Wilderness Island Tours, LLC

Olga Worm

2024-02

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!

Jess Rabourn

2024-01

For cruise passengers with just one day at Hoonah, we came away with a far deeper Alaska experience than we deserved, thanks to this incredible excursion. While fellow shipmates zip-lined and ate cotton candy at the cruiseline's "wilderness" park, we were in the actual wilderness, seeing 4 wild bears in 4 different locations, hiking off-road along the estuary, and gaining a rich oral history of the Tlingit people of Glacier Bay and Chichagof Island. The van was new and modern with big windows, and we stopped to get out about 10 times, including all 4 times we found bears. Before the trip, I did some advance research to find out that Wilderness Island Tours was by far the best, and the research paid off. We went in late July. Choosing this excursion was a home run.

Heather Gonzalez

2023-11

We didn't plan to take any organized tours in ISP, but ran into John and Marilyn's van outside a cute shop in Hoonah - we decided on our walk back to the ship to turn around and take their tour, and we're so glad we did!John and Marilyn were lovely hosts, and gave us so much valuable insight and information on Hoonah and the island. In addition to showing us all around their home, we found deer, bear, eagles, and the cutest little martin. They shared a little about their backgrounds and culture, and we left them feeling a little more aware and so grateful that we chose their tour.Thank you, John and Marilyn, for an excellent day!

Jen Lucas

2024-04

We bookedICY STRAIT WILDERNESS ISLAND TOUR through Alaska shore excursions who used this company. The 3 hour tour was reduced to 2 hours which in the end was a relief as it was aimlessly driving around. We saw 1 eagle which another guest pointed out, the rest of the tour was talking and looking at dead trees. Lots of talking about logging and where we could see bears (not where we were). Also information on what to see in other months of the year which wasn't helpful in the slightest for the actual day we were on the tour. Such a waste of time and money especially only having the one day there, don't waste it on this tour! The only thing you'll see are laminated pictures of fauna handed out.

Meggen Trent

2023-11

We were spoiled and happened to be the only guests who booked a tour with John and Marylin on the day we were at port in Icy Strait Point--it also happened to be their last tour day for the season. What a treat for us! We thoroughly LOVED hearing the stories and seeing the sights that John and Marylin shared with us. They are so knowledgeable about the area, the animals, the flora and fauna, and the local history--being longtime locals themselves. We saw a juvenile brown bear, several Sitka deer, many squirrels and birds, and the GORGEOS scenery all around! Being with John and Marylin was so comfortable--like being with relatives you forgot you had! We cannot recommend this tour and these amazing guides enough. Do it! You won't regret it!

Barbara Cadiente-Nelson

2024-02

W.I.T. LLC is a unique business which is built upon ancient tribal knowledge and values. Their understanding and sharing of local knowledge which connects people and place is a rare and authentic experience of a culture which is alive and well. John and Marilyn embody their ancestors wisdom and whoever comes into their presence is cared for and respected as they venture into brown bear country. Thank you, John and Marilyn for the tour —your knowledge of the history and the story of the forest and its people, streams and wildlife is absolutely amazing, not to mention the clean and comfortable vans which took us to the heart of the Huna! 🌹♥️🌲🐻

Tim Daniels

2023-12

This was the absolute most amazing excursion we did while on our Alaskan cruise. John and Marilyn are natives of the island and could not have been more knowledgeable about where to go and what to look for. They are true EXPERTS of Hoonah. They gave us so much information during the excursion that we left with not only seeing multiple bears, it also with so much new knowledge about Alaska, their culture, the wildlife, the history of the land, and everything in between. They brought us to eat wild berries, took our pictures, and most important put on the bears! We felt 100% safe with them. My one animal I wanted to see was Bear and they made sure we did it! They went above and beyond and I could go on forever.

Phil Stevens

2023-12

We booked our afternoon with Wilderness Island Tours on a whim from our home in the UK. We have very little information other than the website but we thought it was worth a try and much cheaper than cruise boat excursions. We were so glad we did! John and Marilyn could not have gone to more trouble to make sure that we had a fantastic time. They found us a bear - see picture which spent an age wandering past the van - an experience that I will never forget. But then they took us to so many places and showed us so much. The 3 hour schedule quickly went out of the window - we had much longer and saw some great sites. Definitely one of the holiday highlights for me.

Eleanora Armstrong

2024-01

Wilderness Island Tours LLC - Dint miss it!My experience I'm sending this to John and Marilyn of Wilderness Island Tours to show the idea my children came up with to treat me for my birthday. The bear came as they adopted for me a grizzly bear in the Wilderness Wildlife Foundation, which came with the stuffed bear!We took this Alaskan tour to celebrate my upcoming 80th birthday, which was in December, so we had to go in the summer. Along the way we met the most wonderful couple who are the proprietors of the Wilderness Island Tours in Hoonah, Alaska. This area would be on your Skagway stop on cruises. This was not a tour the cruise lines have for sale but they certainly should! The vans take you through the wilderness area where you see beautiful foliage and usually wildlife. If you show interest they also share the greatest stories and facts from their culture. Our trip we were blessed to see a grizzly bear, thanks to John's sharp eye, eating vegetation. We stopped and got many pictures and the experience is like no other! This is a tour not like any we experienced on the trip through Alaska. If you get in their area, don't miss this tour!Eleanor (Ellie) Armstrong,Orlando , Florida

Geneva Daniels

2023-12

THIS IS THE TOUR TO TAKE!LOCALLY owned and operated! They are natives and know the land in and out and where to go and not to go. They know the history in depth, they grew up here! We had the most amazing time and my kids have been non stop talking about the whole experience.They took use to get local berries, we saw grizzlies and the most amazing views. They are the nicest couple and I wish they lived closer so we could have them over for dinner.You don’t find people like them anymore. If you are going to spend money on a tour, look no further, please, this is the one!10/10 ! We will be back and we will do it again!

Tc Baker

2024-01

John and Marilyn of Wilderness Island Tours are two the best guides in Icy Strait Point. The Bear and Wildlife Tour in the forests of Chichagof Island is absolutely amazing. Flora and Fauna abound here and we got a chance to take it all in.Of course the icing on the cake is spotting bears, and their tour did not disappoint. While the Ship sponsored tour went one way, John took the locals' road. Smart move...despite the salmon run being late, we spotted four bears including one who stood to take a good look at us. Deeming us not tender enough, he retreated to the stream for a nice salmon dinner.Meanwhile, Marilyn shares her extensive knowledge of the shrubs, plants and berries along the way, while John keeps his eye out for the Fauna of the forest, some thing he as a retired Forest Service employee knows well.Both are Native Tlingit and it was a joy to hear the tales of growing up in Hoonah (including a fun ditty you may just be able to get Marilyn to sing for you! 😉.In the end the count was Ship Sponsored tour - Zero Bears; Wilderness Island Tours - Four Bears, two Eagles, lots of salmon, and memories to last a lifetime.We highly recommend John and Marilyn and Wilderness Island Tours for your Icy Strait Point Port Stop.

Tom henderson

2024-01

We were on an Alaskan tour when we made a stop that lead us to Hoonah. We were walking around and ran into John Hillman who happened to be standing in front of a tour van. He was very friendly and funny. We asked if he was available for a tour and luckily for us he was available. He was an awesome tour guide. He told us so many stories about Hoonah. We got to see a lot of animals from bears to eagles and even an ermine. The tour was the best part of our trip to Alaska. We cannot stop talking about him and his stories. He gave us a memory that will last a lifetime. Thank you John for the great memory. If you book a tour, hopefully you will be as lucky as we were and John will be available.

Rick Sorenson

2024-02

awesome!!! my wife and i were in Alaska in august 2023.john and marilyn were everything you could want. great people,knowledge,van with ample space,(like new). the stories and wildlife were fantastic! the trip of a life time.. make sure to use (eagle and raven) on your excursion.

Mitchell Lawver

2023-10

A+ tour. John and Marilyn are great guides and good company. They have great stories and knowledge of the local flora and fauna. We saw several brown bears including a huge male in the river fishing. Highly recommended. Would do again.

Morgan Howard

2023-11

Wilderness Island Tours treated us like we were VIP guests yet very friendly as if we were also family - an awesome combination in service. Vehicles also first rate - would recommend for your stay in and around Hoonah.

Joan Birnbaum

2023-12

They went out of their way and spent extra time trying to find bear sightings. We feel that we covered most of the island and learned a lot about the local culture during the drive.

Richard Rinehart

2024-02

Knowledgeable, friendly tour guides. Great vehicles. All around outstanding.