Alaska Wildlife & Nature Excursion

The Neets Bay Bear Watch Adventure, which grants visitors exclusive access to one of the most famous black bear habitats in Alaska, is one of the very best tours in Ketchikan (or anywhere in the state!) for encountering Alaska’s scenic beauty first-hand. This limited-availability adventure and one of the most exclusive Ketchikan cruise excursions begins with a stunning boat ride through awe-inspiring wilderness, followed by a short hike through lush, ancient rainforest toward Neets Bay Creek, home to a pack of black bears that fish for salmon in the crystal-clear waters. If you’re a wildlife-lover with an interest in learning more about the ecosystems of Alaska, this standout tour is a hard-to-beat opportunity for experiencing Alaska’s massive mammalian life up close!

As is the case for most other Ketchikan cruise excursions, our Neets Bay Bear Watch Adventure tour starts with pick-up right at the cruise docks. Then you’ll hop on a thirty-six-passenger boat for a stunning trip through lush Tongass Rainforest islands. This boat trip will be fully narrated by your naturalist guides with plenty of photo and wildlife opportunities along the way. Keep an eye out for whales, eagles, sea lions, and more! Then it’s off through the old-growth Alaska woods with your expert naturalist guide for a quarter-mile jaunt past the Neets Bay Salmon Hatchery, the annual birthplace of many thousand Alaskan salmon fry! Soon you’ll find yourself alongside Neets Bay Creek, where you’ll see for yourself what makes this one of the best tours in Ketchikan Alaska: with luck, you’ll behold hulking black bears swatting for salmon and feasting on the bountiful summer harvest.

Talk about an exhilarating encounter! Once you’ve got all the photos you can handle, it’s time to hop back on board your vessel & boat back to port. With its intimate views of the local landscapes and a high likelihood of encountering Alaskan wildlife in its natural habitat, it’s fair to say that the Neets Bay Bear Watch Adventure is among the very best wildlife tours in Ketchikan Alaska for creating unforgettable memories!

For a bear-viewing tour closer to town, check out the Wildlife Sanctuary & Totem Center!

You've decided you'd like to see the magnificent humpback whales in Alaska, but which Juneau whale watching tour is right for you? With this Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour, you're getting a little more bang for your buck and ensuring you're not missing any of Juneau's highlights! This tour includes a stop at the Mendenhall Glacier visitor's center in addition to the whale watching adventure. Including all of the features of the popular Whale Watching Tour, you'll leave the waters of Auke Bay and continue with a transfer over to the famous Mendenhall Glacier.

With a convenient downtown pick-up location within walking distance of the cruise ships, a 25-minute transfer over to Auke Bay takes you through downtown Juneau while your guide narrates the journey, providing a great introduction and orientation to Alaska's capital city. Load up on the customized whale watching boat and then it won't take long to arrive at prime whale watching waters. Spend the next 2 hours in the midst of whales, sea lions, seals and bald eagles, experiencing Alaska's diverse wildlife first-hand. Upon returning to the harbor, board the bus for a transfer to the glacier. Take a self-guided stroll to the glacier viewpoint or into the visitor's center (admission is included in tour price) which provides a wealth of knowledge and information. You have over and hour to explore the area before boarding the bus back to town.

Please note: This tour may run in reverse with the glacier visit first followed by whale watching.

* Please note that the Visitor Center building is closed on Saturdays during the season.  The park area, trails, and restrooms all remain open, still providing exceptional views of Mendenhall Glacier.

Looking for more chances to spot wildlife and experience the highlights of each port town on your Alaska cruise? We recommend Skagway's Yukon Discovery and Ketchikan's Bering Sea Crab tour, or check out all of our staff picks!

Skagway’s rugged beauty comes to life on the Waterfall & Wildlife Tour, a Skagway shore tour that takes you through the breathtaking upper Lynn Canal—the deepest fjord in North America. Towering cliffs, misty waterfalls, and pristine waters create the perfect backdrop for spotting Alaska’s incredible wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for harbor seals lounging on rocky shores, bald eagles soaring above, and the occasional whale surfacing in the distance.

Your journey along the coastline reveals more than just stunning scenery. As you cruise past the remnants of historic shipwrecks, your knowledgeable captain will share stories of the Klondike Gold Rush, giving you a glimpse into Skagway’s fascinating past. A stop at a secluded glacial harbor offers a rare chance to take in the untouched wilderness that has remained unchanged for centuries. Savor a local favorite—smoked salmon and crackers—while soaking in the tranquility of Alaska’s coastal landscapes. 

This Skagway shore tour offers an unforgettable mix of history, wildlife, and breathtaking scenery. With limited availability, the Skagway Waterfall & Wildlife Tour fills quickly—reserve your adventure today!