Kayak review Summary/ TLDR…read moreI would definitely recommend SWCK. Gear was outstanding, response time was fantastic, safety was exceptional and the day trip was very fun. Longer summary Mike was very responsive when I tried to book the kayak trip. We would be in Sitka for the day during our week-long Alaska cruise with Holland America (great cruise line, but that is another review). SWCK is a bit of a walk from where the bus drops you off at the visitors center, but that wasn't a big deal. Walking across the bridge to to SWCK gave us a great view of Sitka. Mike was ready with all the gear and kayaks. We let him know that we had to be back in time to get on the boat and he definitely gave us enough time to get back. We were 2 adults, an 11yo, a 9yo, and an 8yo. The adults have kayaked a couple times before and the kids were new to it. Mike is experienced with younger kayakers as well as older kayakers (he has *a lot* of experience). After a good safety and technique talk, we set off for a beach for lunch and then saw a whale in the distance, given our strength and ability to kayak he changed course so we could get a closer look at the whale and she was beautiful. We also saw sea lions, sea otters, and bald eagles. Since Mike is so experienced with kayaking and taking photos, he took photos and videos of us the whole time and airdropped it to me at the end, which was awesome. The weather was wonderful. Needless to say, Mike is very personable and loves what he does. Thank you for letting us share the day with you, Mike. Definitely a highlight of our trip.

OUTSTANDING Whale Watching Experience! If you're visiting…read moreSitka and want to see whales and other marine life up close, book with Gallant Adventures! Captain Paul is incredible -- he knows the area inside and out, understands wildlife behavior, and shares fascinating insights throughout the trip. Our group of five had the perfect setup: a comfortable, well-kept boat with plenty of room. We asked Capt. Paul all manner of questions and he shared so much information about the marine life and the geology. We got to see Up close whales, and otters and seals, and we went into a great cave to see birds. The views were beautiful, it was a magical tour. Everything about the experience was top-notch. Highly recommend! Once in a life time kind of thing!

We joined Captain Paul Davis and this personable tour exceeded our dreams! The whales were out in…read moregroups and the captain knew where to find them- what to look for, and we had the best experience I've ever had on a wildlife tour! Highly recommend!

My wife and I had a lovely time with the sea otter tour. We managed to see a group of sea otters,…read more a gray whale and a humpback whale. The boat was large with lots of room to maneuver, the bathrooms were clean and the bar/snack area was fully stocked. Really loved how knowledgeable the staff were about the wildlife. would totally recommend

First off, I need that hot chocolate recipe. That was divine, like it really competed with the…read morewhales for my attention. Wow! We saw orcas and bubble netting humpbacks and gorgeous mountain views. Even though it was a huge boat, due to the diligence of the crew and a bit of teamwork from everyone on board, there was always something to see. And Captain Greg was phenomenal at bringing us closer to the action, that was some impressive maneuvering.

Ok, First time to…read moreAlaska and have been mind blown by scenery. The natural beauty of this state is almost overwhelming in its grandeur. What really made the trip special was getting out on the ocean with a local guide that not only knew the ins and outs of the waterways but was also truly dedicated to his craft as a guide. Captain Dave is passionate about his home town of Sitka and an absolute wealth of information. On the way out of the harbor he fired off a plethora of awesome facts that rivaled anything Wikipedia might have to say about this majestic seaside port. Safety was always on his mind and that played a huge roll in our comfort considering we had a 5 and 7 year-old with us. At all times, including when we disembarked on a remote island for a quick hike, he was sure to let us know he had our back (he had a bear deterrent on the form of a shotgun). Dave also provided us with a killer breakfast and lunch which were both accompanied by spectacular views at unique locations on the water that were second to none. Bottom line, if you want to see AND learn about Sitka and it's wonderful culture/history/ecology then Captain Dave and his vessel the Esther are the premiere choice for anyone who wants to see the real deal Alaska!

We had the most amazing day with Davey! We saw whales, puffin, sea otters, and more! The homemade…read morecookies were the best I had ever eaten and most importantly, Davey made sure that we got to do exactly what we had dreamed of doing. He was a pleasure to deal with and my whole family continued to rave about our day on Esther G Sea taxi.

We had a wonderful time on our ATV tour with Sitka Adventure Outfitters! The adventure began with a…read morescenic boat ride across Sitka Sound to Kruzof Island. Along the way, our captain shared interesting facts about the area while we spotted bald eagles, sea otters, whales, and seals. Once we arrived, we enjoyed a fun and scenic ATV ride through the island's beautiful landscape. The entire experience was well organized, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. As an added bonus, the office is just a short walk from the cruise shuttle drop-off and conveniently located near the shops in downtown Sitka. We highly recommend this excursion to anyone visiting Sitka!

We have booked with Ken and Sitka Alaska Outfitters for 4 years and we always have a top notch…read moreexperience. He and his guides are extremely knowledgeable and safety oriented, and they always put us on the fish.

Probably the most-hiked trail in Sitka, for a couple reasons…read more - like many trails in Sitka, access from downtown is easy, you don't even need a car. - it's relatively flat This trail takes you in 4.5 miles on relatively flat terrain, through a rainforest, to a waterfall. It's similar to many of the trails you'd find in the Columbia River Gorge near Portland, or to the rainforests of Olympic National Park in Washington. As you get close to the waterfall, it's very likely that sections of the trail will be flooded. This may require some route finding on your part. You may get wet!

The trail was gorgeous. The pamphlets, everything, and everyone says the hike takes 2-3 hrs one way…read morebut maybe in the warmer weather. We hiked when the snow was still there and let me tell you it'll take about 4-5hrs to get to the waterfall. There's a nice detour along the way to see the beautiful mountain. Great place to take epic pictures. The trail was very peaceful and brings you closer to nature.

Christina gave us an awesome tour of the Sitka area including the Raptor, Totems and the Fortress…read moreof the Bear. It was an awesome time; much, much better than cramming on a tour bus with 60 of your closest friends. She gave the three of us an awesome tour with personal stories about the area. Well worth the price! I highly recommend the experience.

BEST TAXI IN SITKA! We used many different taxi companies during our week in Sitka, but Cummins…read moreblew all the others out of the water. Her prices were the best, and she gave us some great tips for things to do on our trip! She was also the only one that consistently answered. Highly recommend

What a day! Captain Xander scooped us up at our dock right on time, he greeted us with a huge smile…read moreand made us all feel comfortable and welcome immediately. We took a few spontaneous stops to view gray whales, humpbacks, and seals on the way to Goddard Hot Springs. Xander is knowledgeable about the history of Sitka, as well as the wildlife and migration patterns that we were curious about. Before disembarking for the hot springs he drew us a map and made some recommendations for our group. On the way back to the boat, I GOT ENGAGED and Xander's excitement for us was memorable. He snapped a bunch of photos of us and we got a few with him too. Highly recommend taking a ride with Captain Xander on any of the services he offers. Thanks for having us, we'll be back next time!

Captain Xander is patient, accommodating, punctual, and clearly knows the lands and waters around…read moreSitka. The boat is great! fast and quiet. Will definitely call on him again the next time we need a water taxi!