Inside Passage, Gustavus, Whittier, and beyond: get ready for an unbelievable marine safari
If you're here, you’re probably really eager to see whales making a splash.
Well then, what could be better than Alaska? The Disneyland of whale watching!
We’re talking about giant marine creatures putting on circus-like performances, water sprays hitting your face, and a salty sea smell stronger than at a fish market.
Alaska is a true buffet for cetaceans, an all-you-can-eat feast for whales, orcas, and their friends.
Its seas are so full of food that these marine giants swim around happily like kids in a candy store!
And you get to witness all this excitement!
In short, it’s a true paradise for whale lovers, or for anyone who simply wants to say they’ve seen one (even if they end up getting seasick afterward). So here are the best places for whale watching! Watch out for the splashes—we’re off!
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Inside Passage: the humpbacks’ living room (with a few gate-crashing orcas)
Picture this: you’re on a little boat, the sun is warming your face, the air smells of sea and pine... and suddenly, a humpback bursts out of the water, sending spray everywhere!
Welcome to the Inside Passage, the place where whales gather to feast on plankton!
And if you’re lucky, you might also spot an orca, the sea’s ultimate troublemaker, lurking around in search of prey and crashing the whale party like that one unexpected relative who shows up at a celebration just for the snacks...
Prince William Sound: a whale-packed paradise
If the Inside Passage is the elegant sitting room, Prince William Sound is the party hall. There are so many whales here that it feels like peak summer on a packed beach, except instead of dance music, you hear their deep, haunting songs!
Humpbacks doing acrobatics, orcas hunting salmon in plain sight, seals minding their own business, and eagles swooping down in search of a bite: it’s a true explosion of wildlife!
If you join an organized tour (like ours, which you can learn more about here), you’re practically guaranteed to see at least one whale.
Gustavus: where the great whales enjoy a glacier-side spa
Gustavus is a small remote place near the northern edge of the Inside Passage, right next to Glacier Bay, a national park with dense conifer forests and snow-capped mountains, where the wind can feel sharp enough to sting your face.
But don’t let appearances fool you: this place is a true paradise for humpbacks, which enjoy the glacier views while filling up on krill.
Basically, it’s as if they were at a luxury spa, tails out in the open (lucky them!).
If fortune is on your side, you might even spot a bear taking a dip too.
Icy Strait Point: the whales’ favorite pit stop
Just 30 nautical miles from Gustavus, Icy Strait Point is like a service station for whales: three waterways meet here, bringing in an unbelievable amount of food.
It practically looks like the conveyor belt at a sushi restaurant. And of course our beloved whales rise to the challenge and feast to their hearts’ content. Honestly, I’d do exactly the same!
That’s why in summer this place teems with marine life: sea lions, porpoises, and orcas all gather here to stock up on calories. But the real stars of the show are the humpbacks, and there are so many of them that it almost feels like a nursery... if it weren’t for the smell of fish and the wild sounds of the cetaceans.
Juneau: where giant marine creatures feast... spectacularly!
Juneau is Alaska’s third-largest city (and also the capital), but don’t let the traffic and buildings fool you: whales feel right at home here.
In summer, the waters around Juneau offer a spectacle unlike any other in the world: bubble-net feeding.
And what on earth is that, you may be wondering?
Here’s how it works: a whale starts blowing bubbles all around a school of fish. The fish see the bubbles and think, “Oh no! An invisible wall! We’re trapped!” So they bunch together, confused and frightened.
At that point, the whales surge up from below with their mouths wide open and... gulp! Lunch is served. It’s the perfect method: no chasing, no effort, just bubbles and a colossal feast. Honestly, it’s a bit like ordering takeout without leaving the couch.
If you love taking photos and showing off your best shots to your friends, this is the place for you!
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Come to Alaska with us: the whales are waiting!
So, what do you think about Alaska for whale watching? If your answer is yes, an amazing experience awaits you!
With Sto Gran Tour, you’ll also see Glacier Lake, a reserve that reintroduces salmon into the wild (you have to see it!). Then we’ll board a ferry to Whittier for a spectacular journey through the fjords of the Gulf of Alaska, in Arctic waters full of whales.
We’ll take you to the most beautiful places, show you the most spectacular cetaceans, and let you taste the best salmon in the world.
What are you waiting for? Book your 13-day trip to Alaska now with us!
