Katmai
Park
7-Day Bear Viewing
Adventure Having appeared in magazines and films around the
world, Katmai's brown bears are renowned Alaskan icons. The world's largest
run of sockeye salmon up the Naknek River creates an ideal feast for brown
bears - attracting more than 2,000 of the bruins to the lands of Katmai
National Park and Preserve. This is one of the world's premier brown bear
viewing trips.
Aialik Bay is perhaps the most diverse Alaska sea kayaking location. Three tidewater glaciers flow into Aialik Bay and the area is teeming with wildlife. We often see humpback whales and pods of orca whales and sometimes we get quite close to them in our sea kayaks. We should also see Dall porpoise, harbor seals, sea otters, black bears, mountain goats, bald eagles, and a variety of marine birds including puffins. We'll sea kayak through numerous rock arches while we explore the rugged coast of this maritime fjord. Three huge glaciers slide into the ocean and we explore them all. You'll sea kayak among huge icebergs trapped in a lagoon and hike up to a great napping spot on the tundra. Witness the awesome power of calving glaciers from the best seat in house, your kayak. Thunderous booms from the calving tidewater glaciers' will serenade you to sleep under the midnight sun. You'll see lots of waterfalls cascading down sheer granite walls. You can even sea kayak under waterfalls, if you're bold. Let our experienced Alaska sea kayak guides and gourmet food make this a vacation you will never forget.
Our 7-day Alaska sea kayaking trip provides a complete Alaska sea kayaking wilderness experience with enough time to gain an intimate understanding of this magical place. We think that this is the single best overall sea kayaking adventure we offer. Visit our Aialik Bay Photo Album.
ITINERARY Arrival— Arrival - Fly in to Anchorage International Airport. Plan to arrive at least a day before your kayak trip's departure date. Anchorage offers many fine hotels and bed and breakfast lodging options. We can provide you a list of recommended lodging options or arrange for you to stay at the downtown Anchorage Ramada Inn at a discounted guest rate. Let us know if you would like us to add a hotel stay to your reservation at our discounted rate. The Ramada Inn offers free airport transfers to and from the airport.
Day 1— Your adventure starts at 6:45 a.m. with a scenic train ride on the Alaska Railroad Costal Classic Train to Seward (included in trip cost). If you choose to stay at the Ramada Inn, they will take you to the Anchorage rail station. Other downtown hotels are within walking distance or are 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 guides will meet you in Seward at the rail station and transport you to your hotel (included in trip cost). You'll have an opportunity to freshen up before heading out on your own to explore the 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; Ididaride Dog Mushing Tour, 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).
As evening approaches, our shuttle driver will take you to a Behind the Scenes Twilight Tour at the Alaska SeaLife Center. You'll enjoying a picnic style dinner among our marine animals. Imagine being the only guests in the SeaLife Center! This program takes place after closing so you will have your very own private tour. A SeaLife Center interpreter will walk you through the facilities. You will get an in-depth perspective on the Center's past and ongoing marine wildlife research and rehabilitation projects.
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.
2008 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.
June 1 – June 7
June 8 – June 14
June 15 – June 21
June 22 – June 28
June 29– July 5
July 6 – July 12
July 13 – July 19
July 20 – July 26
July 27 – August 2
August 3 – August 9
August 10 – August 16
August 17 – August 23
August 24 – August 30
Aialik Bay 7-day sea kayaking adventure – Cost $2338 Prices are subject to change without notice.
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. (Reservation and Payment Terms)
Last minute reservations may be available so don't hesitate to contact us. If a trip has space, we can get you on it.
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. We highly recommend that you consider purchasing 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.
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. We make occasional changes in trip itineraries for the comfort and well being of our guests. We will keep you informed of any necessary changes in a timely fashion.
On payment of your deposit to Backcountry Safaris, you agree to be bound by the above terms and conditions.
Alaska Adventure Travel Specialist Backcountry Safaris P.O. Box 231121 • Anchorage, Alaska USA 99523 1-907-222-1632 or toll-free 1-877-812-2159
Why You Should Choose Backcountry Safaris For Your Alaska Sea
Kayaking Adventure
•
Airport pick-up:
•
Anchorage Departure: Anchorage departure on out multi-day trips. You don't have the expense and hassle of renting a car or taking the bus to Seward, Whittier or Valdez.
•
Drysuits: We supply drysuits for your safety and comfort while kayaking. Most outfitters have you paddling in rain gear. Drysuits will protect you from hypothermia in Alaska's cold waters. Your comfort and safety is high on our list. 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.
•
Gear We Save You Money: We supply the specialized outdoor gear needed. You will save money since you don't have to buy gear that you may only use one time. We supply high quality rain gear, rubber boots, pogies (kayaking gloves) to keep your hands warm, tents, sleeping pads, and dry bags to pack your gear in.
•
Insurance and Permits: We are fully insured and have special use permits from the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and Alaska State Parks
•
Guides: Our Alaska guides have the right mix of camaraderie, experience and leadership to make your trip memorable. All are professionally trained experts and have current advanced first aid certification.
•
Safety: Your welfare is our highest priority and is reflected in everything we do. We are vigilant about your safety. We exercise judgment to prevent accidents, are trained to respond to situations, and carry a satellite phone, marine or VHF radio or other communication equipment that allow us to make emergency contact should any needs arise.
•
Environmental Commitment: All of our Alaska adventure tours are run in matter to minimize environmental impact. We also support the voluntary dollar a day for conservation program and the National River Cleanup Week just to mention a few.
Aialik Bay is perhaps the most diverse Alaska sea kayaking location. Three tidewater glaciers flow into Aialik Bay and the area is teeming with wildlife. We often see humpback whales and pods of orca whales and sometimes we get quite close to them in our sea kayaks. We should also see Dall porpoise, harbor seals, sea otters, black bears, mountain goats, bald eagles, and a variety of marine birds including puffins. We'll sea kayak through numerous rock arches while we explore the rugged coast of this maritime fjord. Three huge glaciers slide into the ocean and we explore them all. You'll sea kayak among huge icebergs trapped in a lagoon and hike up to a great napping spot on the tundra. Witness the awesome power of calving glaciers from the best seat in house, your kayak. Thunderous booms from the calving tidewater glaciers' will serenade you to sleep under the midnight sun. You'll see lots of waterfalls cascading down sheer granite walls. You can even sea kayak under waterfalls, if you're bold. Let our experienced Alaska sea kayak guides and gourmet food make this a vacation you will never forget.
