Ketchikan Kayak Eco-Tour
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Ketchikan, USA
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
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.
- Explore the unique ecology where northern rain forest meets the ocean
- Look for sea lions, humpback whales, eagles, and other Alaskan wildlife
- No kayaking experience necessary
- Includes pickup and drop-off from the cruise port or hotels
What's Included
- Local smoked salmon, dip, local vegan options and hot & cold beverages.
- Our Guides are Locals or Professional Educators/Return Guides
- Private Transportation from the downtown Cruise Docks & the new dock at Ward Cove.
- Small-group tours. 6:1 guide to guest ratio.
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
We Pick up guests at Downtown Cruise Docks & Ward Cove Cruise Ship Docks. Please Read ALL Meeting Instructions! FOR DOWNTOWN CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS & Other Guests: After disembarking your cruise ship, please proceed to the shelter at Cruise Berth 3. The shelter is on the dock next to the "Visitors Information - Restrooms" building and Sockeye Sam's Store. It's across the street from the tunnel. (NOTE: this is NOT the berth 2 Visitors Center). The walk is approximately 2-5 minutes depending at which pier you are docked. The address is 425 Water Street. Our driver will be present 15 minutes before all departures holding a RED sign that says "KETCHIKAN KAYAK CO." FOR CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS Docking AT THE MILL AT WARD COVE: (Norwegian Cruise Lines + Some Others) After disembarking your cruise ship, please proceed to the brick building "The Mill at Ward Cove." Proceed through the building to the right. Tour vendors will be greeting guests for excursions in the corner near the restrooms and the large overhead door. Look for our driver with a RED sign that reads "KETCHIKAN KAYAK CO." 15 minutes AFTER the departure time. The MIll at Ward Cove is halfway between downtown Ketchikan and our marina, this means DEPARTURES FROM WARD COVE WILL BE GREETED BY OUR DRIVER 15-20 MINUTES AFTER THE SCHEDULED DOWNTOWN DEPARTURE TIME as you will be picked up on the way. Guests returning to Ward Cove will be back about 15 minutes early. For example, if you schedule a tour from 8:00am to noon, your tour will operate from 8:15 to 11:45.am. If you are docking at Ward Cove but would prefer to meet for a downtown departure (e.g. your ship docks at 7:00am and you want to see downtown Ketchikan before meeting us for an 11:00am tour) or if you would prefer to be dropped off downtown after the excursion this may be possible but you will need to contact the Ketchikan Kayak Co. prior to your tour time to arrange the change. Otherwise all guests docking at Ward Cove will be expected to be picked up at Ward Cove. *Remember to turn off airplane mode when you pull into port to aid in communication should there be any delays or should any issues arise the day of your excursion.
Itinerary
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Children must be at least 6 years old. There are some exceptions, so please call if you feel you qualify
- No experience is necessary
- Rain pants and jackets are provided
- Due to the size of the kayak cockpit openings, your hip/waist size should not exceed 52 inches (137cm) as measured while seated.
- Recommended that you wear clothing that would be appropriate for an outdoor hike through the forest, and footwear that will fit inside the space of a kayak. Large bulky boots or high heels are not recommended
- There is a minimum of 2 people to run a tour
- At time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the following information: ship name, date.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Danette_J
We had a fantastic time.
Xack and Chris were excellent tour guides , with great stories. We saw sea lions, bald eagles held starfish and much more. It was fun, interesting and personal. Highly recommend this excursion.
Reviews
4.9
based on 972 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Peter_P, Aug 2026
Great experience rain or shine. Alaskan weather is unpredictable and we went out on a very rainy day resulting in calm waters and better wildlife viewing (sea lions, sea stars, harbor seals, eagles.) They provide great rain gear to stay warm and dry and warm beverages and snacks at the end.
gayle_s, Aug 2026
A very easy way to navigate and now you can say you were sea kayaking! Group well organized and leaders kept everyone engaged and having a good time. You go rain or shine and we had both. We are seniors and did not find this too difficult. They treat you to some snacks after including salmon and crackers!
Karen_C, Aug 2026
My husband and I cruised to Alaska with two other couples. From the minute I scheduled the kayak trip and spoke directly with Devin, the communication was amazing all the way! Weather was perfect and Hannah and Julie were there BEST guides! We had a fantastic trip. Highly recommend.
Savannah_L, Aug 2026
Spencer was a great guide! Showed us and taught us a lot of cool things. We even got to see some cool wildlife on our trip.
Cyndi_M, Aug 2026
Not as strenuous as I expected. We are 58, and loved it. It’s such a different perspective from the water. They do a great tutorial that helps with your kayaking, getting in and out of boat. I felt safe the whole time.
We saw Eagles, starfish, seals and sea lions.
Esteban_V, Aug 2026
Spencer, Jenny, and Hannah were phenomenal. All 3 were so sweet & personable. We were able to learn SO much about the wildlife in Ketchikan and even see a whale!
Jordan_L, Aug 2026
Jenny from the block was 11/10 guide. We had a gorgeous day thankfully- saw whales, sea lions, starfish, sea anemone, moon jellies & bald eagles! Great team and a great tour
Emily_C, Aug 2026
We had a great time on this experience. We hugged the coast line and saw many sea stars, sea anemones, bald eagles and a sea lion eat a very large fish. It was a long kayak but doable definitely worth the money.
Lindsey_F, Aug 2026
Transportation to and from the cruise port area was extremely organized! Our driver was knowledgeable of the area and shared information with us during our ride to and from Clover Pass. Once we arrived we were provided with bibs to help keep us dry and we started the excursion. Our guide, Erica, was wonderful! She knew so much about the wildlife and as very helpful throughout the excursion. We were able to see bald eagles, star fish, sea lions, plenty of salmon and even a humpback whale!
Burt_L, Aug 2026
Fabulous experience! Loved it! Kam and Jen were fabulous guides! Highly recommend this tour company.
Amanda_D, Aug 2026
Moderate physical activity for the person seated in the back. Unique kayaking with emphasis on local sea creatures & flora. Very educational & the entire family enjoyed it. You will be tired afterwards! Perfect timing for our shorter port day as we had time to explore a little bit of downtown before going on the kayaking trip.
Lauren_R, Aug 2026
This was a great tour! We lucked out with the weather and it was a beautiful day to see eagles, starfish and seals! Our guide Jenny took us to some cool spots and shared facts about wildlife. Brutus the sea lion saw us off and welcomed us back.
Wesley_S, Aug 2026
The guides were very knowledgeable and fun to be on the water with. It gave us the opportunity to see some wildlife up close
Elaine_L, Aug 2026
Awesome experience. Beautiful scenery! We saw whales spouting in the distance, eagles, seals and starfish. We also saw a mink. Our tour guide spencer was super friendly and informative. We kayaked at a fairly leisurely pace. Nothing crazy. I def recommend this.
Kerry_F, Jul 2026
Wonderful laid back paddle experience led by knowledgeable guides. Brutus the sea lion followed us for a while but was intensely interested. We saw many 🦅, some island deer, orange and purple star fish lions mane jelly fish and enjoyed time out both island paddling and a bit of inlet sea paddling. It rained but this group is well prepared with gear to keep you warm and dry. Kudos and thank you we will see you in May!
Stephen_R, Jul 2026
The guides provide good training about how to kayak, and the location is wonderful. We saw many bald eagles in the area and seals playing in the water. I missed a sea lion visit at the dock. Overall it was an excellent guided sea kayak tour in southeast Alaska.
Elaine_T, Jul 2026
Great trip. Spencer is a great guide. He pays attention to the conditions and what customers want to see.
Megan_G, Jul 2026
A beautiful paddle with lots of amazing marine wildlife led by knowledgeable and friendly tour guides. So glad we took time to explore the waters. Definitely recommend!
Jodi_S, Jul 2026
Very organized and friendly. The guides were knowledgeable and helpful. I really enjoyed my paddle in Ketchikan. Did not see any whales and the tide was high so no starfish either but it was a beautiful sunny and cool day. Would highly recommend!
Maria_G, Jul 2026
We had the best time sea kayaking!! Our guide, Aine, was fabulous and made the trip extra great. They split the group so our family of 6 could do farther, which was wonderful. The route was beautiful. We saw seals right near our kayaks!! I highly recommend this kayak trip!!
Joelle_O, Jul 2026
Our tour guides were awesome, knowledgeable, and helpful. Everything went smoothly and it was a great experience.
Karen_M, Jul 2026
Our guide Jenny was wonderful. It definitely was a nice workout. We saw tons of eagles, deer, salmon jumping, and seals.
Brian_B, Jul 2026
As soon as we got on the water, we saw many different kinds of wildlife. We saw a whale, seals, starfish, bald eagles, fish, & sea lions. Tour guide was very friendly and worked with all experience levels.
Jamie_K, Jul 2026
My family all lived this excursion. We lucked out and had amazing weather but be prepared to get a little wet so water proof jackets were handy.
We were able to see so much wildlife and out guide was fantastic and knowledgeable
John_M, Jul 2026
I had great communication with Spencer during booking and the day of the excursion. Liam picked us up on time. We were on the water for about two hours. In that time we saw whales, eagles, and starfish. Erica and Ashley were our guides. They were knowledgeable and entertaining. We would recommend the excursion.
Annie_Y, Jul 2026
We had a great time kayaking in Ketchikan with Spencer and Anya! They made sure we were comfortable kayaking and there was a good balance of floating to admire wildlife and paddling to different islands. Highly recommend!
minacline, Jul 2026
Aine was our wonderful kayak guide. We had a fun two hours exploring Clover Pass. We saw many eagles, jellyfish, starfish, and seals/sea lions. After our kayaking adventure, we had a very nice salmon snack and hot/cold beverages.
They provided everyone with rain proof gear if you wanted it. It did rain, but it was still a very good time to explore. I was completely comfortable and I didn’t feel cold or wet. The facility and equipment was very well maintained including numerous restrooms to utilize before and after kayaking.
The drive to and from the meet up spot in Ketchikan was comfortable. Thank you for a great afternoon!!
Scott_W, Jul 2026
First class excursion. They provide everything, including kayaking lessons. Highly recommend for beginner or experienced kayaker.
jen_h, Jul 2026
Spencer was a great tour guide in the kayaks. We saw many bald eagles, stat fish, sea cucumber, sea urchins and even a humpback whale.
hinkgen, Jul 2026
This activity was okay. Shuttle service and drivers were awesome, vehicle was topnotch. It was a rainy, cool day. Guides didn’t encourage wearing of their waterproof rainwear, I did so anyhow. Kayaks are all tandem with a rudder that’s operated with your feet by the person in back. Honestly, steering it was a pain compared to a normal kayak. We luckily saw some whales almost right away very near us…so cool!! We saw many eagles, too. Our group was a double group with two guides which felt too big and disorganized. Guides shared some “misinformation” via the guise of trivia. The number one cause of eagles’ deaths is NOT due to drowning bc they can’t release their talons. Two people in the group wanted to “race” which was just annoying (not the guides fault) and a couple others didn’t stick with the group, and that was annoying, too. When they said we had 50 minutes left…we were praying we misheard and it was only 15…not the case…it felt very long on a rainy, cool day. Snacks after were a nice touch.
Likely to Sell Out
From $161.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Likely to Sell Out
Ketchikan Kayak Eco-Tour
972
4 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$161.00
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Explore Similar Things to Do
- Nature and Wildlife Tours
- Shore Excursions
- Safaris
- Bus Tours
- Outdoor Activities
- Private and Luxury
- Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises
- Ketchikan
- Nature and Wildlife Tours - Sitka
- Shore Excursions - Sitka
- Safaris - Sitka
- Bus Tours - Sitka
- Nature and Wildlife Tours - Juneau
- Shore Excursions - Juneau
- Safaris - Juneau
- Bus Tours - Juneau
- Nature and Wildlife Tours - Hoonah
- Shore Excursions - Hoonah
- Bus Tours - Hoonah
Attractions in Ketchikan, USA
- Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary Tours & Tickets
- Saxman Native Village Tours & Tickets
- Guard Island Lighthouse Tours & Tickets
- Totem Bight State Historical Park Tours & Tickets
- Tongass National Forest Tours & Tickets
- Misty Fjords National Monument Tours & Tickets
- Inside Passage Tours & Tickets
- Ward Cove Tours & Tickets
- Dolly's House Museum Tours & Tickets
- Southeast Alaska Discovery Center Tours & Tickets
- Creek Street Tours & Tickets
- Totem Heritage Center Tours & Tickets
- Tongass Historical Museum Tours & Tickets