Private Group Tour Ketchikan: Totem Parks & Indigenous Culture

Build your own route through Ketchikan's totems, creeks and native villages

A private group tour in Ketchikan for up to 11 passengers, customized on the day with your guide to match what your group wants to see. The itinerary includes Totem Bight State Historical Park, Saxman Native Village, Creek Street and the city's wildlife areas, with stops at the Salmon Ladder when the fish are running. Your guide specializes in the Indigenous cultures of Southeast Alaska and will adjust the route, pace and stops to fit your group's interests and fitness level.

Step-by-step itinerary

Personalized Ketchikan Private Tour

• Visit Totem Bight State Historical Park
• Explore Historic City Park of Ketchikan
• Stop at wildlife sanctuary for bear viewing
• Walk along World Famous Creek Street
• Pass by Saxman Native Village
• City Loop History and Salmon Ladder stop
• Leisurely hiking and walking

The Experience

The tour starts with pickup and a conversation between you and your guide about what matters to your group. Totem Bight State Historical Park anchors the day: the guide walks you through the carved poles and explains their stories. From there, the route branches: Saxman Native Village, the historic City Park, Creek Street's boardwalks, or a wildlife viewing stop in a sanctuary where bears sometimes appear (no guarantee, but the guide knows the patterns). The guide also stops at the Salmon Ladder when the fish are moving upstream, a detail that changes the whole mood of that part of the day.

Walking and hiking are built into the pace, but the guide adjusts for your group. If someone moves slowly or needs to sit more, the route accommodates it. If your group wants to linger at one spot or skip another, that conversation happens before you leave. The three-hour window gives you time to move without rushing, and the guide's knowledge of Southeast Alaska's Indigenous cultures means the stops carry real context instead of just views.

Pickup is included, and the tour works for all ages: infants can ride in a stroller, and specialized infant seats are available. Collapsible wheelchairs fit in the vehicle, and the guide can assist but is not required to load or unload. The price covers all fees and taxes for up to 11 passengers. If your group is larger, contact the operator about adding more.

What’s included

• Pickup from your location.
• three hours with a guide who speaks English and knows Southeast Alaska's Indigenous cultures.
• stops at Totem Bight State Historical Park, Saxman Native Village, Creek Street and the city's wildlife viewing areas.
• a stop at the Salmon Ladder when the fish are running.
• all fees and taxes for up to 11 passengers.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ketchikan Native Tours: Totem Parks, Rainforest Hike, Wildlife Sightseeing

Is this one for you?The tour runs at a leisurely walking pace and the guide adjusts stops and timing on the day, so mixed-age groups and families with young children and older adults can move together without anyone feeling rushed or left behind. If your group wants to control what you see instead of following a fixed itinerary, this is the one to book.

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Top questions

What exactly is at Totem Bight State Historical Park that we'll see on this tour?

Totem Bight holds carved totem poles that tell stories of the Indigenous peoples of Southeast Alaska. Your guide walks you through the park and explains the meaning and history of the poles, which is the core of what makes this stop personal instead of just a photo stop.

Can we really see bears on this tour, or is that just something they say?

The wildlife viewing stop is in a sanctuary where bears do appear, especially in season, but the operator cannot guarantee sightings. It depends on the day and the time of year. The guide knows where bears are most likely to be and watches for them, but wildlife viewing is never certain.

How much walking and hiking should we expect during the three hours?

The tour includes leisurely hiking and walking, but the pace is not fixed. Your guide adjusts the amount of walking based on what your group can do, so you control how much ground you cover and how long you spend at each stop.

Is this tour good for families with young children and older adults in the same group?

Yes. The tour is built for all physical fitness levels, and the guide customizes the stops and pace to fit mixed-age groups. Infants travel in strollers or specialized seats, and the walking is leisurely enough that older adults can participate without strain.

What is Saxman Native Village, and what do we do there?

Saxman Native Village is a stop on the tour where you see and learn about the Indigenous communities of Southeast Alaska. Your guide specializes in the deep routes of these cultures, so the visit carries real context beyond the visual.

If we want to skip one of the stops or spend more time at another, can we change the plan on the day?

Yes. This is a customized tour, and your guide talks to you one on one on the day to secure a route that fits your group. If you want to adjust stops, pace or timing once you start, the guide works with that.