A port call in Ketchikan is short, and the choice of excursions is long. We ranked the tours below on four things, in this order: how much of the real Ketchikan they show you, the quality of the experience, value for money and what reviewers say afterwards.
Ratings and review counts come from GetYourGuide and are re-checked regularly; some excellent small-group tours have only a handful of reviews, so read the latest ones before you book. For background on each sight, see our guides to Misty Fjords, the totem parks and bear viewing.
- Best overall
Ketchikan: Misty Fjords National Monument Floatplane Tour
Misty Fjords is the landscape people remember Alaska for, and a floatplane is the only way to see it in two hours. Pricey and weather-dependent, but the single most memorable thing you can do from Ketchikan.
Anyone who wants the most spectacular two hours Ketchikan offers
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- Best for families
Ketchikan: Lumberjack Show & Crab Feast
A fast, funny hour of chopping, sawing and log rolling a short walk from the ship, followed by all-you-can-eat Dungeness crab. Covered seating makes it a safe bet on a wet day.
Families, seafood lovers and rainy days
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- Best on the water
Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour
Three hours aboard a working crab boat with fishermen who have real Bering Sea stories, live crab and octopus on deck and bald eagles swooping for fish. Unique to Ketchikan.
Fans of fishing, wildlife photography and a good story
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- Best value
Ketchikan: Alaska Native Cultural and Scenic Shore Excursion
The most-reviewed Ketchikan tour on the platform and one of the cheapest: a guided visit to Totem Bight State Historical Park with scenery and wildlife stops along the way.
First-time visitors who want culture and scenery on a budget
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- Best wildlife experience
Ketchikan: Neets Bay Black Bear Viewing Tour with Cruise
A five-hour trip by road, boat and forest trail to the bear-viewing platforms at Neets Bay. Go in August or September, when the salmon are running, for the best chance of bears.
Wildlife lovers visiting from late July to mid-September
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- Best rainforest walk
Ketchikan: Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary and Totem Park Walk
A guided walk through a private forest reserve at Herring Cove, with a historic sawmill and a totem park. Gentle, informative and good in any weather.
Nature lovers who want an easy walk with a knowledgeable guide
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- Best small-group adventure
Ketchikan: Orca Cove Fast Boat & Sea Kayaking Tour
A fast boat away from the cruise crowds to sheltered coves, then sea kayaking among eagles, seals and sometimes whales. Beginner-friendly.
Travellers who want quiet water and close-up nature
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- Best adrenaline
Ketchikan: Rainforest Canopy & Zipline Adventure
Eight ziplines and an aerial bridge through the Tongass canopy. Rain only makes it more atmospheric.
Active travellers and teenagers
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- Best active tour
Ketchikan: E-Bike and Hike Tour
An e-bike ride and rainforest hike with a local guide — a great way to cover ground without a bus, with consistently high reviews.
Active travellers who want to cover ground without a coach
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- Best fun in the mud
Ketchikan: Tongass Forest Alaska Bigfoot ATV Ride and Hike
A guided ATV ride and short hike in the Tongass with a 4.9 guest rating. Small groups, big grins.
Families with older children and anyone who likes a muddy adventure
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Premium Rainforest Experience in Ketchikan
A guided tour from Ketchikan into the Tongass National Forest, visiting waterfalls and salmon spawning streams and watching for black bears, eagles and seals along the way. A compact way to see the forest without a long hike.
Visitors short on time who want forest and wildlife
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Ketchikan: Marine Wildlife and Whale Watching Boat Tour
Explore the waters and scenery around Ketchikan by boat, looking for whales, seals, sea lions and eagles. The vessel has covered outdoor seating as well as a cabin, and snacks and drinks are included. Sightings vary from day to day.
Wildlife watchers who prefer a comfortable boat
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From Ketchikan: Potlatch Totem Park and Herring Cove Tour
A guided visit to Potlatch Park to discover the art of totem carving, followed by a stop at Herring Cove to look for wildlife — eagles all season and bears when the salmon are in. One of the lowest-priced tours with transport.
Budget-minded visitors who want totems and a chance of wildlife
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Ketchikan: City Tour, Saxman Village & Salmon Tasting
A guided overview of Ketchikan’s history and landmarks, with a visit to Saxman Native Village to see its famous collection of totem poles and a tasting of smoked salmon. Reviews are more mixed than for other tours, so read the latest before booking.
Visitors who want Saxman and a town overview in one short tour
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Ketchikan: Town Tour, Totem Heritage Center & Trail Hike
A guided tour that combines a narrated drive around Ketchikan with a visit to the Totem Heritage Center and its original 19th-century poles, and a hike on a trail in the Tongass National Forest. Check the product page for the current price and pickup point.
Travellers who want history and a proper walk in the forest
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Ketchikan: Jet Boat Tour with Rainforest Walk & Seafood Boil
A jet boat carries you through the bays and inlets around Ketchikan, followed by a walk on an elevated boardwalk trail through the rainforest and a seafood boil featuring Dungeness crab. Three experiences in under four hours.
Visitors who want water, forest and a meal in one trip
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How to plan around these tours
- One big thing, one small thing: on a typical port day, book a single main excursion of three to five hours and keep the rest for Creek Street and the waterfront, which need no ticket.
- Check where you dock: from the downtown berths most meeting points are a few minutes’ walk. From Ward Cove, add the shuttle ride each way.
- Dress for rain: every tour here runs in wet weather. See what to wear.
- Staying overnight? Take the morning floatplane or bear trip, when conditions are often calmer, and see our hotel picks.