Humpback Whales Bubble Netting

Tour Itinerary

Join us for a one-of-a-kind tour in Ketchikan that has a little of everything. Starting with a drive to Ketchikan's north shore, you will then board our state of the art Sarana vessel. A thirty minute cruise in our protected waters give you the opportunity to view wild marine wildlife.

We then do something no other tour in Alaska is doing: We drop an underwater ROV into the water to explore the ocean deep! See fish, starfish, crabs and other cool underwater creatures in real time.

Then we arrive at Saltery Lodge, one of Alaska's premiere fishing lodges nestled on 62 acres surrounded by the Tongass National Forest. You will take a short hike through our property to discover a hidden graveyard from our historic old cannery, and a forty foot waterfall. In May and June, you will have time to feed our migrating hummingbirds from your hand, a magnificent experience! In July through September there should be salmon in our stream and hungry bears feeding them! After leaving the lodge your boat ride back to Ketchikan will include treats and snacks.

Clover Pass in southeast Alaska

Cruise through Clover Pass

After a 15 mile drive to Ketchikan's North Shore, you will board our state of the art Coast Guard certificated vessel Sarana. We carry less than our maximum load of 18 persons for your comfort. The vessel has a large fly bridge which offers a fantastic view of the scenery, as well as a warm heated interior for your comfort. We spend about thirty minutes cruising Clover Pass, a scenic and protected waterway that holds lots of wildlife. While we don't guarantee specific wildlife, there is an opportunity to see many different species, including whales, seals, salmon, eagles, bears, deer, seagulls, and dolphins.

Dockside with the ROV.

Underwater Exploration

Once we have arrived at one of several secret spots, we do what no other tour in Alaska is doing. We drop a $40,000 ROV into the water and remotely "fly" the vehicle into the depths looking for interesting creatures for about half an hour. Real-time video feeds from two cameras are viewed on the flat screen TV's on Sarana. View what most people will never see unless they are diving. Fish including rockfish, ratfish, perch, flat fish, and even salmon are some of the creatures you will see. You can also see invertebrates such as sunstars, crabs and sea cucumbers. We even let you "fly" the ROV underwater to chase fish and grab underwater objects. This is truly a unique experience.

Our Waterfall

Remote Wilderness

After we pull up the ROV, we take a short ride to remote Saltery Lodge and spend the next hour and half exploring its 62 acres. Saltery Lodge is built on the remains of an old cannery that has a vast historic past, even ties to Alaska's eventual statehood. As we walk around the old growth forest for the next 90 minutes, we will discover these remains. A hidden graveyard, called "The Garden", has tremendous century old headstones ornately carved in granite. A short additional walk leads you to a forty foot waterfall in the middle of the property. Salmon run in this stream from July through September and they stop at this tremendous waterfall, unable to continue. Black bears and their sign can sometimes be seen during this time as well, feeding on the salmon.

Handfeeding Hummingbird

Hummingbirds

In May and June, there will be time to admire our visiting little birds from Mexico. The migrating Rufous Hummingbird stops by our lodge on their way up north. We have developed a technique where we are able to feed the hummingbirds by hand! At the peak of the season we are feeding hundreds of these little birds and go through two and a half gallons of nectar a day! You will be given this unique chance to feed these little birds yourself. Bring your camera, as this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Three deer in southeast Alaska

Journey Home

As we journey home on Sarana, you will be given tasty snacks and a drink on the vessel. We will continue to look for wildlife on the cruise back to civilization. We think you will agree, this is a one of a kind experience that you will be raving about to your friends.