Now booking Private Charters and Tours of Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park!
Join us on the adventure of a lifetime with custom curated charters to fuel your passion for the wildlife found in Alaska’s most pristine waters of Resurrection Bay and the Kenai Fjords National Park as we bring you closer to the wild®.
You could encounter these subjects along the way!
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Sea Otter
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Harbor Seal
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Humpback Whale
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Orca
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Tufted Puffin
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Steller Sea Lion
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Bald Eagle
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Horned Puffin
Charter Details
Half Day Private Charter
The Half Day Private Charter is the perfect way to experience the beautiful coastline of Resurrection Bay with world class wildlife viewing and breathtaking scenery all while being fairly protected from rough seas. Some of the notable sights on this charter would be Rugged, Hive, and Fox Island. We will see Spire Cove and the jagged outcroppings jetting out of the Fjord. We will get a good look at Bear Glacier with a lagoon that has some of the most massive icebergs in Alaska.
Common wildlife sightings can include: Sea Otters, Puffins, Humpback Whales, Orca, Harbor Seals, Stellar Sea Lions, Mountain Goat, Black Bear, Dall's porpoise, seabirds and many more.
Duration: Up to 4 hours, 1-5 passengers.
Departure times from the Seward Boat Harbor: 8:00AM & 1:00PM Daily
3/4 Day Private Charter
The 3/4 day private charter will allow for more time to reach the tide water glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park such as the Holgate Glacier with an ice face towering 500 feet above sea level or the impressive Aialik Glacier measuring a mile wide. We will get plenty of images and video at the terminus watching and waiting for the frequent calving of ice chunks collapsing into the waters below providing a spectacular spectacle. More time on the water gives more opportunity to have whale encounters and spend more time with wildlife getting that perfect shot.
Common wildlife sightings can include: Sea Otters, Puffins, Humpback Whales, Orca, Harbor Seals, Stellar Sea Lions, Mountain Goat, Black Bear, Dall's porpoise, seabirds and many others.
Duration: Up to 6 hours, 1-5 passengers.
Departure times from the Seward Boat Harbor: 9:00AM Daily (departure time can be customized on this charter)
Full Day Private Charter
The Full day private charter will reach the tide water glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park such as the Holgate Glacier with an ice face towering 500 feet above sea level and the impressive Aialik Glacier measuring a mile wide. We will get plenty of images and video at the terminus watching and waiting for the frequent calving of ice chunks collapsing into the waters below providing a spectacular spectacle. With additional time we are likely to explore the bird colony's of the Chiswell Islands and other wildlife that may be lurking in the Dora Passage and surrounding habitat.
Common wildlife sightings can include: Sea Otters, Puffins, Humpback Whales, Orca, Harbor Seals, Stellar Sea Lions, Mountain Goat, Black Bear, Dall's porpoise, seabirds and many others.
Duration: up to 10 full hours at the same price as an 8 hour Charter, 1-5 passengers.
Departure times from the Seward Boat Harbor: 8:00AM Daily (duration and departure time can be customized on this charter)
“We use upfront pricing with no hidden fees to take the guesswork out of the booking process.”
The pricing on our site includes the 7% City of Seward sales tax, the Seward harbor fees and processing fees.
10% OFF for Alaska Residents & Military Personnel!
Check Availability & Trip Pricing
Meet the Captain
Captain Daniel Carline holds a United States Coast Guard issued Merchant Mariner Credential OUPV Operator License. Daniel is also certified in Adult and Pediatric First Aid, CPR and is fully insured.
During the summer of 2011 Daniel boarded one of the many large whale watching boats in the Seward harbor with a camera around his neck and binoculars in hand. On the journey he was awestruck by the beauty and wildlife he encountered with the friends that introduced him to the area. After many annual visits to Alaska on photo excursions Daniel and his wife Tiffany moved here in 2019 to pursue adventure. Having a strong passion for the ocean, wildlife and photography lead Daniel to obtaining a Captains License to view and photograph wildlife here in Alaska with guests.
Daniel is a published wildlife photographer with many years of experience to help all levels of photographers in making amazing images for their portfolio. Being in a small group makes for easy communication to assure you are getting what you envision since we all have a unique artistic eye. We will look for repeatable behavior to maximize opportunities and without a strict itinerary we will have the time necessary to put it all together. Would you rather spend your time with whales and Orca, Glaciers and Puffins? Maybe you want to spend the time with a certain subject longer – not a problem. The goal on every trip is to give you a variety of opportunities and subjects if nature is willing.
Welcome Aboard!
The Vessel is a 24’ Hewescraft OceanPo with Alaskan bulkhead to keep the elements out and keep you comfortable in the heated cabin giving a full 360 degrees of unobstructed views. Navigate the bays and fjords like the locals do in this deep V pilot house aluminum boat that allows us to keep a low profile giving a unique perspective to view wildlife while keeping that plane of view low to the water line for excellent imagery. Hewescraft Boats have a reputation in Alaska and for a good reason, they are designed and manufactured to float in the event of an emergency—if the boat is submerged or capsized.
Stay dry in the heated cabin during inclement weather conditions, while still being able to have plenty of room on the aft deck or open the windshield hatch to get on the bow to get every angle. Large sliding windows on the starboard and port side provide access to the action right from your seat. There are suspension front seats and two large bench seats to accommodate a total of 5 passengers and captain. There is a porta-potty toilet when needed with privacy curtain.
The boat is equipped with state-of-the-art electronics such as a radar system designed for marine navigation and collision avoidance. The chart plotter GPS system will easily navigate the hundreds of coves and outcroppings we will encounter. We have multiple Sonar depth finder units that help us keep track of the depth of the ocean floor and what may lurk beneath the surface.
Our Marine radio keeps us in contact with other whale watching boats to assure we are not missing out on any of the action and the Coast Guard for safety if an emergency should arise.
In addition to the main engine we have a kicker motor as a backup engine and we have a unique addition of an automatic deploying electric motor on the bow to assist when we are near sensitive wildlife. The bow mount motor has a spot lock anchor system that works by GPS to silently hold the boat in a specific location and it’s ability to make micro adjustments allows the best position for photography.
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FAQ's
Find the answer to the most common questions we get about our charters.
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Gear Up!
Find out the best gear to bring on your private charter trip.
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Conservation Efforts
Learn how Closer to the Wild adheres to responsible practices to ensure minimal disturbance to whale populations and their habitats while promoting sustainable tourism.
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What's Out There?
What can you expect to see on the various charters and species of wildlife?
Take a Trip With Us..
Watch a short video of one of the stunning tide water glaciers of the Kenai Fjords National Park!
Full Breach!!
Closer to the Wild encountered a playful Humpback Whale on a recent boating excursion in the Resurrection Bay of Seward Alaska. Watch as this Humpback whale displays multiple breaches including a full breach where the undeniable power of the whale is in full view crashing down on the surface while waving and slapping the pectoral fin leaving us in awe of this awesome sighting.
Departing from the Seward Harbor’s South Boat Launch. Arrive 15 minutes prior to departure. Park in one of the many lots and pay at the kiosk.