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Located at the head of a deep fjord in the northeast
part of beautiful Prince William Sound, Valdez is surrounded by the dramatic Chugach
Mountains. With a population of just over 4000, this charming town has
much to offer outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.
Valdez is home to 5 glaciers that can be accessed by cruising, flying, walking
or driving. Spectacular day cruises will take you to the best
vantage points for viewing magnificent glaciers, such as the Columbia and Meares
Glaciers. Great flightseeing, hiking, rafting and kayaking trips are also
available and Valdez boasts great marine wildlife and shorebird viewing, not to
mention some of the best fishing anywhere in the world! The community also
possesses three wonderful museums displaying a fabulous collection of Alaska native artifacts and
fascinating exhibits on the area's history going back to the last century.
Columbia Glacier, Southcentral
Alaska's largest tidewater glacier, is featured on this 6 ½ to 7 hour journey
through the pristine waters of Prince William Sound. On board this 80
mile tour, you'll enjoy a chance to view the Sounds' magnificent wildlife:
whales, sea otters, harbor seals, sea birds, eagles, and a visit to the Bull
Head Sea Lion haulout. You'll see the glacier's amazing icebergs upclose
and you will learn about the area's rich mining and fishing history, the
Trans-Alaska Pipeline that terminates in Valdez, the record setting 1964 Good
Friday earthquake, as well as colorful stories about the area's first settlers.
On board a light meal is served, along with coffee, tea, and lemonade. In
addition a small snack bar available.
Offered from May 14 - Sept 18. Departs at
12:00noon and returns 6:30pm - 7:00pm. Adults: $88.00.
Children: $45.00 (Prices include $3.00 per person fuel surcharge.)
This will be a spectacular day spent on
Prince William Sound witnessing the thunderous ice calving from the Meares
Glacier, as well upclose viewing of the huge icebergs floating at the terminus
of largest tidewater glacier in Southcentral Alaska - the Columbia Glacier.
Enroute on this 9 hour, 110 mile cruise, the abundant wildlife of the Sound will
also thrill you - from the Bull Head Sea Lion haulout to the whales, sea otters, harbor seals, numerous sea
birds and bald eagles. You'll learn about the mining, oil, earthquake, and
fishing history and hear stories abou t the first people to explore and live in
the Sound. On board seafood fettuccine lunch and an afternoon snack is served,
along with coffee, tea, and lemonade. In addition a small snack bar available.
Offered from June 1 - Aug. 31. Departs at 10:00am
and returns 6:30pm - 7:00pm. Adults: $128.00. Children:
$65.00 (Prices include $3.00 per person fuel surcharge.)
Climb aboard the Columbia Spirit and enjoy a
rewarding 10 hour day of wildlife viewing in Prince William Sound. On board you
will have a chance to view the Sound's wildlife including the Bull Head Sea Lion
haulout. You will learn about the history of the area and hear colorful stories
about the first explorers and inhabitants of the Sound. If there are kayakers
on board, you'll explore the serene ecosystem of Heather Bay, where the kayakers
will be dropped off for their 5 hour paddle. After the kayakers disembark,
you'll travel south of Heather Bay in search of whales and other resident marine
creatures. A lunch and an afternoon snack are served, along with coffee,
tea, and lemonade. In addition a small snack bar available.
Offered from mid-June - Aug. Departs at 9:00am
and returns 6:30pm - 7:00pm. Adults: $163.00. Children:
$83.00 (Prices include $3.00 per person fuel surcharge.)
Relax on board the Columbia Spirit as you travel
the shoreline to beautiful Heather Bay. Along the way you'll enjoy the fully
narrated tour highlighting the Sound's rich wildlife and the fascinating
geologic and human history. Once arriving in Heather Bay, you will transfer to
your kayak where you will have 5 wonderful hours to explore the fabulous marine
ecosystem and floating icebergs around Columbia Glacier, before being transferred back to Valdez.
Columbia Glacier is Alaska's second largest tidewater glacier. Since the
early 1980's it has been retreating at a rapid pace off the terminal moraine,
and left an 8 mile long field of floating ice in front of it! Today
you'll kayak along forested coastlines and then into the icebergs! You'll even take a break on the glacier's terminal moraine and enjoy a sack
lunch. First time paddlers are welcome. This is also a great trip
for those who want to paddle while the rest of their party takes the wildlife
cruise. On the return to Valdez, an afternoon
soup snack is served.
Offered from mid-June - Aug. Kayakers Check In to
gear up and participate in safety instructions before setting
out.
A
separate water taxi will be used when the Columbia Spirit is not available.
8:00am Kayak Check In and the Cruise Departs at 9:00am, returning 6:30pm -
7:00pm. Adults: $202.00. (Prices include $3.00 per
person fuel surcharge.)
An exciting and educational paddle
over the calm waters of duck flats in our double or triple person
sea kayaks. This 3 hour excursion includes on land instruction and guided sea
kayaking. From the small boat harbor, you will paddle into the calm protected
waters of Duck Flats. The path of the tour will follow a chain of small islands
recognized for their nesting birds and sun bathing seals. Paddling into the
depths of Duck Flats will bring you to the nesting sites of Bald Eagles and
ravens. Enjoy the discussions of natural history as well as the history of
Valdez. This is a wonderful paddle for first time paddlers having a short time
frame.
Offered May through
mid-Sept. Tour Duration: 3 hours. Cost: $55.00 per person.
Gold Creek Kayak Coastal Journey
Starting from the small boat harbor you will
venture into Prince William Sound on a coastal exploration to Gold Creek State
Park. The paddle will treat you to sights of seals, sea lions and sea otters.
Enjoy this more remote paddle to a wonderful beach for a picnic lunch. Hike
through ancient rain forests to cascading waterfalls. Keep your eyes out for
black bears and jumping salmon. The return to Valdez will follow the same route
back to the small boat harbor.
Offered May-July only. Tour Duration: 6
hours. Cost: $75.00 per person.
shoup glacier kayak day tour:
The
Shoup Glacier Day tour offers an intimate experience at one of Prince William
Sound's many calving tidewater glaciers. After a short motor boat taxi ride to
Shoup Bay, you'll find a wide variety of wildlife from seals and sea otters to
nesting birds, bald eagles, bears and wolverines. Over the course of the day
you'll paddle past floating icebergs, a nesting colony of Black Legged
Kittiwakes, and up to the face of the glacier. Enjoy a short walk on the beach
and a lunch spot with a colorful glacier view. (Bring your own lunch.You'll
return to Valdez via a motor boat taxi.
Shoup Glacier Trip Itinerary:
Hour 1 - Gear up and Instruction
Hour 2 - Motorboat water taxi ride to Shoup Bay
Hour 3-4 - Kayak from the boat to the face of the glacier
Hour 5 - A one hour lunch break on the beach by the glacier
Hour 6-7 Two more hours of kayaking back out of the bay to the motorboat pick-up
Hour 8- The ride back to Valdez
Offered Mid May - Mid
Sept. Tour Duration: 8 hours. Cost. $149.00 per
person.
After
getting fitted into crampons, take a shuttle to the parking area at Valdez
Glacier. Your guide will lead you up a short trail to the glacier where
you'll spend 2-3 hours on the glacier ice with a short rest and a snack. Look
for goats, bears, and Bald Eagles. This trip is rated "easy" and is suitable for
anyone interested in hiking, although it does have variable terrain.
Offered Daily June 15 -
Mid Sept. Tour Duration: 4 hours. Cost: $65.00 per person.
Rated "Easy"
For
the more adventurous soul. Get fitted into the crampons before taking the van
shuttle out to the parking area to start the hike. A 1.5 hour hike brings you
out to the climbable sections of the glacier. Please bring a lunch and dress in
layers. The guide will teach basic climbing techniques and set up top ropes for
safety. Each person will get a couple of tries climbing the glacier ice wall.
Offered June 15 - Mid Sept. Tour Duration: 8
hours (3 hours hiking & about 4 hours climbing). Cost:
$110.00 per person. Rated "Moderate"
 After
getting fitted into crampons, you'll take a van up to Worthington Glacier via
Keystone Canyon and Thompson Pass. Worthington Glacier is more strenuous than
Valdez Glacier and quickly increases in elevation. You'll hike for about 2
hours, take a lunch break, and then hike back to the base of the glacier.
Participants may arrange to meet at Worthington glacier with advance notice.
Offered June 15-Mid Sept. Tour Duration:
7-8 hours. Cost: $125.00 per person. Rated "Moderate to
Strenuous"
Worthington
Glacier Hike & Keystone Canyon Raft Trip:
The
itinerary is the same as listed above except that we raft Keystone Canyon on the
way back to Valdez to end the day with some extra excitement. A great Multisport
trip. Worthington Glacier offers great views and varied terrain. Challenge
yourself and get rewarded with a one hour rafting trip. Participants may arrange
to meet at Worthington glacier with advance notice.
Offered June 15-Mid Sept. Tour Duration:
9-10 hours. Cost: $165.00 per person. Rated "Moderate to
Strenuous"
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