March 1, 2022

Out To Sea Expedition Company

Founded in 2019 by Ketchikan locals Delaney Murphy & Eric Lunde, Out to Sea Expedition Company’s mission is to explore our world with an adventurous spirit in a sustainable way. The independent tour operator specializing in guided wildlife eco-tours, and custom outdoor expeditions, uses fully inflatable Zodiacs to explore the waters surrounding Ketchikan. In addition to operating environmentally conscious wildlife tours, Out to Sea provides marine transportation, and outdoor gear & rentals, helping locals and visitors alike craft their own adventures.

Inspired by their mutual love for the pristine wilderness and wildness of Alaska, the couple wanted to share their beautiful home with visitors from around the world in way that was both responsible and authentically Alaskan. The outdoor adventure company was established with the belief that we can have fun and explore our world, while also being good stewards of our environment and our community. Out to Sea strives to be economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable, and avoid creating negative impacts wherever possible. In addition to their partnership with industry and community organizations, Out to Sea Expedition Company is Whale Sense certified, and a proud member of 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of all sales to the research and conservation efforts of Audubon Alaska.

May 14, 2020

Southeast Exposure Outdoor Adventure Center

Southeast Exposure is family owned and operated in Ketchikan since 1986. We are nestled in beautiful Clover Pass, 16miles north of Ketchikan and 4.5 miles from the end of the road. Our location in Clover Pass is dotted with evergreen islands ringed by protected waters, seals, sea lions, eagles, intertidal life, jumping salmon, deer and possibly orcas on the hunt and transiting humpback whales. Our Zipline Adventure Park offers 10 ziplines in beautiful big old growth cedars trees, a climbing wall, challenge elements and the grand finale an ocean zipline platform. Kayaks of all shapes and sizes cover our boathouse, pier and dock. We offer 2 kayak tours Tatoosh Islands Sea Kayak and Eagle Island Sea Kayak as well as multi-day guided Misty Fiords excursions, rentals and water taxis.

Explore Alaska's fjords, nature, wildlife and culture with the expert crew of the tugboat Swell.

May 13, 2020

Maple Leaf Adventures

Selected as an operator of “Best of the World” trips by National Geographic Traveler, Maple Leaf Adventures has pioneered conservation-focused, expedition cruises along the Inside Passage since 1986. With a reputation as one of the west coast’s top sustainable tour operators, its multi-day Alaska cruises give guests unique insight into the region’s natural wonders, often areas that were once under threat of destruction. Expeditions differ from your typical cruise ship; guests are immersed in the natural and cultural history of the world they are exploring, each day becoming more in tune with the rhythms of the coast. Small groups move between locations and live and dine aboard a classic, converted tugboat. She accommodates up to twelve guests with a crew of five, including a naturalist and chef.

Maple Leaf Adventures is an innovator in regenerative tourism. One of the first operators of small-boat travel in Alaska, BC’s Great Bear Rainforest and northwestern Vancouver Island, they allocate significant resources to support and build a conservation-based economy on the coast. Maple Leaf’s leaders are fuelled by their education in environmental studies and social responsibility. Their vision is to drive a made-on-the-coast, high-quality nature-based tourism industry, that has a symbiotic relationship with coastal ecosystems and cultures and integrates with both indigenous and western cultures along the coast.

Guard Island Lighthouse

May 13, 2020

Lighthouse Excursions

Lighthouse Excursions is a locally-owned and operated tour company that provides a scenic boat tour – the Lighthouse, Totems, and Eagles Excursion – to view Ketchikan’s abundant American bald eagles, the totem poles of Totem Bight State Park and the historic Guard Island Lighthouse. While cruising the coastline of the Tongass National Forest, the world’s largest temperate rainforest, our experienced local captain and their crew will share their knowledge of Southeast Alaska’s coastal history, native culture, and the interconnected ecosystems and the animals that call this region home. Whether relaxing in the heated main cabin or enjoying the open-air observation deck of the boat, we encourage visitors to keep on the lookout for American bald eagles, harbor seals, sea lions, moon jellyfish, pigeon guillemots, blue heron, deer, whales, and other wildlife. A complimentary snack buffet and non-alcoholic beverages are included in our tour!

Lighthouse Excursions is dedicated to sustainable tourism practices. Be it guest-direct (like promoting safe and respectful wildlife viewing or providing recycling receptacles on board our vessels) or behind-the scenes (like employee education or investing in environmentally-friendly vessel upgrades), we love our Alaskan wilderness and proudly support an environmental ethic which will preserve our state for generations to come.

Wilderness Exploration & Crab Feast - Miss Patricia in front of the George Inlet Cannery.

May 13, 2020

Experience Alaska Tours

Experience Alaska Tours was started in 2003 as a business partnership between George Inlet Lodge owners, Carstens Jasper and Patricia Shaughnessey, and Great Alaska Lumber Jack Show owner, Rob Sheer. The company originally offered one tour, its Wilderness Exploration & Crab Feast. The original tour concept included having a local narrated boat tour including historical, cultural, and natural resource information, in addition to pulling local crab pots and learning about Dungeness crab. At the time, there were not Fish & Game regulations that allowed for tour participants to pull the crab pots without a sport fishing license, which would have been cost prohibitive. Experience Alaska Tours went through the State of Alaska Board of Fish process to have a Super Exclusive eco-tour regulation put into place, allowing for guests to pull the pots and experience the crab fishery first hand. The next season the company added a 20-minute flightseeing excursion to its offerings and operated the two tours through the 2007 season. In 2008, Rob Scheer sold his interest to George Inlet Investments, a local investment group including long-time Ketchikan resident and businessman, Kirk Thomas & his family. In 2009 the company added additional tours including a combination tour, partnering with the Rainforest Sanctuary and ACT and HAP Alaska to provide a crab meal in conjunction with a motor coach tour and the rainforest walk. The company has continued to grow, including the addition of tours on the north end of the island (Alaska Lodge Adventure & Seafeast at Silverking Lodge), additional combination tours (Saxman Totems & Crab Feast, Alaska Lumberjack Show & Crab Feast), and the replacement of its boat fleet to include two new 48 passenger tour boats. Experience Alaska Tours operates the bulk of its business from the George Inlet Lodge location. George Inlet Lodge is an old cannery bunkhouse that was floated over 70 miles on a log raft to its current Ketchikan location in the 1970’s. The lodge had been added to as tour needs have increased, but the main lodge still carries with it the original architecture and design.

May 13, 2020

Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour

Epic Alaska! This is the tour you’ve been waiting for; An unparalleled opportunity to board a genuine crab fishing vessel that has been retrofitted for you in fine style. Fans of the Discovery Channel program, The Deadliest Catch, will know this ship as it was featured during season 2 of the program. It has been redesigned with guests’ comfort in mind and will sail you into the heart of the Alaska you’ve been dreaming of. On this 3-hour adventure you will meet the fishermen that have braved the wild Alaskan seas and hear their tales of survival, adventure and fun! They will pull up a variety of fishing gear from the ocean in their quest for sea stars, octopus, prawns, halibut and of course, a variety of crab. Whatever is caught will be shared with guests who can touch and photograph the incredible live creatures. The eagle viewing encounter is breathtaking as eagles soar and dive within yards of the boat. Photographers from around the world have sought out this tour as it has become legendary for providing that “once in a lifetime” shot. All the while, fishermen will share their knowledge and experiences as you become personally engrossed by their tales, both thrilling and heartwarming. This award-winning tour is not to be missed! It is a top-rated tour on all cruise lines and is one of the most lauded excursions on travel web sites. Customer service is a top priority with this company and guests will not be disappointed.

July 9, 2018

Alaska Coach Tours

Alaska Coach Tours provides shore excursion tours for cruise ships visiting Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, and Skagway Alaska. Alaska Coach Tours also has a division in Seattle Washington. Tours include visits to the Mendenhall Glacier, Saxman Native Village, Alaska Raptor Center, and Yukon Suspension Bridge. Tours focus on the regions culture, scenery, and highlights.

July 9, 2018

Alaska Travel Adventures

Alaska Travel Adventures can help make your Alaska vacation dreams come true! You can trust us to create the best Alaska vacation for you, whether your vacation interests involve a luxury cruise, an independent land tour, or a combination land and sea package. We are one of Alaska’s most diversified vacation companies, with a staff of over 200 statewide employees, and 38 years of experience. Whether enjoying wild caught Alaskan Salmon at the Gold Creek Salmon Bake in Juneau, kayaking Camp Coogan in Sitka, discovering the history of the Gold Rush and trying your hand at gold panning in Skagway or going off-road behind the wheel of your own Jeep® Wrangler in Ketchikan, Alaska Travel Adventures has an adventure for any interest or activity level. No matter which activity you choose, our goal is to provide a once in a lifetime experience that will remain in your memory for years to come.

July 9, 2018

John Hall’s Alaska

Family owned and operated for 34 years, John Hall’s Alaska provides guests with fully guided tour itineraries featuring all 5 regions of Alaska, the Yukon and the Canadian Rockies. Our land tours are all-inclusive in nature with in-depth explorations of Alaska’s greatest wilderness destinations. Limited to small groups, we are able to bring guests hands-on and educational wildlife and cultural experiences, revealing the history and ecological wonders that Alaska has to offer.