Ketchikan is a guest favorite cruise ship destination, and for good reason. There’s a huge variety of ways to experience the area. You can explore by land, sea, or air. Here are a few of my favorite excursions that I’ve experienced firsthand:
It’s hard to describe the experience of seeing Misty Fjords National Monument for the first time. It is unbelievably beautiful. It almost feels like flying over a fantasy world, like something out of Lord of the Rings. During the flight, you see tall rocky cliffs surrounding narrow fjords, along with acres and acres of evergreen rainforest. One of my favorite parts was getting to see the massive waterfalls from the air.
The tour includes a water landing within Misty Fjords, and getting to watch your pilot expertly land on an alpine lake is a really cool experience, especially if you’ve never been in a floatplane before. During the landing stop, we were able to get out of the plane and explore the area. Our pilot was also happy to take some great photos of us, which was a nice bonus.
This is one of my favorite tours to recommend, especially for groups with a wide range of ages and ability levels. It’s a Zodiac raft tour through the intertidal areas around Ketchikan, so you get a really exciting experience without it being particularly strenuous.
Before boarding the Zodiac, we were provided with high quality rain gear and waterproof boots. These kept me totally warm and dry on a cooler day, which I really appreciated.
Our crew included a Zodiac captain and a trained naturalist who talked to us about the unique ecology of Southeast Alaska. We got to see and touch starfish, jellyfish, and sea anemones in the onboard touch tank. We also spotted sea lions, seals, porpoises, and even a humpback whale breaching.
One of my favorite parts was when our naturalist pulled a huge piece of bull kelp out of the water and cut off pieces for us to taste. It was very salty and had the texture of an apple!
I enjoy being outdoors, but I’m not an avid hiker, and I felt like this was a great tour for me. The first portion was a 1.5 mile hike through Tongass National Forest with some slight inclines and stairs.
The trail was quiet, well maintained, and gorgeous. I especially liked the boardwalk overlooking two waterfalls and the stop at a small beach where the forest meets the ocean. Our guide even showed us how to find the perfect rocks for skipping across the water.
After the hike, we visited Totem Bight State Historical Park, where our guide explained the stories and history behind the Tlingit and Haida totems. We also got to walk inside the park’s clan house.
Our guide was excellent throughout the tour, and on the way back to the dock, he gave us some delicious locally baked cookies to try. Definitely a nice way to end the day.
I was a bit nervous about this one since it was my first time on an ATV, but our guides did a great job making sure everyone knew what to do before we headed out.
We followed our guide through the backcountry trails using the GPS screen in the ATV. The trails are rugged and bumpy, but we kept a comfortable pace that gave us plenty of time to enjoy the scenery. About halfway through the 90 minute experience, we stopped at a scenic overlook with an incredible view of Tongass National Forest and the Behm Canal.
My friend drove the first part of the tour, and after the break, it was my turn to take the wheel. It was so much fun and definitely a new experience for me. As a bonus, your helmet is outfitted with a camera, and you have the option to purchase the footage from your trip.
By Denise | Alaska Shore Excursions
Denise is the Assistant Customer Service Manager at Alaska Shore Excursions and has been with the company for five cruise seasons. With a passion for customer service and firsthand experience with ASE excursions, she knows a thing or two about finding a great Alaska adventure.
Mendenhall Glacier
Whale Watching
Dog Sledding
Salmon Bake
Helicopter
Kid-Friendly
Kayak
Adventure
Train
Yukon
Rafting
Misty Fjords National Monument
Boat
Fishing
Bear & Wildlife
Animal & Wildlife
