Private Alaska Native Excursion (Cultural, Scenic Experience)
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Ketchikan, USA
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Overview
What's Included
- Bottled waterBottled Water and Granola Bar (upon request)
- Entry fee to Totem Heritage Center
- Snacks
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
Ketchikan (Pass By)
1
Salmon Ladder
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
2
Rotary Beach
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Herring Cove
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
601 Deermount St
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Totem Heritage Center
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 22 reviews
Angela_Z, Jun 2026
Overall disappointed in my experience. I had communicated months ahead of time about our desires for our tour and about meeting early at 6:30am to begin our tour as our time in port was limited. I also provided the name of our ship and our docking information. We pulled into port a bit early and didn’t see anyone but didn’t worry about it because we were still a bit early. At 6:30 there was still no driver so I began to make phone calls and sending emails to the provider making sure we were in the right spot. At 6:50 I was finally able to reach Dan and after a bit of back and forth he recalled that we agreed to start at 6:30 and that he would be leaving shortly and that we needed to walk to dock 1 (we were at dock 4) to meet him. I told him we were at dock 4 and he gave me walking directions to dock 1 (which were wrong). It was pouring down rain so we hired an uber to pick us up and drive us to dock 1. When we arrived at dock 1 he was still not there and we waited and watched as the group tour from the same company met and drive off. Eventually Dan showed up and asked us what we wanted to do. I reminded him of our emails and renamed the list of places I wanted to visit. He took us to our first stop which was an overlook and shared a story about fishing. We then went to what I assume was Herring Cove, but we were never told the name. He shared stories about how his family harvested the plants and berries for food and medicine. He pointed out where an eagles nest was, although we didn’t see any eagles. He made a valiant attempt to find us bears, but that did not pan out either. He then took us to a waterfall which was nice. He even took pictures of my family there. But managed to cut my son out of the picture. I initially expressed interest in going to Saxman Totem Park, but was persuaded to go to Totem Bight instead for a more authentic experience. While Totem Bight was lovely and his family members helped to carve the poles there, there just wasn’t a lot present. There was a clan house and maybe 6 poles. We ran into his daughter’s tour group there and heard her tell the story of the totem meaning. I am disappointed we didn’t get to experience seeing a carver in action, which Saxman would have offered along with totems and a clan house. After that he took us to the Salmon ladder and explained the function and dropped us off at Creek Street, about 3.5 hour after our 3hr tour began. While I appreciated the extra effort to make up for the late start, it limited our time to explore the rest of the area and eat lunch before having to get back on the ship. There was also a large box of snacks in the back of the van, but at no point were we offered snacks. Throughout the tour we heard a lot about his personal life story, how his business started, his family, and their indigenous culture. Overall, we got an in depth look at Dan and his family, versus an in depth look at Ketchikan which was my goal. I could have just done the standard group tour and probably had a better experience and saved some money. For a private tour, I expected more.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Our tours are intentionally centered on Alaska Native culture and history, and we share our family’s experiences because they are part of a living cultural tradition rather than stories from a textbook. Many guests value that personal connection, though we understand it wasn’t the primary focus you were looking for.
We appreciate your comments about the meeting logistics, communication, photos, and refreshments. They have been noted and will help us improve the experience for future guests.
We wish you all the best in your future travels and thank you for giving us the opportunity to be part of your visit to Ketchikan.
Elizabeth_L, Jun 2026
Our group of 9 had a very interesting experience with Rebecca. She was really informative and answered all of our questions. Loved hearing about the intricate history of the Alaska culture and family units and seeing the Clan House. The totems were magnificent!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re so glad to hear that you had such an engaging experience with Rebecca. It’s wonderful that you enjoyed learning about the rich history of Alaska Native culture, the significance of family units, and exploring the Clan House. We’re especially happy the totems made such an impression—they truly are remarkable. We appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you again in the future!
Cindy_A, Jun 2026
The was a such a great experience to share with our family. Meta (spelling) was a great guide and local. She was so knowledgeable and immediately encouraged us to ask any questions we had about the area, Alaska, and her/the indigenous culture in Ketchikan. We saw a bear, several eagles and the beautiful Stellar’s Jay! Toured the Totem Center and learned several the stories of some of the totems plus the efforts to preserve them. Highly recommend this tour - you won’t regret it!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for such a wonderful review! We’re thrilled your family had such a memorable experience with Meta. She loves sharing her knowledge of Alaska, Ketchikan, and Indigenous culture, and it’s great to hear you enjoyed asking questions and learning along the way. Seeing a bear, bald eagles, and a Steller’s Jay made for an incredible day, and we’re glad you enjoyed the stories behind the totems and the preservation efforts at the Totem Center. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you and your family back to Ketchikan someday!
Cynthia_H, Jun 2026
Great tour with Dan. I've been to Ketchikan 4 times. Dan is very knowledgeable of Alaska Native culture. He actually lives it and his children will carry on the traditions. The tour was fun and not hurried with a relaxed pace. I learned more on this tour than any other one in Ketchikan.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re honored that after four visits to Ketchikan, you found this tour so meaningful. Dan enjoys sharing Alaska Native culture and traditions from a personal perspective, and we’re glad you appreciated the relaxed pace and authentic experience. We hope to see you again on your next visit!
Tony_Y, Sept 2025
Rebecca (Holland Jáat) was a fantastic guide. She shared a lot of interesting information. We saw salmon, a bear catching a salmon, a massive waterfall and a lot of Totem poles with accompanying information. Highly recommend this private tour that is operated by a local family.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Haw’aa (thank you) so much for your kind words! I’m really glad you enjoyed the tour and got to see so much wildlife — even a bear catching salmon! It means a lot to our family to share our culture and stories with visitors. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Ketchikan someday!
Marty_H, Sept 2025
Fun way to see Ketchikan. Dan has over 50 years of local knowledge. We enjoyed our morning with him.
Response from Host, Sept 2025
Haw’aa / Gunalchéesh for joining us! We’re so glad you had a fun morning with Dan—his lifetime of local knowledge makes every tour special. We appreciate your kind words and hope to see you again in Ketchikan!
John_O, Aug 2025
Aweome tour. Our local tour guide, Hannah, was very knowledgeable and a pleasure to talk to. This is a must do private tour!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed your time with Hannah—she loves sharing her knowledge and making each tour personal. We truly appreciate your recommendation and are happy to hear it was a “must do” experience for you!
Susan_S, Aug 2025
Knowledgeable tour guide. Nice combination of nature experiences a native heritage information. We saw one bear way off in the distance. We enjoyed our time at the shore. The kids liked hunting for crabs. Information about Alaskan indigenous people was important to learn. We liked hearing about totem poles.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
We’re so glad you enjoyed the mix of nature and cultural history! Even with the bear at a distance, it’s great the shore time and crab hunting were a hit with the kids. Háw’aa (thank you) for valuing and engaging with our Indigenous heritage and totem stories—it means a lot to share them with you.
Nancy_S, Aug 2025
I loved it was a Native of Ketchikan and he knew all the history. Salmon ladder was cool and the history of the totem poles.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
We’re so glad you enjoyed the tour! It means a lot to share our hometown with you. The salmon ladder and totem pole stories are such a big part of our history—háw’aa (Thank you)for taking the time to connect with it!
Steven_m, Jul 2025
This was highly informational and provided a wonderful introduction to Ketchikan but also to the indigenous peoples of southern Alaska. Strongly recommend.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
We’re so glad you enjoyed the tour! It truly means a lot to share our hometown with you. The salmon ladder and the stories behind the totem poles are such an important part of our history—háw’aa (thank you) for taking the time to connect with it!”
Paige_P, Jul 2025
Great tour because flexible. We could pull over to the side of the road when we saw wildlife. Also, our boat return time changed and they hurried through for us. Also really great because they will pick up and drop off at ward cove (Norwegians dick area).
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for the great review! We're so glad you enjoyed the flexibility of the tour — stopping to watch wildlife is one of the highlights we love to offer. We're also happy we could adjust to your changed boat return time and make sure everything went smoothly. And yes, convenient pick-up and drop-off at Ward Cove (Norwegian's dock area) is something our guests really appreciate. We hope to see you again on your next Alaskan adventure!
melissacconrad, Jul 2025
Nina did a great job talking about the history of the Native American tribes, forests, salmon, etc. We ended up using 2.5 of our 3 hours, by our choice.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for your kind words. I will pass this along to Nina she will be very pleased.
Diana_N, Jul 2025
We have such a great experience Clan house do such a great Job! We really enjoy the experience. Ketchican is a unique and special place! Thanks
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your sweet words! We’re so glad you enjoyed your time with us—Ketchikan really is such a special place, and it means the world to us to share it with you.
Ezri_K, Jun 2025
Amazing experience with Leo - we saw eagles and bears, and he taught us about the totems. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled you had an amazing experience with Leo. Seeing eagles and bears is always a treat, and we’re glad you enjoyed learning about the totems too. We truly appreciate the recommendation—háw’aa (thank you)!
Alisa_I, Aug 2024
I recommend this tour to everyone. This is a must do experience. You have locals doing this tour so you get all the knowledge about the culture and history. We saw it all, bears, orcas, eagles and salmon. Very happy with this tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Howa’a’ (Thank you) for your review.
Anjana_A, Aug 2024
We had a great time on this tour. We saw the salmon ladder, bears, an eagles nest w/ baby eagles. We could not see any whales…but i am sure it will happen on a different day.
Dan was great. His wife being a native Alaskan from royalty really gave us great insight into the the local culture. His explanation of the totem poles, the stories they tell, and their historical importance was very enlightening.
We also saw native medicinal plants and learned about how the native community feeds its family while minimizing its impact on the planet.
We would definitely reccomend. .
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Howa’a’(Thank you) for your kind words.
Sue_B, Jun 2024
We were on an Alaskan cruise with 2 other couples. The van was comfortable and the local authentic flair to the tour really made it great. Our tour guide Hannah was so much fun.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Howa’a’ (Thank you) iI will pass this along to Hannah. She will be very pleased.
Deisha_B, Oct 2025
We delved into the native culture and cultural experience, but lacked a bit of city tour maybe, we learned a lot as a fully recommended experience
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Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re really glad you enjoyed learning about our Native culture and traditions. We’ll keep your suggestion in mind about including a bit more of the city next time. Háw’aa (thank you) for recommending us!
Ismael_P, May 2025
Creo que fue un buen tour sobre todo, pero me hubiera gustado un poco mas de historia sobre el pueblo.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you for your kind words.
Kind regards,
Dan
From $699.00
per group (up to 14)up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Private Alaska Native Excursion (Cultural, Scenic Experience)
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