Captain's Choice Kenai Fjords Kayaking Tour

Your day begins with an early morning departure at 6 am on our comfortable water taxi for a two to two-and-a-half-hour wildlife tour and transport to the Kenai Fjords National Park. The boat ride alone is an adventure as we traverse the vast beauty of the Gulf of Alaska. The day continues as we cross the submerged terminal moraine of Northwestern Glacier (a full 8.75 miles from the current face of the glacier!) and into Northwestern Lagoon, where the ocean depths shoot from over 400 feet on the outside to 24 feet at the crossing, and then down to 600 feet on the other side of the moraine! Enjoy opportunities to view black bears, coastal birds, and a host of marine mammals over the whole course of your trip — not just on the sea kayaking portion!

We land ~ 8 – 9:30 am in the heart of the Kenai Fjords National Park on one of many beautiful pristine beaches. Your guide talks you through your kayak and gear on the way, providing paddling advice and raising situational awareness, which should allow for a quick start once unloaded.Then it’s time to start paddling, where a rugged coastline folds into five sizeable glaciers for a full-day excursion. You and your group explore the park, moving from place to place from circumnavigating Striation Island to crossing in front of tidewater glaciers, this journey ranges from 8 to 15-miles, depending on the group’s speed and intentions. Trips travel at the pace of your group, so whether you’d like to cover as much ground as possible or rest on a beach with your journal or camera, we work to accommodate you!

The water taxi boat picks you up in the late afternoon, 4 – 6:30 pm, depending on the day, and the crew loads your kayaks and gear. The return trip explores the Kenai Fjords all the way back to Seward, keeping an eye out for the many whales migrating and feeding through our area. We aim to be at Miller’s Landing between 6 and 6:30 pm, depending on how exciting our sightseeing options are on the way home.We do reserve the right to be flexible — marine weather and logistics can delay things or require an earlier pick-up. Keep in mind they are boats, not trains, and we have to heed the demands of the ocean from time to time.

Your captain makes the call on the morning of your trip based on conditions, tides, weather, and wildlife activity. Both fjords are exceptional and offer glacier kayaking, wildlife, waterfalls, and pristine beaches. If you have a strong preference for one over the other, the dedicated Aialik or Northwestern day trips are the right choice — this tour is ideal for those who are happy to leave it in expert hands.

Aialik Bay features lush temperate rainforest framing the glaciers, with wide, sweeping valleys and massive tidewater glaciers like Aialik and Holgate. Northwestern Fjord is geologically younger and dramatically raw — its glaciers rise more steeply, the granite walls bear fresh ice scars, and there's no time yet for trees or vegetation to take hold. Both include glacier viewing, wildlife, and full-day paddling.

Expect to cover 8–15 miles (13–24 km) throughout the day, at a leisurely pace with frequent stops, a long beach lunch, and optional short hikes. The trip moves at the pace of your group.

The water taxi ride to either fjord takes approximately 1.5 to 2.5 hours each way, depending on the destination and conditions. The ride itself is a wildlife experience — expect sea otters, Steller sea lions, Dall's porpoises, humpback whales, orcas, tufted and horned puffins, and bald eagles en route.

On the water taxi: sea otters, Steller sea lions, Dall's porpoises, humpback whales, orcas, puffins, cormorants, and bald eagles. In the fjord: harbor seals (often resting on ice floes), black bears (viewed safely from the water), coastal seabirds, and calving glaciers. Wildlife is never guaranteed, but Kenai Fjords is one of the most wildlife-rich environments in Alaska.

None at all. Your guide provides a thorough safety and paddling orientation when you land in the park, and the trip is designed for all skill levels.

Trips run rain or shine — rain is entirely normal in coastal Alaska and does not constitute a cancellation. The water taxi has a heated cabin for the journey out and back. If conditions make kayaking unsafe, your guide and captain will adjust the plan accordingly.