Private tour in Sitka Gary D
5.0
(4) reviews
2 hours
30 minutes
1
2 hours
30 minutes
1
Gary D.
5.0
Guide rating
7
Reviews
Tours delivered
9 hrs
Avg. response time
Hello, I'm Gary and I guide tours--by land and sea--in my hometown of Sitka, Alaska. I'm a born and raised Sitkan and proud of it. I feel really lucky that I get to show Sitka off to visitors from all over the world. Sitka is one of the most epic places on the planet. It's wild and pristine and so very scenic. We have mountains and ocean and lots of wildlife. My family's been here for 4 generations so my roots go deep on this island. I've spent my entire life exploring our waters and honing my inner "wildlife radar" so if you'd like to see whales and sea otters and sea lions and all the wondrous creatures that live here too, I'm the guide for you. I've been guiding visitors to Sitka since 1994. Like many of us who grew up here, I started out working on commercial fishing boats. My first experiences out on our waters were actually with my Grandma Susie, who was quite the pioneering Alaskan fisherwoman. I then went on to guide fishing charters until I found my real passion: Whale watching and eco-tours. I love the natural world and marveling at its creatures and getting to share that with other people just makes the experience that much more epic. You could say my life motto is "livin' the dream, sharing the adventure. " In 2016 I had the opportunity to purchase my own boat, the M/V Blue Dawg, and venture out on my own. Being the 'captain of my own ship' has allowed me to create the customized tour experience for my guests that I can truly get excited about. Exploring together, sharing an adventure and giving you an authentic experience of Sitka is what I'm all about. Boat Captain & Guide US Coast Guard Licensed 100 Ton Master No Restrictions
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Gary D.
A fun and informative "Best of Sitka" tour. We'll drive along Sitka's scenic 14 miles of road, making stops at our must-see attractions where you'll get to observe Alaskan wildlife, learn about Sitka's native peoples and its history as the once illustrious capital of Russian America. We'll visit Fortress of the Bear, a rescue center for orphaned Alaskan Coastal Brown Bears, the Alaska Raptor Center, Alaska's premier avian rehabilitation center, and Sitka National Historical "Totem" Park, a national park with a coastal trail that's home to 18 Tlingit and Haida totem poles and a visitor's center displaying native Alaskan art and exhibits about Sitka's history and culture. We'll also drive through the heart of Sitka's downtown to show you some of the most important landmarks that'll take you back to the Russian days--St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Bishop's House. This tour gives you a great experience of Sitka with a mix of wildlife viewing, time in nature and a history lesson.
We were expecting to see Gary but Ralph led the tour of Sitka on June 5, 2025. He took us to a bear rescue center and the Alaska raptor center. We went to the Totum park and saw how they were carved. We saw the Sitka National Historical Park and saw wonderful examples of Indigenous Peoples art and history. He was a great guide and filled our tour with interesting facts. The Cohen, Castiglione, and Hamilton families
Darren was fantastic and our group had a amazing time touring with him.
My family and I recently had the opportunity to take the "Best of Sitka" tour. It was awesome. Gary Downie is a complete rockstar! He is a former schoolteacher that is very familiar with the history and the details behind every stop. He was very interactive with everyone on the tour. The communication from start to finish was great, the tour was awesome, and the information was top notch. Thank you for making my family trip memorable.
Very good the team. There no was no interesting tour
This tour covers Sitka's 14 miles of road from end-to-end. It's a beautiful drive where you can enjoy breathtaking mountain and ocean views from the comfort and warmth of our van on your way to observe the resident Alaskan Coastal Brown Bears of Fortress of the Bear and the eagles, owls, and falcons of the Alaska Raptor Center. We'll then make a stop at: - Sitka National Historical "Totem" Park" where you'll get a chance to stretch your legs on a nature walk among totem poles, meet native artists demonstrating their craft and admire lovely views of picturesque Sitka-by-the-Sea. We finish up this tour by driving through historic downtown Sitka and over O'Connell Bridge to Japonski Island for a panoramic view of Sitka and Mt. Edgecumbe Volcano.
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
This land tour is given in our comfortable, 14-passenger Ford van. There'll be 3 stops at attractions and a few stops at photo-op points along the way.
Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide: Crescent Harbor or Old Sitka Dock. Depending on whether you're arriving in Sitka on a cruise ship or traveling independently, this will determine the best meeting point.
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2 hours
30 minutes
1
2 hours
30 minutes
1
If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a 20% deposit!
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