Tour Activities

• Sea kayaking
• Camping
• Hikes
• Scenic motor boat ride

Price Includes

• • Meals listed in itinerary
  • Instruction
  • Kayak equipment
  • Tents & sleeping kit

• Guide services
• Motor boat transport
• Park fees

Itinerary

This 4 day kayaking tour is designed for anyone with a sense of adventure and ready to paddle amongst the wonderful shores, ice, and marine life of the Prince William Sound. We will have the chance to paddle through the floating ice of the Columbia Glacier and on to the peaceful bays of Glacier Island. Novice and beginner paddlers are welcome. Note: The 4 day trip has one more day of paddling in the area than the 3 day trip. As Columbia Bay purges more and more ice, the explorable area continues to grow, and the extra day out there is proving to be a nice addition. We really love spending the extra time out there and have seen the 4 day trip become one of our favorite mid-range trips. Day 1: Meet in Valdez at our shop in the morning for a safety briefing and orientation. From there we board our water taxi for the brilliant cruise out to Heather Bay, our access to the mighty Columbia Glacier – the largest tidewater glacier in Prince William Sound. Here we embark on our journey into the massive floating icefield, among its towering icebergs, and eventually to a secluded moraine with a fine view of the distant glacier. Paddle deeper into Columbia Bay in search of photo-ops with huge, deep-blue icebergs. On this night we make camp in Heather or Columbia Bay and settle in for some tasty camp cuisine cooked by our guides. Day 2: Explore the upper reaches of Columbia Bay. Strive for the amphitheater, where all the different forks of the Columbia dump into the sea. This is quite the site and not to be missed! Explore the raw, wild and rugged coastline of Columbia Bay. We have even had the chance to watch transient orca hunting seals in the area. Enjoy another comfy camp and tasty meal prepared by your guide. Day 3: After a hot breakfast we may take a hike before departing south. With the Columbia Glacier to our backs, we will make the crossing over to Glacier Island, keeping a sharp look out for numerous marine mammals, possibly seeing harbor seals, sea otters, and humpback whales. There are numerous bays to explore on the north side of the island, plus a good array of hikes and beach-combing opportunities. We may climb one of the spectacular ridges, giving us wonderful views of Naked Island and the Columbia Glacier. The elusive snow covered peaks of Montague Island may even come into view. Our guides will provide another fine meal before a much deserved sleep. Day 4: Weather permitting, an early start will lead us around the corner of Glacier Island to Bull Head. Here we'll find a colony of Stellar Sea Lions which can be seen feeding, fighting, swimming, and sleeping. These enormous mammals were once thought to be extinct. As you learn about these magnificent creatures, be on the look out for puffins and cormorants inhabiting the rugged caves along the coastline. With humpback whales frequenting the area, Bull Head is a real wildlife hotspot. We stop at one of the most fabulous beaches for lunch and a hike up through the rainforest. After lunch were off to Chamberlain Bay for some more exploring before we are picked up and water taxied back to Valdez.