Trip Location Options
There are countless areas to explore from the Seward area, and we offer multiple options for our multi-day adventures. Resurrection Bay, Aialik (eye-AL-ik) Bay, Northwestern Fjord, and Prince William Sound all offer fantastic possibilities, depending on what you'd like to get out of your trip.
RESURRECTION BAY:
If you're on a tight budget, but still want to get out and explore the coastline and see some great wildlife - then Resurrection Bay is the place for you. Seward is located on the shores of Resurrection Bay, so you don't need a water taxi to get out and about here. That alone will save you a significant amount of money! It's possible to leave from the western coast of the bay, and do a tour that returns to the eastern coast. Paddle from Lowell Point out to Caines Head on your first day... explore the coastal rainforest and ghost forest at Tonsina Point, watch the salmon spawn in Tonsina Creek (at the right time of year), wander back to a beautiful cascading waterfall, and hike up to the old military fort at Caines Head. Camp on North Beach, at Caines Head, and listen to the lapping waters on the shoreline and the eagles calling overhead. Day two will bring a crossing over to Fox Island, where you can take some time to kayak around Halibut Cove and do some tidepooling on the spit. You can either camp at the spit, head over to the eastern shore to Kayakers Cove, or to set up camp in Thumb Cove. On the final day, you can venture into Humpy Cove to see a fantastic waterfall, paddle south a ways along the peninsula, and finally kayak back to Fourth of July Beach, where we'll pick you up and drive you back to town. Of course this itinerary can change depending on weather and specific trip goals... but there's lots to see here in our own backyard!
Our Kayakers Cove overnight is also a great option for those who want to get out and explore, but would rather have a roof over their heads at night!
There are no tidewater glaciers in Resurrection Bay, and while there is certainly a chance of seeing whales in the bay - it's not as good as if you take the water taxi around to Aialik or Northwestern. But the coastline is gorgeous and offers so many different options for finding adventure and smaller marine mammals and wildlife.
AIALIK (eye-AL-ik) BAY: The next fjord to the west - in Kenai Fjords National Park.
If glaciers, icebergs, whales, and wildlife are what you're after, you should take a look at our Aialik Bay options. We use a water taxi or mothership to transport us all the way out of Resurrection Bay, around the cape, and into Aialik Bay... which is the next fjord to the west. There's a good chance of seeing humpbacks or orcas on the water taxi ride, as well as sea lions, Dall's porpoise, puffins, and lots of other sea birds. It's a 2 - 2.5 hour ride each way to access Aialik Bay by water taxi... or 6 - 7 hours by mothership... and the scenery and wildlife will keep you entertained on the way. Both your guide and your boat captain will have stories and information to share as you travel the coastline.
Itineraries for our various trips in Aialik will vary depending on weather forecasts, tides, trip length, and trip goals. Paddle into secluded coves with magically calm waters, watch sea stars dangle from rocky shorelines as the tides change, gaze upon waterfalls as they dance down the mountainside, watch black bears amble along the beaches or splash in the rivers for a salmon feast, listen to the tumbling roar of glacial ice as it calves into the sea before you, paddle in a lagoon filled with icebergs and be awe-struck by the gentle, sloping glacier that terminates there, watch as playful sea otters feed and frolic, and feel the surrounding stares of harbor seals as they swim nearby to check you out. This land is dramatic, it is fresh, and it is dynamic. Ever-changing and filled with wonderous activity. A trip out here is money well-spent, and will leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.
NORTHWESTERN FJORD: Two fjords over to the west - in Kenai Fjords National Park.
So you want to see the wildlife and the glaciers, but you also want to be more remote and leave the boat traffic and people behind... you should check out Northwestern Fjord. A few tour boats make it out here each day, but not as many as you'll see making the trip to Aialik. Northwestern is farther west than Aialik, and takes longer to reach. It's a much smaller fjord, and has only been created over the past 100 years. As the huge and impressive Northwestern Glacier retreated from the moraine over the last century, it left dramatic rocky cliffs, tumbling ice, and pristine waters. Now Northwestern Glacier is retreating up the cliff face at the head of the fjord. Come see this "geology in motion", as we watch these glaciers shape the land so quickly and completely. The best way to see Northwestern Fjord is on a longer multi-day trip. Both the water taxi and the Mothership take the better part of a day to reach this paradise, so you'll want to be sure to have at least 4 - 6 days to see this area properly.
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND: East of Seward - we often leave from Whittier to save travel time.
Our only trip to Prince William Sound is aboard the beautiful yacht, Miss Brizz. We've recently teamed up with Tom & Nancy Konop, the owners of Miss Brizz and Alaska Wilderness Voyages, to create the most luxurious and exciting trip yet. These trips will most likely leave from Whittier, and you'll spend your time exploring Prince William Sound from their beautiful yacht and our kayaks! Motor into hidden coves and bays, paddle up to tidewater glaciers, and pass the evening fishing from their back deck... this adventure package is sure to satisfy many of your Alaskan dreams! The boat is comfortable and spacious, yet carrying a maximum of 6 passengers makes the experience intimate and personal throughout. Fish, kayak, and explore remote and secluded areas while living in complete comfort.
