2-Hour Private Ketchikan Tour: Wildlife & Custom Stops

Two hours to see what matters most to you in Ketchikan

A two-hour private tour of Ketchikan where you and your group (up to 14 people) choose the focus: wildlife viewing, historical sites, or both. The guide customizes the route to your interests, covering Creek Street, Tongass National Forest, Dolly's House Museum, and the Port of Ketchikan. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with pickup included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each4 stops

1. Port of Ketchikan2h
2. Creek Streetpassing by
3. Tongass National Forestpassing by
4. Dolly's House Museumpassing by

Custom private tour of Ketchikan

• Discuss tour focus with guide
• Visit historical sights and totem poles
• View wildlife like black bears and deer
• Hike in Tongass National Forest
• Walk beaches and see waterfalls
• Explore Creek Street
• Visit Dolly's House Museum

The experience

The tour starts at the Port of Ketchikan and moves through the island on your terms. If wildlife is what you came for, the guide focuses on black bears, black-tailed Sitka deer, humpback whales, orca, bald eagles, mountain goats and sheep. If history draws you, Creek Street and Dolly's House Museum anchor the route. Most tours blend both: a hike into Tongass National Forest, beach walks, waterfalls, and the chance to spot animals as they appear.

Because Ketchikan Custom Tours owns and operates the company, every tour is built fresh. You tell the guide what matters to you before you start, and the route shifts to match. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the group stays under 14 people, so there's room to move and ask questions. Two hours is tight enough to keep the pace steady but long enough to get beyond the cruise-ship stops.

Pickup is included, and the guide speaks English. If you have a specific site in mind (a particular viewpoint, a salmon run, a totem pole collection), mention it when you book and the guide will work it in if the timing allows.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle.
• live English-speaking guide.
• pickup from your hotel or meeting point.

Information

Lasts 2h, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 750 per group, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate5 group tours ›

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Book up to1h before

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ketchikan Custom Tours

Is this one for you?Two hours leaves room for one main focus (wildlife, history, or a sampling of both), but not a deep dive into everything Ketchikan holds. Book this if you're docked for the afternoon or have a morning free and want a guide who knows where the animals are and the stories behind the sites, without spending a full day on the island.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

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Top questions

What wildlife might I actually see on this tour?

Black bears, black-tailed Sitka deer, humpback whales, orca, bald eagles, mountain goats and sheep all live in the Ketchikan area and appear on tours depending on the season and where the guide takes you. The guide knows where to look and will adjust the route if sightings are active that day.

Can I ask the guide to focus on history instead of wildlife?

Yes. The tour is fully customizable, so if you want to spend the two hours on historical sights, totem poles, and Ketchikan's past, tell the guide before you start and that becomes the route. You can also ask for a mix of both.

What is Tongass National Forest and will we hike there?

Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the United States and surrounds Ketchikan. Many tours include a hike into it, though the guide will confirm what's realistic within your two-hour window and adjust based on your fitness and interests.

Does the two hours include travel time to and from my hotel?

Pickup is included in the tour, so the guide will collect you from your hotel or meeting point. The two-hour tour time typically begins after pickup, though confirm the exact schedule when you book.

How many people can fit in the vehicle?

The tour accommodates up to 14 people in one air-conditioned vehicle, so families and small groups travel together without splitting up.