Seward, AK
Ididaride Dog Mushing Tour Chosen as one of Alaska's top 20 attractions, a must do for all Alaska visitors.
Your Seward Dog Mushing adventure begins with a two-mile dog sled ride. Feel the power, excitement, and energy of sled dogs as they are harnessed to the comfortable wheeled dog sled. Upon returning to the kennel you'll tour the Seavey's family kennel facilities, laugh as a guest is dressed up as an Iditarod musher, and cuddle adorable husky puppies. Your guides are all Iditarod racers, and offer a delightfully humorous, behind-the-scenes look at the Seavey family's training for the most demanding dog mushing race on earth, the Iditarod.
The Real Alaska Tour
Seward, Alaska This Seward tour package features all the attractions that truly make Alaska the Greatland. First, your guide shows you the sights of Seward. Learn why Seward was known as "the Gateway to Alaska" and "Mile 0" of the Iditarod Trail. See first-hand the effects of the 1964 Earthquake. Then, head out to Exit Glacier and enjoy a short walk along the nature trail that takes you to the face of the glacial ice. Watch for mountain goats, moose and bears. A hearty lunch will be served before you travel to the Seavey homestead and experience IdidaRide's Sled Dog tour. At the end your driver will return you to your hotel, cruise ship or the Alaska Railroad depot. All local transportation and lunch are included in this package.
Explore Aialik Bay in Kenai Fjords National Park or Resurrection Bay and see why others are saying it is the greatest sea kayaking location in Alaska.
All-inclusive, Compare!
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Includes DRY SUITS for your comfort. Dry suits can help protect you from hypothermia and help keep you warm and dry.
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If you choose we have single sea kayaks for more personal freedom.
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We furnish you with all the specialized gear, tents, rain gear, rubber boots. No additional expenses.
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Includes transportation to and from Anchorage. No added transportatin cost getting to Seward.
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Includes lodging in Seward before and after the trip. Also special discounted lodging rates for our guest in Anchorage.
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Includes a private after-hours behind the scene tour of the Alaska Sea Life Center.
** Private custom family and group sea kayaking adventures are also available.
Seward Cabins Abode Well Located in Exit Glacier river valley and just minutes from Seward
7 beautifully handcrafted Alaska river valley cabins. Enjoy a peace of Alaskan wilderness among stately 250 year-old Sitka Spruce. Have your camera ready for the variety of Alaska wildlife that frequents this area. These Seward cabin rentals are perfect for the independent Alaska traveler seeking to experience all the wonders of Seward in true comfort.
Seward Cabin Amenities:
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Queen or two twin sized beds
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Spacious bedroom with adjacent sitting room
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Full private bath with custom tile work
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Fresh linens and towels
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Mini fridge
For larger families or groups, we offer a large 2 bedroom cabin that sleeps up to 8. This cabin has a queen and a twin bed in each bedroom, as well as a sleeper sofa. With a gigantic living room and a fully equipped kitchen, this cabin offers all the comforts of home.
Alaska
Bear Viewing 1, 2,3 and 7 day Trips Photograph Alaska's World famous Brown Bears
Our 1 to 3 day adventures takes you to a private wilderness fly-in bear viewing camp in Lake Clark National Park. Few locations in Alaska can match the grandeur of this pristine bear viewing location.
If you're wanting the ultimate bear viewing experience our 7-day includes a Katmai National Park wilderness river trip to see bears along the Savonoski river and ends at the world famous Brooks Falls. Brooks Falls is one of the locations where all the famous bear photos are taking with bears standing on a waterfall fishing for salmon.
Alaska Railroad Denali Star Train
Coastal Classic Train
GoldStar Train
Transportation and tours to popular Alaska destinations
Alaska Railroad Passenger Service You'll know from the very moment you climb aboard the Alaska Railroad you're riding on the best train in the world.The alaska train offers panoramic windows and historical narratives from lifelong Alaskan conductors and tour guides.
Visitors traveling on the Alaska Train can also choose to upgrade to the Gold Star service featuring upper-level dome car seating and a outdoor viewing deck - the only one of its kind.
Whale Watching Glacicer Cruises Kenai Fjords National Park
Seward, Alaska
SMALL BOAT Small Group Whale Watching, Wildlife, Glacier, and Natural History Tour If you want the best Alaska whale watching and glacier cruise experience our small boat tour is the ultimate. We limit our group size to 15 and can poition the boat so everyone gets a perfect view. Also private custom tours with as few as 2 people is possible. We take extra effort so you will never miss that photo opportunity of a lifetime. Trips depart for Seward at 8:00 am.
Kenai Fjords Tours Alaska's No 1 Wildlife and Glacier Cruises Alaska’s most popular wildlife and glacier cruise! Kenai Fjords National Park offers alpine and tidewater glaciers and is home to a large variety of whales, sea lions, sea otters and more. Tours are fully narrated by an accredited wildlife interpreter.
Departure options from Anchorage or Seward are available.
Kenai Fjords Tours offers 6 different of day cruise options with number of departure times. Also there are overnight Fox Island stay options available.
Denali National
Park
Denali Park Lodging
Backcountry Safaris has a working relationship with many Denali Park resorts, hotels, cabins and lodges. With years of experience at Denali we can take the hassle out of trying to arrange lodging at Denali National Park.We offer this service at no additional cost to you.
Transportation to
Denali National Park Denali Park transportation options include motor coach and the Alaska Railroad. One more option if your time is very limited, is by air charter to or from Denali Park. This option is not for someone on a tight budget and best suited for a small group.
Denali National Park
Tours and Packages To make your Alaska adventure vacation complete, a visit to Denali National Park and Mt. McKinley is a must add to your Alaska adventure tour or Alaska cruise. Give us a call to arrange a custom Denali Park Mt. McKinley tour package. Some options you might want consider is a Bus tour into Denali Park, Rafting, Dog Mushing, or a Denali (Mt. McKinley) flightseeing trip.
Backcountry Safaris P.O. Box 231121 • Anchorage, Alaska USA 99523 1-907-222-1632 or toll-free 1-877-812-2159
Backcountry Safaris is a member of the following trade and travel organizations:
Three national parks, Denali, Katmai and Kenai Fjords. Brown bears, whales, wildlife, calving tidewater glaciers, Mt. McKinley, fall colors, hot springs and much more. (more…)
Alaska- just the name conjures up visions of the wild, wonderful creatures of the North Country, brown bears… wolves… Dall sheep… caribou… moose… (more…)
Winter Adventure It's all about fun!
Drive your own snowmobile
Alaska Snowmobiling Snowmobile in the best possible place. The Chugach Mountains will surround you as you navigate your own snowmachine through trails, open fields of powder, beaver ponds, frozen waterfalls.
Alaska
Rafting
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Kongakut River – 10-day Arctic National Wildlife Refuge rafting safari.
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Denali Park Nenana RIver – 2-4 hour rafting trips.
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Chulitna River – 4-day denali raft adventure.
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Lake Creek – 7-day whitewater rafting and fishing adventure.
Our 5-day Aialik Bay sea kayaking adventure allows Alaska travelers with one week vacation time to still enjoy the pristine beauty of Kenai Fjords National Park and have a couple days left to explore other parts of Alaska or as an option to continue on to our Denali National Park Adventure.
Aialik Bay is a spectacular Alaska sea kayaking paradise, with an abundance of wildlife and tidewater glaciers flowing into its bays. A wide variety of wildlife and marine birds call Aialik Bay home. We often see pods of killer whales, humpback whales, harbor seals, sea otters, black bears, mountain goats, bald eagles, the endangered Steller sea lion, and a variety of marine birds, including puffins. You'll see a tidewater glacier, and hear the cracking and thunderous booms as it flows and calves into the ocean. Our experienced sea kayaking guides are here to make this 5-day wilderness sea kayaking adventure the highlight of your Alaska vacation. Visit our Aialik Bay Photo Album.
Your Sea Kayaking Trip Includes
Anchorage Departure- Includes transportation to and from Anchorage. No added transportation cost getting to Seward.
Dry Suite- We supply drysuits for your comfort while kayaking. Most outfitters have you paddling in rain gear. Drysuits can help protect you from hypothermia in Alaska's cold waters. Another advantage to drysuits is that if the weather turns wet, they add warmth and a comfort level you would not think possible in this maritime environment.
Speciality Equipment- We supply the specialized outdoor gear needed. You will save money since you don't have to buy gear that you may only use one time. We supply high quality rain gear, rubber boots, pogies (kayaking gloves) to keep your hands warm, tents , sleeping pads, and dry bags to pack your gear in.
Single Kayaks- Option to paddle your own single kayak. Most outfitters give no choice you have to paddle a double kayak. Please inquire.
Meals- All meals except as noted on the trip itinerary below.
Alaska Sea Life Center- Behind the Scenes Twilight Tour. You'll enjoying a picnic style dinner among Alaska marine animals. Imagine being the only guests in the SeaLife Center! This is private tour and takes place after the Sea Life Center closes for the evening.
Seward Lodging- Lodging in Seward before and after the trip. Also special discounted lodging rates for our guest in Anchorage.
Environmental Commitment- All of our Alaska adventure tours are run in matter to minimize environmental impact. We practices Leave No Trace camping techniques.
ITINERARY Arrival— Fly in to Anchorage International Airport. Plan to arrive at least a day before your kayak trip's departure date. Anchorage offers many fine hotels and bed and breakfast lodging options. We can provide you a list of recommended lodging options or arrange for you to stay at the downtown Anchorage Ramada Inn at a discounted guest rate. Let us know if you would like us to add a hotel stay to your reservation at our discounted rate. The Ramada Inn offers free airport transfers to and from the airport.
Day 1— Your adventure starts at 6:45 a.m. with a scenic train ride on the Alaska Railroad Costal Classic Train to Seward (included in trip cost). If you choose to stay at the Ramada Inn, they will take you to the Anchorage rail station. Other downtown hotels are within walking distance or are a short cab ride away.
The train follows the Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm for about 50 miles before heading into the mountains. The Seward Highway has been designated an All-American Road, USDA Forest Service Scenic Byway, and Alaska Scenic Byway. Turnagain Arm has tides with the second greatest fluctuation in North America, varying more than 40 feet. Beluga whales and Dall sheep are frequently seen along this section of Turnagain Arm.
Leaving Turnagain Arm the train heads up into the Kenai Mountains towards Grandview Valley where you'll travel through lush spruce and birch forests. Keep your eyes open for the occasional moose along the railroad and to see the many hanging glaciers. There's Bartlett Glacier, Trail Glacier, and Spencer Glacier, which stands out as one of the most beautiful glaciers along the southern railbelt. You arrive in Seward around noon.
Our guides will meet you in Seward at the rail station and transport you to your hotel (included in trip cost). You'll have an opportunity to freshen up before heading out on your own to explore the maritime community of Seward. Activities you may want to consider include: a walking tour of Seward to visit the many shops; a harbor and sea wall walk; Ididaride Dog Mushing Tour, museum, or maybe a fishing trip. Ask our travel host about making arrangements for these special side excursions. Seward has many coffee houses and restaurants to choose from for lunch (on your own).
As evening approaches, our shuttle driver will take you to a Behind the Scenes Twilight Tour at the Alaska SeaLife Center. You'll enjoying a picnic style dinner among our marine animals. Imagine being the only guests in the SeaLife Center! This program takes place after closing so you will have your very own private tour. A SeaLife Center interpreter will walk you through the facilities. You will get an in-depth perspective on the Center's past and ongoing marine wildlife research and rehabilitation projects.
Day 2— Breakfast on your own. Our guides will pick you at the hotel at 7:00 AM and with team effort we will load our sea kayaks and gear onto an ocean charter vessel for a three-hour marine wildlife and glacier cruise to our first camp. Along the way, we round Cape Aialik, pass Caines Head, Bear Glacier, and a Stellar sea lion haulout. We'll set up camp, then devote the rest of the day to sea kayak safety and instruction as we paddle around our new environment.
Day 3— Today we paddle our way to the end of the fjord to visit Aialik Glacier. We'll sea kayak through ice and "bergy bits" and watch for seals playing amongst the ice bergs. In front of this active tidewater glacier we'll take a long lunch break to watch it calve into the ocean with a thunderous roar.
Later in the we'll paddle into a lagoon that harbor seals use to escape from Orca whales. Beautiful Pederson glacier empties into an upper lagoon filling it with massive icebergs. There are opportunities in the area to hike along the glacier moraines.
Day 4— We break camp early and head out of Pederson lagoon to meet our charter boat pickup and head back to Seward on another marine wildlife cruise. Our shuttle driver will meet us at the dock and take you to back to your Seward hotel (included in trip price).
Day 5— Breakfast on your own. Our shuttle driver will pick you up at 9:45 AM and take you to meet the bus for your trip back to Anchorage. Along the way you will pass through dramatic valleys of the Kenai Mountains and keep a watch out for bald eagles, beluga whales and Dall sheep on this National Scenic Byway. You will arrive in Anchorage around 1:30 PM.
For those that are continuing on to Denali National Park you'll have about 1 1/2 hour lunch stop at the Anchorage Museum of History and Fine Art before continuing on to Denali. This trip also includes admission to the Museum.
2008 Tour Dates And Rates
Form your own group for a group discount and choose any departure date or choose from one of our scheduled tour dates.
June 1 – June 5
June 8 – June 12
June 15 – June 19 (Web Special 25% off make reservation online)
June 22 – June 26 (Web Special 25% off make reservation online)
June 29– July 3
July 6 – July 10
July 13 – July 17
July 20 – July 24 (Web Special 10% off make reservation online)
July 27 – July 31
August 3 – August 7 (Web Special 10% off make reservation online)
August 10 – August 14 (Web Special 10% off make reservation online)
August 17 – August 21
August 24 – August 28 (Web Special 10% off make reservation online)
Aialik Bay 5-day Sea Kayaking Adventure – Cost $1955 Prices are subject to change without notice.
WHEN YOU'RE READY TO GO!Fill out the secure on-line reservation form or call our office at (907) 222-1632 or toll-free (877) 812-2159. Reservation requires a 50% deposit. We accept payment by VISA/MasterCard. You will receive a pre-trip packet detailing the itinerary of the tour you have chosen and an equipment list. Reservation and Payment Terms)
Last minute reservations may be available so don't hesitate to contact us. If a trip has space, we can get you on it.
Limitations of liability:
Although every precaution is taken to safeguard you and your belongings, our adventure trips involve inherent risks and dangers which are beyond our control and Backcountry Safaris shall assume no responsibility for personal injuries or deaths and loss of personal property. Due to the nature of the activities, a condition of your participation is that you will read and sign the acknowledgment and Release of Liability before the tour begins.
We highly recommend that you consider purchasing travel insurance. Travel insurance coverage can help with expenses for the unforeseeable such as lost baggage
larger families or groups, we offer a large 2 bedroom cabin that sleeps up to 8. This cabin has a queen and a twin bed in each bedroom, as well as a sleeper sofa. With a gigantic living room and a fully equipped kitchen, this cabin offers all the comforts of home
Our 5-day Aialik Bay sea kayaking adventure allows Alaska travelers with one week vacation time to still enjoy the pristine beauty of Kenai Fjords National Park and have a couple days left to explore other parts of Alaska or as an option to continue on to our Denali National Park Adventure.