Aialik Glacier Kayak Tour

Join us at our downtown office to meet your guide, gear up, and get ready for the day. The water taxi departs promptly and we have lots to cover beforehand, so be sure to arrive on time. We work closely with a local water taxi (see tab below), and will get in touch with you the evening before your trip to let you know which boat they’ve assigned you to and when to arrive – 7 am or 7:45 am respectively. 

On the 2+ hour wildlife boat tour to Aialik Bay, we often encounter whales, sea lions, mountain goats, sea otters, and other wildlife. In contrast to a large tour boat ride, the water taxi we use is small and provides an intimate experience, with your knowledgable guide always by your side. Learn about the area and wildlife from people filled with local stories and experience, as you connect with this inspiring place.

Once in Aialik Bay, we will get dropped off at our launch beach, just over 3 miles from Aialik Glacier. After an ice safety talk & paddling 101 from your guide, you’ll spend around 3 hours kayaking. Your exact route will depend on the day’s conditions (tides, wind, weather, ice, and wildlife) and your group. The dramatic fjord landscape is unparalleled in its rugged and humbling beauty. Sitting in a kayak at the water’s surface, you’ll experience the raw power, magic, and sheer scale of Aialik Glacier. We’ll eat a picnic lunch, enjoy hot drinks, and hear stories about why these tidewater glaciers are so important to the marine ecosystem.

The water taxi will pick us up at the same beach at which we were dropped, and we’ll have another 2+ hours to look for whales and wildlife on the boat ride back to Seward. You’ll be back at the kayak shop by 5:30 or 6 pm.

We’ve been fortunate to work with our local water taxi partner, Weather Permitting, for over 20 years! Their captains are the most experienced in Seward, and their vessels are all landing crafts that have been purpose-built for wildlife viewing and kayaking tours. Their vessels comfortably fit between 18 and 24 guests. Their double-catamaran hulls provide a balanced, smooth ride and are perfect for coastal Alaska. Sit inside the heated cabin, or lounge on the covered back deck’s bench.

Weather Permitting operates a total of three water taxi vessels, which offers us flexibility and back up options, should a vessel need maintenance or have schedule conflicts. No other water taxi company in Seward has this level of infrastructure or flexibility when it comes to vessels available. We are incredibly grateful to be working with this experienced, professional water taxi.

Because the water taxi company runs two or three vessels each day with staggered departure times, they will assign guests to their vessels the afternoon prior to each trip; we won’t know which boat your group is assigned to until then. Depending on which departure you are assigned to, you’ll need to arrive at our kayak shop at 328 3rd Ave in Seward at either 7 am or 7:45 am. We’ll reach out to you to let you know!

Think of this tour as two-fold: both a boat tour and a kayak tour. To do these tours separately, you would need two days available and you’d spend more money, not just on taking two separate full day tours themselves, but also on two days of vacation expenses (lodging, dining, etc.). The combination of our small, purposeful wildlife viewing tour with the chance to paddle in the most awe-inspiring fjord in the area – all in one day – makes this tour the ultimate fjords experience. Combining a boat tour with a kayak tour also saves you an entire day of vacation, so you can explore and enjoy more of our breathtaking state!

Although all of Kenai Fjords National Park is rugged and enchanting, one of the most important factors in your choice of paddling trips should be location & travel time. Aialik Glacier is the largest and most actively calving tidewater glacier in the park, so its expansiveness is matched only by its ability to inspire wonder. 

Guests will find discounted trips offered to Holgate Glacier and Holgate Arm because this area is closer to Seward, and therefore cheaper to access. Holgate Glacier is significantly smaller than Aialik Glacier and doesn’t calve as often, so we’ve found that it doesn’t provide a comparable guest experience. If you’re already putting in the time and resources to make the trip out to Kenai Fjords National Park, we recommend heading to Aialik Glacier for the most awe-inspiring and memorable glacier experience. 

We have chosen not to run day trips to Northwestern Fjord because the water taxi ride to access this area can be up to 6 hours roundtrip, which is too long for most people. If you’ve come all the way to Alaska to go kayaking, let’s get to the paddling! We do run multi-day trips in Northwestern; since it takes so many resources to travel that far, we like to stay a while once we’re out there.

Both Holgate & Northwestern are much smaller and more narrow fjords than Aialik, so there is not as much room for everyone to find their small slice of wilderness. In comparison, Aialik Glacier is over one mile wide at its face, and thus on a scale of its own.

After 40 years in business, and many tour offerings over the decades, Kayak Adventures has consistently had the best guest feedback from our Aialik Glacier Day Trip. This is the number one factor in deciding where to focus our energy, and we look forward to sharing this place with you. 

• Enthusiastic and Knowledgeable Guide
• Wildlife Boat Tour
• Locally Made Lunch
• Snacks, Coffee and Hot Drinks
• High Quality Rain Gear (if needed)
• Transportation From Downtown Office
• All Kayaking Gear
  • Personal Floatation Device
  • Spray Skirt
  • Neoprene Mitts
  • 10 Liter Dry Bag
  • Stable Double Kayak & Paddle

Seward is located in the northern tip of the largest coastal rainforest in the world, and we see a lot of rainy days here. Our tours run rain or shine, so we ask you to wear synthetic layers of clothing, because cotton (including jeans) get really cold if they get wet. We also require you to have a waterproof rain jacket and rain pants, as this is a full day tour in a potentially very cold and wet environment. If you do not have your own rain gear, we offer high quality, commercial grade rain jackets and pants for you to borrow at no extra cost. If your Alaska vacation includes any outdoor activities, we strongly advise purchasing your own rain gear for your trip. You’ll no doubt need both a rain jacket and rain pants throughout your time in Alaska.

Please wear footwear that you’re comfortable walking in, will keep you warm, and you don’t mind potentially getting a bit wet (closed-toe water shoes, running shoes, and hiking boots are all fine options). We have rubber boots to lend if needed, but these don’t insulate as well and we’ve found people are most comfortable in their own shoes. Your guide will launch and land your kayaks from shore and will work hard throughout the day to keep your feet warm and dry.

We also provide pogies (neoprene mitts for your hands while kayaking) which will keep your hands warm and comfortable while you’re out there. You’ll want to be sure to have your own reusable (non-disposable) water bottle, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.

You will receive a trip-specific packing list upon booking, which will go into great detail about what else to bring. Keep an eye out for it in your confirmation email!

For all tours without a water taxi (Resurrection Bay Half Day Tours and Caines Head Day Trips), guests will receive a full refund for cancellations made more than 1 week prior to your trip date. Within 1 week, your trip fees are nonrefundable.

For all tours with a water taxi (Fox Island Day Trips, Aialik Glacier Day Trips, and all Multi Day Camping Trips), cancellation fees are as follows:

• If you cancel more than 30 days prior to your scheduled trip, we will refund you in full (minus a $10 per person booking fee for day trips and a $25 per person booking fee for multi-day trips).

• If you cancel 15-30 days prior to your scheduled trip, we will charge the card on file 20% of the total invoice.

• If you cancel 8-14 days prior to your scheduled trip, we will charge the card on file 50% of the total invoice.

• If you cancel 0-7 days prior to your scheduled trip, we will charge the card on file the entire amount of your invoice.

*Full refunds include: trip fees, add ons, and taxes & fees, minus $10 per person booking fees for all half & full day trips & $25 per person booking fees for multi-day trips*

For more information regarding our cancellation policies, click here.

We strongly advise purchasing a travel protection plan (see Travel Insurance below).

Why is travel insurance so important?

In today’s dynamic travel environment, it’s important to protect your travel investment so you can relax and enjoy your trip. Unforeseen events such as flight delays, a sudden sickness or injury, or even baggage loss could impact your travel plans. Cancellation fees can range up to 100% of the trip cost, depending on the date and particular trip for which you’ve been holding spaces. For your convenience, we’ve partnered with GoReady Travel Insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For more information on available plans, click here.