Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Planning For Whale Watching Tours In Alaska

By Janine Hughes


The beautiful world can be explored in so many ways. One excellent way comes with whale watching tours in Alaska. It starts with the beautiful landscapes of this northernmost state. The snowcapped mountains, waters, and wildlife will always leave behind memorable images to anyone whose witness them.

Aside from the beautiful landscapes are the majestic mammals. The large creatures with their gentle eyes can often be seen from up close, making it a trip that won't soon be forgotten. In fact, as they have become accustomed to being on display, they are not fearful of coming close to the boats, and often swimming beneath them. For anyone who can be a part of this, it's an experience of a lifetime.

Some lucky tourists can experience viewing close to 100 whales in some areas. What one does get to see has a lot to do with the tour, and the month they are visiting. The more common whales are the humpbacks and orcas, sometimes seen very close together. Additionally, people can also enjoy the different wildlife as they track close to the shoreline. The scenery is literally unbelievable, with the gentle giants swimming about, and the immense glaciers floating along. Lots of information will be provided by the crew, but researching in advance will prove very beneficial.

A good example of this is knowing what the humpback is known for. For instance, this majestic creature jumps and leaps right out of the water, especially closest to the shore. It is capable of doing this because it has such long pectoral fins. On the other hand, the Minke type is kind of hard to spot because of its agility and speed.

Killer whales, or the orcas, hunt in groups known as pods. These are very distinct, with black and white bodies, and tail fins that can be visible to the naked eye, as they swim so closely to the surface. These creatures hunt lots of different prey, including dolphins and penguins.

Taking an Alaskan tour to view these beautiful creatures out in the open, in their natural habitat, will be a memorable experience to anyone of any age. Plan ahead of time, well in advance, as these trips can book quite quickly. For a successful trip, pay attention to charter companies reviews.

A smart tourist will learn to pack properly for this type of special trip. Keep in mind that it can be quite chilly, with the breeze coming off the open waters. This is true even when the sun is shining, so to experience this trip of a lifetime, dress warmly enough to be outdoors throughout the tour. A raincoat with a hood is also essential, in case it rains.

Sunglasses would also serve anyone really well. The bright sun can be quite blinding, interfering with glimpses one might have on such a trip. It's definitely tempting to snap photos of what may be, but be careful not to experience the entire trip behind the lens, as so much can be missed. Keep in mind that these glimpses last only a couple of seconds.




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