Alaskan Bear Encounter by Land & Sea

Recommended by 93% of travelers

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Ketchikan, USA

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Booked 5+ times last week!

4 hours 45 minutes (approx.)
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Alaska Wildlife Safari and Sightseeing Tour

Ketchikan, Alaska

4.5

(169)

Alaska Wildlife Safari and Sightseeing Tour

from $137

Private Ketchikan Wildlife and Sightseeing Tour

Ketchikan, Alaska

5.0

(1)

Private Ketchikan Wildlife and Sightseeing Tour

from $1,195

Customizable Private Tour in Ketchikan with Pick Up

from $505

Per group

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Overview

Search for bears in an area that’s normally closed to the public on a tour from Ketchikan. After being picked up from your cruise terminal, travel to Clover Pass Resort to board a boat for a water tour of Tongass National Forest. Arrive at Neets Bay Bear Observatory, with permits provided by the only company allowed to do so. Explore the forest and salmon-filled stream, hopefully spotting some bears.

Visit hard-to-access Neets Bay Bear Observatory to search for bears
Enjoy a boat ride along the coast of Tongass National Forest
Fully narrated bus and boat tour full of history and nature stories
All logistics including permits, buses, and boats are taken care of for your convenience

What's Included

Snack

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Ketchikan Visitors Bureau
131 Front St, Ketchikan, AK 99901, USA
Ward Cove ships: Meet your guide at the Ward Cove Welcome Center 15 minutes before departure. Tour departs from Ward Cove. All other ships: Meet at “The Rock” statue next to the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau, Dock 2, downtown Ketchikan, 15 minutes prior to departure.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Ketchikan

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Clover Pass Resort

1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Alaska

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ketchikan

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Ketchikan

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Infants must sit on laps
Not recommended for travelers with back problems

Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 36 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.8

based on 72 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Long trip, no bears

Cynthia_M, Sep 2025

First, we had a bus ride, then we had a boat ride. Bus ride was about 30 or 40 minutes and boat ride was close to an hour. It was a bit of a trip to get out there. Sadly no bear.:( or bears for that matter. It was interesting to see the salmon ladder so it wasn’t a total loss cause but disappointing. We understand it’s not a zoo that felt oversold.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad you recognized that bear sightings can never be guaranteed, as wildlife is truly unpredictable in its natural environment. Our goal is always to provide guests with an authentic Alaskan experience, whether that’s through the beauty of the rainforest, the marine life encountered along the way, or the chance—if nature allows—for a bear sighting. We’re sorry to hear the tour didn’t meet all of your expectations, but we do appreciate that you joined us and hope you left with some memorable moments from your time in Alaska.

Great excursion but disappointed in booking with Viator

Dawn_W, Aug 2025

We saw 3 bears which was great. I lived the excursion even though I felt the price was to high for what you got. Also very upset tgat when the excursion was over there was no one there to pick me back up and take me back to cruise ship which was quite a long way away. Luckily the bus which brought all the princess cruise passengers who booked through the cruise ship was there picking up passengers and the bus driver was nice enough to give me a ride back.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for this valuable feedback - we do wish guests would book direct with us (your money stays local!) but we do understand that some feel safer using a known commodity like Viator. I'm so glad that you enjoyed the tour though and we hope that you'll join us again someday!

Recommend this excursion. No worries about not getting back. They were very helpful.

Kathy_Z, Aug 2025

You take a bus and then catch a boat to the destination. Saw several bears. Awesome trip, they guide was great.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for this kind review - the team will see it today!

Amazing! Such a close encounter!

Jaclyn_S, Aug 2024

This was easily the BEST excursion of our trip and I can’t not recommend it highly enough. DO IT!!! Gus was our guide on the boat and he was so knowledgeable and had fun stories to share with us. He also patiently answered many many questions and we enjoyed talking with him. The best part though was the bears. I never imagined we’d get as close as we did to these beautiful beasts. At one point we were within 15 feet of a big bear, and the farthest was maybe 50 feet to the trees. In total we saw three bears, two up close and the third on the shoreline from our boat as we were docking.

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