Sitka Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tour including Fortress of the Bear and Totem Poles
4.5
Full view
Sitka Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tour including Fortress of the Bear and Totem Poles
By Sitka Wildlife Tours
from per adult
$73.00
from per adult
$73.00
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 1-99, max of 10 per group
Duration:
2h
Start time: Check availability
Ticket type:
Mobile
English
- 2-hour tour of Sitka by 10-passenger van
- Customizable, small-group tour
- Local guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Entry/Admission - Sitka National Historic Park/Totem Park
- Entry/Admission - Fortress of the Bear
What's not included- Gratuities
- Departure details
- Harrigan Centennial Hall, 330 Harbor Dr, Sitka, AK 99835, USA 330 Harbor Drive
Return details- Returns to original departure point
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- 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: 6226SHXWILD- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- A maximum of 10 people per booking
- Dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes as the weather in Sitka is always different. The tour van has a heater for your comfort, but you will want to get out and enjoy the fresh air.
- ALL tours start at Harrigan Centennial Hall 330 Harbor Drive Sitka Alaska 99835.
- Please note: Wildlife sightings are likely but are not guaranteed
- Most travelers can participate
- Please take the free down town shuttles to meet us for your tour! We will be at the drop off point with yellow trimmed signs and blue jackets.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- A note from Sitka Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tour including Fortress of the Bear and Totem Poles
- We will be complying with all Government and Cruise Ship Industry Covid-19 safety protocols recommended at the time of your travel. Your safety is always our highest priority!
What you can expect during your visit- Regular temperature checks for staff
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
Community- Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
- Which attractions will I visit with Sitka Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tour including Fortress of the Bear and Totem Poles?
- During this experience, places you will visit include:Discover and book Sitka Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tour including Fortress of the Bear and Totem Poles on Tripadvisor
- How much is Sitka Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tour including Fortress of the Bear and Totem Poles?
- Sitka Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tour including Fortress of the Bear and Totem Poles price starts from $73.00. Discover and book Sitka Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tour including Fortress of the Bear and Totem Poles on Tripadvisor
- What is the Sitka Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tour including Fortress of the Bear and Totem Poles cancellation policy?
- Sitka Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tour including Fortress of the Bear and Totem Poles cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Sitka Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tour including Fortress of the Bear and Totem Poles on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides Sitka Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tour including Fortress of the Bear and Totem Poles?
- Sitka Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tour including Fortress of the Bear and Totem Poles is hosted by Sitka Wildlife Tours. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Sitka Wildlife Tours on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Sitka Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tour including Fortress of the Bear and Totem Poles on Tripadvisor
- 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: 6226SHXWILD
Itinerary
- You'll start atHarrigan Centennial Hall330 Harbor Dr, Sitka, AK 99835, USA330 Harbor DriveSee address & details
- 1Sitka National Historic Park/Totem ParkStop: 20 minutes - Admission includedSee details
- 2Fortress of the BearStop: 20 minutes - Admission includedSee details
- You'll return to the starting point
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator.
jenstachnik
00A good way to get to the Fortress of the Bear
From the cruise ship you take the free shuttles into town (allow 30 min) then meet this tour just outside the build…
862geraldg
00Sitka Scenic Tour
Our cruise was diverted to Sitka with closing of Skagway Port. We are seasoned cruisers and have learned to avoid …
Pau Hana P
00100% would recommend
We were late getting to our tour because of the unexpected long shuttle lines from our cruise ship. They were very…
Anthony K
00it was ok,,,,
overall the sites were great, but the driver we had seemed not to really care and didn't pass on a lot of info. we …
amandabE3289BQ
00Great way to see Sitka
Great tour guide who stayed with us throughout. It was nice to be in a small group as you could ask questions. Frie…
Cruiser20178027014
00Bear Fortress
Chris was a wonderful guide. Very informative knowledgeable And courteous. Really enjoyed the Bears and the feeding…
769SueM
00A great Sitka Experience!
Rhonda was a great tour guide and showed us many eagles, explained how they are rescued and released. Had a great …
Road390304
00Great adventure
Very nice tour. Our guide was Darrell and he was very informative. We enjoyed seeing the bears and loved the salmon…
Ivy E
00A wonderful day in Sitka
Rhonda was so helpful when I was first looking at this tour in 2020 (which had to be canceled due to covid) and the…
Angela S
00Wonderful
I enjoyed this excursion! Our driver was very informative and we stopped at the bear sanctuary which was amazing.
kbs1010
00Great experience in Sitka
My teenage son and I did this tour when we stopped at Sitka on our recent cruise. Our guide was a Sitka native so p…
monicadN1788HX
00So glad I booked this excursion
What a super change from the "big bus" tours. Small group size meant not spending so much time getting on and off …
angelicamC9753YT
00Great Raptors
Loved seeing the real raptors up close and personal. Loved the information given from the staff. Also loved the l…
Climber07478128548
00Amazing experience for our family!
Amazing Experience! Brett our guide was very informative and we had a great time. The Fortress of the Bears was one…
Medicsykes
00Wonderful experience and worth the cost!
The entire trip was pretty wonderful. The crew of the Saint Tatiana was especially awesome. Saw whales, otters, b…
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
14 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
2
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
st-eutychus
Kent, WA30 contributions
This small group Sitka Scenic Tour was simply outstanding. The group is limited to ten (there were eight of us plus the guide) in a comfortable adn virtually new vehicle. Our guide was friendly, knowledgable, and responsive, and the tour met and exceeded our expectations. It is not a lengthy tour (two hours), but it included what we wanted with the opportunity to stay at or return to the National Historical Park at the end of the tour if desired. Clearly Sitka Wildlife Tours has their act together.
Written September 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Laura W
Payson, UT2 contributions
Loved the small group and local knowledge of our guide—I think his name was Chris. He was outstanding, giving us a genuine and personal perspective on the region and lifestyle. We learned so much, found the bears delightful, and basked in the beauty and heritage of this special area. Thank you!
Written June 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Cathy M
1 contribution
Friends
There weren’t enough drivers for number of passengers disembarking in port which caused a delay for us getting into Sitka. The tour operators went above and beyond getting us on a tour. Our tour guide was friendly and informative. Couldn’t be happier with the entire experience.
Written September 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Margaret D
East Kilbride, UK161 contributions
Met our guide and fellow visitors outside the easily found Harrigan Centennial Hall. There were only 6 of us which meant it was easy to ask questions and hear all the answers.
Our guide made the tour interesting throughout and she also made it personal by telling us about her own connections with her home town.
We toured in a perfectly comfortable minibus around Downtown then a bit further out to the Totem Park and the Fortress of the Bear.
At the Totem Park, as well as being told about many of the totem poles, we had a little walk through the rainforest. We were fortunate (unfortunate..?) to see the absolutely astonishing spawning - and ultimately dying - process undertaken by thousands of wild salmon returning to their birth place and only seen at this time of the year. Entirely a natural process bu tragic nonetheless.
Worryingly, however, we were told about how the numbers of these salmon returning to spawn is only a fraction of what it used to be as a result of global warming.
A further wander down to the bay and we were lucky to see a wild bald eagle resting close to us at the water's edge and we got told about the tiny crabs hidden in the shallow water.
There were perfect photographic opportunities at the Fortress of the Bear - where we saw rescued brown and black bears having an easy life. This sanctuary is run by volunteers so any contributions were welcomed. The stories of what happened to these bears when they were cubs were quite sad but often related to their hungry mothers being killed for getting too close to human settlements. There's a little shop selling 'bear wears' too.
Some of the scenery enroute to the excursions was quite awesome too.
Although not on the tour, we had plenty of time to visit Downtown afterwards armed as we were with new found knowledge courtesy of our friendly, knowledgeable guide.
PS I apologise for not remembering our guide's name - Vicky?, Becky? - I'm not sure but she was refreshing, enthusiastic and a great guide to this fascinating place.
Our guide made the tour interesting throughout and she also made it personal by telling us about her own connections with her home town.
We toured in a perfectly comfortable minibus around Downtown then a bit further out to the Totem Park and the Fortress of the Bear.
At the Totem Park, as well as being told about many of the totem poles, we had a little walk through the rainforest. We were fortunate (unfortunate..?) to see the absolutely astonishing spawning - and ultimately dying - process undertaken by thousands of wild salmon returning to their birth place and only seen at this time of the year. Entirely a natural process bu tragic nonetheless.
Worryingly, however, we were told about how the numbers of these salmon returning to spawn is only a fraction of what it used to be as a result of global warming.
A further wander down to the bay and we were lucky to see a wild bald eagle resting close to us at the water's edge and we got told about the tiny crabs hidden in the shallow water.
There were perfect photographic opportunities at the Fortress of the Bear - where we saw rescued brown and black bears having an easy life. This sanctuary is run by volunteers so any contributions were welcomed. The stories of what happened to these bears when they were cubs were quite sad but often related to their hungry mothers being killed for getting too close to human settlements. There's a little shop selling 'bear wears' too.
Some of the scenery enroute to the excursions was quite awesome too.
Although not on the tour, we had plenty of time to visit Downtown afterwards armed as we were with new found knowledge courtesy of our friendly, knowledgeable guide.
PS I apologise for not remembering our guide's name - Vicky?, Becky? - I'm not sure but she was refreshing, enthusiastic and a great guide to this fascinating place.
Written September 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rhonda C
Thank you for your comments! Becky loves sharing her world with our many cruise visitors. Please come back someday!
Written October 14, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jane L
1 contribution
This was a ego trip for the guide who spent the majority of our time driving around Sitka to all the places where SHE had some connection, ie, the area where she learned to drive! By the time we actually got to the Bear Sanctuary, we had very little time to enjoy watching the bears or even to get into the non-profit gift shop. Then, when we got to the Totem Pole park, she started in again on why the rules forbid her from explaining the meaning of the poles. I left her at that point so I could enjoy the area for myself. When I got back to the visitor center, I was told by another participant that they hadn't even covered the entire area, which I had been able to do.
I would never recommend this guide to anyone who actually has an interest in those two places, or, in Sitka itself.
I would never recommend this guide to anyone who actually has an interest in those two places, or, in Sitka itself.
Written September 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rhonda C
Thank you Jane for your input. We do remember you well. We are really sorry you didn't enjoy your tour like the rest of your group did. We learned about you when we met your tour to find the umbrella you left behind. Once or twice a year we get a reminder that you just can't please everyone, no matter how hard we try. We really hope you found some enjoyment on the rest of your trip to Alaska.
Written October 14, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bill M
5 contributions
Couples
We arrived by ship and made contact by phone wanting to see the bears and Totem poles. 4 of us booked a sole use van and Bruce the owner became our driver/guide, his knowledge of the area, the food,the vegetation the fishing is amazing, not to mention the bears and totem poles. The price sole use was $360, which is cheaper than the same tour off the ship with a lot less people. We give Bruce 11 out of 10. Well done
Written July 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rhonda C
Hi Bill, Thank you for your review on Bruce.That's amazing you would give him 11 stars out of 10! He sure loves to show visitors our beautiful town ! Thank you we hope you come back to Sitka again!
Written July 18, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
COLIN W
Melbourne, Australia140 contributions
Friends
We had a great tour around Sitka which the 4 of us are still talking about. Our guide Maria was great. Her passion for her local area really made the tour. A great sense of humour and an ability to pass on so much information in just a couple of hours.
I really recommend this tour particularly if you can get Maria to take you as she has some much to tell and it’s all good.
I really recommend this tour particularly if you can get Maria to take you as she has some much to tell and it’s all good.
Written August 14, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for taking time to rate our company and share your experience with others. Please come back soon!
Written October 29, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Texan0310
San Angelo, TX12 contributions
Chris was the best tour guide! He's a local so he knew so much about the area we toured. And he has a great appreciation for that area and the culture. I loved that the tour was a small group.
Written September 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
KFab54
York, PA4 contributions
Couples
Our guide Chris was wonderful. Enjoyed it very much. Would highly recommend for Sitka tourists
Great job
Great job
Written September 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
natalie t
1 contribution
Our tour guide Chris was knowledgeable & interesting! He entertained our large group with his first hand knowledge of Sitka & the customs in the local area. Highly recommend!
Written August 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
jbshaw1478
Orlando, FL1 contribution
I will be on celebrity ship coming on the 24 of July how do I get to your tour?
Harriet R
Sarasota, FL18 contributions
Is there a lot of walking involved?
Jan G
Erie, CO18 contributions
Not really. You board the mini van with your guide and fellow passengers (total of 10) and drive for an overview of Sitka.
We then had photo stop at Silver Bay enroute to Fortress of the Bear where there are either stairs or ramp to view the bears.
Final stop was Tongass National Forest where there was a short walk to/from the Indian River where the salmon return depending upon time of the year. We were there May 31st so no salmon yet.
You are given option of remaining there on own or driving back to Sitka town center.
