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
5.0
based on 896 reviews
Katie_B, Jun 2026
Great small group guided tour. Seal Cove was the best! Got to see lots of wild life and get a little bit of exercise in from all the cruising.
clterao, Jun 2026
My husband granddaughter and I had a fabulous time on the kayak tour. Jenni and Cam, our kayak guides were wonderful! We truly enjoyed our time on the water with them. We saw bald eagles, a sea otter and okra star fish. We were fortunate to have great weather! Our driver to the dock was great. Giving us great tips for our time in port and sharing information on Ketchikan. Our return driver, the owner, was great as well. He too shared info on local area and gave us some recommendations. I highly recommend this tour
Robert_O, Jun 2026
Friendly staff and a fantastic experience - we had amazing weather and with our tour guide Jenny we saw lots of eagles, an amazing humpback whale and seals - what a great morning!
Elise_G, May 2026
Fantastic experience! Guides were very helpful and knowledgeable, and the snacks at the end were a great treat. I had been worried about not being strong enough to keep up and slowing down the group, but we were on tandem kayaks which really helped (plus a slower pace was desired for wildlife spotting anyway). We saw a sea lion, Sitka deer mom and babies, 20+ eagles, sea stars and jellyfish, and some other birds. Even without seeing whales it was just such a beautiful and fun experience. They also provided optional waterproof overalls and coats.
Krystal_F, May 2026
Guides were knowledgeable and fun. Got to see sea lions, seals, jellyfish, starfish and many eagles. Enjoyed the kayaking as well as they kept up a good pace with breaks for explanations on the area/wildlife. Highly recommend!
richard_s, May 2026
Bought this ticket for my daughter who went out on a chilly May morning. She said it was a great experience given it five stars.
Danielle_G, May 2026
Wonderful paddle in a quiet cove with great tidal sightings and also humpback whales! Even in the rain this was one of my favorite paddle excursions. Super guides too and nice equipment and transport...great outing!!!
Lori_C, May 2026
Fantastic. From start to finish the experience was great. Pick up at the port was simple and easy. Spencer was friendly and answered any questions we had. Rain gear was provided (although not needed) and it was clean and new. We kayaked around the small islands. Spencer was very knowledgeable about the environment and provided interesting info. We saw Eagles and wildlife in the water—crystal clear! Snacks as promised provided back at the dock. Highly recommend this company!!
Brandon_S, May 2026
There are a million things to rave about. First, Seth and Jenny were phenomenal guides. Kind, knowledgeable, and fun to be around. We saw whales, bald eagles, star fish, sea lions and so much more.
If you’re in Ketchikan, highly recommend. And shoutout to Matt who was great company driving us to our excursion. He is full of cool stories.
Tom_S, May 2026
I have been on many tours over the years. Ketchikan Kayak Company was really the best. They picked us up at Ward Cove before the trip and dropped us in town afterwards. The equipment was top notch. They provide rain gear, dry bags, and the kayaks have rudders. Our guides were well trained and informative. We kayaked a long distance with breaks. We were lucky enough to see seals, sea stars, eagles, and whales one of whom breached for us. It was so much fun!! We had 12 people on our tour versus the buses we saw pulling in with many more folks for other companies. Take a pass on the rest of the trips and book with this company!
Suzanne_L, May 2026
Rick was great, very knowledgeable and friendly. We saw 2 whales which wasn’t a lot but he knew right where to go and moved quickly when we needed to reposition. We saw a lot of other wildlife and he was a great host!
Best part was he actually waited for us to arrive when our Roayal Caribbean ship docked 2 hours late.
I would recommend!
Shelli_M, May 2026
Great customer service. Clean facilities, clean Rain gear.
We had a beautiful, sunny day. Beautiful country! Saw lots of Starfish, and even held a big purple one.
Also had a harbour seal following us for a while. He kept poking his head up. So cute.
Courtney_H, May 2026
5 star experience! I can’t fault this excursion/instructors - so friendly and fun. I highly recommend anyone visiting Ketchikan to take this excursion. One of the best things we’ve ever done!
Megan_W, May 2026
Great time for our family with neurospicy kids. Amazing with my teen who is autistic and demand avoidant. Patient and calm and capable from start to finish.
We had an AMAZING time! Matthew put us at ease immediately upon meeting him just outside the cruise ship. Smooth ride, top notch protective gear (life vests of course but water proof bibs, water proof jackets, dry bags, etc.) and super patient team with kids with sensory issues. My kids needed to swap out items a few times to get the right “feel” and the team made that a non-issue.
We’ve done a little kayaking before but we still got a run down of the plan and safety precautions which was great. Matthew and Jen (+ another guy whose name escapes me) helped us improve our kayaking technique, taught us about the local flora and fauna, and generally helped encourage everyone along the way. Gotta reiterate JUST how patient and calm everyone was.
Bathrooms at the dock were clean, gear room was tidy and clean, equipment looked to be well maintained. After kayaking there was a small snack with a variety of offerings. Two of my kids have food allergies and we were able to find safe food for them. Drop off back at the ship was very smooth and prompt.
We would absolutely recommend this excursion and we would go again with them if we ever find ourselves in Alaska again.
Zelma_S, May 2026
Rain gear was provided- it was not raining but chose to wear it anyway - kept the chilly ocean water from getting my clothes wet !!! Guides were very knowledgeable!!
Susan_D, May 2026
We had an incredible time on our kayaking tour with Spencer! From start to finish, the experience was unforgettable. While out on the water, we were lucky enough to see bald eagles, seals, and sea lions up close, which made the whole trip even more special.
Spencer was an amazing guide—knowledgeable, friendly, and made the entire experience fun and relaxing. You can tell he truly loves what he does and wants everyone to have a great time.
This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip, and I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a unique and memorable adventure!
Daniel_G, May 2026
Having never been on a kayak before, I didn't know what to expect. Matt was the guide and he was assisted by Seth and Jenny. It was a great experience, and the guides helped to make this adventure pretty easy to maneuver. This tour was definitely relaxed and perfect for newbie kayakers. The scenery of the Alaskan mountains was just breathtaking. As you can see, we had a picture perfect day....and these folks were really terrific!
Lydia_D, Mar 2026
This was a once in a lifetime experience. We kayak'd for a little over 2 miles with our very knowledgeable guides, saw over 20 sea lions, 3 harbor seals, 2 sea otters and multiple bald eagles in their natural habitat. Would do it again 100%.
Robert_C, Nov 2025
Great addition to my other kayaking adventures. Circled three islands, saw interesting terrain and wildlife, including some intertidal critters, and traveled about 5 miles on a clear, sunny, day.
Laura_C, Sep 2025
Fabulous day on the water. Zach was a great guide and everything was so nice. Good kayaking tips. Great equipment, incredible scenery - we saw a couple pods of sea lions, eagles, seals and tons of sea stars. The day started out with an incredible rainbow. When we come back to Alaska we will do this again!
SueAnn_P, Sep 2025
The four of us had a wonderful experience with the Ketchikan Kayak tour group. The guide was very experienced and took us on a safe and interesting path through the beautiful waters. His knowledge of the wildlife and plants gave us a broad understanding and appreciation of the area. They were accommodating when I misread the meeting point information. The after tour snack of salmon, dips, veggies and crackers hit the spot.
Brad_O, Sep 2025
We lucked out and had a sunny day and smooth water to kayak in clover pass. Zach and Dana were very good, knowledgeable guides. We saw bald eagle's nest with an eagle, sea lions and harbor seals. The transportation provided from ward cove was easy and punctual.
Thomas_G, Sep 2025
This is open water kayaking in pristine water surrounded by nature’s beauty. The kayaks are safe and fun. The supervising team are knowledgeable and pleasant to kayak with.
Allen_F, Sep 2025
We had an excellent time. Our guide was very personable and knowledgeable. He took time to point out all the uniqueness of the Alaskan landscape. The highlight though was getting to kayak within 10 to 20 feet of sea lions. We could not have asked for a better day.
Kim_M, Sep 2025
Our 2 guides Dana and Zach were wonderful! They tailored the trip towards the animals that were around. We got incredibly lucky and got to kayak with a bunch of sea lions and even a playful whale! They took a lot of pictures and shared them with everyone at the end! Highly recommend
Laura_V, Sep 2025
A truely amazing experience with our effervescent guide Dana. She guided us to see some amazing things including Humpback whales bubble net feeding. The entire trip took 4hrs with about 2hrs on the water. If you a newbie to kayaking, dont worry, we took lots of paddling breaks so it was easy on the arms.
Chelsea_P, Sep 2025
We worried this activity would be rained out but it turns out that rain is the norm in Ketchikan and didn’t put a damper on this awesome experience! The company was very well-organized and made sure we were completely outfitted so that we were prepared for the weather without any discomfort! We saw whales, sea lions, seals and lots of beautiful starfish and sea urchins. We also got a nice workout in which always feels great! Highly recommend!
Lisa_s, Sep 2025
100% recommend the Ketchikan Eco Kayaking tour. If you’re lucky enough to have Dana and Xach as your guides, you’ll be in the best hands. They were so knowledgeable, so friendly, and took us to all the hidden gems.
The highlight? Three humpback whales joined us for nearly an hour and a half, bubble net feeding just 25 feet away. Being surrounded by them was absolutely exhilarating and breathtaking at the same time.
We felt completely safe, cared for, and in awe the entire experience. I would do this again in a heartbeat and recommend it to anyone visiting Ketchikan.
Dawn_H, Sep 2025
Dana the tour guide was engaging, kind, and patient. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with her We paddled at an easy pace and saw quite a few feeding sea lions and harbor seals eating. Viator does need to work on where to meet guides . Addresses rarely matched where we were supposed to be.
Kelly_O, Sep 2025
Amazing kayak experience with Dana. We were lucky to see whales! Dana was very knowledgeable about the marine and coastal wild life. Smoked salmon snack after was delicous!
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
895
4 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$161.00
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
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