Ketchikan Kayak Company

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.