Customizable Tour in Ketchikan with Pick Up
Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Ketchikan, USA
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Tour Alaskan Native Totem park, learn about native culture
- Child-friendly tour, toddler booster seat available on request
- Refreshing bottled water provided
- Comfortable, air-conditioned transfers to/from your hotel
What's Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Private transportation
- Bottled water
- Toddler Booster Seat
- Refreshment & Restroom Stops
- Binoculars & Umbrellas
- Infant Car Seat
- Rain Gear & Boots
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Please specify your cruise ship for pickup location at booking, we do pick up in front of your ship in town. Ward Cove berth we pick up at Berth 4 where the shuttles drop you off.
Drop-off point
- Creek Street in Ketchikan13 Creek St, Ketchikan, AK 99901, USA
Itinerary
1
Herring Cove
55 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Ketchikan (Pass By)
2
Potlatch Totem Park
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- 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
Featured review
Kimberly_M
Wonderful! Bernie was very flexible and understanding. She made sure that our mom who is mainly in a wheelchair was able to see as much as possible. She shared so much about the Ketchikan area. I would definitely encourage others to have her as their local guide!
Reviews
4.7
based on 143 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Ana_R, Jul 2026
Loved the trip . It was flexible and informative . Liked the Totem’s legend and what they represented
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you Ana, happy you liked everything, I’ll pass it on to Rick😁
Jenette_B, Jul 2026
This day of exploring Ketchikan was the highlight of our trip!! Jason met the four of us a few steps away from the ship with a very comfortable van . Our tour included my husband and I, our 21 and 18 year old children. We drove away from the busy cruise ship tourist areas and enjoyed many stops to appreciate nature along the way. Jason explains the sights on the tour so well, we definitely learned a lot! From the spawning of the salmon we watched 7 or 8 bald eagles interact with each other, grab their salmon dinner and even took a slow motion video of an eagle grabbing a fish. Incredible!! Jason showed us salmon berries and blueberries growing in the wild and we even picked and tried a few!! Pretty tasty! We stopped at a beach where we saw many different kinds of crab and mollusks along the shore. Jason had photo guides of all the beach sealife so we could figure out what they were. So cool ! We drove to a spot where a bear cub was running and playing in a tree. Incredible ! We then drove to do some hiking in the rainforest . He was very kind to anyone that didnt want to do the hike and allowed them to stay in the van. As we hiked Jason pointed out interesting facts about the trees, berries, ecosystem and rock formations. We made it up to a lookout point and took a few family pictures. We then went back to watch another bear cub, stopped at a roadside waterfall for some pictures, and Jason dropped us off next to our ship with plenty of time to get back aboard. If you want a day exploring beautiful Ketchikan with a very knowledgeable and kind local tour guide, Jason is your guy!!! Book him fast !! You won't regret your decision !!!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you Jenette, he'll be so happy you enjoyed all of this! I myself would do a tour with Jason after seeing your comments. We are so glad you enjoyed the tour that is why I’m lucky to have him!!
Heather_R, Jul 2026
If you’re visiting Ketchikan, book this tour—you won’t regret it.
Denise was an incredible guide and made us feel like we were exploring Alaska with a knowledgeable local friend rather than being rushed through a typical cruise excursion. She was warm, engaging, and passionate about sharing her hometown, wildlife, and history.
The highlight was seeing so much wildlife in its natural habitat. We watched bald eagles soaring overhead and perched nearby, spotted a black bear along the shoreline, and enjoyed stunning views around every corner. Denise knew exactly where to go and gave us plenty of time to enjoy each stop without feeling hurried.
Beyond the wildlife, she shared fascinating stories about Ketchikan’s history, culture, and daily life that we never would have learned on a larger tour. The small-group, private experience allowed us to ask questions, adjust our pace, and truly soak in the beauty of Southeast Alaska.
This was easily one of the highlights of our Alaska cruise. Thank you, Denise, for making our first visit to Ketchikan so memorable. We left with amazing photos, wonderful memories, and an even greater appreciation for this beautiful corner of the world.
Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Response from Host, Jul 2026
This is wonderful! She’s an awsome person on top of these kind words. She’s makes sure to take care of her guest , I’m so happy you enjoyed your time with us and I’m going to screenshot and send this to her, Thank you!,
Anonymous, Jul 2026
We had a wonderful time with Rick who regaled us with lots of information and stories about the native people in the area. He also took us to see tons of bald eagles roosting and flying in a nearby tree. The tour ended perfectly with a bear sighting at Herring Cove where we watched him meander downstream closer to us. Rick dropped us off at Creek Street as requested so that we can slowly shop and walk back to our ship. It was the perfect day!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Awsome you saw so much wildlife, and learned about our native culture! Happy you enjoyed yourselves, thank you!
Jess, Jul 2026
Jason was the best tour guide we’ve ever had. He went above and beyond to ensure we experienced and saw all the wildlife Ketchikan has to offer. He made sure we had ample time at each stop, even toward the end of the tour we never felt rushed. Jason made every effort to look out for bears, salmon, bald eagles, seals for us to ensure we got to have the best views of them. Jason was extremely thoughtful and personalized the tour for our family member with accessibility needs. This was the best tour we’ve been on in Alaska thanks to Jason and his extensive personal experience and knowledge, he answered all of our questions about Ketchikan and Alaskan life. Highly reccomend this tour and spending the time with Jason!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Great! Will definitely pass these kind words to Jason! We are so happy you enjoyed yourselves and humbled. This is exactly why we do this, thank you!
Angela_H, Jul 2026
Jason was a terrific tour guide, knows a lot about the area and took us to all the great spots! Made this memorable
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Perfect, that’s what we strive for, unforgettable tours, Jason is great😊
Lisa_W, Jul 2026
Rick was a very knowledgeable and accommodating tour guide! We were a group of six family members with ages ranging from 16-73. The weather was rainy and cold so it could have been miserable but he made our tour very special, despite the weather.. We saw a bear, deer, many eagles and learned so much about Alaskan culture. The van was very comfortable and roomy. Thanks, Rick!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
On days like this it’s nice to be able to see lots from a nice dry van! Glad you enjoyed your trip with Rick😁
Robert_C, Jun 2026
When I signed up for this tour, all I wanted to do was see a bear in the wild. It turned out to be much more. Our guide Jason was incredible; he went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed ourselves. We saw salmon trying to swim up a creek, I didnt know how amazing this was until I saw it in person. Saw so many eagles, that it was like looking for pigeons in NYC. Actually witnessed an eagle trying to snag a salmon in a shallow creek, it was incredible. Bears were proving to be a lot more difficult, but Jason knew we really wanted to see one, he didnt give up, and found 2 of them for us towards the end. My niece really wanted to do a hike so he took us to a beautiful lake near were our cruise ship was docked. There was a lacked of cell service in that area so he stood by while a few in the group went on a hike. He certainly didnt have to, we were over the tour time, but he wanted to make sure we all had a great time. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this tour company.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
So glad you had a great time with Jason! He’s great and really does his best to give his guest the best😁
Canita_P, Jun 2026
James did an excellent job showing our family around Ketchikan. His knowledge and experience really added to the experience. Thank you!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Great! Thank you , I’m happy you enjoyed yourselves! We pride ourselves on our local knowledge
smusser, Jun 2026
Rick was a polite and informative guide. Unfortunately we did not see any wildlife and only were exposed to history of the totem poles.
Would be better to schedule this during the salmon runs.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
I wish we could see the wildlife always, but they are the boss. Sorry about our 4 legged friends hiding out☹️
SOOMAY_I, Apr 2026
It was easy to locate the driver once off the cruise ship. We drove around town but did not see any beers but possibly because we went during shoulder season plus pouring rain the day of. Driver was very informative and had answers to everything. Driver was president to find the bears which we really appreciate.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We do make pick up as easy as possible, in front of our guest ships in town. It’s early but the bears are definitely out , eating grass , roots and of course garbage if you leave it out. Lots of rain here in Ketchikan but it is nice and dry in the van where we can see lot’s. Thank you 😊
Roger_P, Oct 2025
This tour was a complete disappointment. We have been on many Viator tours and this was one we wished we didn't book. I would not recommend spending your money on this tour. Bernie was our tour guide she was doing her best to show us Ketchikan , We basically went for a three hour car ride and saw pretty much nothing . We were shown where a bear was yesterday.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Sorry for your disappointment. We cannot control wildlife and I’m sorry you didnt enjoy the views of what Ketchikan has to offer or the stories and character.
Julia_A, Sep 2025
The guide was amazing and funny. So knowledgeable. He went above and beyond to make it a wonderful time
Response from Host, Sep 2025
I’m so happy you enjoyed your tour! Rick does an amazing job!
Dianne_E, Sep 2025
Great experience. Very knowledgeable.
Our tour guide took the time and it was very personalized. I would definitely recommend this excursion.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Great! 😊 This is why we do private tours so we can engage more with our guest , ☺️ thank you!
Trona_J, Sep 2025
We saw 8 bears. Bernie shared her awesome binoculars. At the end we had a few minutes left so she drove us around town and shared her love of her hometown. Awesome!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you all ! I’m so glad we saw lots of bears and the binoculars make it closer to enjoy. 😊 it was an awsome day!
Fred_K, Sep 2025
The owner decided to do the tour for us. Thought it would be better. We stopped at all the places other tourists stopped at with their tours. She took us not far from the city to see if she could find us bears between houses in a rural area. Yikes! Then stopped at a friend's house along the water (friend wasn't there) to look out at the bay and use the port-a-pots if we needed to. Believe it or not, it was the most expensive of all the tours we had during our Alaska vacation. Tour guide may have been more concerned about getting back home to can her salmon.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
I’m sorry but going to Herring Cove is on the itinerary and the one place that has a toilet is where we went and she is an aqaintence in the business world and makes fantastic jelly and jams from berries that grow at Herring Cove nothing more than that. I’m not quite sure where you wanted to go, of course other tours are at the best spots in town. And telling you about jarring salmon is something a lot of us that live here do in Ketchikan. Wow. Sorry for your disappointment
Dana_B, Aug 2025
Very average tour. Took us to the hot spots. Saw a bit of wildlife. Guide was a glorified taxi driver who provided just very basic info
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Hello, I’m sorry she didn’t make you happier , this is a learning curve for her, she is new, but feedback always helps.
Gilbert_F, Aug 2025
Jason showed us around the island and we had a marvelous time. He was very knowledgeable and friendly.I highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you Gilbert, I’m happy you enjoyed our hometown! I’ll definitely pass this on to Jason!
mikhail_g, Aug 2025
Rick was excellent knowledgeable funny have us a lot of information and showed us a lot of great things
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you , so happy you enjoyed yourselves! I’ll let Rick know!
Thijs_H, Aug 2025
Our driver, Bernadette, is lovely and very experienced. we especially loved the way she showed us around real life in Ketchigan, but expected a bit more of wild life, but they can't be forced!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Loved meting your family and learning about your country also. Ya , it was a tough day for the wildlife😞 Thank you!
LuCinda_L, Aug 2025
Loved our guide. Very personable and knowledgeable. She called for the bears and they came! Some slight changes to the itinerary..saw salmon village instead of potluck but saw it all none the less wven with a side trip for a luggage stop. Thank you!!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
She called for bears when I was out at Herring Cove too and no kidding four showed up. She sings it in Tshimsian. Thank you 😊
Maureen_B, Jul 2025
Great tour guide Bernie, very knowledgeable of Ketchikan and friendly!
Great sense of humor!
Pick the private tour!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you! living here all my life helps, especially for how old I am , lots of knowledge 😁
Deana_G, Jul 2025
This was a really fantastic tour. Bernie knew our goal was to see a bear and got us right to the perfect spot where we were fortunate to see one right away. After that, she brought us to multiple beautiful locations all the while sharing info and stories about life in Ketchikan. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you Deana! I’m so happy you enjoy our tour, and listening to me rambling on😊 I’m so happy we got that bear for you and your group! 😊
Joseph_B, Jul 2025
Our guide Rick had a lot of local knowledge. We took the private customizable tour and our goal was to see wildlife. That we did, we saw several eagles and 5 bears including a mama bear and her 2 cubs. The day was bright and sunny but very warm which is unusual for the region.
Thanks to our guide Rick for a truly amazing experience.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Awesome! We are so happy you enjoyed your tour with Rick! Makes me wish I was with you all😊😊 Thank you!!
arn_w, Jul 2025
Not really a persoalized trip just took us to where everyone else was going. Tried to get driver to go north of city but she found excuses not to even after telling us how pretty it was
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Sorry for the let down, thank you for the info.
John_B, Jul 2025
It might seem a little iffy at first, but weather and animals go at their own pace.
We got lucky with weather and saw a seal, King salmon running, a momma bear with two cubs, plenty of eagles, and a humpback whale. Alaska Bingo!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Exactly 👍 Patience pays off!
Alicia_P, Jul 2025
We had a truly memorable experience as a family. Right outside the port, we were picked up in a spacious, comfortable van and taken to Potlatch Totem Park, where we explored the rich history and cultural significance of the totem poles. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and clearly a lifelong local—her passion and connection to the area really came through as she shared stories tied to each carving.
Knowing my main goal was to see bears, she went above and beyond, taking us to Herring Cove and even along a scenic back road in search of wildlife. Though we didn’t spot any bears at first, we made the most of our time and visited a stunning waterfall nearby. Her patience was remarkable, and we returned to the cove later—this time, we were rewarded with a bear sighting!
I hadn’t realized how much the tides affect bear activity. When the tide comes in, so do the salmon—and with them, the bears. It was an unforgettable adventure from start to finish.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you! Patience is a must for bears, but it is nice when you drive up and there’s a bear waiting for you😁🐻 Appreciate all the kind words!!
Kimberly_M, Jul 2025
Wonderful! Bernie was very flexible and understanding. She made sure that our mom who is mainly in a wheelchair was able to see as much as possible. She shared so much about the Ketchikan area. I would definitely encourage others to have her as their local guide!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you Kim, it was my pleasure sitting by and showing her Ketchikan! Oh, and all of you too☺️ Again thank you!!
MaryPauline_W, Jul 2025
Rick our guide gave us a wonderful experience in Ketchikan. He knew just the right places to see wildlife, He shared great info, history and experiences about the area. We appreciated his sensitivity to our wants....seeing wildlife, tasting berries, combining history with outdoor experiences.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hi Mary, thank you! Rick is great and I know when he goes out our guest are in good hands!!
GayleP_C, Jul 2025
Rick was an outstanding guide. We saw everything we hoped to see and more!! Eagles, bears, totem poles and waterfalls!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you Gayle! Rick is great , he loves showing off Ketchikan!!
From $505.00
per group (up to 7)up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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