alaska sea kayak - day trips

Our family of five, two out of shape parents and three teenage boys, took the full-day Blackstone Bay trip in early June 2014 and cannot recommend it highly enough. Every one of us rated it far and away the highlight of our two-week visit to Alaska. Pete runs a wonderfully friendly and welcoming, but highly professional enterprise. Every aspect was well-prepared and executed, from the highly-trained staff to the safety demonstration, gear preparation, boat excursion, and the outstanding picnic lunch on a beach. We always felt safe and in capable hands, and because of that we could relax and enjoy the wonder of our surroundings. I kayaked with my especially hard-to-impress 13 yr. old, who repeatedly said things like, “OK, this is pretty amazing.” Calving glaciers, waterfalls, astonishingly large roosts of birds on cliffs, touching ancient glacier ice in the water and on the beach, otters, nearly total seclusion, clean and crisp air and water. No shortage of wonders. Made our trip!

We were rank amateurs and not so young any longer and Peter and the gang set us up and took us on a trip that matched our capabilities. The area is beautiful and we had so much fun we got our own kayak when we got home and hopefully, if we get to do this again, we will be able to do more. I had forgotten my wallet in the dry bag and Peter even came to the tunnel to deliver it. Highly recommended. Even if you have never kayaked before, they will set you up and get you going.It is just a short walk from the cruise ships and Peter answered all my questions ahead of time via email and phone.

There's a reason this Blackstone Bay excursion has such good reviews--great sites and superb service and guides. Some in our group of 8 had never kayaked before so we went to their shop the afternoon before and met Peter, the owner. He was so helpful telling us what they would provide, tips on what we should wear and bring and showing us on their map where we would be going. The next morning our guides McKenzie and Tennessee Bruce did a great getting us suited up and out the door. It was about a 45 minute boat ride to our drop off. During our trip, we saw 4 different glaciers and got as close as was safely allowed. We did a shore lunch that included hot drinks, smoked salmon, pasta salads and all kinds of treats. The trip through the ice field was awesome--just the sound of paddles hitting the water and the calfing of the glaciers--surreal.

totally worth the price! Peter, the owner, is fantastic! Our guides were Jeff and Jen and they were outstanding - very knowledgable, very safe/properly trained/experts in kayaking this area!Peter had all the gear we needed too - and the gear was all top quality - no crappy gear.don't hesitate even though the all day blackstone bay trip is expensive - it's totally worth it and you'll be out there ALL day, lol. but it's relaxing and not strenuous - I'm not in fantastic shape and did fine. at the end of the day, they told us we did 12 miles! didn't feel like it though! and I wasn't sore the next day either!the salmon berries were also ripe and we got to stop and pick/eat berries at 2 different places! (end of July) - this was just awesome!nice lunch stop on a great little beach area - with fantastic, fresh, healthy lunch - with options to please everyone!for females - the potty issues wasn't too bad. having a girl guide helped with this of course, lol - but there were a few places to get out and find a hidden spot - and the guides have tp and eco bags for waste if really needed (we didn't need).

Where do I begin?!?! If you are in the Whitter or Anchorage area, do not miss this opportunity to get up close to the glaciers by sea. We opted to do the full day excursion that explores the many glaciers in Blackstone Bay. Peter, the owner of Alaska Sea Kayakers, was very helpful in getting a group together and having all the gear you will need. Our full day tour was at the end of June and despite the cloudy skies, it was still an AWESOME trip. Knowing that I wanted to kayak, I had contacted ASK very early and Peter said he would let me know if others would join us for our excursion. For those who have never kayaked, rest assured that the trip is definitely doable if you're in decent shape. You do not need to be an athlete for this trip. ASK will provide you with all the gear you need. They have the dry suits available, but it is unnecessary, especially if the weather is warm. All the kayak gear was definitely of high quality. They provided us with rubber boots, poagies, lightweight Werner paddles, lightweight rain jackets (heavier rain jackets were also available as well), dry bags for your personal items and bib pants. You have to just dress in layers and the weather. I would recommend bringing work out gloves to prevent blisters. By the end of the day, you may end up with some blisters; I did within an hour into the kayak, but I still had a blast! Also, if the kayak does not come with a cushion, maybe bring an extra sweater to use as a cushion. If the weather is cooler, don't forget a hat. Our guide was Drew and I agree with a previous reviewer - he was very friendly, calm, informative and careful. He made sure we were getting close, but not dangerously close to the glaciers. As the day ended, he took us to see a very cool ice cave beneath a glacier.

ASK's Blackstone Bay full day tour on 30th June 2014.Everyone in the group of 8, young and old, had a great time. Our guide ‘Drew was excellent: friendly, calm, capable, careful, informative and the lunch he made was satisfying. The kayak gear was of high quality.The paddle distance and speed were both not excessive for an average healthy 61 year old. The weather was overcast, cold and misty, but in one layer of long thermal underpants and two undershirts underneath ASK's plastic raingear (plus a hat, socks and gloves) I was warm enough. The glaciers and waterfalls were massive. Lots of ice chunks floating along in the water, and we even saw a seal. The hike up to an ice cave on the last glacier (land-locked) was fun as well. Peter Denmark helpfully and patiently answered my multitude of questions beforehand. It's not a cheap or quick tour, but it is a great experience - worth every cent.

My wife suggested sea kayaking as one potential outing during our Alaska trip, and we are thrilled that we actually did it. We did the "Passage Canal" tour and were blessed with beautiful weather for the day (except for just enough wind that we weren't able to row across the Sound to the base of the glacial waterfalls). We had our guide, Jen (who was great) all to ourselves for the day, which was great for setting our own pace and having a flexible schedule. She was very skilled in getting us comfortable with the kayak -- a first-time experience for us both -- and had great knowledge about the area, local plant life, etc. that made talking with her a plus for the outing (and, she was also great about just letting us all enjoy the soft quiet natural music of the water, breeze, and birds). The occasional stops for short hikes: up to a waterfall on one, and - for others - some scenic promontories that included easy access to picking fresh blueberries & salmonberries. The scenery is breathtaking in size & beauty, and the closeness to the water with the quiet of kayak cruising was a wonderful way to see/experience it all. Kayaking provided a great upper-body workout (and hiking up to the top of Portage Pass upon our return gave our legs a chance to stretch while getting an amazing "top-down" view of the Sound that we'd seen from below earlier, along with the scenic vistas across the pass). Whittier's reputation for tricky weather seems to keep some people away, which was a blessing for those of us who enjoy nature with few/no people around, and we would definitely go back again next time we're in Alaska.

I had never been sea kayaking before and let me just say, this was amazing. Peter, the owner, is super friendly and communicated exactly what we needed to bring. The guides are all friendly. I went one day with a large group and the next day with a very small group in very different weather conditions - one was a short and T-shirt, beautiful day and one was misty, rainy, and cold. Both times were amazing! The guides are very accommodating and won't leave you behind, giving lots of time for photo ops and all. I felt well taken care of and happy the whole time.

I had high expectations, but Alaska Sea Kayakers exceeded them. The entire staff worked hard to make my trip safe and enjoyable, and I felt as though I was in good hands. Our guide told us that he had only two months’ experience, but I could have sworn he had 15. He was attentive, respectful, friendly and knowledgeable. He had an itinerary but allowed us to make adjustments when we wanted to take extra time to hike up a waterfall. The lunch provided was really good with a salad, snacks, smoked salmon and other quality food. It rained during lunch, so our guide quickly set up a tent so that we could enjoy our food out of the elements.I’ve never had such a good time on a cold, rainy blustery day.I highly recommend Alaska Sea Kayakers.

We had Blaine and one other guy, I feel bad forgetting his name, but they were both excellent. We had one chance at kayaking in Alaska, and thank God a member of our group found this group. They were patient, entertaining, and we enjoyed all six plus hours. Yes it's a long day and your stuff is going to hurt, but with this crew... It is worth every second. Thanks guys, and feel free to keep my blue collapsable water bottle, I forgot it and my wife is still mad.

This was frankly the highlight of our trip. There is nothing better than getting up close to nature and though not an experienced kayaker our guide Bryce who was great directed us to areas and places that you could never experience from a boat or land. In fact we went into an inlet and the salmon were jumping not more than a foot from the kayak--what a blast.Without question Peter runs a first class operation and we look forward to our next kayak adventure in Whittier on Alaska Sea Kayakers.

My boyfriend and I did the day trip to black stone glacier and it was absolutely amazing! Its the best trip they offer and totally worth it. The experience of kayaking to the glaciers is truly incredible and an experience we will cherish. Our guide rich was awesome and the picnic lunch was great! Definitely a high light of our trip.

Wanted to try something new so we picked sea kayaking. We chose the canal passage. Started at 9:45 and ended 4:30. Our guide, Bryce, was great. He was encouraging, patient and observant. We were able to see 2 eagles while kayaking. Such a great experience. The scenery is amazing. During our trip, lunch was provided. It was clean and delicious lunch. I highly recommend sea kayaking.

My son and I recently completed a trip to the Kenai Pennisula area of Alaska which included several hikes to some really amazing places, a flight around Mt. McKinley, zoos and animal conservancies, scenery that is truly awe-inspiring and this specific excursion. Kayaking Blackstone Bay topped the list!The owner of ASK, Pete, was very accommodating in looking for another couple to complete the minimum number of participants, allowing us to take the trip. Rich, our guide, was absolutely the best! The day started at 9 a.m. with getting outfitted with everything we might need - turns out with a sunny, 70 degree day, most of what we packed wasn't needed. After a short water taxi ride and some simple but thorough kayaking instructions, we were off for 8 hours of some of the most beautiful, picturesque scenery one could ever imagine. While tour boats may get you within a quarter to half mile of glaciers calving, kayaking closer and being at water-level at the moment it happens is really hard to describe.Rich provided a tremendous amount of insight regarding the area - was engaging and easy to converse with - and, he put out an amazing spread for lunch on a beach across from a glacier where we watched seals play on the floating ice just a few yards away.If you are in the area, take this trip!

Our family of 4, which included our 20 and 23 yo sons said this was the highlight of our 11 day trip to Alaska! Why? Perfect weather, calving glaciers, endless waterfalls, beautiful scenery, picnic on the beach, seals, otters, eagles and the incredible experience of seeing a breaching humpback whale! Our guides Mary and Ali were very safety conscience during the entire trip, never letting us get too close to the calving glaciers or "burgie bits" and kept our testosterone driven sons in line (: We initially thought we would paddle with a kayak company out of Seward that would take us to Kenai Fjords National Park, but with some research we realized it was a much longer and rougher boat ride to those glaciers than seeing the glaciers in Blackstone Bay. You spend more time in a kayak and less time on a boat when you kayak out of Whittier. Total boat time: less than 2 hours, total kayak time: approx. 6 hours. Thanks Alaska Sea Kayak for an amazing day!