Saxman Native Village and Ketchikan Highlights Exclusive Tour
Ketchikan, USA
Saxman Native Village and Ketchikan Highlights Exclusive Tour
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Ketchikan, USA
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
What's Included
Meeting and Pickup
Itinerary
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 117 reviews
David_G, Aug 2025
Half the price of the ship excursion and both groups met and had the same tour guide. Very fun and informative guide. The pace was casual with a chance to chat with totem sculptors
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re glad you enjoyed the guide’s knowledge and approachable style, and that the relaxed pace allowed time for conversation and learning along the way. It’s great to hear the overall experience felt both fun and informative. We appreciate you taking the time to leave a review.
Julie_V, Aug 2025
This tour was not what I paid for. First the experience was listed as "Saxman Native Village and Ketchikan Highlights Private Tour". I intentionally wanted private, unfortunately a second large group also being on it makes it not private. Then we were dumped into a second group made up of a large tour bus. At no point was I given clear information on this change nor a price break. My group could have booked the large tour bus for less money.
Additionally my tour was booked for 8am when I arrived 10 minutes early I was informed our tour was scheduled for 9:30a which is significantly later and would impact our other activities for the day. The person sending off the groups told me that the reason our tour type and time changed was that our cruise ship changed it, but as I did not book through the cruise ship this is a lie. Our tour left "early" for the changed time making it an hour later than we had booked which was not acceptable for our one day in the town. Although I showed the tour person filling the vans/busses our ticket time her clipboard said another time and there was not anything she could do.
The van driver did not give narration of Ketchikan's history and stories, nor were landmarks pointed out along the drive. Which also was part of the itinerary.
Our tour was suppose to be 2.5 hours but ended up being closer to 1 hour and 20 minutes. We paid for 2.5 hours and did not get but half.
The actual village was lovely. I would not book again through this company.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry for the frustration surrounding the timing and format of your tour, and we understand how important clear expectations are when you only have one day to explore Ketchikan.
While guests may not book directly through their cruise ship, tour schedules are coordinated around ship arrivals and port operations. This tour also has two different durations depending on where a ship is docked. Guests arriving at Ward Cove have additional transfer time included due to the port being farther from the tour venues, while downtown guests do not require that extra travel time. This would account for the "missing time".
This tour is privately operated but not an exclusive experience, and we regret that this distinction was not clearer at the time of booking. We appreciate you sharing your perspective and have passed your feedback along to our team as we continue working to improve communication and clarity for future guests.
JeffersonTodd_M, Jun 2025
Beware! This is NOT a "private" anything.
Signed up because it was marketed as private. We were stuck in van with 8 other people then put in a group with about 40 others. Over all experience was underwhelming. Think bad elementary school play.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear the experience did not meet your expectations, particularly regarding the tour format. We understand how important clarity is when selecting an experience.
For context for future guests, this tour is privately operated but not an exclusive or private group experience, which is how it is listed on TripAdvisor. We regret that this distinction was not clear at the time of booking and appreciate you bringing that to our attention. Your comments regarding group size and overall presentation have been shared with our team as we continue working to ensure expectations are clearly communicated and experiences are delivered as intended.
We appreciate you taking the time to leave a review and share your perspective.
Deborah_L, Jun 2025
Great private tour. Eight people. Guide was informative and funny. Tour of the totem pole curving building was great. The show had many people but all seats have great views.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for the great review! We’re glad the private tour felt fun and informative, and that the carving demonstration and show were highlights of the experience. We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback.
LINDA_L, Sep 2024
Actual saxman village and totem poles were great. False advertisement. This is not a private tour! More people than our group were in the tour/transportation to a from the village. No highlights of Ketchikan were offered by the tour guide in the bus returning us to the ship.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you for your feedback. We're glad you enjoyed the Saxman Village and totem poles but are sorry to hear the experience didn’t meet your expectations regarding the tour's privacy. We strive to ensure our tour descriptions are clear, and we apologize for any confusion. We'll review this matter to improve future experiences. Your feedback about the return journey is also noted, and we'll work on ensuring more informative commentary. If you'd like to discuss this further, please reach out to us at tours@capefoxtours.com.
Sally_B, Aug 2024
The totem poles and the dancers told a lot about the culture of one native group in Alaska. It was both informative and entertaining.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you for your feedback! We're pleased to hear that you found the totem poles and dancers both informative and entertaining, offering a meaningful glimpse into Alaskan Native culture.
Shelley_W, Jun 2024
The dance and explanation of how this is passed down to the generations.
My favorite thing was seeing the carving room.
Just would’ve liked more time to view and ask questions.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you for your review! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the dance and the explanation of how traditions are passed down through generations. It's wonderful to know that the carving room was a highlight for you. We appreciate your feedback about wanting more time to view and ask questions, and we'll take this into consideration to improve the experience for future guests.
Linda_C, May 2024
Learning the culture and seeing the dances. Only 4 of 5 due to lack of communication before taking the tour.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you for sharing your feedback! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed learning about the culture and experiencing the dances during your tour. We apologize for any communication issues you encountered beforehand and appreciate your input. We'll strive to improve in that aspect to ensure a smoother experience for future guests. If you have any further suggestions or concerns, please feel free to reach out!
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