From Cache

Sitka Premium Scenic Tour: Fortress of the Bear, Raptor Center & Totem Village

View rescued brown bears and eagles up close on this premium tour of the Fortress of the Bear, the Alaska Raptor Center, and Totem Village in Sitka.

After a quick shuttle ride into the town of Sitka, guests will begin their small group tour from the Visitor Center. A comfortable and smaller capacity van will transport guests throughout their expedition in Sitka; positioned at the edge of Baranof Island towards the end of the Inside Passage.

A local guide depicts everyday Sitka life on the way to the first stop along this extensive tour, Silver Bay. The stunning beauty of the region reveals itself with every turn of the road south. The van will stop for an incredible photo opportunity along the way and there is always the potential wildlife spotting along the way; eagles, whales, sea lions, and salmon are among the common sightings along this region.

The next stop brings guests to the popular Fortress of the Bears; a naturalized habitat offering visitors opportunities for up-close viewing (within 25 feet!) of local rescued brown bears. Set along the National Forest, the 3/4 acre environment is the largest bear dwelling in North America. Skilled rescuers will share their experience, care and knowledge of a generally feared, yet revered forest dweller. Guests will learn the challenges these rescuers face in the pursuit to protect these amazing creatures.

The intimate small group tour will continue onto the Raptor Center, a 17-acre habitat against the Tongass National Forest and the Indian River; its mission to rehabilitate injured and/or ill birds of prey like hawks, eagles, owls, and falcons. Being the largest rehabilitation center in Alaska, and one of the largest in North America, it takes in between 100 and 200 birds each year. Many of the birds are recovering from gunshot wounds as well as trauma related to traffic incidents. It is the goal of the center to heal and introduce the birds back into the wilderness. Guests will learn about the part of that healing process that focuses on retraining the birds to fly within the expansive flight training center. While birds that can no longer return to the wild are often sent to wildlife centers and zoos throughout the country, a few do remain as permanent guests. Visitors can often view more than two dozen winged inhabitants who aid in the public education mission of the Raptor Center.

Guests will then be transported within their small group to the final stop along the tour and Alaska's oldest national park, Sitka National Historical Park. A stunning stroll through the Tlingit and Haida totem poles among spruce and hemlock trees awaits each guest on the breathtaking coastal trail. Joining a guide on a scenic walk looking out over the Indian River will educate guests on the salmon life cycle, and midseason opportunities to observe spawning. As the tour concludes, guests are given the option of riding back to town with their guide or staying longer and strolling along the beautiful Sea Walk back to town (about a 15-20 minute walk to the ship shuttle).

Duration: 2.5 hours (Roundtrip from downtown Sitka.)

Inclusions:

  • Roundtrip transportation 
  • Entrance and activity fees

Requirements:

  • Due to seat availability and guest safety/comfort, passengers weighing 250 lbs or more should purchase an additional seat to reserve adequate space. 

Duration: 2.5 hours (tour times are approximate)

  • 35 minutes - total transport time to all attractions
  • 40 minutes - Fortress of the bears
  • 40 minutes - Alaska Raptor Center
  • 35 minutes - Sitka National Historical Park.
    • Guests will have a choice to drive back with a guide or stay longer and stroll the Sea walk back to town (a 15-20 minute walk to ship shuttle)

Meeting Instructions:

  • This tour meets downtown, and some guests will need to take a free shuttle. Fully detailed instructions are included on your finalized ticket vouchers. 

ADA Accessibility of Tour:

  • This tour is not wheelchair or limited mobility accessible.

Does the ticket price include admission to the places where this tour stops?

Yes, the ticket price covers all associated entry costs.  

How many passengers does the tour van hold?

The maximum capacity for this tour is 10 guests. If you have more than 10 passengers in your party, multiple vans will provide transportation for your group.

What is the seating arrangement of the tour van?

There is open seating on the tour van, however if you require a certain seat due to a physical impairment then please inform your tour guide.

Will I see any wildlife or bears on this tour?

Wildlife is abundant in Southeast Alaska and sightings are possible on any tour. Bears will be viewable at the Fortress of the Bears stop during the tour.

Are there any age restrictions for children?

There are no age restrictions for this tour.

Can I bring a backpack?

Backpacks, small bags, and purses are allowed on this tour.

Can I bring my own food or drink?

Non-alcoholic beverages in closable containers and snacks are allowed on tour.

Are food and drink included?

No food or drinks are included.

What is the wheelchair accessibility of this excursion?

The transportation van does not have the capacity to accommodate most wheelchairs, collapsible or not, unfortunately. 

Not seeing answers to your questions?

Check out other frequently asked questions here!

Customer Reviews
Sep 2023 - Deborah R.

Excellent excursion. Our ship was late into port and the shuttle buses were behind. They actually called me on the shuttle to let me know they were aware of the delay and they would be waiting!!! Awesome customer service! The coastal brown bears were amazing! They are so large! Very infomative about the eagles and the totems. Definitely recommend this excursion!

Sep 2023 - Chloe K.

We enjoyed this tour very much! To see three different premium locations in two hours was amazing. We saw so many different animals and totem poles, and this was well worth the cost of the tour. Also, our tour guide could not have been better. He was very knowledgeable, kind, and efficient. Would absolutely recommend! Customer service was also very nice to work with as we had to make some last-minute changes!

Sep 2023 - Anne E.

It was a beautiful day. The sun was out and the air was crisp. Our guide Sharon was so very excited to show us all the places on our tour. The raptor and bear sanctuaries were wonderful places to see and learn about the eagles and bears. Sharon shared her knowledge of the flora and fauna in the area as well. Seeing the totems was terrific. She stopped the van a couple of times so we could see an eagle sunning itself and the salmon jumping in the bay. It was a great time.

Sep 2023 - Shawn B.

Great tour with an informative driver.

Sep 2023 - Ronald F.

Knowledgeable guide. Great experiences at each site.

Sep 2023 - Patrick A.

Excellent excursion. Small group and comfortable transportation. Extremely knowledgeable guide and less expensive than booking through cruise line. Highly recommend

Aug 2023 - Pamela G.

Our tour guide was wonderful! He gave us a guided tour as we drove to our destination, then took us to our dock at the end!

Aug 2023 - Lisa S.

Very nice driver showed us and one other family the Raptor Center and cute bears at the Fortress of the Bear. He took photos of our family and we stopped and took photos near the water with beautiful mountains in the background. Really nice relaxing tour.

Aug 2023 - Joshua D.

We had a great time on our tour. Our guide Brett made sure everyone had a good time. My daughter's favorite animal is the Snowy Owl, and when she found out there wasn't one there, Brett found some photos on his phone to share with her. It really made her day!

Aug 2023 - DeAnna S.

We didn't get to spend much time at Totem Village. The Raptor Center was cool. The bears were definitely our favorite. Super cute!

Aug 2023 - Agnieszka D.

We had a wonderful time. Great guide, I learned a lot about Alaska and its beautiful nature.

Aug 2023 - Tara R.

Steven was an amazing tour guide. He promised to avoid the major crowds which he did, he gave us an intimate tour by knowing many locals, and even went out of his way to show us extra scenery and give us a ride back to the ship instead of the shuttle!

Jul 2023 - Karin B.

Great tour! Steve was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot. Working with Alaska Shore Excursions was great! They did everything they said on the website. One of our ports was cancelled and immediately they refunded money without me asking. I would recommend them to everyone they were great!

Jul 2023 - Marie P.

This is a good way to see a bit of Sitka in the few hours that you are in port. Easy to link up with the tour operators. The tour guide was friendly.

Jul 2023 - Alexander M.

Steven was a fantastic guide! His encyclopedic knowledge of the history and the nature of Sitka was very impressive. He made the excursion a very memorable one!

Jun 2023 - Kathleen F.

It was ok. I felt we were stalling time to make it longer... I heard that we missed some of the shows at the places we went to. I guess our tour did not allow these? But our tour guide was lovely..she had a lot of knowledge.

Jun 2023 - Bonnie L.

The driver was particularly attentive. He helped me with my photos and getting in and out of the van. It was a great experience!

Jun 2023 - Sharon F.

It was a good way to see and experience these Sitka attractions. Transportation was clean and efficient. Driver was friendly and knowledgeable. It was a 'one and done' excursion: when we return to Sitka, we will choose something else; but I am glad we went once.

Jun 2023 - Candy A.

Time well spent! Excellent driver, very knowledgeable and friendly. Fortress of the Bear is a relatively quick stop as the bears are rescued in "tanks" but magnificent animals are just the same. The Raptor Center is well managed and presented very well. So cool to see a bald eagle up close! The Sitka Historical Museum is a must see! The tour did not spend enough time there to visit the museum just an easy walk down a path into the rainforest. However, it is a ten-minute walk from the visitor's center back to the museum with lots to see along Harbor Drive.

Jun 2023 - Kimberly K.

Really enjoyed the excursion and the opportunity to see bears up close. Grateful that the orphaned cubs were able to be saved. Learned a lot about the beautiful eagles and other birds at the raptor center.

Jun 2023 - Candace F.

I liked the tour but my husband said it was like going to a zoo. He wanted to see animals in the wild. The tour guide was very informative, and there was plenty of time to enjoy each place.

Jun 2023 - Catherine Q.

It was nice. The Totem Village was spectacular. Definitely worth the trip. The Bear and Raptor Center was nothing special. About the same as you could see at the Bronx Zoo without the extra miles.

May 2023 - Marisol I.

Amazing must-do!!! Our tour guide was so knowledgeable. Gave us some good history along the way to all our sites. Answered all of our questions!! He was just fabulous. This is a good excursion if you want to see nature at different spots while relaxing. Absolutely loved this one.

Sep 2022 - Eno F.

The bear and raptor rehab centers were very informative, and the Totem Village/park was beautiful.

Sep 2022 - Kelli P.

We loved this excursion. Our shuttle driver was very knowledgeable. All the wildlife was just the cutest! My boyfriend and I were excited to watch the salmon spawning, something we'd never seen before. We hiked along the trails to see all the totems. I would definitely recommend this excursion to anyone going to Sitka.

Sep 2022 - Sandra S.

It was good to see that native animals were being protected and preserved. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and courteous.

Sep 2022 - John S.

We had a great experience touring the bear rescue and raptor centres with a fantastic guide, Chris. A very personable and knowledgeable guide who made sure we got the most out of our tour. Unfortunately, due to poor weather, we were unable to spend any time at the Totem village.

Sep 2022 - Diana F.

Good tour with Darrell! Got to see a lot in a short amount of time. Would have preferred less time at the harbor and more time at the locations -especially the Raptor Center that felt really rushed. But learned a lot about Sitka and had an enjoyable visit.

Jul 2022 - Alice S.

The tour was very enjoyable. We liked that it was a small group and the tour guide was very knowledgeable!

Jul 2022 - Susan M.

This tour was the highlight of my trip. I can't say enough about my tour guide, the owners or the tour itself. If you want to see eagles up close, this is your chance!

Jul 2022 - Susan M.

I highly recommend this tour as our guide Chris was outstanding. He was knowledgeable as well as personable. We saw amazing Alaskan wildlife in the rescue centres. The totem walk at the end was informative!

Jul 2022 - Kimberly W.

This was an amazing tour! Our guide was very knowledgeable, and shared so much about the town. We loved the Fortress of the Bear and Raptor Center. Totem Village was so beautiful. Thanks for a wonderful tour!

Jul 2022 - Robert R.

Due to problems with the cruise line, we missed the start of the excursion. We met the owner of the local operation who, unasked, drove us in her personal vehicle to join the tour. That was amazing!

Jul 2022 - Timothy F.

I appreciated the small group aspect of the tour. The stops were pretty short, but plenty of time for the Fortress of the Bear and Raptor Center, because there isn't a lot to see there anyway. I was a little upset that the Totem Village didn't include more than the totem next to the parking lot. I thought we would have seen more.

Jul 2022 - Emily G.

This excursion was absolutely amazing from the eagle fortress to the bear sanctuary. The tour guide was awesome and gave us a detailed description of all the places we went to and even stopped at an additional place.

Jun 2022 - Kelly R.

Our tour guide Vaughn was very knowledgeable and really fun. We had a great day even in the rain.

Jun 2022 - Wendy B.

Excellent company to use. Everyone was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable!

Jun 2022 - Ashley E.

This was the perfect tour of Sitka! Our tour guide Melissa was amazing. She showed us the best photo spots, told us everything we could want to know about the Bears and Raptors and even took us through a different part of Totem Village where we caught live crabs with our hands. I cannot recommend this tour enough! Thank you Melissa for helping us make so many great memories!

Jun 2022 - Priti G.

I'd definitely highly recommend this excursion! Tour guide was knowledgeable and took his time explaining everything! Thank you!

May 2022 - Keren V.

Our guide was amazing - tailored the time for our group, great stories. Up close & personal with bears! She took us to great scenic photo stops- some of the best on our cruise. Thank you!

May 2022 - David P.

A great tour with Wendy our guide. Hit all the highlights and not rushed. The small group is a bonus. Plus, a wonderful restaurant recommendation.

May 2022 - Jason G.

Our tour guide Wendy was great, sharing her story, love of Sitka, and also a realistic sense of everyday life in Southeastern Alaska during the ride. Fortress of the Bear (a rehab / home for 5 orphaned brown bears and 3 orphaned black bears who cannot be rereleased) and the park surrounding the totem village were both really engaging, though the totems weren't particularly special. A stop along silver fjord (or silver bay or something) was our one whale sighting of the whole trip (3 spouts, but sadly no breeching or tails or even backs were seen). The Raptor Center was mostly Bald Eagles, which would have been more engaging had we not seen so many on our two marine tours. Nice that as time was running short Wendy returned us straight to the dock rather than to downtown from whence we'd have needed a (free but long wait) shuttle.

Sep 2021 - David W.

wonderful time and really appreciate the small size of the tour group. this tour hit all the highlights of Sitka without sacrificing space or time. outstanding

Sep 2021 - Marianne L.

Our guide was very professional and answered all our questions. Loved this tour and would highly recommend to others. The small van was perfect!

Aug 2021 - Nancy J.

Highly recommend. It was everything the description said it would be. Saw lots of wildlife and really enjoyed the history, stories and information about the totem poles. Best of the best as far as tours we ve taken in Alaska (our fifth trip).

Oct 2019 - Deborah S.

Lindsay was a fabulous guide and companion on this day. She has so much to share and does it in such a friendly and compelling manner.

Sep 2019 - Melissa S.

This tour was amazing. Our tour guide was super friendly and very funny. Absolutely loved the fortress of the bears and the whole tour was very accommodating for my family ( I was traveling with my three and four year old daughters) would highly recommend for adults and families alike.

Sep 2019 - Helen M.

Fantastic excursion with our guide Maria. Would recommend this tour as it was well organised & very informative. The raptor element of the tour could have been given a bit more time but seeing the rescued bears at the fortress was wonderful! Overall the tour was thoroughly enjoyable!

Sep 2019 - Susan L.

The tour with guide, Maria, was great. Wish we had more time to spend in Sitka to shop and tour the totem museum, although the video presentation gave me better understanding of the indigenous people of Alaska.. The lecture at the Raptor preserve was very informative and to see Brown bears being cared for was just in line with my views on preservation of wildlife.

Sep 2019 - Connie B.

We had a wonderful tour guide, Becky. She was just full of great information about Alaska and especially about Sitka, as she was born and raised there. We so enjoyed the eagles, bears and the hike to the river teeming with salmon swimming upstream. Then she was kind enough to trnspot us back to the pier. Simply superb!!

Sep 2019 - Terry M.

Our tour director, DeAnna was amazing. She was raised in Sitka and was very informative. Loved the tour!

Sep 2019 - Lori L.

How much can we say we loved this tour? So very much. Maria was the guide and was excellent. Raptor centre and the Totem village were great. Maria's knowledge and hike around the village were excellent, salmon spawning, the neatest thing we've seen and totally unexpected, with bears on the brain:) Fortress of the Bears-we had to be dragged out, what a beautiful idea, instead of euthanizing the orphaned cubs, raise them and educate the people who love nature. Sorry Maria, you had to pull us out, but we did also stop for a beautiful photo on the way back to town. Best tour on the trip we took, due in part to what we saw and our guide, down to earth, fun and her love of what she does, high five Maria!

Aug 2019 - Elizabeth M.

Fantastic tour.. Linsay was the best tour guide you could have! Great information from a local woman that was informative, sweet snd kind to all travelers. This was one of the best tours we ever took and the price was much better than from the ship. There is no reason to fear the local tours, they are professional and will get you back to your ship on time! Thanks Linsay for making it a great tour!

Aug 2019 - Susan C.

Very informative guide and great experiences. Particularly loved the totem poles and walk.

Aug 2019 - Dennis B.

Incredible tour guide! Friendly, informative and made the experience even better. A great opportunity to see Alaska's wildlife in a controlled environment.

Aug 2019 - Chris S.

This was a great trip! Fun and energetic guide that helped us see a lot of wildlife and learn a lot about Sitka - a must do addition to your holiday!

Aug 2019 - Alan R.

Our tour guide/driver was amazing. She was very informative!

Jul 2019 - Victor W.

The raptor centre was awesome. Seeing those majestic birds up close was amazing. Glad there is a place set up to help get the injured birds back up and flying and back into the wild.

Jul 2019 - Deborah N.

The respect and care off the wildlife of Alaska is on view here. It was wonderful. Our guide, a salmon fisher woman, shared with us her knowledge of Alaska

Jul 2019 - Connie L.

Our family enjoyed the Sitka tour. Sitka is a lovely city and our tour guide was very knowledgeable. This was our only time seeing Bears while in Alaska and the Fortress of the Bears does a great job with the orphaned cubs. We loved seeing the bald eagles up close in the Rapter Center. The totem village park was serene and beautiful!

Jul 2019 - Nick S.

This was a great tour. We met the owners at the tour depot area, who were very nice and knowledgeable. Our driver was exceptionally nice, but She seemed to lose track of time easily causing the most interesting parts of the tour (Fortress of the bear, Raptor Center and Totems) to get cut very short. We had 20 minutes at each of these when we should have spent more time there. Our tour started with a harbor view from the opposite end of town that, in my option, could have been cut out to spend more time at the other places. That said, our guide was extremely nice and knowledgeable having grown up on the local area. She knew everyone, and the Totems, Bears, and Raptors were all awesome!! (just could have used more time at each)

Jul 2019 - Allison M.

Good tour of the bears and raptor center. Our guide was knowledgeable about the general area of Sitka. We didn t get to see the full totem village as we had to get back on our cruise ship.

Jul 2019 - Christina S.

We loved this excursion, especially Totem Park. Our guide, Deanna, was amazing and really knew the history of her city. Loved the small size of our group. It was intimate and relaxed. Far better than large, hurried groups.

Jul 2019 - Carol B.

Great tour of the first two exhibits. I would skip Totem Village though.

Jul 2019 - Malcolm B.

This was a good trip but slightly disappointed with the Bear fortress which was still under refurbishment. Raptor centre was made very interesting by the on site guide. Our trip guide was a very enthusiastic lady who provided us with plenty of information of interest throughout the trip. A lovely little walk along a forest trail leading to the beach to finish the trip.

Jul 2019 - Crystal R.

Our tour guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. The service was wonderful. Would use again when we return. Thank you,

Jul 2019 - Keith O.

We thoroughly enjoyed this tour. An excellent tour guide ensured we had plenty of time at the Fortress of the Bears, Raptor Center and the Totem Village. She was very informative and knowledgable

Jul 2019 - Christine M.

Our guide was the best. She is very knowledgeable and sincere. We enjoyed the varied aspects of the trip.

Jul 2019 - Michael W.

This was a 2 and a half hour tour. There were 8 family members and 2 others. Our guide was patient, answering lots of questions, and pointing out various things of interest. We did the afternoon tour which was much quieter than the morning. Easy company to book with, and quick to answer any questions and add an extra passenger. Far nicer in a 10 seater van than a huge bus!!!

Jun 2019 - Narda V.

Raptor Center was excellent--their tour guide provided background information on all the raptors and whether or not they could be released into the wild.

Jun 2019 - Eric D.

Excellent. Our guide was terrific.

Jun 2019 - Michelle P.

Great tour. Maria our tour guide was awesome and very knowledgeable. The fortress of the bears was great to be able to see the bears in a more natural habitat than a zoo where you have to look thru glass and try to find them. The Raptor Center was great to see some Eagles and other birds up close and see what they are doing to help get some of them back into the wild. Totem Village was very interesting, got to see a Eagles nest in the trees. Saw several flying around on this trip. Definitely recommend.

Jun 2019 - Laura D.

Guide was good spending just enough time at right places. Was very attentive to the kids in the group. We were a private group which gave us additional flexibility. Raptor Center was definitely a great stop, Bears while neat, very similar to zoo experience.

Jun 2019 - Martin J.

Had a lovely time, our host was knowledgeable and pleasant. The venues were good even though the Bear Kingdom is being extended.

Sep 2018 - Charles P.

Totally worthwhile and educational tour. Our guide was Tlingit Indian and very well versed in the culture and arts of her people. The Fortress of the Bears is a great facility, dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of injured bears, with a population of several recovering Alaska Brown Bears that you can observe close up. The Raptor Center was a similar experience, with several bald and golden eagles and other recovering birds of prey. Totem Village has a wonderful museum of native Alaskan carved poles and panels. All in all, a great value among shore excursions. Book directly through Alaska-shoreexcursions.com and take advantage of the savings. Their tour buses are clean and comfortable and tour sizes are moderate. We would definitely use them again.

Sep 2018 - David S.

Amazing tour. So much cool stuff to see

Sep 2018 - Patsy F.

What a great day! Akaacheq (sp?) was our tour guide, and she couldn

Sep 2018 - Elzelina G.

Really enjoyed this tour. Our tourguide was the best....cant think if her name but she drove van # 1.

Aug 2018 - Shirl G.

Delightful. Very impressed and grateful for the good work being done at these centers. Our tour guide was terrific. As a native, she was particularly insightful which made the tour all the more meaningful for us.

Aug 2018 - Gina M H.

Great tour

Aug 2018 - Phil G.

Excellent trip. Maria the guide was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The trip includes close encounters with both bears and birds of prey and is well worth doing.

Jul 2018 - Mark C.

Really enjoyed seeing the efforts to take care of these animals that can't be returned to the wild. Maria was a fantastic guide, sharing with us her experiences of being born and raised in Sitka

Jun 2018 - Edward D.

Guide was terrific. We really enjoyed our time.

Jun 2018 - Antonio S.

Maria made our experience in Sitka very rewarding. She made us feel very welcome and comfortable. Her passion about her work and her home is so beautiful. Maria is a beautiful person and a great asset to your company, she made sure we had a wonderful experience. Thank you Maria!!

Jun 2018 - Catherine M.

great tour!

Jun 2018 - Graeme C.

One of the best experiences ever! Particularly as we were in a small group so able to spend plenty of time at this facility with ample photo opportunities.

BEST PRICE Guarantee!

$89.00

BEST PRICE Guarantee!

Duration: 2.5 hours



Number of Passengers *

Adult: $89.00

Child (12 and under): $89.00

Total
$0.00
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