Excursion Alaska bear adventure & flightseeing tour at Ketchikan

Experience the thrill of taking off from the Ketchikan waterfront by floatplane with a veteran Alaska bush pilot on a unique, bear, and wildlife expedition only available to a small number of visitors.

Floatplane Expedition

Begin with a short transfer to the floatplane dock where a safety briefing is conducted and boarding begins. Once airborne, enjoy the passing scenery from your panoramic window seat and narration through your noise-cancelling headsets. Your pilot will identify points of interest as you soar above. The flight takes you along Alaska's fabled Inside Passage through a landscape of forested mountains and pristine waterways, on your way to the remote viewing location in the Tongass National Forest.

Bear-Spotting

After a soft landing, you are met by an Alaskan naturalist and bear guide who escorts you by van to a trailhead. A quarter of a mile (400 metre) trek along the well-maintained, gravel trail leads to an elevated viewing platform overlooking a salmon-rich stream. During spawning season the stream is where black bear gather to feed on runs of pink, coho, and chum salmon as they head upstream to spawn. Bald eagles perch in the surrounding trees waiting for fish scraps left by the bears.

The awe of seeing the bears up close, surrounded by breath-taking scenery, is an incredible experience for the nature-lover and photographer. Your naturalist guide proffers insight into the abundant wildlife. Ample time is allowed to observe the wildlife activity in this forest ecosystem before the walk back to the van and the short drive to your waiting aircraft.

Following an equally spectacular return flight to Ketchikan, you are transferred back to the ship.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Ketchikan, Inside Passage, Forested Mountains, Pristine Waterways, Tongass National Forest, Bear-Spotting

Note

Please note: This tour only operates from end of July through September. It requires an extensive amount of walking of approximately a half mile (800 metre) round-trip to the viewing platform from the van) over a gravel trail that is uneven and without handrails. Guests must be able to climb in and out of the aircraft via steps as well as stand for up to an hour. This tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility or those who utilize a wheelchair. Wear comfortable, sturdy hiking footwear and dress warmly for the weather conditions. Rain gear is recommended; food is not permitted. Wildlife sightings are frequent, however they cannot be guaranteed. The tour includes approximately 45 minutes for the round trip flight and approximately 1 hour at the bear viewing area. The minimum participant age is 8 years. Space is limited; guests should book well in advance to avoid disappointment.  Due to weight and balance limitations, as well as guest safety and comfort the maximum weight is 250 pounds (113 Kilograms). Guests may be asked to stand on scales. Guests exceeding 250 pounds will not be permitted to fly and wil still be charged for the full cost of the ticket.