Top Ketchikan Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises

Explore the bays and islands of Alaska on a whale- and wildlife-watching excursion off the coast of Ketchikan. Locally owned and family-run, this company prides itself on knowing the best up-to-date whale watching locations in the area. This ensures the greatest chances of spotting whales on your outing (though sightings are not always guaranteed), as well as other wildlife like bald eagles, harbor seals, and a wide variety of seabirds.

Discover the wild side of Ketchikan! Step off the beaten path and experience the natural beauty of Alaska’s rainforest, beaches, and wildlife on this unforgettable 3-hour small-group adventure. Our locally guided tour takes you deep into the lush Tongass National Rainforest, along remote beaches, and to hidden spots where eagles soar, salmon swim, and wildlife thrives. With a maximum of 10 guests per tour, you’ll enjoy a personal, flexible experience where you can ask questions, take amazing photos, and connect with the landscape in an authentic way. We specialize in small groups to give you a richer, more meaningful connection to the land, wildlife, and culture. We’ll meet you right at your cruise dock — including Ward Cove — and whisk you away for a one-of-a-kind adventure. This is more than a sightseeing tour — it’s an immersive, locally guided Alaskan experience you’ll never forget. Let’s go explore Ketchikan’s wild beauty together! Tender Boat Disembarking (Private Tours Only)

Experience Ketchikan through the lens of its wildlife and native cultures on this local-led tour. Meet your Haida guide and begin your experience with three stops to spot Ketchikan wildlife. Then delve into the history and culture of the local Haida and Tlingit peoples with a visit to the Totem Heritage Center. Learn about the history and significance of totem poles and the legends of these two cultures.

For many, Alaska is a once-in-a-lifetime experience—and so is this. You’ll start on the water in a heated vessel, cruising for sneak peeks at whales, eagles, and seals. You’ll land in a remote corner of the Tongass National Forest, where a boardwalk floats you above the mossy floor. When you’re finished exploring, you'll head to the onsite lodge for an Alaskan seafood boil, all your senses in extravaganza mode.

Enjoy an experience most tourists miss and step off your cruise ship into a floatplane to admire the glassy blue lakes, waterfalls, and snowcapped peaks of Misty Fjords National Monument on this shore excursion from Ketchikan. Capture bird’s-eye views of varied landscapes and try your luck spotting eagles, bears, and plenty of other wildlife during the flight that includes a guaranteed window seat. It’s an ideal experience for nature-lovers.

If you’re a fan of the Discovery Channel’s hit TV show 'Deadliest Catch,' you saw the Aleutian Ballad, a commercial fishing boat, escape a rogue wave in the Bering Sea. On this fisherman’s tour from Ketchikan, hop aboard the Aleutian Ballad and navigate through the waterways of the Inside Passage with a seasoned fishing crew. Touch some of the catch, take photos, and listen to entertaining sea lore.

Misty Fjords National Monument is a remote, road-less wilderness area that can only be reached by air and sea. This floatplane flightseeing tour takes you into the heart of the park where you can see untouched areas of Alaska far from the hoards of cruise ship passengers that flock to more accessible areas. The tour includes a water landing—a unique experience only a floatplane can provide.

Discover the best of Ketchikan on this full-day tour, featuring stunning wildlife and cultural highlights. Visit the salmon-filled Ketchikan Creek, explore Rotary Beach for sea creatures and potential whale sightings, and spot seals, eagles, and bears at Herring Cove. Conclude with a visit to Saxman Native Village to admire one of Alaska's largest totem pole collections and learn about indigenous traditions.

Venture to three different nature spots around Ketchikan in just a couple hours to search for wildlife with a local guide and small group. Leave all the driving to someone else as you visit local gems Herring Cove, a local waterfall, and Rotary Beach that most tourists don’t know about. At each beautiful destination you’ll look for animals, ranging from bears to eagles to whales to salmon.

Ketchikan is now the home of the most dynamic experience in Alaska combining culture, history, excitement, and cuisine! This tour is in scenic downtown Ketchikan in the Thomas Basin historic district, home to the Salmon Fishing Fleet and Crab Fishing Boats. You will be hosted at the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show Arena and Harbor Haus Pavilion, landmarks of industry, food, and entertainment. Your tour starts at the historic site of the Spruce Mill, once the largest Sitka Spruce Mill in the World and now the home to the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. This world-famous Lumberjack Show has World Champion athletes in a rowdy, no holds barred competition with twelve events such as chopping, climbing, sawing, axe throwing, and log rolling. Hang on to the edge of your seats for a rowdy good time! Just a few steps away, the Harbor Haus will be your destination to experience the most pristine Dungeness Crab feast. Enjoy an all you can eat Dungeness Crab feast!

Traverse Ketchikan, Alaska with the help of a local guide on this relaxed trolley tour. This group experience takes you around Saxman Native Village, Herring Cove, Creek Street, and more, as well as giving you chances to hopefully spot some local wildlife — all while your guide shares information about local history, culture, and more.

Navigate the waterways and islands of Clover Pass on a small-group kayak eco-tour from Ketchikan. Along the way, spot native Alaskan wildlife that inhabit this protected region where the thick foliage of the Tongass National Forest meets the sea, from sea lions and migratory humpback whales to eagles' nests and exposed starfish colonies. Paddle with two guides and a small group for a more personalized wildlife-watching journey.

Experience the thrill of soaring through the Tongass National Forest without having to sort out logistics on a small-group zipline excursion from Ketchikan. Glide across eight zip lines, walk suspension bridges, and rappel in the forest, keeping an eye out for all sorts of wildlife along the way. As an added bonus, you'll stop by a totem park, a historic sawmill, and an old blacksmith shop.

Discover the wildlife and native cultures of Ketchikan on this half-day nature excursion for your private party. Visit an old Native American village to learn about its culture and see the intricately carved totem poles. Learn about the edible plants of the region, see local wildlife such as salmon, whales, and eagles, and visit several of the area’s beautiful beaches.

Get off the beaten path on this utility-task vehicle (UTV) tour to Mahoney Lake. Ride mountainous off-road trails along the George Inlet Fjords, Tongass National Forest, and Mahoney Lake, a small lake north of Beaver Falls. Along the way, stop to soak up views spot wildlife, and lunch on smoked reindeer links on a bun with hot chocolate and coffee.

Hop into a military-grade inflatable boat for the ride of your life and take the wheel if you dare. You’ll follow a lead boat captained by a guide who’ll take you to some of the best places in the water for wildlife spotting, from seals and sea lions to bald eagle nests and humpback whales. Speed along island coastlines on a 3-hour excursion you’ll never forget.

Create beautiful memories of Ketchikan with this small-group photography tour. Your guide will lead you to all of the best photo spots in the area, including historical, cultural and natural attractions, and provide helpful tips and instruction on composition, exposure and more for all types of camera, from a DSLR to a point and shoot or cell phone.

Navigate a Zodiac boat in the Alaskan wilderness on this small-group tour limited to just four people. Cruise through rain-forest islands, into remote bays and inlets, and watch for wildlife including eagles, seals, whales and bears. Soak up the sights as each member of your group takes a turn at the boat’s console steering. This 3-hour guided tour includes a beachside snack, a boatman souvenir certificate and hotel transport from Ketchikan.

Get acquainted with Ketchikan on a tour on a state-of-the-art amphibious vehicle that goes on land and water. This excursion combines a vehicle and boat tour to reveal the city from two perspectives. Take a tour of Ketchikan's rustic streets before splashing into the harbor for a different perspective of "Alaska's First City." Stop often to marvel at the beauty of it all, including the many gorgeous totem poles.

Explore the sights of Ketchikan aboard a San Francisco–style cable car trolley. Traveling on this open-air vehicle, you'll see attractions such as the Fish Ladder and the Native American totem poles of Saxman Native Village, plus look for wildlife such as bears, seals, salmon, and bald eagles at the Herring Cove viewing area. This is a fully narrated and guided tour.

Explore the dramatic wilderness of the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary and learn about the local ecosystem and the wildlife it supports on this small-group tour. Walk through a beautiful mountain forest, home to bears, bald eagles, and deer. Learn about the dynamic nature and abundant wildlife of a scenic marine estuary and gain first-hand insight that you won’t find in guidebooks.

Embark on an unforgettable private tour of Ketchikan that is customizable to suit your preferences. Uncover the beauty of Alaska's stunning landscapes while traveling in the lap of luxury with a private transportation service that ensures your comfort. Learn about Native Alaskan cultures at Potlatch Totem Park, spot local wildlife such as seals, eagles, and bears at Herring Cove, and get a local perspective on the town while enjoying spectacular views.

When people go to Ketchikan, these are the sites most people go to see: old town Ketchikan, Creek Street, fish ladder, Totem Bight State Park, Potlatch Park, Herring Cove and more! By the end of the tour, visitors will have a real feel for Ketchikan and what life is like on this beautiful Alaskan island. The tour guide has lived in Ketchikan for many years and has given many tours.