Top Ketchikan Sightseeing Tours

Venture into the stunning Tongass National Rainforest, where ancient trees, cascading waterfalls, and vibrant wildlife abound. This tour offers an immersive look at Ketchikan's natural beauty, showcasing black bears, bald eagles, and spawning salmon in their natural habitats. A knowledgeable guide will lead the way, providing insights into the local ecosystem and ensuring a memorable experience tailored to the day's conditions. Ideal for couples, solo travelers, and small families, enjoy this intimate tour limited to 12 guests for personalized attention. - Explore the breathtaking Tongass National Rainforest with a local guide - Spot wildlife including bears, eagles, seals, and whales - Enjoy a small group experience with a maximum of 12 participants - Operates rain or shine; dress comfortably for the weather

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.

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 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.

Explore the breathtaking waters of Ketchikan on this intimate whale watching tour. With a small group led by knowledgeable locals, enjoy personalized service as you search for humpback whales, orcas, seals, and more. This 3 to 3 and a half-hour adventure aboard a stable catamaran features heated indoor seating and panoramic views, ensuring comfort in any weather. Savor a complimentary locally sourced lunch of your choosing between five different options, while taking in the stunning Alaskan scenery. If no marine mammals are spotted, a $100 cash guarantee awaits you at the end of the tour. - Small-group tours led by local experts for an authentic experience - 3-3.5-hour duration on a high-speed vessel reaching prime wildlife hotspots - Complimentary lunch included - Marine mammal sighting guarantee with cash refund if no sightings occur - On time for cruise ship departure guarantee

Get an overview of Ketchikan's local wildlife and culture even if you're short on time on this efficient tour. Learn about black bears, bald eagles, and more in a more personalized small group setting where you can ask questions. Get a more authentic glimpse into the city's art and culture with insights from your local guide. The stops are customized depending on the season to maximize your experience.

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.

Alaska boasts astonishing biodiversity, and Ketchikan is a popular gateway to its rainforests, beaches, and wildlife—but with limited time on land, it can be tough to venture off the beaten track. Designed for cruise ship passengers, this private half-day tour takes you deep into Tongass National Forest—the largest national forest in the United States and home to salmon, bald eagles, and black and brown bears.

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.

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.

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.

While your ship is docked in Ketchikan, kayak around Eagle Island, part of Tongass National Forest, on this shore excursion. Enter the protected waters of Clover Pass and increase your chances of spotting wildlife such as bald eagles, seals, salmon, and even whales as you explore in a quiet, eco-friendly vessel. The tranquil waters provide a perfect opportunity for beginning kayakers and the more experienced alike to enjoy the Alaskan wilderness.

Experience a 1.5-hour Misty Fjords flightseeing tour with Seawind Aviation aboard our classic DeHavilland Otter or Beaver seaplanes. Just a short flight from Ketchikan, you’ll soar above towering 3,000-foot granite walls, deep fjords carved by ancient glaciers, misty peaks, waterfalls, and lush forested slopes. We’ll touch down on a remote mountain lake or calm saltwater inlet for a 20-minute stop, giving you the chance to step out onto the floats and take in the stillness of this pristine wilderness up close. After returning to Ketchikan, we’ll bring you back to the downtown cruise ship docks in plenty of time to board. Norwegian Cruise Line guests who are docked at Ward Cove (20 min outside Ketchikan) will be dropped at the free shuttle stop for easy transport back to their ship.

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.

Ride an electric bike to the end of Ketchikan's 'road to nowhere' and then hike thorough a wildlife-rich rain forest on this combo eco-tour. Pedal from the marina to the end of the island's paved road system on a battery-powered bike, and then dismount to trek through the wilderness of the Tongass National Forest, following a trail that passes an active salmon-spawning stream, a waterfall, beach views, and dense foliage that's home to an array of native Alaskan wildlife.

Explore Ketchikan with a private tour designed for all ages, where your family and friends are the only guests in the van. Enjoy comfort, flexibility, and a relaxed pace. Giving you the freedom to focus on what interests you most. Every stop on our tour is chosen for its genuine connection to Ketchikan’s rainforest, coastline, wildlife, and history. You’ll explore places shaped by nature, not created for show, giving you a clear sense of what makes this place special. Our goal is to create an experience that is fun, friendly, authentic, and unscripted—like exploring Alaska with a friend. As a BBB‑accredited business, our company meets the Better Business Bureau’s established standards for integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct, providing guests with confidence in our professionalism and accountability. Please note: Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Our routes focus on naturally scenic areas that offer the best potential for viewing wildlife.

The Alaskan city of Ketchikan is an urban setting against a backdrop of idyllic wilderness. Learn about native Alaskan culture while visiting traditional totem parks, soft sandy beaches, and thundering waterfalls on this half-day private tour with hotel pickup that can be customized to your party's interests.

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.

Walk from Ketchikan’s downtown docks to historic Creek Street on a self-guided audio tour that plays automatically through a GPS app as you explore. Follow Ketchikan Creek to discover how this waterfront town was shaped by fishing, timber, and Tlingit culture. Along the way, you will pass salmon viewing areas, traditional totem poles, forested paths, and harbor views. Uncover the town's history as a Native fish camp, a multicultural working port, and the Salmon Capital of the World, alongside tales of the historic red-light district. Explore at your own pace—pause to watch the salmon runs or take in the harbor views. The audio resumes whenever you’re ready, so you can move freely without keeping up with a group. This is a self-guided experience (no in-person guide). Download the tour in advance and use it anytime. It works offline and follows your location along the route.

Ketchikan has always drawn people chasing gold, fish, fortune, or a fresh start, and not everyone succeeded. This self-guided audio tour surfaces the scandals and tragedies cruise lines skip, and how Indigenous people, immigrants, and workers pushed back against exploitation. From the Rock statue, you'll pass Harding's 1923 Masonic cornerstone site, the courthouse behind two Supreme Court cases, and the firehouse, now Uncharted Distillery, linked to a fire chief's disguised return to set more fires. The route continues to Creek Street, the red-light district, for the truth about Dolly the Sporting Woman, and the New York Cafe, whose Japanese-American owner survived WWII internment thanks to neighbors, ending at East Street Pier overlooking Pennock Island, Tongass National Forest, and the cruise ships.

Explore Ketchikan in our '67 Volkswagen van. You can enjoy learning about Ketchikan's colorful past, rich Native history, and the flora and fauna that make Southeast Alaska such a wonderful place. Our stops include but are not limited to a local Alaskan beach for intertidal exploration (tidal dependent), photo stops along Nichols Passage, a dazzling waterfall, and a stop at scenic Herring Cove for the possibility to spot wildlife (not guaranteed). Substituting the Saxman Totem Park or a short hike for any of the options above is also available. This tour can be completely customized to fit your itinerary. Just let our guide know; he will use his local knowledge to create an adventure you won't soon forget! This tour is an excellent option for all ages and guests who enjoy exploring with local guides! *Please keep in mind that each tour is different and tour stops may be changed by our guides due to tides, traffic, road construction, and weather.

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 off your cruise ship, and get your adrenaline going, on this half-day shore excursion to a Ketchikan zipline adventure park. Soar through the Alaskan rainforest on seven ziplines and eight canopy ropes. This natural jungle gym includes suspended logs, rope bridges, a climbing tower and staircase, meaning thrill seekers of all experience levels can share in the excitement. Round-trip port transport included.