Haines Native Culture Experience

Experience the native culture of the Tlingit people and the Chilkat Valley on this unique visit to Haines and Klukwan. Your tour begins as you board a high-speed catamaran for a scenic 45-minute cruise to Haines. After a 40-minute scenic drive through the Chilkat Valley and Bald Eagle Preserve, we’ll come to Klukwan, “Eternal Village” of the Chilkat people. Guests will gain intimate, in depth, exposure to the traditional lifestyle of the Chilkat people as their friendly and knowledgeable hosts walk them through the Traditional Knowledge Camp.

Our next stop is the, newly opened, state of the art, museum-quality center. The Heritage Center provides entrance to the Chilkat’s distinctive ethnic landscape with exhibits on their subsistence way of living, the Brown Bear Clan House, their legacy of Chilkat weaving, and more. Your native host will guide you through the educational exhibits and will share their personal experiences and insights along the way. Your visit to the Heritage Center culminates at the Whale Clan House of the Gaanaxteidi where the world-famous collection of four totems and the Rain wall screen are displayed. Next, is a short stop at the gift shop, where guests can shop for local arts and native crafts. Indeed, there is much to see and enjoy in this place, but, visitors often say “One of the best things about Klukwan is the people.”

The Heritage Center is situated in a stunningly beautiful location that offers incredible views. From this serene setting, your guide will set up spotting scopes to watch for mountain goats on the peaks behind Klukwan, or for eagles feeding on salmon along the river’s edge.

Before departing Klukwan for our return journey back towards Haines, we will enjoy a picnic lunch while overlooking the glacially fed waters of the Chilkat River. 

Board your bus to return to Haines to board the catamaran back to Skagway.

00:00 – Group departs dock

00:15 – Group loads Fast Ferry in Skagway heading for Haines

00:30 – Ferry departs Skagway

01:15 – Ferry arrives into Haines

01:30 – Depart by bus from the dock in Haines & town tour (45 min)

02:15 – Arrive at Klukwan – bathrooms & welcome – 10 min

02:25 – Heritage Center, Whale House Collection & story telling (60 min)

03:25 – Adze Shed, salmon smokehouse & walk down to clan house for storytelling (40 min)

04:05 – Arrive at hospitality house for a picnic lunch w/ some time to visit the gift shop (35 min)

04:40 – Load up bus to return to the ferry dock (35 min)

05:15 – Arrive at Fast Ferry dock in Haines

05:30 – Ferry departs Haines for Skagway

06:15 – Arrive in Skagway

06:30 – return to Ship