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, Max 6 passengers.
Departing the Seward Boat Harbor Slip B-47: Starting as early as 6:00AM, and we run into the evening hours daily. Check our booking calendar for up to the minute availability.
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, Max 6 passengers.
Departing the Seward Boat Harbor Slip B-47: Starting as early as 6:00AM, and we run into the evening hours daily. Check our booking calendar for up to the minute availability.
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 8 hours or more upon request, Max 6 passengers.
Departing the Seward Boat Harbor Slip B-47: Starting as early as 6:00AM, and we run into the evening hours daily. Check our booking calendar for up to the minute availability.
“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!
Our season begins aboard our brand-new 2026 Hewescraft 250 Alaskan, featuring a fully enclosed heated cabin designed to keep you comfortable while enjoying unobstructed 360° views of Alaska’s incredible coastal wilderness. Built for true ocean performance, this 28-foot vessel delivers exceptional ride quality and safety while offering added comforts such as suspension seating and a full-size onboard restroom.
Explore the bays and fjords the way locals do aboard our custom aluminum vessel. Its low-profile design allows us to approach wildlife with a unique perspective, keeping your viewing angle close to the waterline—perfect for photography and unforgettable wildlife encounters.
When the weather turns, guests can stay warm and dry inside the heated cabin while still enjoying excellent visibility. The spacious rear deck provides plenty of room to step outside, and the forward windshield hatch allows easy access to the bow for capturing every angle. Large sliding windows on both the port and starboard sides bring the action right to your seat.
The boat comfortably accommodates up to six passengers plus the captain, with two suspension captain’s chairs and two large bench seats. There’s also ample storage space for photographers and their equipment, so you can bring everything you need to capture the images of a lifetime.
Our vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art marine electronics to ensure a safe and efficient journey. These include a marine radar system for navigation and collision avoidance, a chart plotter GPS for navigating the countless coves and outcroppings, and sonar depth finders to monitor the ocean floor and activity below the surface. A marine VHF radio keeps us in communication with other vessels and the U.S. Coast Guard, ensuring we never miss wildlife sightings and remain prepared in case of emergencies.
Powered by twin 200 HP outboard engines, the vessel provides the speed and maneuverability needed to quickly reach wildlife locations and position the boat perfectly for viewing and 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.
Location: Seward Boat Harbor, 1300 4th Ave, Boat Slip B-47 Seward, AK 99664
Departing from the Seward Harbor’s South Boat Launch Slip B-47. Arrive 5 minutes prior to departure. Park in one of the many lots and pay at the parking kiosk.