Meet with your skilled local guide at the Harrigan Centennial Hall as you climb aboard a full-sized passenger van heading south down along Silver Bay. Your guide will point out local flora and fauna such as bald eagles or Sitka Black Tail Deer.
Your first stop on your Journey will be at The Fortress of the Bears. This non-profit facility is home to 7 native bear rescues, 4 of which are Coastal Brown Bears and 3 Black Bears. You will get within 25 feet of these native giants and listen to their stories of hardship and recovery.
After you spend time with our bears, you will head over to The Alaskan Raptor Center. This rehabilitation center for birds of prey is home to multiple species of eagles and owls. Make sure to check out the famous Flight Training Center where you can see bald eagles regaining their skills of flight, well on their way to recovery and release back to the wild.
The grand finale of this tour is a stop at the Sitka National Historical Park. This protected stretch of rainforest is a historical piece of land due to its collection of totem poles, the 19th century battle of the Sheeta Kwan Kiksadi Clan, and the gorgeous cultural center with onsite interpreters. Here you can choose to walk along the winding trails and paths, admire the totem poles, learn all about the occupation of Russian American troops, or inspect the exhibits and demonstrations about carving, fur, beading, and metalworking.
Duration: 2 hours (Roundtrip transportation)
Inclusions:
- Roundtrip transportation
- Admission to Fortress of the Bears
- Admission to Alaska Raptor Center
Duration: 2 hours. Tour times below are approximate:
- 30~40 minutes - roundtrip narrated scenic drive
- 30 minutes - at the Fortress of the Bears
- 30 minutes - at the Alaska Raptor Center
- 30 minutes - at the Sitka National Historical Park
Meeting Instructions:
- This tour meets in front of the Harrigan Centennial Hall. Fully detailed instructions are included on your finalized ticket vouchers.
ADA Accessibility of Tour:
- This tour is not wheelchair or scooter accessible. We can accommodate a foldable walker and we offer a step stool for easy access in and out of our vehicles. Please leave a comment during checkout if accommodations for a foldable walker and a stool will be required on 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 a closeable containters and snacks are allowed on tour.
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Check out other frequently asked questions here!
Customer Reviews
May 2023 - Desiree K.
The tour was good but a little rushed. I would have liked to have a bit more time at the Fortress of the Bears and The Raptor Centre. I did enjoy seeing the bears and Bald Eagles though they were amazing. Alaska Shore Excursions were excellent to deal with. I would not hesitate to book through them again.
May 2023 - Gregg R.
Loved seeing everything in Sitka. Really great. The bird sanctuary and bear sanctuary was really great to see.
Sep 2022 - Angelina T.
Very prompt and responsive - the shuttle from the boat was delayed but they still worked with me to get me on the last van! Super nice tour guide who clearly is passionate about Sitka. Loved seeing so many eagles and bears up close - had plenty of time to spend at both centers. Lovely walk through the forest at the National Historic Park with a stop at a stream to see salmon spawning!
Sep 2022 - Dione S.
Guide had good knowledge of Sitka. Enjoyed the raptor center!
Sep 2022 - Cheryl K.
Excellent tour! Friendly, knowledgable guides, and they were in sync with the cruise ship itineraries. Better than any of the land excursions offered by the cruise.
Sep 2022 - PATTI A.
Tour guide Mike was great. He let us juggle our time a little, so we could spend a little more time at Fortress of the bears..which was wonderful. He was very knowledgeable and informative. Money well spent.
Aug 2022 - Michael O.
Easy and fun excursion. Our tour guide was informative and never made us feel rushed. I feel it was a good value too!
Jul 2022 - Gary R.
This was also a great tour. Best part was seeing the American Eagle and Bears sanctuary! Tour guide Fay was very nice, knowledgeable and provided good insight on each of the places visited during tour!
Jul 2022 - Sarah C.
We had a great tour guide, and really enjoyed the tour. It was great to have a small group going from place to place, especially compared to the big buses we saw.
Jun 2022 - Kevin S.
We had a great time on our tour and loved how easy it was to set it up and the tremendous organization and communication from the excursion team. We saw eagles and bears on the tour and felt like we got a great overview of the Sitka area and its wildlife. Thanks again!
