Alaska Wildlife Safari and Sightseeing Tour
Description
Embark on the ultimate Alaska wildlife adventure in Ketchikan! Discover top attractions like the mesmerizing salmon ladder, thrilling bear sightings at Herring Cove, and fascinating marine life at Rotary Beach, including whales and intertidal creatures. Dive into Alaska’s rich cultural heritage with a visit to the iconic totem poles at Saxman Native Village, where Tlingit and Haida traditions come to life. Additionally, check out Creek Street-one of Alaska’s most iconic destinations—a picturesque boardwalk perched on stilts above flowing waters, rich in history, culture, and charm. In summer, the creek comes alive with the spectacle of the salmon run, as thousands of fish swim upstream. Complete your unforgettable experience with a savory smoked salmon or reindeer sausage lunchable. Our small group tours allow you to see Ketchikan like a local! Book your all-in-one Ketchikan wildlife adventure today and make memories to last a lifetime!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Discover the famous Salmon Ladder in Ketchikan, Alaska, where salmon battle upstream against strong currents to spawn and complete their life cycle. Catch a glimpse of the natural wonders Ketchikan, Alaska has to offer.
The prime wildlife viewing spot, famous for its seasonal bear sightings as they feast on salmon swimming upstream. Visitors may also spot bald eagles and other native Alaskan wildlife in their natural habitat. It's a must-see attraction for nature enthusiasts exploring Ketchikan.
The picture perfect stop for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers. Explore intertidal marine life, watch for whales, eagles, and otters, and bask in stunning coastal views. This idyllic beach is impeccable for wildlife viewing, photography, and connecting with Alaska's natural beauty.
Discover rich Native culture, home to one of the largest collections of authentic totem poles in the world. Explore intricately carved poles, learn about Tlingit culture, and experience the art and stories of Alaska’s Indigenous people. This is a must-do cultural experience!
Nestled along the banks of Ketchikan Creek, Creek Street is one of Alaska’s most iconic destinations—a picturesque boardwalk perched on stilts above flowing waters, rich in history, culture, and charm. In summer, the creek comes alive with the spectacle of the salmon run, as thousands of fish swim upstream, often followed by bald eagles and the occasional harbor seal. Once Ketchikan’s red-light district during the early 20th century, this colorful street has transformed into a vibrant hub for visitors seeking authentic Alaskan experiences.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(356)
We had a nice trip, our guide Teddy was upbeat and we could tell he likes his job and loves Alaska, but the tour is hardly a wildlife safari, as the name implies. Yes we saw the fish ladder in downtown Ketchikan and yes we saw eagles and we were very fortunate to see bears but the tour was mostly through the town and we also spent time in the Klingit area with the totem poles. We could have done without a couple of other brief stops totally unrelated to seeing any wildlife. We saw the eagles and bears in a public areas just off the main road with other tours on site and many other tourists and people around. Hardly out in the wild and certainly not what we would consider a “safari.” The stop in the Klingit village area was nothing special, the totem poles were somewhat interesting but after 5 minutes we had seen them all. The rest of that stop seemed geared to having us go through their gift shop. All in all, we were glad we saw what we saw but expected something different based on the description of the tour and expected a visit to more remote areas and the whole trip to be more wildlife oriented.
Leo was the best! So kind, knowledgeable, willing to give history, answer a million questions ... the love he has for nature, his culture and the animals is contagious. We saw bears, eagles, starfish and salmon ... what a pleasant surprise ... Thank you Leo!
We had an amazing experience with Leo as he knowledgeably guided us through the natural and cultural aspects of the community. We saw a bear, multiple eagles and thousands of salmon. We would definitely recommend him to other visitors. He kept our tour small and personable.
Don't waste your money on this tour.
The only excursion that I was disappointed in during my Alaskan adventures. We were seated in the back of the van ( van was full with 14 attendees) and we couldn’t hear most of what the tour guide was saying. First stop was the salmon ladder and the only reason I learned anything about it was because I stood next to the guide and asked questions. We were told to look for whales in the water as we are driving along the shore and continuously have trees blocking our views. We went to a spot where fisherman were and specifically told to stay out of their way on a narrow wobbly pier where we did spot an Eagle in a tree and a couple jelly fish. Then we went to a spot to view bears from what I can only describe as a back road as we looked onto tour groups on a boardwalk that were in the action actually seeing bears and we were able to catch a small glimpse. Then we went to the totem pole park where we went behind the building and looked inside as AC actual demonstration was going on with the totem pole maker. Our guide did share his knowledge and experience of what was going on inside and then talked about the building on the property that he helped build, but then we were on our own to walk around for 15 minutes. My recommendation is to find the tour that is actually doing the things and not this backstage tour watching the actual tours. Obviously animals in nature have their own unpredictable schedule, but we met others on the boat that were on the boardwalk I talked about and they had amazing pictures of 5 different bears they saw- swimming in the water, eating salmon, etc
Too much time on bus and not seeing wildlife like what was advertised. Guide was not the best, but did take us many places
This was our favorite excursion. Our guide was amazing. On time at the meeting place. Spacious van and only 8 of us. He was a local, raised in Ketchikan and SO knowledgeable. We visited the salmon ladder, stopped to look for eagles, stopped for pictures at a waterfall. Went to a place with a creek and saw bears fishing for salmon. Then onto the totem park. We got to see the Master Carver working on a pole in the workship. This tour was amazing and will worth the price.
We had a great time with our tour guide, Leo! He was born and raised in Ketchikan so he was very knowledgeable. We stopped at multiple places and saw bears, salmon, starfish and bald eagles! We also stopped and learned about the totem poles, master carver and native culture
Well, Hal our guide was amazing very informative, friendly.. and knowledgeable. he made the trip very enjoyable. The weather was gorgeous. We were able to see some sea wildlife and Eagle, but disappointed we did not get to see a bear.
We had a very engaging and knowledgeable native Alaskan guide who provided especially interesting insights into the totem carving process.
