Ketchikan
Tours

Our most recommended things to do in Ketchikan

Ketchikan: Totem Pole, Wildlife & City Trolley Tour

Ketchikan: Totem Pole, Wildlife & City Trolley Tour

Relax aboard a San Francisco cable car trolley and take in the sights and sounds of this bustling fishing and logging community, once known as the salmon capital of the world. On this 2.25-hour tour, explore the native village of Saxman with its 29 authentic hand-carved totem poles, a master carving center, and village store. Watch master crafters at work and learn the history and traditions behind this practice. Next, head south to Herring Cove for wildlife viewing. In the summer during salmon spawning season, hungry bears, bald eagles, blue herring, and harbor seals can often be spotted in this beautiful riverside cove.  

Ketchikan: Alaska Native Cultural and Scenic Shore Excursion

Ketchikan: Alaska Native Cultural and Scenic Shore Excursion

Broaden your horizons with a private shore excursion tour of Ketchikan, Alaska, led by a local guide. Learn about the stories and lives of the Haida and Tlingit people, and see wildlife in their natural habitat. Meet your guide and set off on a tour of Ketchikan. Spot wildlife at 3 stops, including looking out for bears, salmon, and eagles. Learn about the meanings and stories behind the iconic totem poles of Alaska as you visit the Totem Heritage Center. Hear legendary stories that have been passed down since the beginning of time. Travel through the rainforest in a comfortable van and learn about the medicinal plants and berries that are edible.

From Ketchikan: Crab Feast Lunch at World Famous Lodge

From Ketchikan: Crab Feast Lunch at World Famous Lodge

Delight in a hearty Alaskan three-course lunch at the rustic yet elegant George Inlet Lodge. Relax and savor delicious Dungeness crab in the warmth of the lodge while hearing local tales from your informative host. Meet your host in Ketchikan and travel south to the Lodge which sits on the scenic shores of the George Inlet Waterway. Learn all about the history of the building which was formerly an old cannery bunkhouse built in the 1940s.  Be entertained with stories about the area while you relish your delicious food offerings: Salad with an Asian-style dressing, steaming hot Dungeness crab and mouth-watering cheesecake complete with blueberry toppings! Be ready to enjoy a lively lunching experience which has been described as a "rowdy good time!"

Ketchikan: Marine Wildlife and Whale Watching Boat Tour

Ketchikan: Marine Wildlife and Whale Watching Boat Tour

Discover the beauty of Ketchikan on this sightseeing boat tour. Stay cozy with the boat's blankets and get a closer look at wildlife like eagles and seals with the use of onboard binoculars. Search for humpback and killer whales in the Tongass Narrows and Nichols Passage. Check-in with staff and board the comfortable boat that has an onboard restroom. Once you depart the dock, begin to see eagles, seals, sealions and many species of wild birds that Alaksa showcases during the summer months.  Get help from the crew who will keep a look out for wildlife and tell you fun facts about these creatures. Have the chance to see the magnificent humpback whales that frequent the waters of Tongass Narrows, Nichols Passage, and other nearby water ways during the spring and summer months.  Enjoy photo opportunities with sights like a humpback whale breaching or bubble feeding. Search the waters for killer whales, which can reach a length up to 30 feet and have a dorsal fins that span up to 7 feet. Help yourself to complimentary drinks like coffee, tea, hot chocolate, flavored soda water, and bottled water and snacks like fresh pastries, crackers, and assorted chips. Stay outside and enjoy more of the scenery while wrapped in a blanket. 

Ketchikan: Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary and Totem Park Walk

Ketchikan: Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary and Totem Park Walk

Join an eco-exploration of the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary in Ketchikan that includes a guided nature hike, bald eagles, an on-site totem park, and a historic sawmill at an exclusive reserve in the forested mountains at rustic Herring Cove. Follow a naturalist guide along a trail through the dense forest, among tall stands of hemlock, spruce, and cedar, stopping at viewing points. Observe bald eagles, black bears, seals, and a variety of birds and other species attracted by the major salmon runs in the marine estuary. At a protected, open estuary, follow Eagle Creek along an elevated wooden boardwalk overlooking grassy wetlands. Major runs of salmon return to spawn here. Listen to the symphony of bird activity in this spectacular setting. Seasonal ecosystem changes result in varying levels of wildlife activity. Take a 0.75-mile trail walk that will bring you to the historic Herring Bay Lumber Company sawmill. Spend time in the carving center learning about Native culture and traditions before heading out to view the amazing collection of Tsimshian totems. Finally, shopping opportunities await you in the General Store before the scenic drive back to the ship.

Ketchikan: Misty Fjords National Monument Floatplane Tour

Ketchikan: Misty Fjords National Monument Floatplane Tour

Take to the skies over the stunning Misty Fjords National Monument on a floatplane tour from Ketchikan. Admire the lakes, sheer cliffs, and waterfalls of Misty Fjords, a part of the Tongass National Forest covering more than 2 million acres (900,000 hectares) of alpine wilderness. Meet your pilot in Ketchikan and climb aboard your 6-passenger floatplane. During the flight, hear your pilot’s commentary and a musical soundtrack via your headset. Ascend over Tongass Narrows, a body of water located between Ketchikan and Gravina Island, and fly past Ketchikan. Take in the beauty of Tongass National Forest as you soar over Revillagigedo Island to Misty Fjords National Monument, about 40 miles/64 km east of town. Traveling through a low-hanging mist that gives the region its name, enjoy views of fjords, cliffs, and rock walls jutting out of the water. Witness waterfalls cascading down narrow granite passages, and dense forests of hemlock and sprucing cover the vertical slopes. Fly over Rudyard Bay, getting a fantastic vantage point of New Eddystone Rock, a remnant of early volcanic activity. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife like wolves, bears, deer, and eagles, ending the adventure with a drop-off back in Ketchikan.

Ketchikan: Tongass Forest Alaska Bigfoot ATV Ride and Hike

Ketchikan: Tongass Forest Alaska Bigfoot ATV Ride and Hike

Alaska Bigfoot Adventures is an experience for the Bigfoot enthusiast, environmentalist or the casually curious. ABA has prepared an exciting and informative back-woods wilderness adventure for you in the heartland of Alaska’s Rain Forest near the port of Ward Cove/Ketchikan. Meet your Alaskan tour guide and leave the civilized world behind as you join an intimate group of adventurers going into this lush forests setting. Read more about Alaska Bigfoot Adventures - https://www.viator.com/tours/Ketchikan/Alaska-Bigfoot-Advenutres/d942-333914P1?mcid=56757Start your tour at the cruise ship port and hop into a comfortable air-conditioned van for the first leg of your Alaskan adventure. Enjoy a brief tour of Ketchikan as you drive through the town en route to the ATV site. Then, travel by shared ATV as you make your way into the forest to reach the Alaskan wild woods base camp close to the trailhead. From here, your short hiking experience begins. Explore the moss-covered forest as you wander through prime bigfoot habitat. Learn about the area from your guide and stop to read informative kiosks placed along the trail to identify the abundant plant and animal species living here. Take a short break during your forest trek, to learn about the surrounding legend of the Bigfoot and enjoy a warming cup of hot chocolate or coffee served with a gourmet cookie. Keep an eye out for the sasquatch throughout your tour. And if you don't spot the real thing, don't worry, you'll still get the chance to capture a full-sized, motion-active replica of bigfoot. At the end of your experience, enjoy a comfortable return journey to the cruise ship port in Ketchikan by air-conditioned van. 

Ketchikan: Lumberjack Show & Crab Feast

Ketchikan: Lumberjack Show & Crab Feast

Ketchikan is now home to the most dynamic experience in Alaska, combining culture, history, excitement, and cuisine. This tour is in scenic downtown Ketchikan in the Thomas Basin historic district, home to the salmon fishing fleet and crab fishing boats. You will be hosted at the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show Arena and Harbor Haus Pavilion, landmarks of industry, food, and entertainment. Your tour starts at the historic site of the Spruce Mill, once the largest Sitka spruce mill in the world, and now the home to the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. This world-famous Lumberjack Show has world champion athletes in a rowdy, no-holds-barred competition with 12 events, including chopping, climbing, sawing, axe throwing, and log rolling. Hang on to the edge of your seats for a rowdy good time. Just a few steps away, the Harbor Haus will be your destination to experience the most pristine Dungeness crab feast. While looking out over the harbor filled with commercial fishing boats, watch as the daily catch is brought to the docks. Enjoy an all-you-can eat Dungeness crab feast accompanied by salad, baby red potatoes, and carrot cake. After the tour, you are in downtown Ketchikan, surrounded by totem poles, Creek Street, jumping salmon, and shopping.

Bering Sea Crab Fishermen's Tour

Bering Sea Crab Fishermen's Tour

Deadliest Catch crab boat turned adventure boat. Award winning "Tour of the Year" and ranked amongst the top of ALL tours offered by cruise lines worldwide. There's over 50 times more life in the water than on land in Alaska and this excursion offers both. Crab, octopus, prawns, scenery, and often 50-100 bald eagles dive bombing the boat to grab fish right off the water are just a few of the highlights. This is for everyone in the family. The waters are calm, and no one gets seasick! It's educational, interactive and often emotional as Bering Sea Crab Fishermen share their stories of survival on the Bering Sea and beyond. People come from around the world and often save their money for years to go on a vacation of a lifetime. It is OUR duty and mission to cram as much as we can into this 3-hour authentic excursion.

From Ketchikan: Mahoney Lake Off-Road UTV Tour with Lunch

From Ketchikan: Mahoney Lake Off-Road UTV Tour with Lunch

Get well off the beaten path and speed along muddy trails to the remote Lake Mahoney on this guided UTV tour. Follow off-road trails along the George Inlet Fjord and through the Tongass National Forest. Arrive back to basecamp where a delicious lunch awaits you! Start your adventure in downtown Ketchikan, where you will meet the guide and travel out to the White River base camp. Learn about the history of Ketchikan as you pass sites like the Ward Cove Pulp Mill. After a short UTV training session at base camp, gear up and head out onto the trails. Be prepared to get muddy as you tear along 5 miles of off-road paths, through a beautiful wilderness of fjordland and temperate rainforest. Reach the peaceful shores of Mahoney Lake, then head back to basecamp where a warm lunch awaits you. Enjoy a well-deserved meal and a hot drink looking out over the peaceful water, far away from tourist crowds.

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What people are saying about Ketchikan

Overall rating

3.9
(24 reviews)

This tour was wonderful! We were lucky enough to receive a private tour with Marcus and it was a treat! We went for a hike through the forest and ran into a hairy creature in the woods! We stopped for coffee and a scary Bigfoot story along the way too. It was the small details that won us over on this one. ATV was a blast too!! I would absolutely recommend this tour even if you aren’t a believer. Marcus is extremely knowledgeable about plants and animals living there, and his staff is also well versed. Don’t leave Ketchikan without going on this tour! Bravo Marcus, bravo!!!

Although she was running a little late Rebecca was the right person for this experience! So knowledgeable because of her heritage and educational background and so good to hear the true history of the people while enjoying nature. We spotted three whales only about 300 meters away from us, spectacular! Highly recommend both tour and guide. Thank you Rebecca for sharing your story with us 🌸.

our tour was great. However it was not with who we originally scheduled with. unfortunately they were short a driver and couldn't take us. BUT they made sure we got on another tour and kept in good communication with us about the change. very friendly. we toured with Johnny and he's very passionate about his city and making sure we enjoyed ourselves.

The crew is Personable. They want to share and show people the richness off the Berring Sea. The also explain the changes and challanges they face. Gave hands on experiences for all on board. Perfect boat refit for tourists. Took Fantastic photos of Eagles and much more

I liked how informative it was and the nature walk. We learnt a lot and had a great time