Is Jet Skiing in Whittier, Alaska, Really Worth It? (My Honest Review)

One of the most unique tours you can do in Alaska is a jet skiing tour to a glacier. Last summer while my husband's family was visiting we headed out on a jet skiing tour with Glacier Jet Ski Adventures out of Whittier. I was absolutely amazed at how incredible the entire experience was, and how close we were able to get to coastal waterfalls and glaciers. Even though this isn't the best tour for wildlife viewing, the views along the way are unbeatable.

​My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to Alaska. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use Expedia's easy-to-use platform to compare the best rates.
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To keep cell service if you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required), and NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifi.

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours in the area.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.

Jet Skiing in Alaska & What to Expect

Jet skiing in Alaska is unlike any other tour I've been on that brings you out on the water. Unlike boating, you're actually in charge of the vehicle yourself - and unlike kayaking, you're going really, really fast. There are three different jet ski tour companies in Whittier, Glacier Jet Ski Adventures, Alaska Jet Ski Tours, and Emerald Adventures Jet Ski Tours. Glacier Jet Ski Tours has been around the longest and are who I ended up booking with. Their tours head out to Blackstone Bay and only run in the Summer, from May to September, and leave twice a day at 9am and 2pm lasting about 4.5 hours. Don't worry, they have some snacks for you at the end of the tour.

Even though the water in Prince William Sound is some of the calmest in Alaska, there are occasions when the water can get choppy and your tour will get cancelled. Luckily, most summer days in Whittier are pretty calm, making it a great place to go jet skiing. Before you jump on the jet skis, you'll have a short brief on how they work, go over safety rules and procedures, and get fitted in all your gear. They'll provide you with a wet suit, life jacket, helmet, gloves, and boots and have a pretty strict "no filming while driving" policy. So even though you can bring your phone and action cameras with you, you'll have to put them away until you stop at a location on the tour. They also give you an ear piece to wear in your helmet so you can hear the guides during the entire tour.

My Favorite Tours Near Whittier :
- 26 Glacier Cruise in Prince William Sound
- Wilderness & Glacier Tour from Anchorage

My Honest Review Compared to Other Local Tours

To be completely honest with you, because I had never been jet skiing before I was pretty nervous about heading out in such a large body of water for my first time jet skiing. However, the safety briefing beforehand and the introduction on how to use a jet ski really helped calm my nerves and be a bit more confident on the jet ski itself. The guides we had were so helpful, kind, and patient as everyone got their gear on and familiarized themselves with the jet skis. The meeting did feel a bit long, but I was happy to have thorough guides.

As we headed out to Blackstone Bay, we started off with a slower pace as everyone got used to driving their jet skis. The guides kept a close eye on us as we all followed in a single line, making sure our spacing was a good distance and reminding us to either speed up a bit or slow down a bit. Eventually, we made it to our first stop which was a scenic viewpoint of the bay and the mountains around us. It was a great place to take pictures and give our hands a rest before continuing on. Our second stop was at an incredible waterfall, where we got to go as close as we were comfortable, and our third stop was the glacier itself. The guides were great at getting photos of everyone (and airdropping them after the tour), and even picked up a few glacier ice chunks for us to hold and touch.

Overall, I thought the tour was great, and would be an excellent addition to everyone's itinerary that's visiting Whittier. Even though there's lots of things to do in the Whittier area, this is one adventure I'd recommend to anyone looking for a unique, bucket list experience that fuels your adrenaline. The tour is a bit long, with a very long safety briefing before you go, and if you're not used to riding your hands will likely get sore by the end. However, even though I was initially a bit nervous to go, by the end I was standing up on the entire ride back to Whittier!

Watch my Whittier Adventures Here!

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Other Whittier Blog Posts :
-> 48 Hours in Whittier, An Itinerary
-> 9 Best Things to Do in Whittier

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