Lighthouse, Totems & Eagles Excursion (Ketchikan)
Description
Lighthouse Excursions is a locally owned & operated Ketchikan tour company, and we pride ourselves on providing guests with an experience of Southeast Alaska through local eyes. Our Lighthouse, Totems & Eagles Excursion is a grab-bag of some of Ketchikan's top attractions, with a little something for everyone. Whether you're a lighthouse enthusiast, a history and culture buff, or love seeing wildlife in their natural environment, this tour is for you! We're passionate about where we live, and we love showing it off to guests from all over the world.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our boats are docked inside Ward Cove, which was once of the site of the largest pulp mill in the United States. Remnants of the old pulp mill can be seen on arrival to our dock, as well as from the water. You'll learn about the industries that once fueled Ketchikan as we leave our dock behind and head out into wilder waters.
View the beautiful Alaska native clan house & totem poles from the water. Our guides will tell you a legend of one of the poles, and discuss Ketchikan's vibrant Alaska native cultures.
Along the first part of our journey, you'll see many local homes dotting our shoreline, some of them even on their own island! We'll tell you about the unique lifestyle of living remote in Alaska.
View the historic Guard Island Lighthouse from the water, complete with panoramic views of the seascape beyond. Our captain will discuss it's unique architecture, and share with you some of its history.
View the world's largest temperate rainforest from the water. We cruise along the wild shoreline of our remote islands, which are densely populated by Sitka spruce, Western Hemlock, Red & Yellow Cedar, and Red Alder. You'll have plenty of opportunities to observe the beauty of the forest from our tour vessel!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Guests must be able to minimally navigate 3-4 steps on and off our tour vessel and transportation. Wheelchair service to and from the tour vessel is provided for those with limited mobility. Please reach out the operator to coordinate.
- NOTE: The operator is not able to pick-up guests for this tour experience from the Ward Cove cruise ship pier, as the tour starts/originates in downtown Ketchikan. To book the tour inclusive of a Ward Cove pick-up, please see the Lighthouse, Totems & Eagles Excursion (Ward Cove) listing.
Reviews(373)
Captain Tom and his crew were great very accommodating and kind. They made sure we all saw the eagles and totem poles and gave a very detailed tour. My brother is deaf and they even have a binder with all the information they share printed out. The snacks were great too, the Salmon spread dip was yummy. Thank you for such a good experience. Holly
The entire experience, from start to finish, was wonderful! The scenery was breathtaking! The staff was very knowledgeable and friendly. A very enjoyable and relaxing experience.
I had paid for myself and two friends to take this excursion. I question why do they allow children under the age of 5 years old screaming for two hours. Not only was this kid screaming but throwing dirty napkins over to our table. This kid was out of control. You could not hear a word about the history, nature or the total excursion. Two hours total screaming. They served nice little nibles of smoked salmon and a pate. When we got back to our cruise ship we all were vomitting and the other issue. THIS WAS TERRIBLE Most important this kid was not wearing a life vest
Thank you for taking the time to write about your time on board, and for sharing what you did in fact enjoy about the trip even though your overall experience was negative. We're quite proud of our locally-sourced, on-board snack. I am disappointed that you were unable to hear the narration due to the screaming child, and I understand how frustrating that would be. Our captains put a lot of effort and passion into their narratives. We provide a family-friendly experience that offers something to enjoy for the youngest, first-time traveler up to the well-traveled, centenarian guest, and we do not intend to change that going forward. As the father of a 1-1/2 year-old myself, I understand how difficult travel can be for a young one. A disrupted schedule, a skipped nap, a rushed meal and a lot of stimulation can make for a tough experience for little ones. However, we welcome young children aboard every day and find that the vast majority of them are well-behaved, engaged and attentive. In this regard, I do feel this review was less a review of our business and more a review of the parenting-style of the guests you shared the tour with. That said, I will follow-up with my crew about diplomatic ways to help curb the level of disruption on board the tour. Finally, regarding the life vest, we have Type I USCG-approved child life vests stowed in clearly marked locations throughout the vessel. There is no requirement for children to wear life vests at all times because our vessels are enclosed. The outer decks are equipped with rails and fencing that prevent the accidental fall of children and adults alike. We undergo a rigorous US Coast Guard inspection every year, and this is one of the things that they examine each time they are aboard. Once again, I'm sorry that this child's behavior disrupted your experience. I sincerely hope that the next time you visit Alaska you find yourself able to relax and enjoy every bit of your travels.
We got to see totem poles, a lighthouse, eagles and also some deer, sea lions, and orca whales!! What an amazing day!
Interesting and beautiful tour. Plenty of binoculars provided. The crew were really nice and it is obvious Captain McNeil is passionate about what she does and her home of Alaska. She shares lots of great information and insights. And we were treated to lots of local snacks and great hot chocolate, which we did not expect.
This was a great experience! WE saw TONS of Eagles, and a couple of sea loins....The crew on the boat was expectational! The snacks and drinks were much better than expected actually some of the best feed we had on our whole trip! Also the gentleman Dan who drove us to and from the ship was spectacular as well!!!
Very friendly transport to and from! Captain was very knowledgeable and showed us every eagle there was to see and let us know about landmarks! Price was reasonable
Great trip, the best hot chocolate and the guides and driver were outstanding.
Very worthwhile. The narration was excellent. Full of great information. The boat was extremely comfortable.
Thanks for coming aboard!
This excursion exceeded expectations. We saw so many eagles, harbor seals, sea stars, and totems! The boat was so comfortable, the local snacks and souvenir options were great. The crew was outstanding. So peaceful, fun and educational!
Thanks for taking the time to write such a nice review! We're so glad you enjoyed your time with us.
