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Chilkoot Wilderness And Wildlife Viewing Tour From Skagway

Day Trip, Group Tour

Offer Image
Leave the crowds of Skagway behind and visit Chilkoot Lake State Park in Haines. The trip begins with a high-speed catamaran ride along the steep-walled fjords which connect Skagway to Haines. Upon arrival in Haines, you will meet your expert naturalist guide for a tour of Chilkoot Lake State Park to view its spectacular scenery and diverse wildlife.

Chilkoot Wilderness and Wildlife Viewing Tour

Escape the bustling crowds of Skagway and venture to Chilkoot Lake State Park in Haines for a more serene experience. Upon reaching Haines, meet your naturalist guide to embark on a small-group driving tour through the picturesque and wildlife-abundant Chilkoot Lake State Park.

Commence your journey with a captivating 45-minute ride aboard a 100-passenger shuttle catamaran, navigating the steep-walled fjord linking Skagway to Haines. As you cruise, be enchanted by the spectacle of over a dozen unnamed waterfalls cascading hundreds of feet from the towering cliffs lining the sea. Take in the breathtaking scenery, and keep an eye out for harbor seals sunning themselves on the rocks and bald eagles gracefully perched in the pine trees. Wildflowers bloom profusely in May, June, and July, while bald eagles nest along the verdant river. The pink salmon flow up the Chilkoot River to spawn starts in August. Pink salmon are the smallest and most common variety of Pacific salmon. This is the best opportunity to see brown bears as they are often witnessed feeding along the banks of the river. Bring your camera so you can take advantage of all the photo opportunities.

Upon arrival in Haines, rendezvous with your guide and step onto a comfortable vehicle for a scenic half-hour drive to Chilkoot Lake State Park. This park offers a splendid combination of natural wonders- from a turquoise lake encircled by snow-capped mountain peaks to a river teeming with salmon that merges into the sea, all complemented by significant Tlingit cultural sites.

In the months of May, June, and July, immerse yourself in the vibrant wildflower display while eagles diligently care for their young in nests. Transitioning into late July, witness the river come alive with migrating salmon, drawing harbor seals upstream for the spawning ritual. By early August through late September, the salmon surge attracts brown bears, enhancing the likelihood of captivating bear sightings along the river. Your knowledgeable guide, adept in identifying prime locations for both scenery and safe wildlife observation, ensures an enriching experience. Additional binoculars are provided for your convenience throughout the tour. If wildlife is spotted, the guide halts the vehicle, sets up a potent spotting scope for everyone's use, and provides insights into the animal's behavior while prioritizing safety. The region is adorned with pristine nature and stunning scenery, though it's essential to note that wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.

Your guide will assist in identifying the diverse vegetation and flowers, providing insights into the Ice Age geology of the area and illustrating the interconnectedness within the Chilkoot's rainforest ecosystem. Don't forget your camera to capture the myriad photo-worthy moments. Enjoy a delightful lunch as you make your way back to Haines. Board the Fast Ferry bound for Skagway, concluding your expedition with memories of an unforgettable adventure etched in your mind.

Please Note: Brown bear sightings are not expected before the salmon run begins in August. While this tour goes through prime wildlife habitat, it's important to note that wildlife sightings, including brown bears, cannot be guaranteed.

Interests
  • Safari, Animals, and Wildlife
Starting At
 
Tour Type
Group
 
Group Size
Small
 
Activity Type(s)
Eco, Nature
 
Tour Duration
6.5 Hours
 
Activity Level
Moderate
 
Tour Leaves From
If you are arriving by cruise ship, this tour departs from the three cruise ship piers in Skagway. If you are staying in a hotel in Skagway, the tour meets just outside the hotel. Please enter your ship or lodging location above.
 
Food/Beverage Provided
A turkey sandwich on organic whole wheat bread, fruit, and a freshly baked cookie are included. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options are available with advance notice.
 
Special Instructions
For all tours in Alaska, we recommend dressing in layers with the top layer being waterproof. Sensible walking shoes that may get wet are also suggested. Please bring a reusable water bottle as water refills will be provided periodically throughout the tour.
 
Restrictions
Tour is not wheelchair accessible. There is walking over uneven terrain, and steps to board transportation.
Location Overview
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About Shore Excursions Group
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About Us
Shore Excursions Group is the market leading and world's largest shore excursion company. Since 2008, we've provided cruise passengers with higher-quality, lower-priced, and smaller group shore excursions from a portfolio of nearly 4,000 tours in over 300 ports. Over the last 16 years, we've delivered more than 4.6M excursions with a 4.7 out of 5 star rating from more than 47k reviews.

Exceptional travel experiences are created by exceptional people. Our incredible team of cruise and travel experts has more than 100 years of combined industry experience, and we work in close collaboration with a network of exceptional tour operator partners dedicated to providing personalized and immersive excursions to cruise passengers in the ports they visit around the world.

Our excursions are higher quality, lower priced, and travel in smaller groups averaging just 12 guests per departure, allowing our guests to truly connect with the local culture and enjoy a more enriching travel experience. Our website provides a personalized shopping experience highlighting the top-rated and most popular excursions in each port of call with authentic photos, videos, and reviews from other guests.

Our proprietary itinerary search technology makes booking easy by displaying the excursions guaranteed to work for your ship's scheduled arrival and departure into each port of call. We also feature hand-curated multi-port packages with the top-rated excursion for each port bundled together at an additional discount.

Our Unique Approach
While the cruise lines and other companies also offer excursions, we are the experts and our experience and approach set us apart. Our exceptional excursions travel in smaller groups and visit more interesting and authentic locations, using more personalized tour guides.

Our team uses a comprehensive approach to select the leading guides and best tour providers around the world. Every excursion is carefully curated and closely monitored through quality control and customer feedback.

In today's fast paced world, vacations are an important way to relax, reconnect with family and friends, and discover new and interesting places - and our portfolio of the highest quality tours was created to provide authentic and rewarding travel experiences on your next trip.

High quality service is very important to travelers and leads to better experiences with higher satisfaction. We encourage you to call us, so our experts can answer your questions and help you select the best excursions for your cruise.

Our Exceptional Tours
Our priority is providing cruise guests with exciting and enriching tours with personalized service and smaller groups.

Our small group tours range from 2-12 people - far less than other tour companies with larger tours up to 50 people. We also offer outstanding private excursions - exclusive experiences for only you and your group with options to fully customize your tour.

Our "Scenic" tours provide up close and personal access to some of the most spectacular natural environments on Earth from majestic glaciers in Alaska to spectacular reefs in the Caribbean.

Our "Cultural" tours allow customers to experience local customs, entertainment and culinary delights ranging from tribal dances in Alaska to an outstanding local meal in Santorini, Greece.

Our "Active" tours offer a multitude of exciting and adventurous ways to experience our destinations. Kayak the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, hike to a spectacular waterfall in Hawaii, or bicycle through quaint villages in France.

Our "City" tours allow travelers to see the highlights of great cities around the world with unique insights provided by our expert tour guides.

Our Guarantee
We stand by our excursions, and we're committed to meeting your expectations. Our team and our guides are dedicated to delivering exceptional experiences, which we've achieved consistently over many years and millions of tours. To the extent you are in any way dissatisfied with the experience we deliver, we will work to resolve your concerns - up to and including a full refund of your tour price. For more information visit the Shore Excursions Group website.

Read More

About Shore Excursions Group

About Us
Shore Excursions Group is the market leading and world's largest shore excursion company. Since 2008, we've provided cruise passengers with higher-quality, lower-priced, and smaller group shore excursions from a portfolio of nearly 4,000 tours in over 300 ports. Over the last 16 years, we've delivered more than 4.6M excursions with a 4.7 out of 5 star rating from more than 47k reviews.

Exceptional travel experiences are created by exceptional people. Our incredible team of cruise and travel experts has more than 100 years of combined industry experience, and we work in close collaboration with a network of exceptional tour operator partners dedicated to providing personalized and immersive excursions to cruise passengers in the ports they visit around the world.

Our excursions are higher quality, lower priced, and travel in smaller groups averaging just 12 guests per departure, allowing our guests to truly connect with the local culture and enjoy a more enriching travel experience. Our website provides a personalized shopping experience highlighting the top-rated and most popular excursions in each port of call with authentic photos, videos, and reviews from other guests.

Our proprietary itinerary search technology makes booking easy by displaying the excursions guaranteed to work for your ship's scheduled arrival and departure into each port of call. We also feature hand-curated multi-port packages with the top-rated excursion for each port bundled together at an additional discount.

Our Unique Approach
While the cruise lines and other companies also offer excursions, we are the experts and our experience and approach set us apart. Our exceptional excursions travel in smaller groups and visit more interesting and authentic locations, using more personalized tour guides.

Our team uses a comprehensive approach to select the leading guides and best tour providers around the world. Every excursion is carefully curated and closely monitored through quality control and customer feedback.

In today's fast paced world, vacations are an important way to relax, reconnect with family and friends, and discover new and interesting places - and our portfolio of the highest quality tours was created to provide authentic and rewarding travel experiences on your next trip.

High quality service is very important to travelers and leads to better experiences with higher satisfaction. We encourage you to call us, so our experts can answer your questions and help you select the best excursions for your cruise.

Our Exceptional Tours
Our priority is providing cruise guests with exciting and enriching tours with personalized service and smaller groups.

Our small group tours range from 2-12 people - far less than other tour companies with larger tours up to 50 people. We also offer outstanding private excursions - exclusive experiences for only you and your group with options to fully customize your tour.

Our "Scenic" tours provide up close and personal access to some of the most spectacular natural environments on Earth from majestic glaciers in Alaska to spectacular reefs in the Caribbean.

Our "Cultural" tours allow customers to experience local customs, entertainment and culinary delights ranging from tribal dances in Alaska to an outstanding local meal in Santorini, Greece.

Our "Active" tours offer a multitude of exciting and adventurous ways to experience our destinations. Kayak the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, hike to a spectacular waterfall in Hawaii, or bicycle through quaint villages in France.

Our "City" tours allow travelers to see the highlights of great cities around the world with unique insights provided by our expert tour guides.

Our Guarantee
We stand by our excursions, and we're committed to meeting your expectations. Our team and our guides are dedicated to delivering exceptional experiences, which we've achieved consistently over many years and millions of tours. To the extent you are in any way dissatisfied with the experience we deliver, we will work to resolve your concerns - up to and including a full refund of your tour price. For more information visit the Shore Excursions Group website.

Read More

Prices are per-person based on double occupancy, unless otherwise noted.