3 Hours Duration

About 1 ½ hours on-site

A Brand-New Adventure

With limited spaces

Stunning Views

Above glacially carved fjords

Wildlife Opportunity

Bear sightings very common (though not guaranteed)

With exclusive access to one of Alaska’s prime black bear habitats, the Neets Bay Bear Watch and Flightseeing experience is among the absolute best tours in Ketchikan Alaska (or the state at-large!) for experiencing the Last Frontier’s inspiring scenic beauty. One of our newest Ketchikan cruise excursions, this limited-space adventure starts with a flightseeing journey over awe-inspiring wilderness. Then it’s off through lush old-growth rainforest toward a favorite hangout among the true locals, namely the pack of black bears that makes a home of Neets Bay Creek. For the adventurer and the lover of wildlife, this gem among Ketchikan cruise excursions provides an unparalleled opportunity for encountering Alaska’s wildlife up-close and personal!

As with our other Ketchikan cruise excursions, the Neets Bay Bear Watch and Flightseeing tour begins with pick-up at the cruise docks. At the airbase, you’ll board an Alaska-classic DeHavilland floatplane (equipped with wide windows perfect for sightseeing!) for a glorious flight over Revillagigedo Island and the lush Tongass Rainforest. Keep your cameras on-hand for towering granite domes and tumbling whitewater falls! Following a thrilling water landing, your expert naturalist guide will lead the way on a quarter-mile hike through the ancient Alaskan woods. You’ll pass by the Neets Bay Salmon Hatchery, where each year many thousands of fry begin their journey toward the ocean, before arriving at last at famous Neets Bay Creek. Here, you’ll see firsthand what makes this one of the best tours in Ketchikan Alaska, as you’ll likely have the chance to watch hulking black bears fish for salmon from the crystal-clear waters! Make sure you have plenty of film! Then, once you’ve had your fill of wilderness immersion, you’ll enjoy one more stunning flight back to Ketchikan. With unforgettable aerial views and a high probability of seeing Alaskan wildlife up-close in its natural habitat, it’s safe to say the Neets Bay Bear Watch is one of the best tours in Ketchikan Alaska! Looking for a longer bear viewing experience? Check out the Traitor’s Cove Bear Viewing Tour.

Port	Ketchikan
Type	Float Plane, Wildlife Viewing
Length	3 hours
Adult Rate	$399
Child Rate	There is no child rate for this tour. All participants will be charged at the adult rate, except for lap children under 24 months.
Infant Rate	Free (under 24 months). Guardians should be able to carry infants both ways on a quarter-mile hike.
Minimum Age	There is no minimum age to participate on this tour.
Cancellation Policy	Cancel with a refund up to 14-days before your tour (or up to 24-hours before if you include Flex Cancel with your reservation), less any non-refundable fees., If for any reason the tour is canceled (due to unpermitting weather, for example), or if your cruise ship's schedule changes, you will receive a refund, minus any non-refundable fees.

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Will we make it back to the ship in time? What if we don't?

Answer: We've never left anyone behind and only schedule tours that work well with your cruise ship's itinerary. We leave plenty of cushion so you can confidently book your trips independently.

Do the flights ever get canceled due to weather?

Answer: Yes, safety is a number one priority so weather conditions are taken into account each day. In certain cases, the weather can lift and a slight delay will still allow the flight to continue. However, if a flight is canceled completely due to weather circumstances, you will always receive a full refund.

Are we guaranteed to see bears?

Answer: No. Although most parties do, in fact, see multiple bears at Neets Bay Creek, we can't know with certainly that they'll be present at the time of the tour.

What if our ship is delayed or doesn't make it into port? Refund?

Answer: It's very rare that a ship is delayed into port, but in those cases, we will try our best to work with you to reschedule the tour to a later time. If that is not a possibility or your ship doesn't make it into port, we will of course refund the full cost of the tour.

What should we wear and bring?

Answer: For comfort, we typically recommend long pants, closed-toed shoes and a jacket, as the air temperature will be a few degrees cooler than the ground temperature. Since you'll be doing some hiking, tennis shoes or boots and a rain jacket is advisable as well.

Can you see wildlife from the plane?

Answer: If you have sharp eyes, it's certainly possible to see wildlife on the mountains below. The plane flies low enough to distinguish individual animals, but of course the pilots have to respect local wildlife so it's not a direct objective of the flightseeing portion of this tour.

How big are the planes?

Answer: There are a few types of planes used for the tour, and you'll typically be in a group of 6-10 guests on the flight. Everyone gets a window seat on these flights.

What is the best time of year for seeing bears?

Answer: The annual salmon run typically reaches its very peak around mid-July, so bears are often most numerous here around this time. Bears inhabit the area and fish in this creek throughout the summer and early fall months, however.