Top Sitka Shore Excursions

Gary was our guide, and his insights and history on Sitka were greatly appreciated.. If there was a highlight for our Alaska visit, this was it. We able to see salmon spawn, learning all about their return to where they started. We visited the bear sanctuary where he provided so many details on black bears vs brown bears including their distinct differences, their mating and birthing patterns, and their hibernation. He also took us to visit a hatchery to learn why they’re important for the future of salmon. He was a former teacher and we saw the boarding school where he taught— where close to 90% of these students go onto college. His enthusiasm for Sitka is contagious.

We had the most amazing time on our Whale Watching adventure! The pictures that you see on Jaren’s website are exactly what we saw! Rafts of sea otters, pods of Humpback Whales, Fragrances of Muirs, etc. We were so close that we could see and hear the whales exhale and the sounds that they make (like groans.) We were surrounded by whales! Jaren knew some of the whales by their flukes and shared so many facts about whales, current studies, etc. Jaren is very knowledgeable about Sitka, the surrounds and history. Wish we had booked an entire day with him! I can’t say enough about this fantastic experience, it was the highlight of our trip. When you are on the boat with Jaren, be sure to ask him to record the whales for you, his techniques gave us the best footage! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!

This was the best excursion, I believe we had Jim and he was so detailed, explained so much to us, stayed with us as a group of about 10, wasn’t like going to the zoo like we thought but what a wonderful thing to rehab these birds, bears that would have died if weren’t rescued. We visited totem park and walked the trail of the park, seen the bears in there homes, well worth the money for this excursion. Don’t hesitate to book, well organized, kept us updated will definitely use Viator again.

We really enjoyed the Jeep rental. It allowed us to explore at our own pace and to see things we otherwise would not have seen. Picking it up was quick and easy, and turning it back in was a breeze. We were able to visit Fortress of the Bear after the rest of the cruise crowds left. We did some off roading where were able to watch salmon making their way upstream in small streams to spawn. I would highly recommend.

The pilot was great he took us over mountains , showed us many lakes and pointed out many mountain goats, beautiful rivers and and the volcano Mount Edgecumbe. He took us out over the bay where we were able to see whales just a wonderful experience. We definitely recommend.

My husband and I had the most amazing time snorkeling in Sitka with Selkie Snorkels. It ended up being just the two of us with our guide, Lea, who gave us a truly VIP experience. Although we are experienced snorkelers/scuba divers, I was a little nervous about Alaskan cold waters. I quickly realized that the provided equipment - 7 mil wetsuit, hood, booties, and gloves (along with mask and snorkel) - kept me adequately warm in the water. The beach entry was easy to enter and the swim around Magic Island was in fact magical. We saw so many cold water animals: sea stars, crabs, rock fish, bull kelp, fish, and more. The visibility was decent (about 20 feet) and the surf mild (only the occasional small swell from distant boat activity). Plus, Lea is a very knowledgeable biologist who shared a wealth of information about the environment and its animals. She is also a very well prepared and capable guide with all the necessary safety equipment and abilities. She truly made our adventure a ton of fun! And the hot cocoa at the end was a nice touch. We highly recommend this snorkel excursion!

Sea lions, whales, and bears, oh my! This was the best day! We saw a whale breaching many times, a mother bear with three cubs, eagles, and sea lions all within the first hour. The ship is very nice and comfortable. Tad, the captain, was so nice and knowledgeable, just the most lovely day. 100/10 would recommend!

Mail lady Kari was super knowledgeable. Not only did she do the standard sites but showed us the lake and hydro dam as well as the road to nowhere. She gave us a great recommendation for the gentleman that runs Biguns and we got a fresh huge Dungeness crab boil that was melt in your mouth good.