RESPECTFUL WHALE WATCHING FROM KETCHIKAN (ALASKA)
The Shelltone Whale Project is an environmental organization that carefully selects whale-watching operators committed to a respectful approach.
Marine biologists and experienced naturalists who put animal welfare first.
Book directly with operators selected by the Shelltone Whale Project, at the best available rate and with no additional fees.
The Shelltone Team’s Review
Located at the southern end of the Alexander Archipelago, Ketchikan is often considered the gateway to Southeast Alaska. Surrounded by the vast forests of the Tongass National Forest and the waters of the North Pacific, this maritime town has long maintained a close relationship with the ocean and the wildlife that surrounds it.
The waters around Ketchikan are regularly visited by humpback whales, harbor seals, sea lions, bald eagles, and a wide variety of seabirds. Just minutes after leaving the harbor, the human landscape gradually gives way to a territory where nature remains largely dominant.
We selected this team for the quality of the experience they provide and the care they take in introducing visitors to the region as a whole. Their trips offer not only the opportunity to observe marine wildlife, but also to gain a deeper understanding of the region’s maritime history and the important role the ocean plays in local life.
Beyond encounters with cetaceans, these outings provide a privileged introduction to the landscapes and ecosystems of Southeast Alaska. A gradual transition between the human world and the vast wilderness that defines this remarkable region of the North Pacific.
What it means to be “Shelltone selected”
Every operator featured here has been selected because it complies with the Shelltone Charter.
Cetaceans are never approached at more than 5 knots.
Animals are always approached from an angle that follows their direction of travel, never by cutting across them.
Mothers with calves are never approached.
These principles form the foundation of the Shelltone Charter. Our selection also considers the overall attitude of the operator, the quality of the guidance provided, and the ability to recognize when choosing not to approach is the most respectful decision.
These are not recommendations. They are the conditions under which every Shelltone Selected Operator is chosen.
What We Particularly Appreciate Here
The way Ketchikan allows visitors to move almost seamlessly from a vibrant working harbor to a world shaped by forests, ocean, and wildlife. A destination that reminds us that, in some parts of the world, the boundary between human activity and the wild remains remarkably thin.
Vous réservez ici directement sur le calendrier officiel de Eagle One.
Aucun intermédiaire. Aucun frais supplémentaire.
Les disponibilités et les tarifs sont ceux de l’opérateur.
Photos de l’expédition à Ketchikan