Wilderness Island Tours, LLC - Hoonah, Alaska

Andrea L. E.

Our family's tour with John and Marilyn was truly the highlight of our Alaskan cruise. We were able to see an abundance of wildlife - whales, deer, eagles, seals, and a bear. Within the first few minutes of our drive, we were even lucky enough to glimpse humpback whales bubble net feeding! Marilyn taught us about many of the plants in the area, and we were able to pick delicious wild salmonberries and blueberries. We enjoyed getting to learn about their rich Tlingit culture and heritage. Every moment of our tour was filled with breathtaking scenery. Our biggest hope for our trip was to see 'real', authentic Alaska and wildlife, and this tour delivered above and beyond our wildest dreams.

We are so grateful to John and Marilyn for their kindness, hard work, passion, authenticity, and knowledge, and their willingness to share such an awe-inspiring place with us. It was an incredibly special, unforgettable experience. We only hope to be able to go back one day!

Daniel M.

If I could give more stars I would, this was an amazing adventure with even more amazing guides. We were graciously met at the base of the tram where 2 spacious vans were waiting to give our group of 14 a tour of the island. With John as Marilyn, lifelong residents of the area, as our hosts we proceeded through Hoonah where they shared local history, explained the various native flora and fauna, and also shared their life experiences, cultural history, local lore and personal interactions with nature. During our tour they encouraged us to get out and explore, demonstrated native medicinal plants and their uses, viewed bear and deer trails and signs and immersed ourselves in the outdoors. This tour was not just about seeing bears it was about getting a REAL Alaskan experience and adventure. It took a couple hours before we saw our first bear but then we were blessed to see a total of 8 bears, with one coming within 10 feet of the van. John and Marilyn continued our tour longer than excepted because they truly enjoy sharing their culture and home with visitors and wanted to give us an adventure of a lifetime. This tour was a value at any cost and one that I would recommend to everyone. Ask questions, get out of the van and learn about native Alaskan habitat, culture, wildlife and life in a rugged environment.

Mark S.

Mr. John and Ms. Marilyn were the best hosts you can ask for. They are the only local owned and operated tour guides in Hoonah. They truly gave us the best wilderness tour one can imagine. They taught us so much about the rich history and culture of the local and surrounding areas. We learned so much. It was great to hear about their personal experiences and what it was like for their families living in the local region. So many breathtaking views and wildlife. They went out of their way to ensure we were able to find a bear and boy did they. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience finding a bear in one of the streams. We were able to get out of the vehicle and watch the bear nonchalantly come up from the stream, walk up the road and even look back at us and smile. 😊.
The vehicle they took us in was very clean and was perfect for viewing wildlife and breathtaking views. This is a must tour on your Alaskan trip supporting locals.
Couldn’t have asked for a better experience and made lasting friends with Mr. John and Ms. Marilyn.

We signed up for the tour directly through the website and coordination with them was perfect.

Jennifer K.

John and Marilyn were wonderful hosts. We enjoyed learning about them and their culture as well as botany and bears and more. We were the only ones to see a bear that day because of Marilyn's sharp eyes. Great to patronize and family-run indigenous business!

Sandra L.

This tour made our cruise. Our guides were very knowledgeable about the plants and animals on the island, as well as the culture and history. Both guides were friendly, answering all of our questions. We saw two bears as well as several deer. We would highly recommend this tour.

Stephane A.

This tour was truly a great experience. John and Marilyn gave us a tour of the island and you could tell, they love what they do and where they live. We saw majestic sights and went places we would never see on our own. No bears on our trip, but what an experience in spite of that! I feel like I really got to see Alaska and had a great day with two wonderful Alaskan natives.

Anne J.

John and Marilyn were prompt, informative and fun to spend a few hours with on our cruise stop in Icy Straight. We had them all to ourselves and they were determined to find a bear for us to see. We actually saw 4 bears!

Olga W.

We had the best day of our vacation on our tour! It was so relaxed and up close with Alaskan land and animals and culture. We saw such beautiful scenery and so many animals. Only these truly local guides could take us on the back roads away from the typical tourist spots and into the real Alaska.
This is a real experience with real people and real history. We highly recommend!