Wilderness Zodiac Quest
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Ketchikan, USA
- 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Enjoy a quintessential Alaskan experience and feel the adrenaline pumping on this thrilling Ketchikan Zodiac adventure, led by a seasoned wildlife guide. You’ll travel by road to Beaver Falls on the shores of dazzling George Inlet, hike through the rainforest to your Zodiac, bundle up in waterproofs, take the wheel, and follow your guide. After spotting Alaska’s rich wildlife, return to base for snacks and a hot drink.
- Pilot your own Zodiac rigid inflatable boat (RIB) through Ketchikan’s George Inlet
- Savor diverse wildlife and rainforest scenery as you cruise
- Private guide provides a safety briefing and leads the way
- Hassle-free 2-way transfers direct from the Ketchikan cruise terminal
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Guests drive the boats and can switch off
- Alcoholic BeveragesFlight of 49th state craft beers or sodas and a snack
- Snacks
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
A company representative will greet all travelers 15-minutes prior to the departure time at this location. Look for a sign that says "Wilderness Zodiac Quest". "The Rock" statue is located next to the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau.
Itinerary
1
Ketchikan
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Ketchikan
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Ketchikan
1 hour 20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- 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
Laura_S
What an incredible tour! We started with an informative drive from Ward cove to the old cannery. The walk through the forest from the parking lot was gorgeous. Boat lessons were simple enough, and the views from the water were INCREDIBLE! It was so amazing to view the wildlife in Ketchikan from such a peaceful natural area. Once we got back to the cannery the beer, soda, and cheese/reindeer skewers were delicious. If we're back in the area again we wouldn't hesitate to go back on this tour!
Reviews
4.9
based on 248 reviews
Michele_G, Aug 2025
Our driver, Beth and tour guide Emily were fantastic! Both were super knowledgeable and friendly and enjoyed engaging in conversation. The whole process of getting to and on the boat was seamless. It’s a super professional operation and we felt very comfortable driving the boat. They provide you with wet gear if you prefer to wear it. We saw a sea lion basking! After the ride, they take you back to the cannery and let you sit and enjoy the wilderness while tasting Alaskan beer and wine!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for the thoughtful review! We’re so glad to hear that Beth and Emily helped make your experience smooth, fun, and memorable. It’s great to know you felt comfortable on the boat and appreciated the seamless process and extra touches like the wet gear and post-tour refreshments. Spotting a sea lion basking is always a treat! We truly appreciate you joining us.
Bart_V, Aug 2025
Emily was a great and knowledgeable guide. Rebecca was great after the tour was over. All around good experience.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for the kind words! We're so glad you had a great experience with us. Emily and Rebecca will be thrilled to hear your compliments—both are fantastic at what they do. We appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future!
Lesley_R, Aug 2025
Outstanding experience. Jaden was informative and very knowledgeable. We saw seals, salmon jumping and eagles. Driving the zodiacs was a blast!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for the fantastic review! We’re so glad to hear you had an outstanding experience and that Jaden made the tour both informative and memorable. Seeing seals, salmon jumping, and eagles all in one trip – what a day! 🚤🦅🐟
Marci_H, Aug 2025
Jaden was an excellent guide. We had a rare day of pure sunshine and calm seas. I can’t imagine how cold this tour would be in the rain, but they do have gear for those days, just grateful it wasn’t needed. We saw some wildlife, seals & eagles. The scenery was breathtaking. The serve a nice snack at the end and we enjoyed the locally crafted sodas they served.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We're thrilled you had such a beautiful day with sunshine and calm seas – those are definitely special days out here, and we're glad you got to experience one! ☀️🌊
Jaden will be so pleased to hear your kind words. We do our best to make every tour comfortable, rain or shine, and it’s great to hear the gear wasn’t needed this time. Seeing seals, eagles, and that stunning scenery is always a treat – and we’re glad you enjoyed the snack and local sodas too!
Eileen_f, Aug 2025
Action packed and fun! Tour guide Jaden was great. Snack and wine or beer tasting was a nice ending to your excursion.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thanks so much for the great review! We’re thrilled to hear you had an action-packed and fun experience—exactly what we aim for.
Jaden will be happy to hear your kind words, and we’re glad you enjoyed the snack and wine or beer tasting to wrap things up. It’s the perfect way to end a day of adventure!
George_R, Jul 2025
Great team taking care of you from van driver to guide that goes on the excursion to staff serving snacks and soda
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for highlighting our amazing team! From our van drivers to guides and staff serving snacks and soda, everyone works hard to make sure you have the best experience possible. We’re glad it showed and that you felt well taken care of throughout the excursion.
Laura_S, Jul 2025
What an incredible tour! We started with an informative drive from Ward cove to the old cannery. The walk through the forest from the parking lot was gorgeous. Boat lessons were simple enough, and the views from the water were INCREDIBLE! It was so amazing to view the wildlife in Ketchikan from such a peaceful natural area. Once we got back to the cannery the beer, soda, and cheese/reindeer skewers were delicious. If we're back in the area again we wouldn't hesitate to go back on this tour!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for sharing your incredible experience! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed everything from the scenic drive and forest walk to the boat lessons and stunning wildlife views. It’s great to know the peaceful natural setting made your adventure even more special.
We’re also glad you enjoyed the local refreshments at the cannery—it’s always a treat to share those flavors with our guests.
Douglas_W, Jul 2025
Absolutely AMAZING experience and will highly recommend for anyone who enjoys being on the water boating, or even those who have never thought about it to do it. The crew was AWESOME and very Professional from pick-up at the cruise dock to dropping us off downtown to do some shopping and grab some lunch... THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! The beauty of the surrounding scenery, wactching the Majestic Bald Eagles feed, the sea otters and seals float and play to seeing black tail deer makes this one of the most exciting and amazing adventures. Driving the Zodiac boats such fun and adventuresome. Simple and easy!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Wow—thank you so much for your incredible review! We’re thrilled to hear that your experience on the water was not only fun and adventurous but also smooth and professional from start to finish. It sounds like you truly got to enjoy the best of Alaska’s stunning wildlife and scenery—from majestic bald eagles to playful sea otters and seals.
We’re so glad you found driving the Zodiac boats easy and exciting—that’s exactly the kind of memorable adventure we strive to create. Thank you for recommending us so highly!
Kelly_S, Jun 2025
This was an amazing excursion- excellent from start to finish. We saw bald eagles, sea lions and deer very close. If you’re on the fence about which tour to book- choose this one! I went with my husband but there was another family with teenagers in our group and everyone enjoyed it.
Our guide, Emily, was incredibly knowledgeable about Alaskan wildlife and plants and taught us a lot about the vegetation and animals we encountered. The pickup and shuttle drive to the Cannery was welcoming and well organized- we appreciated being picked up directly at the Ward Cove dock. Total travel time was about 30 minutes. The zodiac boat was easy to navigate and surprisingly fast! Ketchikan AdventureVue provided heavy rain gear and life jackets that helped keep us warm and dry.
Tips- definitely wear extra layers! It was a warm 68 degree day in Ketchikan but the temperature on the water easily felt 20 degrees cooler due to the fog and wind when the boat was at speed. It took a while for me to warm up afterwards but it was worth every moment of feeling chilly to be this close to wildlife in such a gorgeous natural setting. Truly off the beaten path from the touristy attractions in downtown Ketchikan and a very memorable experience.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for this thoughtful and glowing review! We're thrilled to hear your excursion with us was such a memorable experience from start to finish. It sounds like you had an incredible day on the water — seeing bald eagles, sea lions, and deer up close is always a treat, and we’re so glad you got to enjoy that!
Emily will be so pleased to hear your kind words — her passion for Alaska’s wildlife and ecosystems really shines, and we’re lucky to have her on the team. We’re also happy to hear the logistics, gear, and ride from Ward Cove all met your expectations.
Great tip about the layers! The weather on the water can definitely feel a lot cooler, even on warmer days — we always recommend coming prepared, and it sounds like you were! Thanks again for choosing Ketchikan AdventureVue — we’d love to welcome you back anytime for another unforgettable trip.
Hillary_F, Jun 2025
Such a wonderful tour - being the only boat 🚤 out on the water was so majestic. Our guide was sweet and knowledgeable.
Kristen, Jun 2025
This excursion was one of the best we’ve ever done! It was myself, my husband, and 15 and 17 yr old kids. Jaden was our guide and he did amazing! They had rain pants, jackets and boots if we needed them but it was a gorgeous day with no rain. The only way you get wet on this excursion is if it’s raining, the boats don’t splash any water inside, which was one of my concerns. We saw lots of seals and bald eagles. The drinks afterwards were delicious!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We're so happy to hear that your family had such a great time on the excursion — and even better that you got a gorgeous, rain-free day to enjoy it!
Jaden will be thrilled to know he made the experience memorable for all of you. We’re also glad to hear the dry ride was a pleasant surprise — it’s a common concern, and we’re happy you stayed comfortable while still getting close to nature. Seeing seals and bald eagles is always a treat, and it sounds like you had some great wildlife moments!
And we couldn’t agree more — those post-tour drinks are the perfect way to end the day. Thanks again for choosing us, and we’d love to welcome you back any time!
Chloe_T, Aug 2024
This tour was so fun!! Our tour guide, Turkey, first took us through a small path in the rain forest of Ketchikan. We got to see local plants and talk about some local animals. Then we boarded our speed boats. They are super easy to drive, and Turkey provided excellent instruction. It was a gorgeous day so the ride was super smooth, and we could go as fast as we wanted. My group of 10 split up into four in one boat and six in the other. There were three drivers in each boat (you have to have a drivers license and be 25 or older to drive). We got a pretty close view of some otters, but since we went at high tide (around noon), they were mostly just hiding in the water. However, we got an excellent view of an eagle family and a juvenile eagle. We saw them flying from the trees! At the end, we tried some local beers and craft sodas, courtesy of Julian and John of Cape Fox Tours. It was such a great experience. I would highly recommend it to everyone!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Turkey is so passionate about what he does, we are happy you were able to have him as a guide. Thank you for sharing your experience with us and this hidden Gem we call home!
Edward_H, Aug 2024
Definitely the highlight of my 7 day Alaskan cruise! Brandon was an amazing guide...extremely knowledgeable and full of positive energy!
I was navigating the boat alongside a pod of four Orcas! Incredible experience, so beautiful. They actually surfaced and we followed alongside for quite some time. All my best to you, Brandon!
Response from Host, Aug 2024
We absolutely love Brandon. He was actually named Employee of the Month just yesterday!
He is quite the whale whisperer....so stoked you were able to see ORCAS!
Doug_O, Jul 2024
What a great experience! Having our own boat was a blast, loved getting away from the cruise ship crowd. So wonderful to stop the motors and just enjoy the quiet serenity and watch the wildlife. Our guide was great.
Nicole_M, Jul 2024
We loved being out on the water. Morgan was a great guide. We got to see seals and eagles. We enjoyed the refreshments from Forty Ninth State Brewing too!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Yum! The drinks are just a little added bonus to the beauty we get to immerse ourselves in. Thank you so much for the kind words!
Cathy_W, Jul 2024
Disappointed in this excursion, we had to jam 6 people in a zodiac. That meant 2 people couldn't see what was ahead. We did see eagles and seals, but that was about it. Boat ride was just over an hour. The beer and soda were delicious.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
We are so sorry we did not meet your expectations. What we don't understand is that you were a party of 6. All traveling together. We specifically gave you a boat that seats 9 for this exact reason. If you didn't want to be together, why didn't you say something? These reviews always get me. Could the 2 people not turn their heads? Nature is literally all around them...360 degrees.
Trudy_T, Jun 2024
One of the best excursions on our cruise. Gorgeous sights, beautiful weather, lots of close up wildlife (they fed eagles, had seals, deer, starfish), great staff, delicious beer, wine, and soda tasting. Drove our own boats which was awesome fun. Thank you for an incredible experience :)
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed one of the best excursions of your cruise. It’s great to know you appreciated the gorgeous sights and beautiful weather, as well as the close-up wildlife encounters. We’re glad you enjoyed the chance to drive your own boats and that our staff contributed to making your experience memorable. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future! Thank you for choosing us!
fentontravel, Sep 2023
The experience was amazing. Our tour guide Emily was friendly helpful and very knowledgeable.
We were the only couple on the tour and we were treated wonderfully. Many companies would have cancelled a tour with only 2 participants but they gave us a tour that was the highlight of our 12 days in Alaska. Their location is part of an old salmon canning factory. It was fascinating to see this as well as the flora and fauna that Emily described on our short walk between the van and the dock. Please recommend this tour to everyone going to Ketchikan.
EthansChannel, Jun 2023
Awesome tour and Duncan was an awesome tour guide! Unfortunately, the NCL Bliss Port time was short, but if you’re cruising, this is a must. We saw plenty of eagles, which came close to the boat to feed; seals, a deer swimming across the channel, and more. Just an overall enjoyable experience, you won’t regret it!
Likely to Sell Out
From $255.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Likely to Sell Out
Wilderness Zodiac Quest
248
3 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$255.00
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Explore Similar Things to Do
- Half-day Tours
- Shore Excursions
- Hiking Tours
- Nature and Wildlife Tours
- Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises
- Outdoor Activities
- Private and Luxury
- Cultural Tours
- Ketchikan
- Half-day Tours - Sitka
- Shore Excursions - Sitka
- Hiking Tours - Sitka
- Nature and Wildlife Tours - Sitka
- Half-day Tours - Juneau
- Shore Excursions - Juneau
- Hiking Tours - Juneau
- Nature and Wildlife Tours - Juneau
- Half-day Tours - Hoonah
- Shore Excursions - Hoonah
- Nature and Wildlife Tours - Hoonah
Attractions in Ketchikan, USA
- Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary Tours & Tickets
- Saxman Native Village Tours & Tickets
- Ward Cove Tours & Tickets
- Totem Bight State Historical Park Tours & Tickets
- Dolly's House Museum Tours & Tickets
- Inside Passage Tours & Tickets
- Misty Fjords National Monument Tours & Tickets
- Tongass Historical Museum Tours & Tickets
- Creek Street Tours & Tickets
- Totem Heritage Center Tours & Tickets
- Port of Ketchikan Tours & Tickets
- Tongass National Forest Tours & Tickets
- Guard Island Lighthouse Tours & Tickets
- Southeast Alaska Discovery Center Tours & Tickets