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Sitka, Alaska, US

Overview

Overview

The onion domes of St. Michael's Cathedral are your first clue that Sitka was once a Russian settlement - the colonial headquarters of Count Baranof, no less. Discover the echoes of its heyday at a performance by the New Archangel Dancers. Be greeted by Tlingit native people, then stand on the spot where the United States took possession of Alaska in 1867 for $7.2 million, less than two cents per acre. The dramatic setting in the shadow of Mt. Edgecumbe is one of the lovliest in the Great Land. Take a stroll through old growth forest in Sitka National Historical Park, shop the downtown district, and poke around the Sheldon Jackson Museum for a close-up look at some of the city's most prized arts, crafts and Russian relics.


Alaska Cruise - Sitka, Alaska

Shore Excursions

Shore Excursions


 


4x4 Wilderness Adventure



Duration: Approximately 4¼ Hours
Price : $$$

 

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The trip begins with a brief van transfer to the dock to board a boat for a thrilling 30-minute ride through the scenic islands and channels of Sitka Sound. Along the way, the captain helps spot marine life such as whales, seals, sea otters, and sea birds. Guides will meet you at the Kruzof Island landing to help... more info




Advanced Mountain Bike Tour



Duration: Approximately 4 Hours
Price : $$

   

This tour is designed for the physically fit and experienced mountain biker--it's a challenging ride! Start from downtown Sitka and parallel the coast during the majority of the ride. On the way, you'll stop at Whale Park for a breathtaking view of Silver Bay and at the old Alaska Pulp Mill site, you'll turn off for the climb to Blue Lake. The ride is strenuous and gains approximately 500 feet of ... more info




All-Day Salmon & Halibut Fishing



Duration: Approximately 7½ - 8 Hours
Price : $$$$

   

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Join us for a full day of Alaska-style ocean sportfishing. Sitka enjoys an excellent catch rate for salmon and halibut. Depending on the season you will pursue king, silver or chum salmon and halibut. You will fish with a maximum of six guests. Salmon fishing is done by "trolling" with downriggers or anchoring and "mooching." H... more info




Bird Watching & Nature Walk



Duration: Approximately 3 Hours
Price : $$

   

This tour is geared for avid bird-watchers working on their life lists, people interested in learning more about birds, and for companions of bird watchers. Alaska's bird checklist includes 445 documented species and an additional 35 unsubstantiated species. This tour focuses on birding and incorporates natural history of the area. Habitats to be explored include the seashore, estuary, muskeg, and... more info




Colonial Russian America & Cultural Tour



Duration: Approximately 2½ Hours
Price : $

 

Several distinct periods of Alaskan history are preserved within the island community of Sitka--from the early Native American civilization through the Russian Colonial period and the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Before the European colonists arrived in Alaska, the Eskimo, Aleut, Athabaskan, and Tlingit native groups lived off the land here. View artifacts from that period that reside in the S... more info




Dry Suit Snorkel



Duration: Approximately 2½ Hours
Price : $$

 

This tour is for guests who wish to explore the underwater world of Southeast Alaska, as well as learn about the marine biology of the ocean floor that teems with life in the waters of the Sitka Sound. Guests will be picked up dock side and transported to the changing area. At that site the guests will have secure space to leave their belongings and then be transported, in their dry suits, to the ... more info




Fortress of the Bear and Sea Otter Quest



Duration: Approximately 4¼ Hours
Price : $$$

 

Your adventure begins with a narrated drive along a winding, coastal road to visit the Fortress of the Bear rescue facility at Silver Bay.  Up-close brown bear viewing in a created habitat is the emphasis as you learn of one Alaskan family’s dream offering an alternative for bears caught in conflict with their human neighbors. Marvel at the ingenuity of reusing an abandoned wood pu... more info




Half-Day Salmon Sportfishing



Duration: Approximately 4 Hours
Price : $$$

   

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Sitka Sportfishing is one of Southeast Alaska's best-kept secrets. Sitka Sound offers an abundant supply of king, silver, chum and pink salmon. Combine this with dramatic views and opportunities to see marine wildlife, and you have an exciting excursion to experience. Your Captain is a Coast Guard-licensed, experienced fisherma... more info




Historic Russian America & Raptor Center



Duration: Approximately 3½ - 4 Hours
Price : $$

 

Visit the historical highlights of this former "Russian Capital" and tour through the Alaska Raptor "Bald Eagle" Center, staffed mostly by volunteers who rescue the birds, provide rehabilitative care for them, and hopefully release the birds back to the wild. After your introduction to the Center, you will see the "bird on a glove" presentation. View the clinic, outside deck habitat area, and t... more info




Historic Sitka & Nature Walk



Duration: Approximately 3 Hours
Price : $$

   

Explore Sitka on foot in the company of a knowledgeable guide. On your 2 1/2-mile walk, stroll around the base of Castle Hill, where Alaska was purchased from Russia, through the historic district, past Totem Square, the Prospector Statue and Russian Blockhouse. Pass St Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral and the Russian Bishop's House en route to Sheldon Jackson College (home to James Michener d... more info




Jet-Cat Wildlife Quest and Beach Exploration



Duration: Approximately 3 Hours (2-hour cruise; 1 hour on beach)
Price : $$$

   

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Embark on an intimate wildlife viewing adventure aboard a deluxe catamaran, and step ashore on a remote island to explore the rugged coast. Your knowledgeable Captain will use his understanding of tides, weather and seasonal conditions to design an expedition uniquely suited to the day. The maneuverability of a waterjet... more info




Sea Life Discovery by Semi-Sub



Duration: Approximately 2 Hours
Price : $$

   

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Glide through eel grass beds, drift through giant kelp forests and explore rich, rocky shoals in comfortable style aboard Alaska’s only heated, restroomequipped, semi-submersible tour vessel. The cold waters of Alaska teem with life, including jellyfish, crab, anemones, fish, starfish, and a variety of aquatic... more info




Sea Otter & Wildlife Quest



Duration: Approximately 3 Hours
Price : $$

   

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Enjoy guaranteed wildlife viewing on this award-winning cruise through one of the world's most beautiful coastal environments. You will have the opportunity to observe sea otters, whales, sea lions, porpoise, harbor seals, brown bears, black-tailed deer, bald eagles and a variety of marine birds. An on-board naturalis... more info




Sea Otter Quest & Alaska Raptor Center



Duration: Approximately 4¼ Hours
Price : $$

   

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This excursion combines two of Sitka's most popular wildlife viewing experiences. First, board a deluxe, waterjet-powered sightseeing vessel and set out to explore the marine wilderness, to observe sea otters, whales, Steller sea lions, porpoise, harbor seals, brown bears, Sitka blacktail deer, and a variety of marine b... more info




Signature Collection: Up-Close Exclusive Cruise Adventure



Duration: Approximately 3¼ Hours - Price is per vehicle, not per person. See additional NOTES below.
Price : $$$$

   

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A beautiful vessel and knowledgeable captain are at your command for a wide choice of activities featuring a stunning variety of wildlife and soul-stirring coastal scenery. You choose the activity and the pace of your unique marine adventure as you indulge your senses and imagination on Sitka Sound's pristine, island-st... more info




Silver Bay Nature Cruise & Salmon Hatchery



Duration: Approximately 2 Hours
Price : $$

   

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This relaxing adventure features a cruise through a beautiful, glacier-carved fjord and an exclusive tour of a working salmon hatchery. You'll also learn about the rain forest's natural history as the boat glides so close to shore that you can almost touch the trees. If you spot wildlife, the Captain will maneuver the b... more info




Sitka Bike & Hike



Duration: Approximately 3 Hours
Price : $$

   

This guided tour of the south end of the Sitka road system is geared for those who want to see a part of Sitka that visitors rarely experience, get some exercise, and enjoy the fresh clean air. The tour focuses on the local history, lore, and fauna. The route passes closely to the Pacific Ocean and overlooks stunning Silver Bay. You will also hike to Thimbleberry Lake, crossing an impressive water... more info




Sitka Photography Tour



Duration: Approximately 3 Hours
Price : $$

   

This tour is for photographers, both serious and aspiring, who wish to photograph parts of Sitka rarely seen by visitors. Join an experienced Southeast Alaska photographer for a three-hour customized Sitka photography tour. Possible sights include wildflowers, berry bushes, alpine forest regions, and salmon spawning streams in season. Other viewing opportunities may include tidepools, boat harbors... more info




Tongass Rain Forest Nature Hike



Duration: Approximately 3 Hours
Price : $$

   

Bus transportation takes you to the trailhead of the Starrigavin Muskeg Trail. Set out with a guide who is well-versed in the flora, fauna, and history of Sitka and the surrounding area. Enjoy great mountain views, weather permitting, as your hike begins with a gradual 1/2-mile descent to Starrigavin Creek. From here, it is a 1/2-mile level boardwalk through the Starrigavin Estuary bird viewing... more info




Ultimate Adventure Combo - Volcano Exploration by Ocean Raft and 4x4



Duration: Approximately 4 Hours
Price : $$$$

 

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An ocean rafting adventure is the perfect way to make your visit to Sitka exciting and unforgettable. Before you begin, you will be equipped with state-of-the-art gear for this extreme adventure. Don an exposure suit, a balaclava, safety glasses and gloves. Traveling at up to 50 mph, the ocean raft gets you out i... more info




Volcano Coast Exploration by Ocean Raft



Duration: Approximately 2½ Hours
Price : $$

 

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An ocean rafting adventure is the perfect way to make your visit to Sitka exciting and unforgettable. Before you begin, you will be equipped with state-of-the-art gear for this extreme adventure. Don an exposure suit, a balaclava, safety glasses and gloves. Traveling at up to 50 mph, the ocean raft gets you out i... more info




Wilderness Sea Kayaking Adventure



Duration: Approximately 3 Hours
Price : $$

   

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This memorable adventure starts on the dock in Sitka. Suit up in quality rain gear and a life jacket, then climb aboard a fast, custom built vessel for an exciting sightseeing tour en route to the floating base camp. The knowledgeable captain will scan the sea for wildlife and identify points of interest along the way. Upon arri... more info





Weather

Weather

Temperatures shown are Fahrenheit
Month Temp Avg Temp High Temp Low Rainfall
Jan 25.7 30.6 20.7 4.81
Feb 28.9 34.3 23.5 4.02
Mar 33.7 39.5 27.8 3.51
Apr 40.8 48.1 33.4 2.96
May 47.9 55.7 40.1 3.48
Jun 53.9 61.6 46.1 3.36
Jul 56.8 64.3 49.2 4.14
Aug 55.7 63.1 48.3 5.37
Sep 50.0 56.1 43.8 7.54
Oct 42.3 46.9 37.7 8.3
Nov 33.3 37.6 28.9 5.43
Dec 28.7 33.0 24.4 5.41

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