Top Sitka Shore Excursions

Meeting at cruise terminal went smoothly and it was a small group of 13. Raptor Centre was great. Loved seeing the eagles being rehabilitated before being released into the wild. Resident raptors were easy to see and looked well cared for. The bears at fortress of the bears were awesome. Loved seeing them playing and inquisitive. Totem park was good but you need to do visitor centre first to get information sheets as there was very little information as bout the totems on the loop. Would have liked more time at the bears but would definitely recommend, Ryan our driver/guide was excellent

We had the absolute best time on our private tour of Sitka, despite the rain! Met our guide, Kealoha, a local resident at the pier, right from the ship. We were escorted to her vehicle, which was comfortable and had a booster for our young son. Kealoha made the tour feel more personal and relaxed compared to the big bus tours. She shared stories about Sitka’s history, culture, and everyday life that we would not have likely learned otherwise, and also provided lunch recommendations which proved to be delicious. Highlights included breathtaking views along the shoreline, Bear Fortress, Raptor center, Totem museum and downtown. She was with us inside most centers and gave us detailed info on the animals and organizations. The coolest thing I recall was seeing a bear use sign language to communicate with one of the care rpoviders. There was plenty of flexibility to adjust the pace for our family, and the weather. I appreciated her giving us a heads up the day before of how to dress for comfort. Kealoha was warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely proud to share her family's hometown with us. This tour gave us a deeper appreciation of Sitka, enough to consider work here. She was just the sweetest, showing us off-tour sites based on our discussions. We highly recommend this private tour to anyone looking for an authentic and kid-friendly way to explore Sitka!

Great small group tour and tour guide! Capn Mike was funny and empathetic and was receptive to what we wanted to see! Great to have a local who could offer realistic and expert opinions on things. We got lucky, even though it was rainy and wet, we saw humpbacks and sea otters in ways we hadn't before!

Larry was so much fun and gave us a great history lesson about the area. I really liked the forest and how much he knew about why the trees grew the way they did. He and Liz went above and beyond for us. We accidently left the little bears for our grandkids on the bus. Larry took them to our ship after his shift. Liz was a driver for the same company. She took my husband back to the bus barn, Larry had already left. When she came back to the port she inquired at the security check points and we exchanged numbers. They had made their way to the guest services, so I was able to let her know we had them and how much we appreciated their efforts. SO Rob and Ashley, your customers highly recommend your tour operators. Thank you

Very knowledgable local young man who really knew how to find the humpbacks. He only takes 6 on a boat that could easily handle 10. Inside or outside seating and the ability to move around easily. When out amongst the whales he would shut down the engine which was better for the whales and enhanced our experience as we could clearly hear them blow all around us. Great local knowledge from someone who grew up in Sitka on the water. I don’t know what he could have done more to improve our trip.

When I saw this excursion, I knew I had to sign up for it as it is truly one of a kind. The wetsuit was warm and the temperature of the water did not penetrate through the suit. The pictures do not give any justice to the actual experience. Ethan was very knowledgeable and a great tour guide. I was in awe in the amount of creatures we saw. The brilliance in color and vast variety of sea creatures was remarkable. I will always treasure this experience. Thank you Selkie Snorkels and Ethan for a great time!

We just got back from our Alaska Cruise today (Aug 17, 2025) and wanted to give a review of Sea Piper Whale Watching Wildlife tour in Sitka.  We had 7 people ages 19 to 80.  I never write reviews, but feel when expectations are far exceeded, I have to give credit where deserved.  Captain Matt communicated with me at every step.  We had a family member on a mobile scooter that needed assistance.  He met us at the place where the cruise port shuttle dropped off their patrons.  First, he took us to see Brown Bears, where we watched them up close on the shoreline.  We then saw Sea Otters, Sea Lions, and Baby Eagles.  But the most important part was all of the Whales.  He knew all of the spots and called the other Captains to ensure the best chance of seeing them.  I feel like we saw 8 or more of them.  We got great tail shots also.  I will upload some pictures when everyone send them to me.  Listen, all a parent wants to hear is that their child stated, "It was one of the greatest experience of her life."  Thanks Captain Matt. 

This was such a fun project that we wouldn’t have been able to do anywhere else. The instructors were very friendly. Both my boys (13 and 15) ranked it very high on our week long vacation to Alaska. Now we have an awesome souvenir that we’ll have to remember our trip to Sitka.