from$79
Experience the best of Ketchikan
Ketchikan, in the Alaska Panhandle, is a rainy fishing town of stilted boardwalks and totem poles, set among the forests and fjords of the Inside Passage.
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Ketchikan clings to the shore of Revillagigedo Island in Southeast Alaska, squeezed between steep forested hills and the water of the Inside Passage. Houses and boardwalks stand on stilts above Ketchikan Creek, where Creek Street, a lane of old buildings on pilings, once formed the red-light district. The town calls itself the salmon capital of the world, and the creek fills with spawning salmon in late summer.
Totem poles are the town's signature: Saxman Native Village and Totem Bight State Historical Park display carved Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian poles. Tongass National Forest, the largest in the United States, surrounds the town, and Misty Fjords National Monument, a wilderness of sheer-walled fjords and waterfalls, is reached by floatplane or boat. Bald eagles are common overhead. The airport stands on Gravina Island across the channel, reached by a short ferry.
Halibut, wild salmon and Dungeness crab are served in waterfront restaurants and fish-and-chips shacks, and smoked salmon is sold in jars and tins. Rain falls on most days of the year, well over three metres of it in total, which makes Ketchikan one of the wettest towns in the United States. The brightest months run from May to September.
- Free cancellation on 84% of experiences
- 4.8 across the top 24
Top 10 attractions in Ketchikan
Walking and bike tours in Ketchikan
7
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Food and drink experiences in Ketchikan
10- Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Signature experiences in Ketchikan
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Questions about Ketchikan
- What are the top attractions in Ketchikan?
- Ranked by the experiences that visit them, the top attractions in Ketchikan are Tongass National Forest, Creek Street, Saxman Native Village, Totem Heritage Center.
- What is the most popular experience in Ketchikan?
- By number of traveller reviews it is "Ketchikan Duck Tour", rated 4.7 out of 5 from 2,977 reviews.
- How long do tours and tickets in Ketchikan take?
- The typical experience in Ketchikan lasts about 3 hours; the middle half run between 2.5 hours and 4 hours.
- Can I cancel a booking in Ketchikan?
- The operator lists free cancellation on 84% of the 135 experiences we hold for Ketchikan. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.
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