Quick Details
3 Days/2 Nights
4+ people • Price/person
$ 2,235
4 Days/3 Nights
4+ people • Price/person
$ 1,850
5 Days/4 Nights
4+ people • Price/person
$ 1,580
Aialik Bay is an amazing destination for experienced adventurers seeking a kayaking and camping experience!
Aialik Bay, located in the heart of Kenai Fjords National Park, offers incredible opportunities for wildlife and glacier viewing, kayaking, and wilderness camping. It is an amazing destination for experienced adventurers seeking a unique kayaking and camping experience!
If you’re an experienced backcountry camper equipped with your own outdoor gear this option could be a great fit. To further enhance your adventure, we provide a guide to support you with local insights, interpretation, and safety measures.
Please note that we typically do not set up base camps during our trips. As part of your adventure, you’ll need to adhere to the paddling plan established during the mandatory pre-trip meeting, which takes place the day before departure.
We supply kayaks along with essential kayaking gear, a guide equipped with first aid supplies, a satellite phone for emergency use, and water taxi transportation.
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- This tour includes a 5-hour round-trip water taxi ride to and from Aialik Bay, offering prime opportunities for whale and wildlife viewing. The campsite will be set on several secluded waterfront beaches.
- Our guides will contact guests approximately two weeks before departure, when applicable, to discuss: health concerns, physical capabilities, desired experiences and goals, skills to improve and specific areas of interest.
Following these discussions, the guide will help create a detailed “Float Plan” that outlines all trip logistics, including planned beaches and coves, and necessary gear.
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Aialik Glacier is a very active tidewater glacier, so you’ll likely witness or hear a calving event. During the trip, guests can expect to see several glaciers, including Pedersen, Aialik, and Holgate.
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- Pick up/drop off to and from local Seward hotels, lodges and campgrounds.
- Tandem kayaks
- Essential kayaking gear
- Dry bags
- 5-hour boat ride whale watching and wildlife viewing (round trip).
- A guide equipped with first aid supplies and a satellite phone for emergency use.
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Recommended packing list to ensure you’re properly equipped for your adventure:
- 4-season tent
- Synthetic, non-cotton clothing
- Water bladder
- Water filter
- Small backpacking stove
- 0-degree sleeping bag (synthetic and stuffable in a waterproof sack)
- Sleeping/ground pad (that rolls up to a minimal size)
- Dry bags (10-liter size)
- Rain gear
Space in the kayak is limited, so pack light. Oversized items will not fit inside the kayak. Your guide will review your gear to ensure that it is compactible and fits properly in the kayak. If needed, we have rental equipment available. -
Depending on the time of year, there are several beaches available for landing and camping, with bear box caches and up to 30 coves to explore. Access to specific beaches and camping spots is dependent on the tides.
We remain a safe distance away from Aialik Glacier. You do not want to get too close as a calving event can be very dangerous.
The water taxi is not private. Depending on which boat we are on, the total capacity is either 21 or 28 people. While we maintain a guest-to-guide ratio of 6:1 for our group, there will be other passengers and guides from different companies on the boat.
- All of our trips operate rain or shine. We will only cancel a trip due to high winds in the bay that would create unsafe kayaking conditions.
- A signed assumption of risk and acknowledgement of risks form is required for all participants.
- All of our guests use Fiberglass Expedition tandem kayaks for our trips.
Our Guides – We are very proud of our guide team, and you’ll understand why after just one trip with us! All of our guides hold ACA Level 2 certification, which includes extensive training in water rescues, group management, and more. They also maintain current Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certifications and participate in a comprehensive two-week training course each season to enhance their skills. For guides operating in Aialik Bay, additional specialized training and a rigorous assessment are required to ensure they are fully prepared for this unique environment.