Simply Amazing Sitka Tour: Fortress of the Bear, Alaska Raptor, & Totems
Recommended by 92% of travelers
Sitka, USA
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Experience Alaska through the eyes of a local with this Sights of Sitka tour, which stops at three of the area's top destinations. Start at the Fortress of the Bear, a rescue facility where you can see rescued Black and Brown bears. From there, head to the Alaskan Raptor Center to view birds of prey before visiting the Sitka National Historical Park. The park is home to Tlingit and Haida Totem poles, as well as a cultural center where you can learn about Indigenous history.
- Visit the Alaskan Raptor Center, Fortress of the Bear, and Totem Park
- Learn about the Indigenous history of the region
- See Alaskan wildlife up close
- Avoid crowds and see more with a small group tour led by a local
What's Included
- Admission into the Alaskan Raptor Center
- Admission to Fortress of the Bear
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 330 Harbor Dr, Sitka, AK 99835, USA
Harrigan Centennial Hall ((We DO NOT meet at the cruise-ship terminal. All guests will need to take the free shuttle to get to us at Harrigan Centenial Hall )
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Harrigan Centennial Hall
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Alaska Raptor Center
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Fortress of the Bear
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
4
Sitka National Historic Park
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Near public transportation
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- PLEASE NOTE: AS of 2025 The Sitka Sound cruise terminal is now requiring guests to reserve seats on their complimentary shuttles to and from downtown Sitka in order to improve wait times and thus the overall experience when visiting Sitka. Priority boarding will be given to those holding reservations and it is imperative that reservations are made well in advance in order to ensure that you are on time for your tour departing from downtown Sitka. To reserve your seat(s) on the complimentary shuttles between the Sitka Sound cruise terminal and downtown Sitka. When making reservations, it is HIGHLY recommended that you plan to board the shuttle AT LEAST one hour prior to the scheduled tour departure time shown above, and book an earlier time if that is not available at the time you make your reservations. For your return trip to the Sitka Sound cruise terminal, it is recommended that you book a seat on a shuttle departing AT LEAST one hour prior to your scheduled cruise ship departure.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.6
based on 474 reviews
Review summary
Last 12 months
64 reviews
Select a theme to learn more
Travelers appreciate the close wildlife encounters and educational value at sites like Sitka National Park and Totem Park, highlighting opportunities to see salmon, bald eagles, bears, and raptors. Guides are consistently praised for their extensive knowledge and engaging storytelling, which enrich the experience with informative commentary on local history, wildlife, and culture. Overall, the tour is noted for its immersive and educational qualities.
Was this helpful?
Traveler reviews summarised by AI
Sort by: Most insightful
Wayne was an excellent guide who made the day fun and full of local insights. One of the highlights he stopped and took us to the salmon run by the totem poles. One of the best days on our trip.
I took this trip with my elderly mother and disabled teen daughter. It was perfect, Jim was an amazing tour guide and we had a great time. We learned a lot as well. Highly recommend.
This was the best excursion, I believe we had Jim and he was so detailed, explained so much to us, stayed with us as a group of about 10, wasn’t like going to the zoo like we thought but what a wonderful thing to rehab these birds, bears that would have died if weren’t rescued. We visited totem park and walked the trail of the park, seen the bears in there homes, well worth the money for this excursion. Don’t hesitate to book, well organized, kept us updated will definitely use Viator again.
We had a great tour with Jim. He was knowledgeable and humorous. All of the spots we visited were enjoyed by our whole group and we’re glad we got out to see some of Sitka’s offerings.
Christian of Barnahof tours made this tour interesting and worthwhile. Some confusion re Viator and actual tour operator at starting point but all helpful and got us loaded and on our way. Feel this tour as only one we took on this cruise was highlight of our time ashore. Much better value than booking on board with cruiseline.
We absolutely loved this tour. It was so educational about Sitka and she stopped along the way as we travelled to see the bears and raptors then the salmon spawning. It was great!
Expect to get as close as you can safely to Bear of that size. They also have three black bears right now. Bears have to feed themselves in a large enclosure. So not completely tame like a zoo. Actually saw bear fishing and getting fish. Totally best trip to Alaska . Guide was magnificent and friendly. Sitka was awesome!
A wonderful tour run by people who care about local people and preserving culture.
We had Ritch, who is as cute as button and will ensure you have the most fun day. He was so informative about tlingit people, totems and wildlife.
He did several detours for awesome photo stops and whale viewing too. At the end we walked through a beautiful forest - his knowledge of tress was also exceptional. He handed out a few coins for a special little thing he does involving a little 'bear'.
At the end of the tour, he said he could drop up back to port to save waiting for a shuttle if we wished and recommended local food and drink. We had a great time.
Amazing opportunity and a great community and amazing people. The best part was the birds and the totems
Easy pick up from town. Our tour guide/driver was great. Very helpful and knowledgeable. Visiting the bear rehabilitation was a highlight
Fantastic experience that was cheaper than the cruise line excursions. The attractions were great !!
This is interesting and fun. The totems were my favorite part. The raptor part was just okay except they do such important work for the birds. Glad to contribute a little to the care of the bears and raptors through purchase of this ticket.
Don’t book this tour only because the tour operator not Viator explains anything about how to get to your excursion. It was raining so hard. We had no clue what to do after getting off the ship other than to go up the ramp. They failed to mention that there is a shuttle bus that takes you to downtown but that shuttle bus has 2 hour long line that we were not aware of. Also 2 different lines for the bus. One for someone who made a reservation which no one told us to do and second line being stand by line which is a separate line but both very long. Staying in rain getting wet. I called the operator few times and after few attempts lady answered the call and I explained the situation about us not being aware and it may cause us to run a late and to please wait or do something but she did not care and said that it will leave at the time and if you miss there is nothing that can be done. Once they have your money they don’t care about anything but luckily we asked the lady at the bus terminal and explained our situation and she was kind enough to out us in front of 200 people line or more and we made it in nick of time but was very stressful. Keep in mind this nice lady at the shuttle did not work for Viator or the tour operator. There are no signs and instruction so basically it’s a rocket science to figure out how to get to your destination. For that reason I would never book this tour again nor recommend anyone to do so. Last thing you need on your vacation is stress to get to an excursion.
Great experience and informed guide. He even took us to a place we requested that was not part of the tour but was on the way. Very enjoyable and informative.
The sign could have had a bigger viator symbol on it. We came to the location and were told to wait at a certain spot, we waited over an hour and almost missed our tour due to wrong instructions given. Thankfully they called is but we were told we only had 3 mins to find them or we lost out on the tour. Thankfully we made it. Tour was ok. Guide was easy and laid back.
The guides were experts and the excursion was very educational. There were some surprises that made the whole experience unique and satisfying!
Loved each stop. The time spent at each one was perfect and we saw so much. Wayne was a great guide - knowledgeable but not overbearing. Great tour for all ages and fitness levels.
Victoria gave us very clear instructions as where to meet the tour. Mike our guide was wonderful. A local with so much knowledge to share. The rehabilitation center for eagles, the bears, the National Park. He really went above and beyond!!! He made our experience in Sitka unforgettable.
Wonderful experience. Our guide, Mike, was very knowledgeable and accommodating to all of our needs. In Sitka National Park we were fortunate to be able to see the salmon spawning and two bald eagles up and close in the wild. The eagles landed right above us and stayed for an extended period of time for picture opportunities. We loved walking through the rainforest learning about the ecology. We got to stop and take pictures in one of the most breathtaking spots on the ocean along the way to our next destination, the Bear Fortress. This too was a wonderful experience seeing the rescued bears in their habitats enjoying themselves and playing. Last up the raptor center was educational. We would highly recommend this excursion.
While our guide wasn’t the best, the tour itself was amazing! Got to see so much stuff in a short time.
The tour was everything I expected. Good local driver with lots of information and local stories. Saw lots of bears, eagles ans other raptors and enjoyed the Sitka National Park Totems. It was a great day.
Wonderful experience seeing the amazing bears. We loved hearing about the humane treatment of the bears and the care they are recieving.
I absolutely loved this excursion! The eagles were amazing to see so upclose and personal. Such majeatic creatures! Snow owl was beautiful as well.
Bears were fun to watch. Staff at both the Raptor center and Fortress of the Bears were so informative and share many details that helped us learn a bit more.
Christian, our guide and transport person was great too! We enjoyed his commentary and kept us entertained!
Our bus was in very bad condition, compared with the others in the company. Guide not as enthusiastic or knowledgeable as others. Fortress of the bears should be renamed Prison of the bears. The enclosures were not in a good condition and bears showing stress and anxiety. That was not what I paid to see
It was wonderful to learn about the fortress of the bear and Alaska Raptor center and why they were created. The Bears and the raptors are amazing
Darby was Fun and very knowledgeable. We enjoyed the bears and the raptors very much. Would recommend.
The Raptors and Fortress of the Bear were really great. The Totem pole park was interesting, but not as exciting. My tour guide, Jim, was amazing. He was personable, friendly, and relatable. He made a connection with everyone in the group and had lots of information to share. I had the best time.
Group was easy to locate at Harrington Hall. Well organized. We traveled by passenger van to the three locations. Quick and easy access to the Raptor center and the Bear Fortress. Amazing to visit!
This excursion highlights three of the top must sees while in Sitka. It reinforces Alaska’s commitment to respect the flora, fauna and indigenous people. We witnessed the commitment to saving and rehabilitating wildlife at the Raptor Center and Fortress of the Bear
Raptor Center/Fortress of the Bear. The stop at Totem Park, however, was an unexpected delight. We saw the totems and learned about their symbolism which was what was advertised, but our knowledgeable guide really immersed us in the total ecosystem of the park.
Katie was wonderful from start to finish. Greeted us with cookies , answered questions and was very friendly
Member Pricing
From
$117.80
per personWas $124.00(-5%)
-You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Member Pricing
Simply Amazing Sitka Tour: Fortress of the Bear, Alaska Raptor, & Totems
474
2 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$124.00
$117.80
5% savings
