Top Ketchikan Cultural Tours

Focus on the scenery of Tongass National Forest and Totem Park on this eco tour from Ketchikan. Traveling with a small group of just 11 people or fewer means you'll get personalized attention and plenty of time to ask questions of your guide. Follow your guide on a walk through the Alaskan rain forest and Totem Park, where you'll get views and photo ops of pristine creeks, ancient trees, and moss-covered ground. There's even a geo-caching scavenger hunt to keep kids interested and occupied.

There are few options for public transportation in Ketchikan, Alaska—but this efficient sightseeing tour makes it easy to explore the area. Meet your guide at the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau near the ship docks and head out to see area highlights such as Ketchikan Creek, Herring Cove and we go to a walk to Rotary Beach

Make the most of your time in port in Ketchikan and discover Alaska’s natural wonders and cultural heritage on this half-day small-group tour. Enjoy a guided walk through the rainforest, stopping to admire a waterfall and native flora. And visit a Totem Park: learn about the ancient Alaskan tradition, the cultural heritage of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people, and explore a magnificently carved clan house.

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 rich history and natural beauty of Ketchikan on this 2.5-hour tour. Discover the city's past with insights into the red-light district and Ketchikan Creek, especially captivating in July when salmon are seen spawning. Enjoy an Exclusive stop at Eagle Point for complimentary smoked salmon, free coffee, and learn about Alaska's indigenous wildlife. Also included at eagle point are professional mounted wildlife including a Black Bear, Brown Bear, Wolf, Wolverine, and many other animals. Visit the Saxman Totem Village, home to 29 authentic totem poles carved by Tlingit and Haida natives. Here you will get to see the carving center externally and learn more about the stories and legends of the poles. Saxman is the biggest collection of standing totem poles in the world. Finally, unwind at Herring Cove, where you have the best chance at seeing Bears, Eagles, Seals, and Salmon (Not Guaranteed). Concluding your tour at Creek Street or being brought back to your cruise ship.

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.

We are a Haida Alaskan Native Owned and Operated Guide Service here in Beautiful Ketchikan, Alaska. Let Us Share Our Culture and Way of Life with you as we tour parts of Ketchikan and the surrounding area. Learn how to spot medicinal plants that have been used by the Tlingit/Haida peoples for thousands of years and learn about their benefits. You will also learn How to Read the Characters of the Totem Poles, what they mean, and their history. See eagles in their nests and other wildlife such as Whales, Deer, Bears, Sea Lions, Seals, and salmon. We do our best to ensure a high chance of spotting wildlife but it is not gauranteed. This is a private group style tour so there is a lot of felxibility in terms of routes and preference of stops. We will accomodate your pick-up and drop-off locations so reach out to us for pickup requests if needed! We look forward to meeting your group and giving you a taste of our culture and Ketchikan's Beauty! Wildlife sightings are not guarenteed.

Discover Ketchikan through the eyes of the Tlingit people on a private, family-friendly tour. Learn about local history and current events while visiting prime wildlife viewing spots, scenic beaches, and cultural landmarks. From eagles and whales to bears and totem poles, every stop offers something special. With spacious, accessible vehicles, comfort for all travelers is guaranteed, including those with mobility needs.

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 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!

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.

Spend several hours exploring the highlights of one of Alaska’s southernmost cities on this immersive, multi-stop tour of Ketchikan. Meet your guide at your cruise ship dock. See city highlights, including historical Creek Street and a local salmon hatchery, before continuing out of town: you’ll visit totem parks, pretty tide pools and beaches, nature preserves, and more. As you go, learn all about the region’s indigenous heritage.

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.

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.

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.

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 and the best of Alaska in this customisable tour for you and up to ten of your friends, family, or colleagues. Your guide will make sure all the sites are covered, and you can just relax and enjoy it all. Options to see are the Salmon Hatchery, Herring Cove, Local Waterfalls, Local Totem Parks, seasonal bear viewing, and exploring the Indigenous Cultures of Southeast Asia.

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.

You will be with an experienced driver. Learn about some Alaska and Ketchikan history and current events. We help with recommendations for local native art, places you can visit comfortably if you have children or someone with limited mobility and restaurants. If you have a wheelchair or scooter, vehicles have a big enough compartment for that. If it is a scooter, that will limit passengers to only up to four.

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.

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.

Trade in a mellow shore excursion for a thrilling alternative in Ketchikan. Steer or ride in a 4WD Jeep Wrangler® deep in Tongass National Forest. Then, at Lake Harriet Hunt, paddle with your group a Native American–style canoe. Keep watch for deer, moose, eagles and even bears along the way. Reward your outdoor activities with a delicious snack.