Pilot your own Zodiac on a guided Ketchikan ocean tour
3 hours roundtrip
Up to 4 people
Guide, rain gear, boots
Take the helm of an inflatable Zodiac fast boat and follow your guide across the Pacific Ocean in Southeast Alaska. Scan for wildlife and see local highlights along the way.
At least 1 person per boat must be 21+ to drive, and you must sign a liability release waiver before the tour. Transportation is not provided to/from The Mill at Ward Cove. Max weight of 800 pounds per boat.
Full payment due at booking. Cancel 7+ days before tour for a full refund. Within 7 days: no refund unless seats are resold. Full refund if you miss due to ship schedule changes or if the operator cancels due to weather.
No. This tour does not currently provide transportation to/from The Mill at Ward Cove.
Dress for the temperatures on the day of your trip and wear layers. Quick-dry clothing works better than blue jeans. Warm hats and scarves are good options to bring.
You get rain bibs, waterproof jackets, boots, gloves, and dry bags.
425 Water Street Ketchikan, AK 99901
With an impressive track record across multiple activities including kayaking, Zodiac tours, and eBike adventures, this local outfitter has earned genuine enthusiasm from travelers. The guides get mentioned by name constantly—Chris, Zach, Dana, Matt, Sophie, and Andy among them—which tells you something about the personal, passionate approach here. People rave about incredibly close wildlife encounters, particularly humpback whales surfacing within feet of kayaks during bubble feeding, plus harbor seals, sea lions, bald eagles, and even Dall's porpoises. The equipment is consistently described as high-quality and well-maintained, and guides strike that ideal balance between sharing knowledge and allowing quiet moments to soak in the scenery. Two negative reviews stand out, both involving an incident where veterans waiting for transportation were asked to leave the covered area outside the shop. These complaints don't relate to the actual tours, but they're worth noting for context. That said, the overwhelming majority describe friendly, professional service from booking through the actual experience. Many travelers specifically recommend going with this independent operator rather than cruise ship excursions, citing better value and a more personal experience. The variety of offerings means you can choose your adventure level, though be prepared for some arm soreness if kayaking isn't your usual activity.
We had an amazing kayak tour with Spencer! He was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the entire experience so much fun. During our tour, we were lucky enough to see bald eagles, seals, and sea lions, which made the adventure even more special. Spencer knew exactly where to take us and shared great information along the way. It was truly a memorable experience, and we would highly recommend taking a tour with him if you get the chance!
Susan Denson
May 4, 2026
We had an amazing kayak tour with Spencer! He was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the entire experience so much fun. During our tour, we were lucky enough to see bald eagles, seals, and sea lions, which made the adventure even more special. Spencer knew exactly where to take us and shared great information along the way. It was truly a memorable experience, and we would highly recommend taking a tour with him if you get the chance!
Susan Denson
May 4, 2026