Sitka Whale Wonders:
Spring Bubble Net Feeding
Embark on an extraordinary photography adventure in Sitka, Alaska, during the prime season for witnessing bubble-net feeding humpback whales. This tour offers breathtaking opportunities to capture the stunning coastal landscapes, diverse marine mammals, and iconic bald eagles that thrive in this wild region
spring whales in sitka
Dates: march 16-20, 2026
Location: Sitka, alaska
Price: $3699 USD*
Fitness Level: LEVEL TWO - GENTLE ADVENTURE
Group Size: 6 participants + group leader; Minimum 5 to go
*Price per person, based on double occupancy accommodations. Single supplement available for an additional fee, please inquire.
Tour Highlights:
Exclusive boat excursions to witness and photograph bubble-net feeding humpbacks
Wildlife encounters with sea otters, Steller sea lions, humpback’s bubble feeding in the peak of the herring run
Bald eagle photography along Sitka Sound and the Tongass National Forest
Rugged coastal landscapes and seascapes under dramatic March lighting
Expert guidance on wildlife photography techniques and composition
Northern Lights can be epic in Sitka, given clear skies we will do everything we can to put you in prime spots for great compositions including aurora over the surrounding mountains and boat harbor!
All Images Property of Kris Luckenbach
Overhead view of a coastal town with a small island that has a white house and trees, calm water surrounding it, and a bridge connecting the land. Various buildings and houses line the shoreline, with cloudy skies overhead.
A whale breaching the water in a body of water with trees and a shoreline in the background under cloudy skies.
A whale surfacing near rocky coastal cliffs with forested trees in the background.
A whale partially submerged in the ocean, showing its head and back above the water surface.
Humpback whale breaching the surface of the water with water splashing around it.
A large whale surfacing from the water, with water splashing around it and small fish near its mouth, in a body of water with a distant shoreline in the background.
A large humpback whale breaching the water surface, with spray and water droplets in the air, surrounded by a calm ocean with a blurred shoreline in the background.
A large humpback whale surfaces in the ocean, with water spraying around it as it exhales.
A humpback whale's head partially submerged in the ocean with water blowing out of its blowholes and sprays of water in the air.
A close-up of a whale surfacing in the ocean with water spray and steam in the background.
A close-up of a whale surfacing in the water with a rocky shoreline and trees in the background.
A whale's tail emerging from the ocean, with land and cloudy sky in the background.
Two fishing boats floating on the water with forested hills and mountains in the background, under cloudy skies.
A humpback whale's tail emerging from the ocean with boats and a mountainous landscape in the background.
A whale's tail emerging from the ocean against a backdrop of misty mountains with snow on their peaks.
A whale's tail emerging from the dark ocean waters with snow-capped mountains and cloudy sky in the background.
A scenic view of a small island with a white house surrounded by trees, situated in calm water. In the background, there is a bridge with tall supports crossing over the water, and a few distant buildings, under a cloudy sky.
Two people walking along the rocky shoreline of a body of water at sunset, with mountains in the background and a bridge on the right side.
Snow-capped Mount St. Helens volcano with a bridge and houses in the foreground, over a body of water under cloudy sky.
A humpback whale's tail emerging from the ocean with a forested shoreline in the background.
A pod of whales surfacing and breaching in the ocean near a forested shoreline with seagulls flying overhead.
A whale's tail submerged in the ocean with a background of a treeline coast and seagulls flying overhead.
Snow-capped mountains with mist and clouds over a dense forest in the foreground.
Church steeples with crosses in front of a forested mountain with snow and mist.
A whale's tail above the water with a boat and mountainous landscape in the background.
Snow-capped mountains with a church steeple in the foreground.
A view of a small town street with a blue food truck and a white truck parked on the road, a RadioShack store in the background, and trees lining the street, partially obscured by a blurred tree branch in the foreground.
A scenic view of snow-capped mountains in the background, a body of water in the foreground, and a forested island with a lighthouse near the shoreline.
A whale's tail rising from the ocean with a dark silhouette of land and trees in the background, in black and white.
A solitary black bird, possibly a coot, swimming on a calm body of water with gentle ripples.
Otter floating on water with a blurred landscape in the background.
A seascape featuring dark, cloudy skies with a rainbow arching over rocky islands covered in trees.
A whale breaches the water near a forested shoreline on a cloudy day.
A whale breaching the surface of the ocean with an island covered in trees and cloudy sky in the background.
A whale breaches the surface of the ocean near a forested island on a cloudy day.
A whale breaches the water near a forested coastline on a cloudy day.
A whale breaching the surface of the water in a foggy, forested coastal area.
A whale breaches the water surface in a calm ocean with a forested island and cloudy sky in the background
Humpback whales surfacing in the ocean with a forested shoreline and overcast sky in the background, and a bird flying overhead.
A bald eagle standing on a grassy patch with a blurred background.
A bald eagle flying with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.
A bald eagle in flight against a cloudy sky
A bald eagle flying in a cloudy sky with the sun illuminating its underside.
A whale's back surfacing above the ocean water at sunset or sunrise, with distant rock formations or islands on the horizon.
A whale's tail emerging from the ocean with a hazy background of distant islands and a pink sky.
A whale's tail lifted out of the water with a distant coastline visible in the background.
A whale breaches the surface of the ocean with part of its body visible above the water, and a distant landmass or iceberg in the background.
A mountain landscape with clouds and mist above a body of water.
A whale breaching out of the ocean water, with water splashing around it and misty distant cliffs in the background.
A whale breaches the surface of the ocean with mountains in the background.
A humpback whale breaching the water surface with its head and part of its body visible, in the ocean with a distant mountain range in the background.
A black and white image of a boat on the water with two whales' tails visible in the foreground, and a forested mountain in the background.
Black and white photo of a river with trees along the shoreline, mountains in the background, and a whale spout visible in the water.
A black-and-white photo of a whale surfacing in the water near a boat, with a forested shoreline and mountains in the background.
Two whale breaches emerging from the water near a forested coastline, with mountains in the background.
Two humpback whales breaching the water with a forested shoreline in the background.
Two humpback whales breaching the water in a marine environment near a forested coastline.
Whale surfacing near a boat in ocean, with forested shoreline in background
A whale's tail rising above the water in a large body of water, with a forested shoreline and smoke or mist in the background.
A pod of whales swimming in the ocean at sunset.
Three whales breaching the surface of the ocean at sunset, silhouetted against a yellow and gray cloudy sky.
Two orcas swimming in the ocean at sunset, with dark clouds in the sky.
A whale surfacing in the ocean with spray blowing up from its blowhole, dark clouds above, and birds flying in the sky.
A whale's tail is visible above the ocean surface with water splashing around it, set against a yellowish-orange cloudy sky at sunset or sunrise.
A whale's tail emerging from the ocean water with a whale surfacing nearby and a seagull flying overhead, with a forested shoreline in the background.
Black and white photo of whales surfacing in the ocean with seagulls flying above, a forest in the background.
A group of humpback whales surfacing in the ocean with mountains in the background, including fishing boats and seagulls overhead.
A group of humpback whales surfacing in the ocean near the shoreline with a forested area in the background.
Multiple humpback whales surfacing and breaching in the ocean near a forested shoreline.
Humpback whales breaching the water surface, creating splashes during a marine activity, with dark ocean water and a dark sky in the background.
A whale surfacing near a white boat on a large body of water with a forested shoreline in the background.
A group of humpback whales surfacing and breaching in the ocean with a forested shoreline and mountain in the background, and a bird flying overhead.
Multiple humpback whales surfacing with water splashing around their heads in the ocean near a forested shoreline, with a seagull flying overhead.
A whale's tail emerging from the ocean surface near a red boat with mountains and a cloudy sky in the background.
A bald eagle flying in the sky with its wings spread wide and its beak open.
In March, the waters off the coast of Alaska come alive as the spring herring spawn begins, creating a remarkable opportunity for observing humpback whales in their natural feeding environment. During this time, these majestic creatures utilize a fascinating hunting technique known as bubble net feeding. This behavior involves groups of humpbacks working together to create bubbles that encircle schools of herring, effectively guiding them into a tighter area for an easier feast. As you embark on a Sitka whale tour during this peak season, you’ll have the chance to witness this breathtaking spectacle up close.
The combination of nutrient-rich waters from the herring spawn and the exuberant presence of humpback whales makes this a photographer's dream. The skies are often filled with the sounds of spouting whales, and the anticipation builds as these gentle giants breach the surface. Local guides are incredibly knowledgeable about the behaviors and habitats of the whales, sharing insights that enhance your understanding of these wonderful marine mammals.
Additionally, the experience is heightened by the stunning backdrop of Sitka’s rugged coastline and beautiful landscapes. You'll not only have the chance to capture incredible images of humpback whales but also the breathtaking scenery, from picturesque shores to lush forests. Spring in Sitka is more than just a whale-watching trip; it's an exploration of an ecosystem teeming with life. Join us for an unforgettable journey and immerse yourself in the pristine beauty of this unique wildlife experience as you explore the mesmerizing dance of nature at its finest.
What’s Included:
Transportation to/from airport to hotel via shuttle
Local transportation throughout tour
Hotel accommodations throughout tour
Expert guiding and photography instruction in the field
Three Full Days of Whale Watching, Two 1/2 Days of local Sitka photography
Tips/gratuities for local guides
What’s Not Included:
Airfare to/from Sitka
Photography/personal Gear
Meals
This tour begins and ends at the airport in Sitka, Alaska. Please make travel arrangements based on the itinerary below, or Contact Us for travel assistance.
Daily itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & Coastal Landscape Photography
Arrive in Sitka, Alaska
Check-in at accommodations near the harbor
Orientation and photography workshop on wildlife techniques
Sunset coastal landscape photography at Totem Park and Sitka Sound
Day 2-4: Whale Watching & Marine Wildlife Photography
Boat tour to witness and photograph bubble-net feeding humpbacks 7 am – 2 pm with some days being longer. Orca’s area also often seen during the herring spawn and attracted to the whales so there is a good chance of seeing them on this trip.
Each day enjoy the stunning beauty around Sitka including the dramatic landscapes of Baranof Island and what for other seas birds, sea otters and Steller sea lions as well as bald eagles against one of earth’s most amazing coastlines.
These trip dates are timed with historic data and most recent success rates for putting you right in the middle of the action for prime bubble net feeding with a very experienced and knowledgeable local guide who not only understands the wildlife and sea but also how to place the boat in prime viewing and photography locations.
Day 5: Final Sunrise & Departure
Sunrise photography of Sitka Sound’s rugged coastline on your last morning before flying out.
Opt to have breakfast, and join the closing discussion on the tour and post-processing techniques with your guide.
Depart from Sitka, Alaska that afternoon
location & accommodations
Tour Leader: nick parayko
Nick Parayko is a wildlife photographer and biologist driven to capture the beauty and complexity of the natural world. By combining his experience as a biologist with his artistic vision, Nick strives to create images that showcase wildlife in their natural habitats and include compelling stories or themes about his subjects. Nick hopes his images and process taken to find and photograph elusive animals can offer viewers insights and glimpses into a species life history and is always excited to share his process and knowledge of the natural world with others.
Nick is also a Content Creator for Travel Alberta and actively and his work has been published by Canadian Geographic, the National Audubon Society, the Government of Alberta, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and HawkWatch International.