Cruising into the port at Ketchikan, Alaska? A local guide is waiting to take you away from the ship's crowds, on a private tour of Ketchikan.

Find the perfect tour in your guide's suggested itineraries, or design your own Ketchikan tour and experience the best of this wildly beautiful region with a friendly and knowledgeable ToursByLocals guide.

Ketchikan

Ketchikan: a Wee Place Between the Sea and the Mountains

There is so much to see and do in Ketchikan you might decide to come back again. Then you might decide to stay. I did!

Everything I love is here: Snow-covered mountains and vast temperate rain forests full of huge trees, birds, and animals. Deer, wolves, bears, eagles, whales, salmon, and halibut. I mean -- how could I not love this place?

I would delight in showing it to you and telling you all about it.

Ketchikan also includes a huge ancient native tradition. Totem poles, woodcarvers, weavers, and dancers. My wife weaves and I myself am an amateur carver. I will show you my hand-forged carving tools, and demonstrate their use. And I can show you the work of some of the greatest carvers living today.

Ketchikan is a small town, with an active arts community, and a long, and often amusing history.

I will show you a wee bit of all of these things that I hold dear to my heart or we can concentrate on the things that interest you!

***Norwegian Cruise Line Passengers Please see note in Itinerary below***

Guide permits, Park access fees, museum fees, and access fees.

On a recent tour we found some minature dogwood...

a wee bear... (well, maybe not so wee)...

and many more things (including this wee Junco).

Another Great Family (not on tour, in my backyard)

Totem poles, mountains, forests, salmon, wildlife, art & History in Ketchikan. What's not to love?

Ketchikan Historical Walking Tour with a Local

With hundreds of years of Alaska Native history, and roughly 150 years of modern development, Ketchikan has many stories that shape local and statewide history. I will walk you through town, and time, as we talk about the events that shaped today's Ketchikan, and what is in store for our future.

We'll touch on the industries that contributed to the establishment of our town, and the money makers that sustain us today. You will see the sites of scandal, with a visit to Dolly's House Museum, a brothel from Ketchikan's early days, and see the fishing fleet that put us on the map as the Salmon Capital of the World. I will show you how her family thrived here through adaptation and inspiration as fishermen, loggers, and artists.

Tour includes visits to Dolly's House Museum and the Ketchikan Historical Museum.

Dolly's House Museum
Ketchikan Historical Museum

Learn how this unlikely coastal town became the Ketchikan you see today

Ketchikan Walking Tour: A Walk into Southeast Alaska History

One of the things I really love about Ketchikan is that you can see a whole bunch of nature and history on an easy walk around the "Old Town. " There are some great old totem poles, and some more modern poles done by today's greatest carvers. There is Thomas Basin Harbor.

There are salmon leaping over the rapids, or climbing up the fish ladder. Often you see eagles, and seals chasing the salmon. Songbirds, dippers, and swallows skim the surface of the water. There is the historic "red light district" with colorful houses built on pylons into the creek. The is a beautiful park, a museum, and the Tongass Heritage center, which preserves some really old totem poles, and examples of native art.

Join me!

Historic Creek Street (the Red Light District)

...just try to match the pole -- all lean to the right a wee bit...

Frog/Raven Steals Sun & Moon by Isreal Shotridge

Experience the wonders of Ketchikan all within an easy walk from your ship on this Ketchikan excursion tour!

There are many things that constitute a quintessential Alaskan life… rugged individualism, self reliance, survival instincts, and resourcefulness, just to name a few. Throughout time, Ketchikan has been home to various and sundry Alaskans that fit this profile and prove, without a doubt, that Alaskans are made from tougher stuff.

The Alaska Life Tour takes you into the lives and times of these Alaskans. As we walk through town, I will regale you with stories and demonstrations of the Alaskan life as we know it through our experiences, and as we've learned it from other Alaskans.

Tour is guided by Scarlet and Quinn, Alaskan Huskies with a love for visitors and socializing!

Learn how locals thrive in this walking tour

The Alaska Life Tour (for Dog Lovers)

The Spirit of Totem Bight -- Out of Ketchikan

There is an ancient tradition of totem pole carving in Ketchikan and Southeast Alaska. The tradition still lives and thrives. There are a number of poles in Ketchikan. And Totem Bight, a state park north of town, has about 30 beautiful poles, and a reproduction of a traditional clan house which we can enter. You can soak up the atmosphere of the clan house, while I tell you ancient stories.

I will show the poles to you, and explain how they are carved. I am an amateur carver myself, and can show you my self-forged tools. I know, and am familiar with the work of many of the best modern carvers. Some, I can recognize from the distinctive adzing, the cut-marks of their tools. I have been a story-teller all my life, and I will delight in telling you some of the stories that lie behind the figures in the wood.

Totem Bight also contains pretty walks through the Tongass Forest, nice examples of some of the local flora, and magnificent examples of SE Alaska trees.

Raven Steals Sun and Moon Totem Pole by Isreal Shotridge

Raven and Fog Woman Totem Pole Downtown Ketchikan

Fog Woman Detail (c) Robin Cole, used with permission

The Dangers of Alchohol Dancing Mask Ketchikan Museum

Totem Heritage Center -- some really old poles

Korean guides re-telling story he heard from Cruin in Clanhouse at Totem Bight

Stoneskin Rips Apart Sea Lion -- Clanhouse Pole, Totem Bight by Nathan Jackson

Fog Woman ((c) Robin Cole, used with her permission)

Totem poles, clan house, native art, symbols, myths and stories

I will be your own personal guide to the locally created, harvested, and designed treasures that are abundant in Ketchikan. Get out of the traps and into the genuine local shops of this artist's town.

Ketchikan is full of talented artists and local specialists. I can help you locate the creations that call to you. Native artists, carvers, and jewelers abound. Creative photographers, painters, sculptors, and authors are around every corner. Learn about our art and culture as you make your way through your favorite shops. I know just where to go for your specific interests, and I can take you to the best places to find your piece of Ketchikan.

Creek Street entrance looking towards Ketchikan Historical Museum

Public art displays on Water Street Promenade

Chief Kyan Totem Pole, Downtown Ketchikan

Access locally-made treasures and take home a piece of Ketchikan

Shop Like A Local Walking Tour

Ketchikan: (extended) a Wee Place Between the Sea and the Mountains

There is so much to see and do in Ketchikan you might decide to come back again. Then you might decide to stay. I did!

Everything I love is here: Snow-covered mountains and vast temperate rain forests full of huge trees, birds, and animals. Deer, wolves, bears, eagles, whales, salmon, and halibut. I mean -- how could I not love this place?

I would delight in showing it to you and telling you all about it.

Ketchikan also includes a huge ancient native tradition. Totem poles, woodcarvers, weavers, and dancers. My wife weaves and I myself am an amateur carver. I will show you my hand-forged carving tools, and demonstrate their use. And I can show you the work of some of the greatest carvers living today.

Ketchikan is a small town, with an active arts community, and a long, and often amusing history.

I will show you a wee bit of all of these things that I hold dear to my heart or we can concentrate on the things that interest you!

***Norwegian Cruise Line Passengers Please see note in Itinerary below

Ketchikan - A Live Virtual Walk into Alaska Pioneer History

I love Ketchikan. I think it is the only place in the world where you can see the ocean, snow-capped mountains, deep forests, totem poles, and colorful old wooden bawdy houses built on pylons into a beautiful creek. In the fall the Creek is full of big fat salmon. Fat seals swim right up the Creek to chase the salmon, eagles swoop down on them, and sometimes, if we are lucky, we catch a glimpse of a bear.

The totem poles are fantastically carved, in an elegant art tradition that goes back thousands of years, and tell stories that go back to the beginning of time. I can gaze on the old wooden brothels and imagine what it was like when every house had one or two ladies who entertained fishermen, prospectors, gamblers, and gunmen.

Let me take you on a live outdoor virtual tour of my town, and show you what it is like now, and give you a glimpse into what it must have been like 100 years ago.

An Outdoor Live Virtual Tour live streamed by me from Ketchikan using live video-conferencing software.

There is a tale about this tail and the moon (I'll tell you on the tour)

I love old poles that are weathered, unfortunately, it is not great for the pole, so it is good that we clean them every now and again

Married men caught sneaking into Creek Street the back way -- along Married Man's Trail

One of the most famous residents of Creek Street

Great Totem -- I lived up those stairs once

As it is and as it was | An outdoor live virtual tour, streamed from the streets of Ketchikan

The Spirit in the Wood -- Ketchikan Totem poles and Northwest Coast Native Art

Southeast Alaska traditional art still lives and thrives here in Ketchikan. As well as totem poles all over town. The Totem Heritage Center maintains the oldest poles under controlled air and humidity. Ketchikan has a number of master carvers, reproducing old poles and working traditional form-line design into some unique and beautiful modern designs.

I am an amateur carver myself I can show you some of my self-forged tools. I know many of the best modern carvers and am very familiar with their work. Some I can even recognize from the distinctive adzing, the cut-marks left by their tools.

The poles are covered in symbols and faces, and animals, which come to life when you know the stories behind them. I have been a story-teller all my life, and I will delight in telling you some of these stories. I would like for you, just for a moment, to feel the Spirit in the Wood!

***Norwegian Cruise Line Passengers Please see note in Itinerary below***

Raven & Fog Woman Totem Pole -- Downtown Ketchikan

Fog Woman Totem Pole Detail (c) by Robin Cole -- used with permission

Raven Steals Sun and Moon by Dempsey Bob -- Downtown Ketchikan

Raven Steals the Sun and Moon Totem Pole -- Downtown Ketchikan

Frog Raven Totem Pole by Isreal Shotridge -- Discovery Center, Ketchikan

This Duck was hungry -- Discovery Center, Ketchikan

The Dangers of Alchohol -- Dancing Mask Ketchikan Museum

Beaver Pole Detail -- Ketchikan Totem Heritage Center

Learn of Totem Poles, the symbols, faces, and animal and what they mean

Imagine winding through thick forest. The branches above are twisted into spidery "witches fingers" (a reaction to dwarf mistletoe), and all the branches are hung with "Witches Hair" lichens. The air is wet and fragrant with the smell of mosses. Mosses cover all the ground, and fallen trees, and bright flowers poke through. Sunbeams slant through the canopy, and the fairy dust sparkles. A tiny Pacific Wren sings its beautiful wee song - welcome to the Tongass Rain Forest.

There are about 50 wooden steps here, but it is a moderate to easy walk for people in good health. We will walk slowly and quietly, listening for wildlife.

Lunch Creek Trail to Settler's Cove Shore with an expert in temperate rain-forest ecology

The Tongass Rain Forest -- A Green Jewel

*** A special tour for travelers cruising with Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Regent Seven Seas, Virgin, Oceania, and Viking and docking 20 minutes north of Ketchikan at NCL Ward Cove Dock ***

I will pick you up and NCL Ward Cove Dock, and drive you south, showing you "North Town" as we go. Then I will show you around Ketchikan. I will tell you some of the stories behind the Totem Poles, and show you the carving tools that I forged.

I will show you the historic red light district, Creek Street. July, August, September the Salmon are running, and I will show you them, and a ladder that was built to help them climb the stream.

You will see areas that most travelers never see! On the way back, I will show you a beautiful pond, in front of a mountain.

Note: You might catch an NCL shuttle buss to Ketchikan, and pick up a tour of Ketchikan, but I thought some people might like a combination tour that starts right from the ship, and delivers you back to the ship at the end.

Totem poles, mountains, salmon, art, history, and a temperate rain-forest that goes on forever

Ward Cove & Ketchikan: Linked by History

The Spirit of Saxman -- Ketchikan and Saxman Totem Pole Park -- a Private Tour

There is an ancient tradition of totem pole carving in Southeast Alaska. The tradition still lives and thrives in Saxman, which has a large collection of unique poles, arranged in a circle and walkway. There is also a reproduction of a clan house, and a carving shed. We have master carvers, who reproduce and maintain old poles or work traditional form-line design into some unique and beautiful modern designs.

I will show these poles to you, explain how they are carved, and tell you some of the stories behind them. I am an amateur carver myself, and can show you my self-forged tools. I am familiar with the work of many of the best modern carvers. Some, I can recognize from the distinctive adzing, the cut-marks of their tools. I have been a story-teller all my life, and I will delight in telling you some of the stories that lie behind the figures in the wood.

***Norwegian Cruise Line Passengers Please see note in Itinerary below***

Ketchikan tours

Explore with 12 tours and 2 guides.

Cruin M.

$ 485 (USD)

ReAnn J.

$ 359 (USD)

Cruin M.

$ 327 (USD)

ReAnn J.

$ 339 (USD)

Cruin M.

$ 765 (USD)

ReAnn J.

$ 299 (USD)

Cruin M.

$ 680 (USD)

Cruin M.

$ 195 (USD)

Cruin M.

$ 480 (USD)

Cruin M.

$ 760 (USD)

Cruin M.

$ 680 (USD)

Cruin M.

$ 680 (USD)

Meet your local guides in Ketchikan

Customize your tour

Ketchikan tours

Things to do in Ketchikan