Seward Water Taxi service is available with our Alaska sea kayak rentals. Backcountry Safaris is happy to offer a complete Seward sea kayaking rental package that includes water taxi service to Kenai Fjords National Park, Aialik Bay, Bear Glacier, Resurrection Bay and Day Harbor.
Our boat captains, Alaska Saltwater Lodge and Aquetec are the two most reliable water taxi and small boat tour services in Seward, Alaska. Let us take the hassle out of your sea kayaking trip plans. One phone call, we take care of all the small details by arranging the whole trip. Our rates are the same, we do not markup water taxi rates. You get the same great rates as if you went direct to the water taxi.
Seward lodging before or after your trip is also available at out Seward Birch Tree Cottage or a Breeze Inn. All can be included in your complete trip package.
A Bear Glacier trip is great do-it-youself destination. The Bear Glacier water taxi trip includes a birding and wildlife tour on the return. Sea kayak rentals are available at our Bear Glacier Adventure Camp.
Our 7-day custom Kenai Fjords Aialik Bay Seward sea kayaking package departing from Anchorage is a combination of the 5-day Aialik Bay sea Kayaking trip and choice of transportation to and from Seward and lodging in Seward options.
Our Seward sea kayaking package simplifies your travel planing. Most air flights to Alaska arrive in Anchorage and on most Alaska sea kayaking adventures you're left on your own to figure out how to get to the sea kayaking trip departing locations. We have simplified this by including the Seward transportation and lodging options in this custom package.
Our 7-day Seward sea kayaking package includes 5-days sea kayaking in Kenai Fjords National Park's Aialik Bay, one of Alaska's most diverse sea kayaking destinations. There is 3 tidewater glaciers that flow into Aialik Bay, and the area is well know as one of Alaska top wildlife viewing hotspots. We often see humpback whales and pods of orca whales -- sometimes we get quite close to them. Dall porpoise, harbor seals, sea otters, black bears, mountain goats, bald eagles, and a variety of marine birds including puffins are also commonly seen. We'll sea kayak through rock arches while we explore the rugged coast of this fjord. Three immense glaciers flow into the ocean and we explore them all. You'll sea kayak among giant icebergs trapped in a lagoon and witness the awesome power of calving glaciers from the best seat in the house, your kayak. You'll see lots of waterfalls cascading down sheer granite walls. You can even sea kayak under waterfalls, if you're bold.
Our 7-day Kenai Fjords Aialik Bay sea kayaking package provides a complete tour package; transportation, lodging in Seward and a Alaska sea kayaking wilderness camping experience with enough time to gain an intimate understanding of this magical place. We think this is the single best overall sea kayaking adventure we offer. Take a look at our Aialik Bay Photo Album and see how incredible it is.
Your Custom Sea Kayaking Package Includes
Anchorage Departure - Transportation to Seward both Alaska Railroad and/or motor coach options is available in our custom packages.
Seward Lodging - Pre- and post-trip lodging in Seward is included in your custom tour package. Options include hotels, bed and breakfasts, and hostel lodging for our budget-minded guests.
Dry Suite - We supply drysuits for your comfort while kayaking. Most outfitters have you paddling in rain gear. Our drysuits can help protect you from hypothermia in Alaska's cold waters. Another advantage to drysuits is that if the weather turns wet, they add warmth and a comfort level you would not think possible in this maritime environment.
Speciality Equipment - We supply the specialized outdoor gear you need. This saves you money, eliminating the need for you to buy gear you may use only once. We supply high quality rain gear, rubber boots, porgies (kayaking gloves) to keep your hands warm, tents, sleeping pads, and dry bags to pack your gear in.
Single Kayaks - We provide an option to paddle your own single-person kayak. Most other outfitters use only two-person kayaks. Please inquire.
Meals - Meals while sea kayaking are included. Meals in Anchorage and Seward are not included.
Environmental Commitment - All of our Alaska adventure tours are run in matter to minimize environmental impact. We practices Leave No Trace camping techniques.
High Quality Experience - Recognized by the National Geographic 2007-2009 as one the best adventure travel companies in the world.
EXAMPLE ITINERARY ** Arrival — Fly in to Anchorage International Airport. Plan to arrive at least one day before your kayak trip departure date. Anchorage offers many fine hotels and bed and breakfast lodging options. We can provide you a list of recommended lodging options or include hotel lodging in Anchorage with your tour package at a discounted guest rate. Let us know if you prefer the discount rate lodging option.
Day 1 — Your adventure starts at 6:45 a.m. with a scenic train ride on the Alaska Railroad Costal Classic Train to Seward. Many hotels offer shuttle service to the Anchorage rail station. Downtown hotels are within walking distance or are just a short cab ride away.
The train follows the Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm for about 50 miles before heading into the mountains. The Seward Highway has been designated an All-American Road, USDA Forest Service Scenic Byway, and Alaska Scenic Byway. Turnagain Arm has tides with the second greatest fluctuation in North America, varying more than 40 feet. Beluga whales and Dall sheep are frequently seen along this section of Turnagain Arm.
Leaving Turnagain Arm the train heads up into the Kenai Mountains towards Grandview Valley where you'll travel through lush spruce and birch forests. Keep your eyes open for the occasional moose along the railroad and to see the many hanging glaciers. There's Bartlett Glacier, Trail Glacier, and Spencer Glacier, which stands out as one of the most beautiful glaciers along the southern railbelt. You arrive in Seward around noon.
Our hotel shuttle will meet you in Seward at the rail station and transport you to your hotel. You'll have an opportunity to freshen up before heading out on your own to explore the small maritime community of Seward. Activities you may want to consider include: a walking tour of Seward to visit the many shops; a harbor and sea wall walk; Guided Ice Climbing Adventure, museum, or maybe a fishing trip. Ask our travel host about making arrangements for these special side excursions. Seward has many coffee houses and restaurants to choose from for lunch (on your own).
You can also visit the Alaska SeaLife Center. The Alaska SeaLife Center is a non-profit marine science facility. The center's research facilities and naturalistic exhibits immerse visitors in the dynamic marine ecosystems of Alaska and provide opportunities to watch animals in naturalistic habitats as well as research settings.
Seward is a small community and everything is within walking distance. From your Seward hotel you can easily walk to the small boat harbor, downtown and the SeaLife Center.
Dinner (on your own) at one of the local Seward restaurants. Around 8:00 p.m. one our guides will meet you at the hotel for a pre-trip meeting. Tonight will get you outfitted with rain gear, rubber boots and dry bags to pack your gear. Also, our guide will answer any last-minute trip questions you may have. If you prefer to get an earlier start on packing you may also stop by our office and pick up your dry bags.
Day 2 — Breakfast on your own. Our guides will pick you at the hotel at 7:00 AM and with team effort we will load our sea kayaks and gear onto an ocean charter vessel for a three-hour marine wildlife and glacier cruise to our first camp. Along the way, we round Cape Aialik, pass Caines Head, Bear Glacier, and a Stellar sea lion haulout. We'll set up camp, then devote the rest of the day to sea kayak safety and instruction as we paddle around our new environment.
Day 3 — Today we paddle up to face of Aialik Glacier and take a long lunch break to watch the glacier calve and the seals playing on the ice bergs.
Day 4 — We'll paddle into a lagoon used by harbor seals to escape from orca whales. A beautiful glacier empties into an upper lagoon filling it with massive icebergs. We can safely sea kayak next to these bergs when they get beached in the shallow lagoon and can't roll over. From this upper lagoon, we begin a fun but wild hike along the edge of the Pedersen Glacier to a tundra bench where we get a bird's-eye view of the fjord. Time for a short nap, nestled in the tundra like a caribou, while visions of calving glaciers and breaching whales dance in our heads.
Day 5 — Today we head out towards the open ocean and paddle around Holgate Head and back into Holgate Arm.
Day 6 — We break camp early morning and paddle our way to the end of the fjord to visit the last of the three tidewater glaciers in Aialik Bay. We'll sea kayak through ice and "bergy bits" in front of the active glacier and watch it calve into the ocean with a thunderous roar.
Around noon our charter boat arrives to pick us up for the trip back to Seward. Our shuttle driver will meet us at the dock and take you to back to your hotel (included in trip price).
Day 7 — Breakfast on your own. Our shuttle driver will pick you up at 9:45 AM and take you to meet the bus for your trip back to Anchorage. Along the way you will pass through dramatic valleys of the Kenai Mountains and keep a watch out for bald eagles, beluga whales and Dall sheep on this National Scenic Byway. You will arrive in Anchorage around 1:30 PM.
For those that are continuing on to Denali National Park you'll have about 1 1/2 hour lunch stop at the Anchorage Museum of History and Fine Art before continuing on to Denali. This trip also includes admission to the Museum.
2010 Tour Dates And Rates
Form your own group for a group discount and choose any departure date or choose from one of our scheduled tour dates. Prices are subject to change without notice.
May 30 – June 5 (Web Special 25% off the Sea Kayaking)
June 6 – June 12 (Web Special 25% off the Sea Kayaking)
June 13 – June 19
June 20 – June 26
June 27 – July 3
July 4 – July 10 (Web Special 10% off the Sea Kayaking)
July 11 – July 17
July 18 – July 24
July 25 – July 31
August 1 – August 7
August 8 – August 14
August 15 – August 21
August 22 – August 28
August 29 – September 4 (Web Special 20% off the Sea Kayaking)
Custom Tour Package Options
Kenai Fjords Aialik Bay Sea Kayaking Adventure Our 7-day Seward sea kayaking package departing from Anchorage is a combination of the 5-day Aialik Bay sea Kayaking trip and choice of transportation to and from Seward and lodging options. There is a required pre-trip group meeting in Seward on the evening prior to your 5-day sea kayaking adventure. Our sea kayak water taxi departs Seward the next day at 8:00 a.m. Cost $1695 plus the transporation and lodging options below.
Transportation Options Seward/Anchorage Day-1 and Day-7
We highly recommend taking the Alaska Railroad at least one direction coming or going. The train ride offers spectacular views through Grandview and Spencer Glacier valleys, and moose and bears are often seen along the route.
Coastal Classic Alaska Railroad Train
Departs Anchorage at 6:45 AM arrives in Seward 11:05 AM
Departs Seward at 6:00 PM arrives in Anchorage 10:15 PM Rates: Standard Seats/Adventure Class $75 one-way
Dome Car/First Class Seats $130 one-way
Seward Bus
Morning Bus
Departs Anchorage 7:00 AM arrives Seward 9:45 AM
Departs Seward 10:30 AM arrives Anchorage 1:30 PM
Afternoon Bus
Departs Anchorage 3:00 PM arrives Seward 5:45 PM
Departs Seward 6:30 PM arrives Anchorage 9:30 PM Rates: $65 one-way
On the return morning motor coach trip to Anchorage, you may continue on to Denali National Park if you would like to add a visit to Denali at the end of your sea kayaking trip. Or you can visit Denali before your sea kayaking trip. Buses arrive and depart daily to and from Seward with a transfer in Anchorage. Plan a full day for travel to/from Denali and Seward.
Pre- and Post- Trip Lodging In Seward Options Day-1 and Day-6
We provide several options. The most popular choice and best value is the Breeze Inn in Seward. If you desire rates for other hotels please let us know.
Breeze Inn Rates start at $149 per night
The Moby Dick Hostel provides an economical option. Rates start at $19.80 per night
Seward Add-on Options For Day 1 or Day 7
Guided Exit Glacier Hike $125
Guided Exit Glacier Ice Climbing Adventure $185 Alaska Sea Life Center $20
Helicopter Glacier Landing and Dog Mushing Adventure $450
WHEN YOU'RE READY TO GO!Fill out the secure on-line reservation form or call our office at (907) 222-1632 or toll-free (877) 812-2159. Reservation requires a 50% deposit. We accept payment by VISA/MasterCard. You will receive a pre-trip packet detailing the itinerary of the tour you have chosen and an equipment list.
Last minute reservations may be available so don't hesitate to contact us. If a trip has space, we can get you on it.
We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. Travel insurance coverage can help with expenses for the unforeseeable such as lost baggage, trip delays, emergency evacuation, and cancellation due to illness. Also “cancel for any reason options” are available. Travel Insurance is available through Backcountry Safaris / TravelSafe Vacation.
**Tour Itineraries:
Backcountry Safaris and other tour operators that we work with strive to give you a high quality Alaska experience. The tour itinerary shown on our web page is an example tour itinerary. The actual tour itinerary may vary some due to weather, safety, guest abilities and other conditions. Backcountry Safaris and other independent tour contractors reserve the right to change the tour itinerary and/or make substitutions at any time and without prior notice or to cancel all or part of any tour in its reasonable discretion, for the safety of its participants or due to insufficient number of participants signing up for a tour, because of weather, for the comfort and well being of our guests, for any other conditions that might affect the quality of tour, or as deemed necessary by the tour operator or trip leader.
Limitations of liability:
Although every precaution is taken to safeguard you and your belongings, our adventure trips involve inherent risks and dangers which are beyond our control and Backcountry Safaris shall assume no responsibility for personal injuries or deaths and loss of personal property. Due to the nature of the activities, a condition of your participation is that you will read and sign the acknowledgment and Release of Liability before the tour begins. A copy of the text is available on request.
We use independent contractors to supply Backcountry Safaris with various services on many of our adventures. Some trips require us to use independent tour guides, drivers, lodges and hotels, air and water taxis, and other suppliers. Because we do not own, operate, manage, control, or supervise these suppliers, we cannot be liable for any acts or omissions on their part, including any negligence, gross negligence, or reckless or willful acts. Backcountry Safaris assumes no responsibility for any injury, loss, damage, delay, or death to person or property arising from the negligent or willful act or failure to act of any person who is to or does provide goods or services for this trip or for the action or inaction of any other third party. Without limitation, Backcountry Safaris is not responsible for acts of God, equipment failures, vehicle or vessel accidents, illness from food or otherwise, annoyance, delays, failure of any means of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled, and changes in transit or hotel and lodge services over which it has no control.
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Our 7-day custom Kenai Fjords Aialik Bay Seward sea kayaking package departing from Anchorage is a combination of the 5-day Aialik Bay sea Kayaking trip and choice of transportation to and from Seward and lodging in Seward options.
