was just some of what we saw.
Captain Neil is wonderful – the kind of guy you want to hang out with: competent, friendly, engaging, well-traveled, and very knowledgeable about Alaska’s waters and the creatures that live there. The tour also includes a professional naturalist/photographer, so we saw and learned a lot.
The boat is extremely well-designed for photo tours and very comfortable. As a catamaran, it’s also very stable for a boat of its size. There’s plenty of outdoor deck space for photography too. But the interior was amazing: big windows on all sides for great views, comfortable seating, a small galley, and space to set out, change, charge, and store gear. Pretty much a photographer’s dream cabin!
This was hands-down one of the most enjoyable cruise tours I’ve ever done anywhere. We saw tons of birds, a whale, sea otters, sea lions, and some spectacular scenery.
If you are interested in birds and marine mammals, this is definitely the tour to take. But it’s also a great general tour with wildlife and scenery. And, with a group size is limited to 6 people, so Captain Neil can tailor the tour a bit to best address your specific interests.
I highly, highly recommend touring with A Whale’s Song Expeditions. If you only do one wildlife tour in SE Alaska, do this one. It’s more expensive than a standard group tour, but very much worth the extra cost.
Captain Neil is wonderful – the kind of guy you want to hang out with: competent, friendly, engaging, well-traveled, and very knowledgeable about Alaska’s waters and the creatures that live there. The tour also includes a professional naturalist/photographer, so we saw and learned a lot.
The boat is extremely well-designed for photo tours and very comfortable. As a catamaran, it’s also very stable for a boat of its size. There’s plenty of outdoor deck space for photography too. But the interior was amazing: big windows on all sides for great views, comfortable seating, a small galley, and space to set out, change, charge, and store gear. Pretty much a photographer’s dream cabin!
This was hands-down one of the most enjoyable cruise tours I’ve ever done anywhere. We saw tons of birds, a whale, sea otters, sea lions, and some spectacular scenery.
If you are interested in birds and marine mammals, this is definitely the tour to take. But it’s also a great general tour with wildlife and scenery. And, with a group size is limited to 6 people, so Captain Neil can tailor the tour a bit to best address your specific interests.
I highly, highly recommend touring with A Whale’s Song Expeditions. If you only do one wildlife tour in SE Alaska, do this one. It’s more expensive than a standard group tour, but very much worth the extra cost.
Written August 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Doug B
1 contribution
Aug 2021
Four of us were in Sitka for a 3 day fishing trip and we had booked a three night stay at one of the Alaska State Forest Service Cabins prior to our fishing charter. We contacted A Whale’s Song Expeditions to transport us over and back to the cabin. Neil and his first mate Karen were fabulous, personable, and just down to earth good people. The forest service cabin is like dry camping but with a roof over your head and a wood stove for heat. Neil offered a wide range of camping gear he had for rent, including bear spray and air horns we typically have to purchase then leave behind as they are not allowed on planes. We have reserved similar cabins in Alaska and always had to lug a extra suit case full of camping gear. Neil’s camping gear options eliminated our extra suit case and the airline luggage charges. On top of the, the ride over and back was outstanding. The drop down bow on the boat allowed us to walk right off the boat onto the beach with our gear. The large inside boat cabin kept us dry and comfortable during the water transits. Neil had a plastic bin containing all of our rented camping gear ready to unload, and it was fast and efficient. The rental camping gear was of high quality and met all of our needs. We would highly recommend A Whale’s Song Expeditions for anyone requiring a water taxi, camping gear, or a wildlife excursion.
Written August 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen G
Minocqua, WI20 contributions
Aug 2021
Rain day, but the boat cabin was warm and dry. Saw humpback breech, otters in the kelp. Murre and puffins at the sanctuary. Neil and Tyler were very knowledgeable and helpful. Four hours were filled with sightings and the time passed quickly. We have done trips in many areas of North America, this was a top shelf experience and very good value
Written August 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
destwild
oregon5 contributions
Aug 2021
This was a top-notch wilderness experience on multiple levels.
It's a great wildlife adventure when you see breaching whales, a raft of sea otters (as in 20+), puffins, and more. It becomes an exceptional excursion when the captain and guide of the boat is enthusiastic, extremely knowledgeable, caring, and safety conscious. When you add this being a small group tour with personalized service, the trip jumps into the "Best Ever" category.
As a former international adventure travel outfitter and guide, I have been a part of and witnessed hundreds of outdoor adventure journeys. They don't get any better than this trip, with Neil and his team taking great care of the people on his boat and the environment in which he travels. Our family thanks you for an unforgettably fantastic voyage.
It's a great wildlife adventure when you see breaching whales, a raft of sea otters (as in 20+), puffins, and more. It becomes an exceptional excursion when the captain and guide of the boat is enthusiastic, extremely knowledgeable, caring, and safety conscious. When you add this being a small group tour with personalized service, the trip jumps into the "Best Ever" category.
As a former international adventure travel outfitter and guide, I have been a part of and witnessed hundreds of outdoor adventure journeys. They don't get any better than this trip, with Neil and his team taking great care of the people on his boat and the environment in which he travels. Our family thanks you for an unforgettably fantastic voyage.
Written August 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dannyg18
San Diego, CA44 contributions
Jul 2021
I did the full-day photo trip and was rewarded with great photo ops of puffins, otters, a brown bear and over two- dozen humpback whales. The highlight was a group of 19 whales bubble-net feeding plus multiple tale slaps and breaching.
Neil, the owner and boat captain, knew exactly where to go for wildlife sightings and maneuvered the boat for the best light.
The boat was stable and comfortable. Including Neil, there were six of us on the boat, which seemed to be a good number of people.
I would definitely book with Neil again.
Neil, the owner and boat captain, knew exactly where to go for wildlife sightings and maneuvered the boat for the best light.
The boat was stable and comfortable. Including Neil, there were six of us on the boat, which seemed to be a good number of people.
I would definitely book with Neil again.
Written July 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michele C
13 contributions
May 2022
What an excellent adventure in Sitka! I booked with A Whale's Song Expeditions based on recommendations from other travelers and the description of the boat(The Catdaddy). We were happy to see Captain Neil greet us right on time and walk us to his boat by the Sitka visitors area Shuttle drop off. The boat has plenty of room inside and outside for riding and viewing, snacks/drinks and we were made to feel right at home like we were on a friends boat. It was a little bit rainy the day we were there, but that didn't stop Neil and Brian(co-Captain of the day) from making our day a success and finding some whales to watch! They knew the good spots to look and Brian has eyes of an eagle so he could spot a blow of the whale really quickly. We learned so much from their knowledge of the local area and the habits of whales and other sea life. So much fun, we would highly recommend Capitan Neil /Catdaddy to all our friends who visit Sitka, I wish I could go back again right away!
Written May 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Krystal W
3 contributions
Jul 2021 • Friends
We went on the four-hour Enduring Whale and Wildlife Tour and highly recommend it. We saw bald eagles and baby eagles, sea otters and sea otter babies, several humpback whales, lots of sea birds including puffins, porpoises, and sea lions. Captain Neil was informative and kind. This felt like a great way to see animals in a respectful and ethical way. We were able to get close to them without invading their space or chasing them away. The boat was very comfortable and well-stocked. We felt safe getting on and off the boat and there were plenty of handrails to hang on to when the waves were choppy. The binoculars were top-notch! This was an excellent way to see Sitka and was of great value. We would easily sign up for this tour again.
Written July 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura R
Draper, UT41 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
My husband and I are well traveled wildlife biologists and wildlife photographers- we have been on numerous guided tours to view and photograph wildlife. This was absolutely one of the very best photo tours we have ever done! We did 3 full days with Neil on his beautiful 43 foot Cat Daddy boat. The boat is extremely comfortable with ample room inside and lots of deck room to move around for photographs. Neil is very knowledgeable in the wildlife patterns around Sitka’s waters and knows how to get the boat in good positions for photography while showing great respect for the animals. Neil was a pleasure to spend time with and was always just as excited as we were to see and spend time with the wildlife of southeastern Alaska. He never seemed to be in a hurry which is a bonus for wildlife viewers and photographers. One of the very best ways to view the wildlife in this area! We highly recommend Whale Song Expeditions!
Written September 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matthew S
1 contribution
Apr 2022
Had an amazing experience this weekend with "A Whale's Song Expeditions"!
The guide Captain Neil was exceptional and knowledgeable about all the sealife we encountered. He had coffee and drinks and the boat was very comfortable. We were the only two people on the tour, but it made for a very personal experience.
We not only saw whales, but sea otters, sea lions, and too many types of seabirds to count! We were able to see everything we wanted to see and more.
Captain Neil is an expert at finding each type of animal and has many fascinating insights into the biology, lifecycle and behavior of anything you encounter. He was a tour guide, captain and biologist all in one.
I would recommend anyone take this tour. As someone who has been on over a dozen whale watches on the east coast, this was by far the best I've been on.
The guide Captain Neil was exceptional and knowledgeable about all the sealife we encountered. He had coffee and drinks and the boat was very comfortable. We were the only two people on the tour, but it made for a very personal experience.
We not only saw whales, but sea otters, sea lions, and too many types of seabirds to count! We were able to see everything we wanted to see and more.
Captain Neil is an expert at finding each type of animal and has many fascinating insights into the biology, lifecycle and behavior of anything you encounter. He was a tour guide, captain and biologist all in one.
I would recommend anyone take this tour. As someone who has been on over a dozen whale watches on the east coast, this was by far the best I've been on.
Written May 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Macky4
1 contribution
Jun 2020
I am writing this review long after our trip because in searching through our Inbox for an email I saw this reminder to do a review. (Yes, this experience was so fantastic that it is worth writing about many months later.) We went out whale-watching and . . . well, let's just say the whales weren't shy at all around us. Wow. And wow again. Our 2 kids (18 and 14 at the time) and we had an absolute blast. We were in Alaska for over 3 weeks and this trip was an absolute highlight of our time there. Big thanks to Neil for a great afternoon!
Written May 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How much do you charge for the flash drive of pictures that are taken on board during the tour, and do you pick up from the cruise port?
Written July 31, 2020
Thanks for the question. The USB photo card is $30. Our photographer loads the pictures of the wildlife action during your experience along with some highlights from past expeditions. We can pick up right at the cruise ship dock for a full boat of 6 passengers otherwise we depart from the harbor that is located directly behind where all cruise ship passengers are dropped off in downtown Sitka. We look forward to sharing our beautiful ecosystem with you. Captain Neil
Written July 31, 2020
Do you do tours in mid-October? If you do, how much would it be for two adults?
Written May 27, 2018
Hi Stephanie. Yes we do trips in mid October the cost is $169 per person. That is usually a great time as the whales are here in groups and often participate in the cooperative feeding behavior calls bubble-net feeding.
Written May 28, 2018
What is the cost for 2 seniors on Wed. May 3, 2018?
Thanks, Sandie
Written May 24, 2018
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