Alaska Whale Watching

Much of Alaska and the waters off of Alaska remain a largely undisturbed natural habitat for many species of animals, and whales are no exception. There are few whale watching destinations that can offer a true wilderness backdrop like Alaska.

Probably the most spectacular whale watching experience in Alaska is the annual gray whale migration. Every year, some 20,000 gray whales make their way from their winter habitation in the waters off southern California to the cold water feeding grounds of the Bering Sea. From the end of March until early May, these giant transient visitors can be easily observed from a variety of whale watching cruises ranging from large popular tourist sea voyages to intimate excursions aboard private yachts.

Further into the summer months, humpback whales, minke whales, beluga whales and orca whales (popularly known as killer whales) frequent Alaska's food-rich waters. Through the month of September, whale watching cruises and even scenic lookouts along some coastal highways offer magnificent views of these animals as they feed near the water's surface.

One particular whale watching experience to seek out is the "bubble-netting" feeding technique used by humpback whales in the area. A group of humpbacks will come together and blow air through their air-holes in order to herd schools of small fish into a tight ball through which the whales then plunge.