FAQ

When joining one of our tours, we ask you to come prepared. We are located in a coastal temperate rainforest, so it’s often raining, drizzling, or foggy – and we paddle rain or shine. Some days are warm and sunny, and you’ll want to be in a short-sleeved shirt, but the conditions can turn quickly here, so we always pack for wet weather. You’ll receive a detailed, trip-specific packing list in your confirmation email upon booking your tour.

As a general rule, you’ll want to avoid cotton and jeans. Once these get wet, whether on a hot day or a cold and stormy one, they will stay wet and make you cold. Wool or synthetics are ideal: polypro, capilene, fleece, etc. Clothing that wicks away sweat, insulates, and dries quickly is what you’re looking for.

Over everything else, rain gear is always an essential item. It’s better to have it and not need it, than be without! Rain pants and a good rain jacket are a MUST. If you don’t have adequate rain gear, we have some on hand for you to borrow (at no extra charge). It’s high quality and will keep you dry on your tour, but if you’re doing any other outdoor activities during your time in Alaska, we strongly recommend you invest in solid rain gear for your trip.

As for your feet, guests are usually happy with hiking boots or running shoes (rubber boots or closed-toe water shoes are also appropriate). Our guides will do their best to keep your feet dry while getting in and out of the kayaks by launching and landing from the water’s edge, but nothing is a guarantee, and your feet certainly might get wet. Warm, wool socks are a good choice too, knowing you may not stay 100% dry, but you’ll be warm.

We require rain gear (water proof jacket and pants) for all of our full day tours, and highly suggest at least a rain jacket for our half day tours. We operate in a coastal temperate rainforest, so we see a high number of drizzly days and we want to be sure our guests stay warm and dry.

If you don’t have your own rain gear, we’re happy to lend you a high-quality, waterproof rain jacket and rain pants to make sure you stay dry and warm. However, if you’re doing any other outdoor activities during your time in Alaska, we strongly recommend making the investment to buy your own rain gear for your trip – you won’t regret it!

There is a chance you may get wet while kayaking, it is a water sport after all. Your feet may get a bit wet on launching or landing (they will definitely get wet on launching / landing on extended multi-day camping trips using fiberglass boats). Your sleeves may get wet from drips off the paddle, and if it’s a windy day, your upper body may get splash and spray from the waves.

Otherwise, rain is the most likely factor for getting wet (and remember, we paddle rain or shine!). Please come prepared with an extra layer or two, in case you do get a bit wet or cold. Just remember synthetic layers are the best way to keep warm if you’re wet, unlike cotton or jeans, which will just make you cold. Please consult your confirmation email for your detailed, trip-specific packing list!

While nothing is guaranteed, the chances of seeing wildlife on our tours are very good. The beauty of this place results from every day being different; the water, weather, tides, and participants, but also the wildlife all change every time we go out. Bald eagles, marbled murrelets, pigeon guillemonts, and other sea birds are seen most days, with few exceptions. On half and full day trips that stay in Resurrection Bay, there are chances of seeing sea otters, seals, sea lions, salmon, harbor porpoises, and other marine creatures.

Our trips that take you further out into the fjords (to Aialik or Northwestern) offer the opportunity of spotting orcas, humpbacks, sea lions, and puffins along the way. Passing the Cape of Ailaik, on the way from Resurrection Bay to Aialik Bay, the likelihood of seeing wildlife increases dramatically, due to the location of nesting and feeding areas. While on the water taxi ride on these trips, it’s both important to scan the water and to look up for black bears or mountain goats on the mountain sides.

The unpredictable nature of wildlife sightings in the fjords is part of the magic of this place. But the more eyes we have looking for it, the more likely we are to spot something!

No experience is needed to join our trips. We just ask that you bring a positive attitude and an open mind!

All of our guests paddle double kayaks, which are much more stable than singles and allow two people to work together to make the boat move. They are decked sea kayaks, and you’ll be wearing a PFD and a spray skirt at all times while on water. Our kayaks have rudders, so the person sitting in the back will steer the boat using their feet. With an even number of guests, the guide will paddle a single kayak, and guests will all be in doubles. If we have an odd number of people on the trip, the guide will paddle in the back of one of the doubles.

You guide will give a paddling 101 and safety talk before you even leave the beach. This will include how to properly wear and adjust your equipment, basic paddle strokes, and tips for efficient group paddling.

Paddling is a sport, and it does involve effort and sustained activity. Nothing will make the boat move except for you. This is important to understand, but it’s also necessary to know that it’s relatively easy. We take kids as young as 6 all the way up through great-grandparents! It is very rare that the wind is blowing too hard to take a trip out, but if we don’t think you can handle it, we won’t go.

We will take our time and explore the coastline while discussing the natural history of the area and the wildlife we encounter. These trips are not a race or a fitness contest; they are an exploration of the Alaskan wilderness that anyone can take part in. We keep our groups close together on the water and try to assign paddling partners so that all boats will move at a similar pace.

It is very rare that a boat will capsize – and usually when it does, it’s because people are joking around and acting inappropriately. Is it possible? Yes. Is it usually preventable? Yes. Does it happen often? No. The boats we use are very stable, and you will receive basic kayak instruction before getting on the water. You do not need to be a swimmer, as everyone wears a PFD (personal floatation device or “life jacket”). If your boat should tip, your PFD will keep you afloat, and your guide is fully trained to get you back into your boat quickly.

Of course! There are so many photo opportunities in Ressurection Bay and Kenai Fjords, it would be a shame to miss them. Clearly, it is a concern to keep your camera dry and protected. We will provide a 10 Liter day trip dry bag for your camera which you can keep on the deck of the boat while you’re paddling. This way, you can access your camera during your paddle, but when you’re not using it, it will be safe and dry.

Some guests like to use their cell phone to take pictures and just carry it in their PFD (life jacket) pocket or in a hanging case around their neck. This is a personal choice as we cannot be responsible for damage to your phone. This does, however, make it easy to access while you are in the kayak.

If you’re a serious photographer and have a lot of camera gear, we recommend joining us for the Aialik Glacier Day Trip and bringing your larger camera along for the water taxi ride. You can leave a day pack or bag of extra things on the water taxi while kayaking, so you don’t need to worry about keeping your camera equipment dry in the kayaks. That way you can take some great shots while on the water taxi, and enjoy the paddling while in the kayaks!

The weather in Seward varies a lot. We are located in a coastal temperate rainforest, so cool days and steady drizzle come our way quite frequently. In the summer months it is often in the low 50s – low 60s and overcast. Typically the drizzly days provide calmer waters and better wildlife viewing. We can have days in a row with blue skies and warm temperatures as well. However, we often see more wind when it’s sunny out, especially in the afternoon, which makes paddling more difficult.

We will take trips out in all weather, as long as the conditions are safe. Please be prepared for cold and rain during your trip to Seward. Many people watch the online weather forecast carefully, and try to plan their trip around it – but honestly, that forecast is often wrong, and your best bet is to just get out and enjoy the area rain or shine!

Our guides work in the industry because they love being outdoors, teaching others, and meeting people like you. Tips can go a long way towards making guiding a feasible long-term career choice. It is an industry standard to tip your guide if you feel they did a good job providing an enjoyable and informative trip.

There are many schools of thought on how much to tip, but a common estimate is between 10% and 20% of the trip cost, like waitstaff in a restaurant. As in any service industry, your tip should be based on the service you feel you received. Please keep this in mind when the time comes. Gratuity is always appreciated!

We welcome solo travelers and are happy to add you to any of our tours. We keep our groups small (6 guests or fewer) and our Adult Tours are for ages 14+ only (all groups with kids will be on their own Private Family Tour). Because we require a minimum of two people for our trips to run, we will need to add solo travelers to a trip that we already have folks signed up for. Give us a call or send us an email with your desired tour and the dates you are available, and we will do our best to match you up with a group going out. You may also sign up online, and if there is a group already booked, the reservations system will allow “1” guest from the drop down menu (if “1” doesn’t appear, we likely don’t have a group to which we can add you).

No, we do not allow drones on any of our tours. Drones have been proven to disrupt marine mammals, such as harbor seals and whales, and alter their behavior. This is costly to these animals from a resource standpoint, because every time we change their course or behavior, they have to work harder to get where their going, feed themselves, or care for their young. Disrupting these animals in such a way can be considered a ‘take’ under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, a regulation in place to protect these fragile species.

Drones are prohibited in Kenai Fjords National Park. We paddle in other protected areas where drones are also not allowed. In addition to the possible harm to the local wildlife, drones can be disruptive to other visitors and paddlers looking to enjoy this peaceful place. Instead, we encourage you to soak up the solitude and enjoy the wilderness.