Off the Beaten Path Ketchikan Photo Safari - 3 hr.
Description
The Ketchikan Photo Safari is a fun, small group 3 hour shore excursion designed for short time travelers who want great photos, engaging history, and a deeper understanding of Alaska. Traveling with a professional photography guide in a group of just 2–9 guests, you’ll explore Ketchikan’s most scenic and culturally significant locations, including a visit to Potlatch Park. Here, you’ll learn about Southeast Alaska Native culture, traditional totem poles, carving, symbolism, and the stories that connect the land and its people. While photography is a key part of the experience, you don’t need to be photography focused to enjoy this tour. It’s also perfect for guests who are new to Alaska and want to hear great stories, learn local history, and better understand what they’re seeing. Along the way, your guide shares easy photography tips you can use with any camera or smartphone—tips many guests say improve their photos for the rest of their cruise.
Tour Options
Itinerary
If you land in Ketchikan on berths 1, 2, 3, or 4 we meet at berth 2 next to the statue called "The Rock". If you land in Ward Cove we will pick you up unless otherwise notified.
The Historic Red Light District where men and salmon go to spawn, now home to a variety of shops & attractions and abundant photo opportunities. Hear stories and information about local culture, history, economy & lifestyles as you travel from site to site.
At the Harris Street Bridge, we have an opportunity to talk about the use of backgrounds and foregrounds. During salmon spawning season we will have an up close look at nature in action.
This site has totems, native carvings, informative kiosks, ancient poles and the opportunity to hear the legend of Fog Woman. Hear stories and information about local culture, history, economy & lifestyles as you travel from site to site.
We will make our way down East Street to over look Thomas Basin and explore some of the last wooden dock structures in Ketchikan, Alaska. If the weather is right we have an opportunity for a large landscape or what ever strikes our imagination. We will talk about commercial fishing and the history of the town, while collecting some of our favorite photos.
This site offers a variety of attractions including a totem carving building, a traditional Native Clan House, dugout canoe, a gift shop, antique cars and a Russian Museum. Hear stories and information about local culture, history, economy & lifestyles as you travel from site to site. Enjoy your fresh roasted coffee and gourmet cookie at this site.
One last stop for another large landscape overlooking Danger Island and the airplane float. Here we will begin the conclusion of our tour and we thank you for coming on the Ketchikan Photo Safari.
We are excited to share all of these locations, but sometimes the itinerary is subject to change due to weather, lighting and general interests of the crowd.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Berth #1 #2 #3 #4 visitors: Meet next to the statue called "The Rock" next to the Ketchikan Visitor's Center on Berth 2 Ward Cove visitors meet your Photo Safari guide near your ship's greeting area. In the Welcoming Center. It is important that you list your ships information so that we know where to pick you up. Ships that tie up in Ward Cove are about 10 miles from downtown, which is a 20-minute drive.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Stipulate your desired TOUR DEPARTURE TIME and email for confirmation: ktnservices@outlook.com
Reviews(1,018)
We had a great time adventuring Ketchikan with our tour guide, Saint. We got to see a lot of different parts of the area, plus we got up to the rainforest away from all the busy crowded areas and got to actually experience nature here. I had my nice mirrorless camera, but this is definitely geared toward general audiences, so cell phones are completely viable. Saint was knowledgeable on both how to make the most of what you have, whether it's a cell phone or high end dedicated camera. The three hours is fully occupied with some transit time in the van between stops.
Kay singlehandedly made this experience so perfect. His passion for photography and ketchican truly showed in the tour. He made sure we took great pictures and took care of everyone in our group. He gave us amazing advice that we will take with us for all of our future pictures. I truly cannot recommend this tour enough. Next time im in alaska(idk when) i would 100% book this tour again. Thank you Kay!!!!
Guide was fantastic, knew some great photo spots and a lot about the town. We loved getting to several of the key spots before most of the ships disgorged their passengers.
Our guide Saint was absolutely qualified for the photo safari due to his training. He not only showed us extraordinarily beautiful places outside the city, but also gave tips on handling cameras and smartphones. Furthermore, he had an exceptionally calm and pleasant way of organizing the tour and giving us a feel for nature and history. The tour was a lucky find!
Saint was knowledgeable about Ketchikan & photography-he provided tips on cellphone, point&shoot and other cameras at excellent locations all while providing history and what island life is like in Ketchikan!
Saint is an expert an d very personable guide. He is very knowledgeable about a wide variety of topics and the focus on native culture, nature and photography were fascinating. We headed out of town and we were quickly immersed in the tour. We had time to see the creek with no time wasted on shopping. This is an intimate, must-do tour.
Wonderful trip off the beaten trail! Elmer was fabulous! We enjoyed the history, stories and photo tips.
Elmar was a very knowledgeable guide! Excellent small group experience!
Excellent tour! This is my 2nd time doing this particular tour. Our guide, Saint, was a wealth of information about the places he took us to, and the surrounding areas. He was also extremely helpful with camera and picture taking tips!! (We especially loved taking a picture through a star shaped knot hole!). I liked that the places he took us to, and the ones i went to my previous time, were not all the same. This is the perfect excursion, especially for Ward Cove, to be picked up, driven around to see such beautiful sights and at the end, be dropped back off at Ward Cove. Saint was a great tour guide/driver, and I thoroughly enjoyed his insights and information.
Our guide was incredible. Ge is a photography major who owns and does his own camera work. He showed each of us outstanding cell phone tios for getting greater pictures. Very patient, knows his history and facts. Explains them very clearly and precise.
