Bears, waterfalls & totems! Absolutely fantastic!! Our guide knew all the places to bring us for the best chance of seeing wildlife. She also was a local who had so much information to share with us.

Outstanding Tour Outstanding tour/guide. Bernie had us on a bear eating a live salmon within 5 minutes of the tour. She is very knowledgeable and in her element here in her home Alaska. Some of our best memories of this cruise are here with Orca Song Tours. Can't wait to get back to Alaska again. Thank you so much for sharing your hometown/state.

Amazing! It was amazing!!! We loved the tour! The guide was so friendly and we had such a good time! We went to the best places in town!

Truly great day in Ketchikan. Rick was fantastic! He apologized for substituting for Bernie, but there was no need to apologize. He knew his stuff, and he was a lot of fun. We told him that we were only interested in nature and wildlife, so he drove us straight to Settler’s Cove. He dropped us off (he wasn’t allowed to give a tour within a national park) and we walked through a stunning forest path to a beach, as well as to a beautiful waterfall, in less than thirty minutes.

Then we went to a different beach to hunt whales (no luck). From there, we went to a stream filled with salmon, and were able to find a black bear.

At the end, he dropped us off at the trailhead of Rainbird Trail, adjacent to the U of Alaska campus. The two of us hiked for over an hour in a spectacular forest, letting us out near the port.

Wonderful day. Highly recommend.

The Best Way to tour Ketchikan We had such a good time with Rick as our guide. He clearly loves Alaska and Ketchikan and was able to communicate so many interesting bits of information as he showed us many of his favorite places. We especially loved Settlers Cove, where we saw salmon spawning and a mama bear and her two cubs. The animal display at the Trading Post at Potlach Totem Park was pretty cool as well.

Amazing!! The tour was amazing! If Bernie is available you’ll do more than well to book her. We were on an Alaska cruise and had been booking our excursions through the cruise line. Those excursions were good, but the guides were always transplants to the area working summer jobs in Alaska. Bernie was different - she’s a fourth generation local to the area and knows it extremely well! Everyone knows her everywhere and she knows everyone - including the wildlife. She found us a mother bear and her three cubs that had been frequenting an area. It genuinely had to be one of the greatest experiences of our Iives to watch them frolic in a field. She got us close enough to an eagle that I could have literally hit it with a stick (obviously I didn’t). She also knows a group that tracks the local pod of orcas and tells each other where the orcas are headed. Wildlife is wild so there’s no guarantee you’ll see something, but I think Bernie gives you the best chance to see it if it can be seen during your stay. She’s friendly, accommodative, and really just a delight to spend time with. I highly recommend.

Great tour of wildlife in Ketchikan and other local interest sights. Our guide was Bernadette. She was fun and informative. The van was roomy and comfortable. We saw Orca Killer whales, bald eagles fighting for salmon and so much of Ketchikan, including a waterfall and a house being lifted and moved to a new location. I highly recommend this tour and our guide Bernadette.

Unforgettable Experience When looking at excursions that best suited our needs, Orca Song Tours checked all of the boxes of what we were looking to do in Ketchikan. I want to note that our main goal was to see bears fishing for salmon, so to give my family the best opportunity, we booked back to back tours with Orca Song, and were with them for six hours instead of three.
Throughout the process of booking and traveling, Bernie was an excellent communicator, responding in a timely manner when I'd pester her with questions, but more importantly, reaching out to me before we left, that helped soothe any fears we had. Upon arrival in Ketchikan, we saw that Orca Song was waiting for us well before the gangways were lowered, and when we met, we had a spacious Honda Odyssey minivan for our private tour. Jason was our driver and met all of our questions, quirks and conversation head on, he was a great match for my 14 and 15 year old (knowledgeable) boys.
Bernie, and Orca Song knew our goals, and accommodated us accordingly, on the way to Herring Cove, we stopped to see some salmon ladders, but didn't linger too long as the primary objective was to see bears. Jason took us to the Salmon hatchery (which was off limits), but there were viewing spots to watch Bald Eagles, Deer, and Salmon - and of course Bears, when they decide to eat We were also close to the shore, so after a bit and no luck, we meandered to the coast where the black sands shown in receded tide. Jason took us around the point where we were able to explore, look for crabs, and dig for clams; a real hands on tide-poolish experience! After a bit of tinkering, we walked back to the spot to look for bears and boy did we find them There were plenty of highlights to this, but yes, indeed, we were fortunate enough to see some.
I think it's critical to mention that we were very willing to sit for the entire 6 hours until we saw bears, BUT Bernie and Orca Song also knew that when/if we did, they could take us on an adventure of their choosing to see the Ketchikan beyond the cruise excursions, and Jason did not disappoint (Salmon Berries, blueberries, huckleberries, hiking in a rain forest, beach combing, etc.).
As much as I would love to share all of the details of what we saw and did, Ketchikan is a remarkable town with so much to offer. I feel very fortunate to have connected with Bernie and Orca Song - our visit far exceeded our expectations, and they are solely responsible for our enjoyment. Relative to cost per person for other excursions, the price point was affordable, communication was frequent and timely, and the experiences were unforgettable. The attached photos really don't do justice, so we've already started to look at traveling back to Ketchikan because of what they provided for us. It's obvious Orca Song takes great care and pride in their business, but more importantly put their best foot forward to let Ketchikan be the star. Thank you!!!!

Great tour Great tour, small and customizable. Would definitely recommend. Got to see the sights, a few bears, and some history on the area!

BEARS, EAGLES, TOTEM POLES!! Bernie takes you to the action!! We did not have one dull moment during our tour. She was able to work with us and incorporate all of the things we wanted to see, including bears and eagles! The tour felt very personal and not rushed at all. No long lines, no shuttle, no packed bus, no nonsense; she picked us up immediately off of the ship and dropped us off wherever was most convenient for us. She will get you to viewing places that are not possible to reach with cruise tours. We are also very happy to support a native Ketchikanian. Will book again with Bernie!! -Annette & Mike