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.
Aialik Bay is one of Alaska's most diverse sea kayaking destinations. Three tidewater glaciers flow into Aialik Bay, and the area is teeming with wildlife. 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 numerous 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. 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.
Our 7-day Alaska sea kayaking trip provides a complete 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 Sea Kayaking Trip Includes
Anchorage Departure - Includes transportation to and from Anchorage. No added transportation cost getting to Seward. Included Anchorage to Seward Alaska Railroad and back Seward to Anchorage by motor coach.
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.
Alaska Sea Life Center - Admission to this aquarium and research center is included in your tour.
Seward Lodging - Lodging in Seward is included. We can add to your tour package discounted lodging in Anchorage before and after your trip. Please inquire if interested.
Environmental Commitment - All of our Alaska adventure tours are run in matter to minimize environmental impact. We practices Leave No Trace camping techniques.
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 (included in trip cost). 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 (included in trip cost). 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; Iditaride 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).
You can also visit the Alaska SeaLife Center, admission pass is included in your tour. 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.
2009 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.
May 31 – June 6
June 7 – June 13
June 14 – June 20
June 21 – June 27
June 28 – July 4
July 5 – July 11
July 12 – July 18 web special 25% off
July 19 – July 25
July 26 – August 1 web special
August 2 – August 8
August 9 – August 15 web special
August 16 – August 22
August 23 – August 29 web special
Aialik Bay 7-day sea kayaking adventure – Cost $2338 Prices are subject to change without notice.
WEB SALE 20% off on trip dates:
July 12 – July 18 25% off on this trip
July 26 – August 1
August 9 – August 15
August 23 – August 29
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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Aialik Bay is one of Alaska's most diverse sea kayaking destinations. Three tidewater glaciers flow into Aialik Bay, and the area is teeming with wildlife. 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 numerous 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. 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.
