Travel Guides And Tips: Guided Tours in Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, Alaska Panhandle

There's probably no better way to see the Alaska Panhandle than to take a tour with a professional guide who knows the region well. There are options aplenty for touring this magnificent place, so choosing one may be the hardest part of all. Whether it's the astounding array of natural beauty, world-class fishing or something for history buffs, there are a variety of differently-themed tours on offer for the Alaska Panhandle.

Skagway Sightseeing Tour

Take a tour of both historic Skagway and the scenic White Pass Summit Area along the Klondike Highway. The Skagway Sightseeing Tour covers the Historic District, where lawlessness ruled the day during the wild Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-1899. Also along the tour is the famous Skagway cemetery, where legendary con artist Soapy Smith and Frank Reid (the man who shot Smith) are buried. Further along the Klondike highway you'll see waterfalls, glaciers, and gorgeous mountain vistas. This tour takes about three hours, is for all ages, and costs about $50 per person. Tours depart daily at 1:30 p.m.

Yukon Horseback Adventure

Saddle up and get ready to see the sights about your four-legged tour guide! This fantastic tour is a great way to see the Alaska Panhandle's wilderness as you ride the trails of the open ridges of Skagway. The tour costs $160 per person for participants 8 years and up lasts for approximately two hours, and includes refreshments. Tours depart daily at 10:30 a.m. from May-September.

Chilkat River Adventures

Participants on this fantastic tour will enjoy a scenic jet boat ride in the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. See these amazing high-flying symbols of American freedom in the trees lining the shore of the Chilkat River. Other wildlife you can spot while on the tour includes bears, moose, wolves, and other birds that frequent the valley. The tour operates out of Haines from May-September and costs from $60-$90 per person.

Juneau Walking Tour

One of the best ways to see the historic capital city of Juneau is by foot. Grab your best pair of walking shoes and head to the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, where you can get a walking tour map for a nominal charge. Among the sites to see are the State Capitol, State Courthouse, State Office Building, Governor's Mansion, Gold Creek, Cope Park, the Wickersham House State Historic Site, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, and the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. This tour lasts about 1½ hours. If you're really up for it, take the extended walk, which goes for 3 hours, and includes the additional sites of the Evergreen Cemetery, the Abandoned Wooden Flume, and the Last Chance Mining Museum.

Taku Glacier Lodge Flight and Feast

The Taku Lodge Tour is far more than just a flight or a meal. This one-of-a-kind three-hour tour includes an airplane flight over a spectacular glacier, visiting a remote log cabin, wilderness trails, viewing wildlife, and, to top it off, you get a fantastic Alaskan king salmon feast.This is sure to be one of the best tours of the region you'll ever take! This tour begins at the Juneau airport.