Alaskan Cruise: Misty Fjords Floatplane Tour

Posted on July 9, 2016 By Joe Hardenbrook

After getting off the ship in Ketchikan, we made our way to the pier where a van was waiting to take us to our shore excursion.

Several months back I had booked a floatplane sightseeing tour over Misty Fjords National Monument through Island Wings Air Service based off of good reviews from CruiseCritic and TripAdvisor. Quick review: It was awesome!

Island Wings, Ketchikan

Arriving at the Island Wings office, we walked down a plank and there was the floatplane. She was a beauty! – A de Havilland Beaver.

After some quick paperwork in the office, Michelle, the pilot/owner, introduced herself and it was time to board. We took off right next to the Crown Princess.

Next to the Crown Princess: Island Wings De Havilland Beaver floatplane

Taking off next to the Crown Princess

Then it was up and away! I thought the journey might be bumpy, but with good weather and Michelle’s steady hands at the controls, I need not worry!

Michelle took us through some gorgeous scenery – open water, mountains, lakes, and forests.

Misty Fjords flightseeing tour

We landed on Nooya Lake and Michelle let us get out, take photos, and stretch our legs for a bit. The lake was so quiet…we were the only noise!

Landing on Nooya Lake. Misty Fjords

Nooya Lake. Misty Fjords

Island Wings De Havilland Beaver floatplane with Michelle, the pilot

Nooya Lake. Misty Fjords

Then we took off again. The fjords are amazing. At one point, it felt like I could reach out and touch them!

Misty Fjords flightseeing tour

We landed back at Ketchikan and all agreed that this was one of our favorite travel experiences…ever! Michelle’s a pro at what she does and the scenery is breathtaking. Total time from pick-up to drop-off was about 2.5 hours.

Below are some more photos. For the full set, check out my Flickr album.