Alaska Ocean Wilderness Expedition
5
Alaska Ocean Wilderness Expedition
By Out to Sea Expedition Company
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 5-120, max of 12 per group
Duration: 2h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More
- Full Rain Gear, waterproof Overboots, and USCG approved Life Jackets
- Dry bags for personal items
- Coffee and/or Tea
- A light snack is provided
- Start:
- 124 Thomas St, Ketchikan, AK 99901, USAOur outfitting space is a 10-15 min walk from the cruise ship docks off of the waterfront promenade near Thomas Basin. Transportation from the downtown docks is available on request with 48 hrs notice. For guests arriving at Ward Cove, we have ship specific instructions sent via email after booking.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 197392P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- Most travellers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 197392P1
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Itinerary
- 124 Thomas St, Ketchikan, AK 99901, USAOur outfitting space is a 10-15 min walk from the cruise ship docks off of the waterfront promenade near Thomas Basin. Transportation from the downtown docks is available on request with 48 hrs notice. For guests arriving at Ward Cove, we have ship specific instructions sent via email after booking.
- 1Pass byTongass National Forest
- 2Pass byKetchikan
- 3
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- N7711LHtricial0 contributionsGreat ExperienceHighly recommend booking a zodiac boat tour with Delaney and Eric when visiting Ketchikan. It was an incredible experience seeing all the different Alaskan wildlife in a more up close and personal manner. Delaney and Eric are the sweetest people and highly involved with Ketchikan wildlife. This tour was truly inspiring!Written 23 September 2024
- 196kerryw0 contributionsUnforgettable Adventure with Out to Sea Expedition!Absolutely thrilled with our experience with Out to Sea Expedition in Ketchikan! From start to finish, the trip was a highlight of our vacation. Delaney and Eric were outstanding guides, sharing their extensive knowledge of the area and its wildlife, which made the journey even more enriching. We were lucky enough to see an incredible variety of wildlife, including whales, seals, a sea lion, and soaring eagles. Delaney and Eric made sure we had the best views and photo opportunities. The small group size made the experience feel personalized, allowing us to connect with our guides. We felt safe and well taken care of throughout the trip. If you’re looking for an unforgettable adventure in Ketchikan, I can’t recommend Out to Sea Expedition enough. Thank you, Delaney and Eric, for an amazing day out on the water! We can’t wait to come back and explore more.Written 20 September 2024
- Andrew G0 contributionsFantastic afternoonThis was a really good informative trip that was run by two clearly passionate staff who wanted to share all there knowledge, I would highly recommend this adventure to everyone of all agesWritten 24 September 2023
- KSMfromKTN0 contributionsLunge feeding whales!This was an amazing way to see wildlife in Ketchikan! After a short 15 minute zodiac ride, we found a pod of humpbacks lunge feeding (that you can see in their excellent cover photo) that we spent most the time watching. We also saw at least a dozen seals and bald eagles, as well as a black bear along the shore!Written 19 September 2019
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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5.0
96 reviews
Excellent
94
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1
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Terrible
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Tracy F
12 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Our family group of six were joined by the boat pilot, Eric, and our naturalist, Jenny, or "Science Mom." Both were excellent at what they did!
From start to finish this was an excellent experience! We met near where the Zodiac was moored, about a 12 minute walk from the cruise terminal. They provided us with any gear we'd need, including rain gear if needed which, thankfully, we did not.
We proceeded to the boat, got our emergency talk, and climbed aboard. We all felt extremely safe the whole time as we spent the next two or so hours boating around the beautiful waterways of Ketchikan. It was a spectacularly beautiful and warm day and the water was so smooth, it was so special to be out, touring around. While Eric skillfully maneuvered us around and in and out of inlets, Jenny shared her knowledge of the area and the flora and fauna found within. Along the way we saw harbor seals, a bald eagle, a bald eagle's nest with two eaglets in the nest, and numerous star fish. We even stopped in a quiet shaded spot to have a snack Jenny packed for us which included some tasty hot chocolate.
Eventually and reluctantly, we headed back to the harbor as our time was coming to an end.
All six of us agreed that we felt so fortunate to have had this experience. All of the people with whom we interacted at OtSEC were so kind and helpful and genuinely interested in making sure we had an excellent experience.
From start to finish this was an excellent experience! We met near where the Zodiac was moored, about a 12 minute walk from the cruise terminal. They provided us with any gear we'd need, including rain gear if needed which, thankfully, we did not.
We proceeded to the boat, got our emergency talk, and climbed aboard. We all felt extremely safe the whole time as we spent the next two or so hours boating around the beautiful waterways of Ketchikan. It was a spectacularly beautiful and warm day and the water was so smooth, it was so special to be out, touring around. While Eric skillfully maneuvered us around and in and out of inlets, Jenny shared her knowledge of the area and the flora and fauna found within. Along the way we saw harbor seals, a bald eagle, a bald eagle's nest with two eaglets in the nest, and numerous star fish. We even stopped in a quiet shaded spot to have a snack Jenny packed for us which included some tasty hot chocolate.
Eventually and reluctantly, we headed back to the harbor as our time was coming to an end.
All six of us agreed that we felt so fortunate to have had this experience. All of the people with whom we interacted at OtSEC were so kind and helpful and genuinely interested in making sure we had an excellent experience.
Written 30 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for writing about your experience! We really enjoyed meeting your family, and sharing an exceptionally warm & sunny afternoon on the water. We hope to see you next time you are in town (though we can’t promise the same weather!)
Written 15 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Zhen
2 contributions
May 2022
Wonderful trip to the sea. Delaney is a fantastic host. Kelly is a wonderful captain. Both are lovely. It is certainly a very different view from the ocean. The sky is cloudy, the sea is rough and the wind is chilly. Yet, Delaney had us very well prepared and made us felt taken well care of. The conversation is certainly an extra highlight of the trip. She showed us bald eagles, harbor seals, sea stars and many other sea creatures. We got a lot of understanding about the living styles of this ecosystem and the local people. It felt really good that Delaney and Kelly maneuvered the boat to pick up a few garbage out of sea along the way. It was great trip and we really enjoyed it. Highly recommended it.
Written 18 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We appreciate you taking the time to write a review. It was certainly a classic Ketchikan weather day, but we are happy to hear you enjoyed your time on the water! Thank you again!
Written 24 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Oliver H
2 contributions
Aug 2022
Friendly people, cool excursion!
We visited in August with our 3 children between 4 and 11 years old. The kids loved the adventure of the RIB/Speed boat and the local knowledge of the team was excellent, they obviously knew the area inside and out, and we were given some valuable local and historic knowledge of the area.
We saw a hump-back feeding along the shore line, some harbour seals and bald eagles.
These guys went out of their way to make it an easy and enjoyable experience.
All the kit needed was provided for us, and despite being splashed a fair bit by the waves I came off the boat bone dry thanks to the waterproofs. (we had windier weather than normal so the waves were a bit more active than you may get!). Life jackets were very good quality.
I was impressed by the speedy recovery of our Son's Spiderman cap when it blew off shortly after leaving the dock, with a single lightening fast (and obviously well rehersed) manoeuvre the hat was plucked from the sea. It left me in no doubt that if we fell in at any point we'd be recovered back into the boat in seconds.
Very professional, very fun!
We visited in August with our 3 children between 4 and 11 years old. The kids loved the adventure of the RIB/Speed boat and the local knowledge of the team was excellent, they obviously knew the area inside and out, and we were given some valuable local and historic knowledge of the area.
We saw a hump-back feeding along the shore line, some harbour seals and bald eagles.
These guys went out of their way to make it an easy and enjoyable experience.
All the kit needed was provided for us, and despite being splashed a fair bit by the waves I came off the boat bone dry thanks to the waterproofs. (we had windier weather than normal so the waves were a bit more active than you may get!). Life jackets were very good quality.
I was impressed by the speedy recovery of our Son's Spiderman cap when it blew off shortly after leaving the dock, with a single lightening fast (and obviously well rehersed) manoeuvre the hat was plucked from the sea. It left me in no doubt that if we fell in at any point we'd be recovered back into the boat in seconds.
Very professional, very fun!
Written 22 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to write a review! We are happy to hear your family had fun, we always appreciate the little ones that are ready for adventure :)
Our crew performs regular Man Overboard (MOB) Drills as required by the USCG, and we are glad they could use those skills to save the Spider-Man cap!
Written 24 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Adrian H
Nashville, TN34 contributions
Aug 2022
First-class operation, all the way around. It was foggy on the morning we were supposed to go out, and we got a call from the company, asking if we could postpone our trip a few hours so that the experience would be better. Not all tour companies would have bothered doing so. Now, the staff: Top-notch. Captain Kellie and guide Carly were friendly, charming and knowledgeable. Kellie managed to find not one, not two but three whales for us, as well as harbor seals, starfish, and plenty of bald eagles. And Carly knew A LOT about all the species, turning our 2.5 hours into a classroom experience. They also had binoculars for everyone as well as coffee and hot chocolate on board. Overall, one of the best tours we've had anywhere.
Written 22 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you again for your flexibility! We do everything we can to craft the best possible experience for our guests given the time constraints of most travelers, but always appreciate the willingness to adjust when schedules allow. We are glad you could join us, it was certainly a great day for wildlife!
Written 24 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mitch S
Kailua, HI2 contributions
Jun 2021
I went out on a morning wildlife expedition to see some of the beauty of Alaska up close. Our guide took us out to find eagles nests and we ran into a family of harbor seals out in the bay. We learned a lot about the animals of Alaska and I would recommend this tour to any family or couple.
Written 10 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nadina R
High Point, NC4 contributions
Jul 2022
This tour was probably the best we had during our time in Alaska. Escaping the crowds on shore and getting to see the remote beauty around Ketchikan that so many do not see was wonderful. The small group size meant the tour could be personalized and you have a chance to ask questions and learn so much.
We were so fortunate to have Eric and Carly as our guides. Their knowledge of the area, Eric's lifetime experience and Carly's recent residency, added so much to gaining an insight on what life is like in Ketchikan. They knew the spots to take us to see the wildlife. Even though you can never predict the behavior of animals, we saw so many. They have such a broad knowledge of the indigenous people and the history which really added to what we saw.
The best part of this, however, was their willingness to spend extra time for a remarkable experience. A pod of orca were spotted in the area. Their network of tour guides gave them this information so that we could follow a small pod from a legal distance. They were very considerate of our time even though we could have spent hours out there. They were also very respectful of the animals and the laws regarding the safety of all wildlife. Eric and Carly spent an extra hour with us just to follow the orca so that we could all have this rare experience.
I would highly recommend that you take a tour with this company. If you are on a cruise, you don't have to worry about getting back to your ship on time because they are very aware of and considerate of the time provided by your cruise line. This is a team of such nice, knowledgeable people. They really take the time to make you feel comfortable and ensure you get the best experience possible.
We were so fortunate to have Eric and Carly as our guides. Their knowledge of the area, Eric's lifetime experience and Carly's recent residency, added so much to gaining an insight on what life is like in Ketchikan. They knew the spots to take us to see the wildlife. Even though you can never predict the behavior of animals, we saw so many. They have such a broad knowledge of the indigenous people and the history which really added to what we saw.
The best part of this, however, was their willingness to spend extra time for a remarkable experience. A pod of orca were spotted in the area. Their network of tour guides gave them this information so that we could follow a small pod from a legal distance. They were very considerate of our time even though we could have spent hours out there. They were also very respectful of the animals and the laws regarding the safety of all wildlife. Eric and Carly spent an extra hour with us just to follow the orca so that we could all have this rare experience.
I would highly recommend that you take a tour with this company. If you are on a cruise, you don't have to worry about getting back to your ship on time because they are very aware of and considerate of the time provided by your cruise line. This is a team of such nice, knowledgeable people. They really take the time to make you feel comfortable and ensure you get the best experience possible.
Written 8 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Nadina! We really appreciate you taking the time to write about your experience, and thank you again for sharing the orca photos. It was definitely very special!
Written 10 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Charinidaho
Seattle, WA30 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
We arrived via cruise ship and booked this excursion ourselves for our Ketchikan stop. Soon after booking Delaney took the time to explain that our ship would be pulling in at Ward Cove (vs parking in Ketchikan as the ships have in the past) and explained how we would get to town and how to find them for our tour. MUCH better communication than the cruise company and we were so grateful! They even adjusted the start time to allow us time to get there.
The tour itself was amazing! There were only 4 of us, plus Delaney and Eric, and it was nice to have such a small group. We saw several bubble net feeding humpback whales. Eric clearly had extensive knowledge of their behavior as he was able to put us in position to see them come up over and over. They were awesome. We also saw seals, eagles and other marine wildlife. Delaney also explained several animal behaviors and clearly had significant knowledge of the wildlife. Both Delaney and Eric were a pleasure to spend our day with and we'll absolutely look them up when we come back to Ketchikan!
The tour itself was amazing! There were only 4 of us, plus Delaney and Eric, and it was nice to have such a small group. We saw several bubble net feeding humpback whales. Eric clearly had extensive knowledge of their behavior as he was able to put us in position to see them come up over and over. They were awesome. We also saw seals, eagles and other marine wildlife. Delaney also explained several animal behaviors and clearly had significant knowledge of the wildlife. Both Delaney and Eric were a pleasure to spend our day with and we'll absolutely look them up when we come back to Ketchikan!
Written 6 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jianwei X
1 contribution
Sept 2022
One of the highlights of our Alaska Cruise trip. We saw plenty of eagles, seals, sea stars and of course, a whale. We didn't expect to see whales so close to shore but the boat driver Kelly spotted some bubbles from far and went to it. Then she said get your cameras and phones out as soon as possible. Then we saw this whale coming out of the water with mouth wide open, feeding about 20 yards away! Then we saw it come up and down for minutes.
At this moment, my daughter needed to go to the restroom and could not hold anymore. Carly (?) was so nice to take her to the shore on top of some rocks. We waited in the boat. Then Kelly saw bubbles right beside the boat and quickly drove away. A few seconds later, the huge whale's jaw came out of the water and feasted! Kelly said, "I don't want to be eaten by a whale." We would have certainly been topped over if Kelly had not quickly driven the boat away! This time, the whale also flapped its tail out of the water!
Man, what an extraordinary experience thanks to Alaska Ocean Wilderness Expedition!
At this moment, my daughter needed to go to the restroom and could not hold anymore. Carly (?) was so nice to take her to the shore on top of some rocks. We waited in the boat. Then Kelly saw bubbles right beside the boat and quickly drove away. A few seconds later, the huge whale's jaw came out of the water and feasted! Kelly said, "I don't want to be eaten by a whale." We would have certainly been topped over if Kelly had not quickly driven the boat away! This time, the whale also flapped its tail out of the water!
Man, what an extraordinary experience thanks to Alaska Ocean Wilderness Expedition!
Written 2 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to write a review, we asked our captain to reply and her response is posted below:
We are happy you and your family had a good time. We don’t always get to see whales, so we are glad you had the opportunity.
As a part of responsible whale watching, we watch the whales from 100 yards or more. Occasionally the whales can change their routes, and their behavior isn’t always predictable. This particular whale was throwing large and long bubble rings, so when it was noticed that we were too close to the feeding spot, the boat was safely maneuvered to a 100 yard viewing location. At the end of a feed sometimes we can see the whales do a terminal dive where they show their tail.
We are glad our team was able to accommodate you and your little. Hope to have you back out again.
-Captain Kellie
Written 4 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
kjkasondra
Los Angeles, CA4 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
If you’re looking for a great excursion while in Ketchikan, stop looking and book with Out to sea. Delaney, Eric, and Science Mom were amazing. We had 4 kids ages 5-12 and my parents in their 70-80’s go on the Zodiac boat. From the beginning Delaney was great at communicating all the details as we had a large group. We were also concerned about the weather and the ride. On the day of our tour it was raining but Out to sea fitting us with rain proof jackets, pants, shoe covers, beanie, gloves.. we stayed completely dry. The ride was smooth and Eric did a great job navigating any wakes off boats. We got to see bald eagles, sea lions, various native birds, whales. Had a very informative lesson on star fish and kelp. Everyone on our group thought this was the best tour we had on our cruise. They make you feel like family (only 10 people) on our boat total and even give you some tasty treats while your enjoying nature.
Written 23 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are so glad everyone had a good time, thank you for taking the time to write a review!
Written 7 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lisa M
2 contributions
Jun 2020
We had a great time on our Out to Sea harvest tour! Captain Eric managed the boat flawlessly for a comfortable and interesting ride. Delaney pointed out the sights along the way and led the harvest efforts on shore. They provided everything we needed to be safe, comfortable and gather our findings, including an ingeniously designed harvest bag!
I was a little concerned about riding in a Zodiac, but Out to Sea makes sure everyone is appropriately outfitted, so I was comfortable the whole time. Immersion into the natural beauty of Alaska from a position so close to the water made it a truly unique experience and a wonderful way to capture the adventurous spirit of rugged and picturesque Southeast Alaska.
I was a little concerned about riding in a Zodiac, but Out to Sea makes sure everyone is appropriately outfitted, so I was comfortable the whole time. Immersion into the natural beauty of Alaska from a position so close to the water made it a truly unique experience and a wonderful way to capture the adventurous spirit of rugged and picturesque Southeast Alaska.
Written 24 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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