This tour is an Alaskan classic. Start your trip in view of Prince William Sound's largest tidewater glacier. Enjoy the intimacy of a small group as our professional guides lead you through a world of cascading waterfalls, pristine beaches and wildlife spectacles. Paddling and camping in Prince William Sound for 4 nights and 5 days (or 5 nights and 6 days) is enough to convince anyone that the area is truly one of the most beautiful in North America.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Meet at our office for a pre-trip safety briefing, paddling lesson and equipment fitting. After loading kayaks relax and enjoy the transport ride to Columbia, enjoying the views offered through the port and narrows of Valdez Arm. Speeding into Heather Bay, you may catch your first glimpses of Columbia Glacier, the sound's largest. Marvel at the surrounding beauty as we launch into our boats in the tranquil and protected waters. We begin our tour with a relaxing paddle, exploring the small bays and inlets leading up toward Columbia. This is a perfect time to spot playful otters rolling around icebergs and watchful eagles high in the trees overhead. Arriving at the terminal moraine of the glacier, which is the deposit Columbia left behind upon its retreat, we prepare to explore. Don't forget your camera because this is the land of photo opportunities. Walking around giant icebergs stranded on the moraine with the tallest mountains in the Chugach range as a backdrop is not a sight you will soon forget. This is a perfect time to eat lunch and enjoy the scenery. After lunch prepare for a breathtaking paddle in the land of ice. Perhaps this is the experience that lured you to Alaska in the first place … paddling among floating ice in a bay so tranquil you can see your own reflection on the water. Weave your way among the ancient forms as you enter deeper and deeper into the bay. Get your photo taken in front of bergs or just relax and enjoy the splendor. Whatever your taste is, this is an experience that should not be missed. After making camp next to a gorgeous waterfall, relax enjoy your dinner and take in the evening light.
Day 2: In the morning after breakfast we will pack up and begin our tour toward Valdez. Our destination is 17 mile beach, a perfect place to camp with a view. Explore the coast along the way, all the while looking for eagles, seals, sea lions, bears and whales.
Day 3: After breakfast we will pack our boats and prepare for our paddle out to Sawmill Bay, perhaps one of the most beautiful of all the State Marine Parks. Along the way keep your eye out for whales who have been known to cruise this part of the Valdez Arm. After making base camp on a beautiful beach at the edge of an old growth forest, paddle up a pristine river and watch the salmon spawn. This is also a popular place to see black bears and eagles fishing for salmon so don't forget your camera! Upon returning to camp, sit back relax and take in the colors of the evening as the guides prepare (or help you prepare) your meal. Sitting by the crackling of the fire, it is a perfect time to bask in the rich experience of the day and to get excited about the next day's program.
Day 4: Wake up early and smell the coffee! Today we will paddle to Shoup Glacier. After a hardy breakfast, we will pack the boats and begin our journey into the arm and around Potato Point. Along the way bask in the beauty of falling water as falls cascade from hundreds of feet up the cliff faces. This is a great time to watch for wildlife such as otters, seals, sea lions and occasionally whales. Stop for lunch and spend some time beach combing on the rugged coastline between Sawmill and Shoup Glacier, our intended destination for the evening. Once in Shoup Bay, the first views of Shoup Glacier will begin to unfold. After paddling into the inner tidal lagoon you will come in face to face contact with the splendor of a tidewater glacier. Experience the awesome beauty of the blue ice and listen to the cracking and popping as ice prepares to calve into the azure waters of the bay. After exploring and visiting the Black-legged Kittiwake rookery, now numbering more than 20,000 birds, we will make our way to a camping spot. After dinner relax, go for a short hike on the moraine, or simply relax and wait for the special opportunity to see the Northern Lights spread out across the evening, star–filled sky.
Day 5: After a breakfast and beverages, head out into the bay one more time for a morning tour. This is a great time to get those last photos by the glacier. We'll than paddle back to break down camp. Now we begin our journey back to Valdez, paddling the beautiful coastline of Port Valdez. Along the way learn more about the mining and gold rush history of Prince William Sound as we paddle by the cliff mine. Watch for eagles as we pull into Gold Creek, a state marine park. Lunch time and a perfect pit stop in between Shoup and Valdez. After lunch take a short hike up to the steep, basalt gorge littered with waterfalls and big trees. This is the northernmost example of the temperate rain forest which stretches from Coos Bay in Oregon to Prince William Sound and southern Alaska. The last three miles back to Valdez are good for seeing river otters, seals, sea lions and bird life. Pull back into the small boat harbor of Valdez mid to late afternoon. On a 6 Day trip we spend 2 nights in Heather Bay exploring bays and passages around. No experience is necessary. Be prepared for both intense periods of sunshine and for cold rainy days. Prince William Sound has a warm and wet coastal climate, typical of temperate rain forests. Temperatures range between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but abnormally cold spells can happen when night time temperatures drop to the below 40s. You should come prepared for wet or dry weather. Sea kayaking fortunately is a sport that can easily be pursued while raining. Provided you are adequately dressed, seas tend to be calmer and wildlife is more easily approached. You should follow standard layering techniques in your choice of clothing.
We recommend you to bring minimum of 2 sets of warm clothes:
First Set:
- Pants/Long Johns: preferably wool, fleece, or polypropylene - they are excellent sources of warmth even when wet. I recommend fleece clothing because it dries very quickly and retains its warmth when wet. Synthetics do dry faster than wool.
- Upper body: 3 layers of wool/polypropylene /or fleece, (i.e., long john top, shirt, jacket) and a windbreaker.
- Feet: Warm socks, one pair per day and 2 additional pairs. We recommend polypro and wool blend socks with standard high top rubber boots (called break-up boots in Alaska) for getting in and out of the boat, for hiking and tide pooling. I strongly recommend that you bring your own boots, so as to assure proper fit. However we do have a supply of boots available for you to use. Please let me know the sizes you need in ample time so that we can have them available.
- Hands: We provide pogies for fully guided clients. Polypro or wool gloves are also very good with rubberized dish washing gloves to put over them on rainy days Please bring at least 2 pairs of gloves
- Head: A ski cap and baseball cap.
- Rain Gear: Good rain gear is essential for protection from both rain and wind. It should fit well and be sturdy if you have a dry suit, paddling pants, jacket and/ or booties- bring them along.
Additional Set:
- This can be additional warm clothes in case you get too cold or wet & should include: a wool sweater, wool or fleece pants (or light weight wind pants), a wool gloves and/or mittens, wool or fleece hat.
Additional items:
- T-shirt, shorts, thin loose pants;
- Thin loose long sleeve shirt to prevent sunburns, sun glasses;
- Comfortable camp shoes (ex. Tennis shoe, sandals, camp moccasins);
- Sun screen 15-25 rating;
- Insect repellent and or mosquito headnet, small day pack for hiking;
- Croakies for sun glasses or glasses, water bottle;
- Pocket knife, watch;
- Waterproof flashlight or head lamp, extra batteries.
Your personal toilet items should include:
- Towel Toothbrush/paste;
- Biodegradable soap, hand towel for tent.
Camping Equipment: Note: We will provide these items for fully guided clients (if necessary)
- Sleeping pad;
- Sleeping bag –3 season. Down is not recommended;
- Tent – a full cover rainfly is recommended.
Optional Items:
- Camera, film and replacement batteries, binoculars;
- Books, umbrella;
- Fishing license: can be purchased anywhere in Alaska. Licenses can be purchased for a day, week, month, or year.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
- 5 Days - $845/ person; w/meals: $1075;
- 6 Days - $1000/ person; w/meals: $1275.
Also see tour packages in:
USA
Alaska
Canoeing/Kayaking/Rafting
|
| Check out these similar vacation offers: |
|
|
