Things to Do in Ketchikan

Discover the rich culture and history of the Haida and Tlingit people. Visit the Totem Heritage Center to learn about the totems and spot wildlife such as bears, salmon, and eagles.

Explore Ketchikan with a private tour, suitable for all ages, ensuring your family and friends are the only guests in the tour van! Offering ease, comfort, flexibility, and a relaxed pace! Explore at your own pace, without rigid time constraints at each stop! Your group can choose to spend as much or little time at each location, allowing you to focus on areas of greater interest! Destinations for Wildlife, Waterfalls, Rainforest, Coastal inner passage for marine life, Totem Poles, and friendly tour guides! Why be another number on a large tourist bus, with us you are the star of the show, and all our attention is on your group, and the groups interests throughout the journey! With extra care and attention from your guide on this private tour, can be especially helpful with those traveling with young children, elderly relatives, those with medical conditions, special needs or mobility challenges! Our goal is an experience that is fun, friendly, authentic, and not scripted!

Explore Saxman Native Village, see the world's largest collection of totem poles, and spot wildlife, all from an authentic San Francisco-style trolley.

Ketchikan, Alaska, is truly the beginning of the last frontier. Set at the southernmost entrance to Alaska’s famed Inside Passage, a network of waterways snakes through some of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful wilderness in the world. Ketchikan is best known for three things: feisty salmon, idyllic scenery, and an incredibly rich Alaska Native culture. We are Native Americans, proud of our culture, and can't wait to share it all with you. This tour is completely flexible and can be tailored to your group's interests. Some options include visiting totem parks, beaches, waterfalls, or going on a hike. While you explore, we will teach you about our Alaskan Native culture and traditions.

Ketchikan is home to the most dynamic experience in Alaska, combining culture, history, excitement, and cuisine. Enjoy a Lumberjack Show and an all-you-can-eat Dungeness crab feast!

Howdy! My name is Tim. I love to take new people exploring on the ocean to share what I love about where I live. My tour is designed to see the wilds of Alaska from the water and not from the window of a van. Think salt spray, not gift shops. With 3 full hours on the water you will see a range of marine and inter-tidal life. Unlike a dock launched kayak tour I don’t have a firmly set route. The Huckleberry (the cabined vessel in the photos) allows us the mobility to find the best water, wind, and wildlife of the day. After leaving Ketchikan, I will get you geared and lower the tandem kayaks off the boat and into the water. Then we will paddle some beautiful uninhabited, Alaskan coastline together! I strive to make sure that the tour stays accessible regardless of your experience level. After the paddle we will return to the Huckleberry for a snack. The cruise back into town is fast, comfortable, and guaranteed to get you there in plenty of time to catch your cruise ship!

Experience the World-famous and Historic George Inlet Lodge near Ketchikan. Enjoy a delicious lunch experience which includes the Alaskan specialty Dungeness Crab.

Come join us on a lovely 3.6-mile roundtrip hike through an Alaska State Park into the Tongass National Forest. Enjoy a small group of up to 7 guests! First relax on the 40-minute scenic drive to the end of the road. Then hike an improved gravel trail alongside a river with glimpses of waterfalls. Walk through a magical old-growth rainforest displaying impressive specimens of Sitka spruce and western red cedar fencing in the trail. Besides some stairs at the beginning of the hike, the trail flattens out and winds along the river valley below a ridge. 1 mile down the trail, our destination is a stone bench beside a serene bow in the river, where we can pause and enjoy one another and the peace and quiet. This tour is led by owner and operator, Tongass Teague. Enjoy connecting with him, each other, and the wilderness of Southeast Alaska. Ask about practicing mindfulness! Ask about our endangered old-growth forests and how to protect them!

Explore Alaska's wilderness on an e-bike and hike through the rainforest, with local guides and snacks included.

Explore Ketchikan in our '67 Volkswagen van. You can enjoy learning about Ketchikan's colorful past, rich Native history, and the flora and fauna that make Southeast Alaska such a wonderful place. Our stops include but are not limited to a local Alaskan beach for intertidal exploration (tidal dependent), photo stops along Nichols Passage, a dazzling waterfall, and a stop at scenic Herring Cove for the possibility to spot wildlife (not guaranteed). Substituting the Saxman Totem Park or a short hike for any of the options above is also available. This tour can be completely customized to fit your itinerary. Just let our guide know; he will use his local knowledge to create an adventure you won't soon forget! This tour is an excellent option for all ages and guests who enjoy exploring with local guides! *Please keep in mind that each tour is different and tour stops may be changed by our guides due to tides, traffic, road construction, and weather.

Embark on a guided nature walk in the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, a 40-acre private preserve of temperate rainforest in Ketchikan. Explore native wildlife, a historic sawmill, and a totem park.

This trip puts a rod in every guest’s hand and gives you a crack at whatever species catch the scent trail your guide sets up on the bottom. This is an intimate fishing experience with 5 or 6 guests and a guide tucked into a hardtop aluminum cabin cruiser out on the halibut flats. Weather can be unpredictable, but a major advantage of fishing the Inside Passage is that there’s almost always a place we can hide behind an island, sheltering us from weather blowing in from the open sea. At our company, we don’t worry about fuel burn. We want our guides to go where guests have the best chance at the most active fishing. Compared to most half-day charters in Alaska, these trips will carry guests farther into more distant and productive waters. That means a better chance at the fish, more coastal scenery, and a better chance at spotting wildlife like whales, sea lions, and porpoises!

Soar over the Misty Fjords National Monument on a floatplane tour from Ketchikan with commentary from your pilot. Admire the beauty of the Tongass National Forest and the Revillagigedo Island.

Experience the best Alaska halibut fishing! Private excursion includes halibut fishing, whale watching, and wildlife viewing. Catch your trophy halibut in Ketchikan, Alaska. We offer a guaranteed on time pickup and drop off from downtown Ketchikan cruise ship ports. Making this fishing charter the best way to maximize your time in port. Private Ketchikan halibut fishing excursion is great for all ages and skill levels. We provide everything needed for an authentic Alaskan fishing adventure! Halibut fishing in scenic waters along the Ketchikan coastline. This private fishing excursion gives you a hands on experience. The best halibut fishing waters on your Alaskan cruise.

Snorkel the famed Inside Passage with Alaska's most experienced outfit. The Mountain Point Snorkeling Adventure is an all inclusive 3-hour adventure that is sure to be the highlight of your cruise.

Enjoy an entertaining guided historical walking tour of 3 of Ketchikan's favorite watering holes and famous Creek Street. Learn about the colorful events that have shaped Ketchikan, The Salmon Capitol of the World and Alaska's First City. Sample drinks and learn the crazy and sometimes scary history of the bars, historical events and the town of Ketchikan with a local guide. With 3 bars to visit, you'll stroll the Old Town waterfront and Creek Street while taking in the stories and photogenic scenery of this colorful town and its people. Your tour guides are local and know these bars well. Fun, entertainment, drinks, history, and great story telling is what we specialize in! As a bonus, your guide will also be your photographer along the scenic tour. Your camera or ours, you'll get great pictures of you to share and enjoy the memories for years to come! Come join us for this tour!

Explore the waters, wildlife, and scenery of Ketchikan on this whale watching boat tour. Enjoy snacks and beverages and outdoor and outdoor covered seating.

This combination trip gives your guide the freedom to pursue the best fishing opportunities available on the day you arrive. Whether it’s highly technical salmon trolling with downriggers, jigging pinnacles and kelp forests for rockfish and lingcod, or plumbing the depths for bottom fish, this trip highlights the diversity of species and fishing techniques Southeast Alaska is famous for! The guides who take these trips out are chosen for their versatile skill set, to run a trip like this you have to be rigged up with multiple sets of rods to facilitate completely different types of fishing rapidly within the course of a half-day trip. They’re ready to run far, pivot rapidly between locations and styles of fishing, and lean into the best seasonal opportunities on the day of your trip!

Live the thrill of gliding through the magnificent Tongass National Forest. This tour takes you through a series of eight zip-lines and one aerial bridge where wildlife can be seen from above.

A truly unique experience which is only offered here. Explore one of the best beaches of Ketchikan at low tide. This special excursion is ONLY offered once a day to take advantage of the lowest tide. One of Ketchikan's best locations for spotting bald eagles, seals, and whales from land, this beach is known for its rock and tide pools. At low tide, you can walk the beach and find dozens of different types of crabs, starfish, urchins, and sea anemones. You might even see an octopus. On the drive to, or back from, the excursion, stop by Totem Bright State Park for a self-guide visit to learn about local Alaskan Native culture. And of course, see some totem poles. This excursion is family-friendly and suitable for all ages.

You’ll cruise mountain trails, take in spectacular views of the Tongass National Forest, Behm Canal and Alaska’s fabled Insided Passage. Sit back and strap in, for an off-road adventure of a lifetime!

Come join us on a stunning 4-mile roundtrip hike in a small group of up to no more than 7 guests! This tour is led by owner and operator, Tongass Teague. Enjoy connecting with him, each other, and the wilderness of Southeast Alaska. Hike an improved gravel trail alongside a forested lake below a mountain. Plenty of spots for picture taking. From there, the second mile’s more natural tread is mixed with gravel, large rocks, and roots as you ascend through an old-growth rainforest displaying large specimens of Sitka spruce. Learn about some of our flora and fauna and hear about our complicated logging history and what it means for our future. Learn how to protect our endangered old-growth forests! At 1100 feet of elevation, arrive at the bottom of an avalanche chute (devoid of snow in the summer), our destination. Be one of only two tours a day allowed on this cherished trail.

Embark on a hiking adventure from Ketchikan and explore the Tongass National Forest by ATV and on foot. Learn about the Bigfoot stomping grounds and view the local fauna and nature with your guide.

With the help of your local host with extensive experience in the nutrition and fishing industries, you'll learn how to prepare one of the world's most nutritious foods so you can easily replicate the dishes back home. You will have the opportunity to learn about local fisheries and how to find Wild Alaska salmon wherever you live. This is not an allergen-free kitchen. We are pescatarian-friendly.

Escape the crowds of Ketchikan on a fast boat ride to Orca Cove. Paddle around the islands and coves of Orca Cove on a sea kayak and keep an eye out for wildlife like whales, sea lions, and seals.

Embark on an unforgettable journey from Clover Pass Resort, where your adventure begins aboard our comfortable enclosed watercraft. But this isn't just any cruise – it's a voyage into the heart of Alaskan storytelling. As we set sail, immerse yourself in the captivating narratives of local legends through recorded stories, each sharing tales of daring Alaskan adventures, mesmerizing encounters with the wild, and local life. From spine-tingling encounters with bears to heartwarming tales of survival, every story will transport you into the heart of Alaska's untamed spirit. Cruise through pristine waters, surrounded by breathtaking scenery, as we seek out the region's abundant wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for whales breaching the surface, playful seals and sea lions frolicking in the waves, and bald eagles soaring overhead. Your experienced guides will provide insightful commentary, to enhance your wildlife viewing experience.

Discover the heart of Southeast Alaska and the Tongass National Forest on a cruise and crabbing adventure. Then, visit a remote lodge to enjoy a hearty lunch featuring fresh Dungeness crab.

Ketchikan Custom Tours is a Veteran owned and operated company that takes pride in offering a unique tour every time. Because we own and operate this company we can custom each and every tour. So if you are all wanting to focus on wildlife then that's what we can do and the same if you would rather focus on historical etc.

Explore Clover Pass's serene waters and wildlife on a guided kayak adventure from Ketchikan.

Enjoy a guided historical walking tour of Creek Street and the Fishing Fleet, book ended by drinks at the Fishermen's favorite watering holes. Learn about the colorful events that have shaped Ketchikan, The Salmon Capitol of the World and Alaska's First City. After a round at the "Shipwreck Bar", we'll stroll through town to Creek Street then down to the docks to learn about the world famous fishing fleet and see the boats and crews up close preparing for their next catch. We'll finish at the infamous Potlatch Bar for more drinks and stories. You will be guided by a Fisherman who lives on the Fishing Fleet’s Dock in Ketchikan. Your guide has first hand knowledge of the Fishing Fleet and their favorite watering holes. Fun, entertainment, drinks, history and a few tall tales make this a “must do” tour while visiting Ketchikan! As a bonus, your guide will also be your photographer along the scenic walking tour so you can share and enjoy the memories for years to come!

Let the Ketchikan Photo Safari take you on a journey of discovery. We will guide you on Ketchikan's unique history while learning how to frame up a better photo with a few camera tips here and there.

Board your inflatable zodiac boats right in downtown Ketchikan! See Ketchikan from the water and avoid the crowds. Follow your guide and explore the Inside Passage of Southeast Alaska. Most tours take in views of Historic Creek Street, the Totem Poles at Saxman Native Village, and cruise the Tongass Narrows searching for bald eagles, seals and sea lions and often humpback whales or sometimes pods of Orca! We've got you covered with all new gear! This excursion starts out by getting you outfitted in Bibs, Jackets, Boots, Gloves & Dry Bags provided for the adventure. Then we load up and run through a safety talk before launching out on the protected Pacific waterways. This is a self driving excursion on the water. Up to 4 guests may be in each vessel. If you are a couple you may be paired with another couple on the tour. We provide the opportunity for our groups to have up to 2 guests per boat to have time to drive on the tour if desired. Must be 21+ to drive.

Explore the mountain trails of George Inlet Fjord and the Tongass National Forest on this guided off-road UTV adventure. Enjoy a delicious lunch down at the basecamp.

This tour is off the beaten path and leaves the pavement and tourists behind for the more rugged mountain dirt roads in the backcountry of the Tongass National Forest, a local favorite drive. The tour is very rural and gains some scenic elevated views depending on weather conditions. We drive through some former logging sites as we explore the need for further conservation of our old-growth forests if we want to continue to breath clean air and if we want to fight climate change and protect one of the United States largest carbon sinks--the Tongass.

Immerse yourself in traditional Alaskan culture with a guided visit to Potlatch Park. Join a tour from Ketchikan to discover the ancient art of totem carving, then scout for wildlife at Herring Cove.

When people go to Ketchikan, these are the sites most people go to see: old town Ketchikan, Creek Street, fish ladder, Totem Bight State Park, Potlatch Park, Herring Cove and more! By the end of the tour, visitors will have a real feel for Ketchikan and what life is like on this beautiful Alaskan island. The tour guide has lived in Ketchikan for many years and has given many tours.

Explore the Tongass National Forest on a guided hike and to explore the areas the locals hike. Learn about the history of the indigenous people of the area as you explore.

Experience the thrill of Alaska’s best fishing with this 5-Hour Combo Halibut and Salmon Fishing Trip, designed for anglers of all skill levels. This guided adventure takes you into the rich fishing grounds known for their abundant halibut and thriving salmon populations, making it a perfect excursion for those looking to maximize their time on the water. From the moment you step aboard, you’ll be greeted by a professional captain ready to share their expertise and passion for fishing while helping you create unforgettable memories. As you head out to the prime fishing spots, enjoy breathtaking views of pristine waters, rugged coastlines, and Alaska’s majestic wildlife. This combination fishing trip offers double the excitement as you target both halibut and salmon in one action-packed adventure. Halibut, known for their strength and size, provide a thrilling challenge, while salmon, prized for their speed and agility, deliver fast-action. Ask about shipping your catch home!

Explore the striking Alaskan wilderness on a half-day tour from historic downtown Ketchikan to the George Inlet Fjords. See a 2000-foot waterfall and navigate the boat past stunning views.

You'll love seeing Ketchikan and the island with Clarke. He has lived on the island for a long time and has given plenty of tours. He knows the island well and is fun and very personable. He will listen to your interests and design a tour based on what you want to see, learn or experience.

Join us on walk through a portion of the largest temperate rainforest in the world. Our small groups will explore the Tongass National Forest and a local totem pole park.

Embark on the ultimate Alaskan combo shore excursion in Ketchikan, a perfect blend of adventure, culture, and local flavors! Begin your journey with a visit to Herring Cove, where you can witness incredible bear sightings in their natural habitat as they fish for salmon. Dive into the rich history of the Tlingit people at Saxman Native Village, home to stunning, intricately carved totem poles that tell the stories of Alaska’s Native heritage. Then, unwind with a refreshing Alaskan beer at one of the state’s oldest and most charming bars. This unforgettable Alaska shore excursion combines Ketchikan’s wildlife, culture, and cuisine into one amazing excursion. Book your spot today! (Must be 21 years of age with valid photo ID to consume beer.)

We offer private tours suitable for all ages! Destinations for wildlife, waterfalls, rainforest, totem park, marine life and more...

We have you covered from your arrival to your departure! This private tour is a unique opportunity to experience some of the beautiful historical sights and community of Ketchikan and have all transportation provided. You’re on vacation let us deliver first class service while your are in port! We will always be on the search of wildlife and adventure. This tour is designed for the traveler that wants to maximize their visit to our wonderful community. We want you to enjoy our community and experience the many popular tourist attractions. We also want you to have a great time by adding your interest to the experience. We will have a good time and give you the opportunity to enjoy your time! This price covers the cost of 6 passengers in your group! We do have room for additional passengers for additional cost.! We can coordinate with other companies if you book an additional excursion!No busses, no crowds and definitely no hassles!

Embark on a guided trek through the old-growth forests of the Tongass National Forest. Walk along a river and catch sight of a few waterfalls in the area.

This extended tour is one of the only guided mountain hikes in Ketchikan. And though we are not permitted to go the very top of the mountain, we do gain about 1100 feet in elevation to a high point of 1600 feet at the end of the improved trail, which pops out into the alpine with 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains and the lake and Tongass Narrows below. This tour is only allowed once a day.

All-aboard for an award-winning, locally owned and operated wildlife and sightseeing tour boat excursion exploring the natural beauty Southeast Alaska's Inside Passage.

Your captains are experienced commercial and sport fishermen with an extensive knowledge of the area and the many fish species that inhabit these waters. Your captains live in the Southeast year-round and know the most productive fishing spots, following the fish throughout each season.

Crab, octopus, prawns, scenery, and bald eagles dive bomb to grab fish off the water. It's educational, interactive and emotional as the crew share stories of survival on the Bering Sea and beyond.

Your captains are expereinced commercial and sport fishermen with an extensive knowledge of the area and the many fish species that inhabit these waters. Your captains live in the Southeast year-round and know the most productive fishing spots, following the fish throughout each season.