Kenai Peninsula Kayak Expedition

Trip Overview

Length:

18 days / 16 days kayaking

Difficulty:

4 / 5

Price:

$3500 USD

Location:

Kenai Penninsula, Alaska

Dates:

2022 - July 8th to 25th

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What makes this trip special

16 days of remote wilderness paddling
Tide water glaciers
Exposed coastline
Sea caves and arches
Abundant wildlife including whales, sea lions, sea otter and bears
Incredible mountain views

The Tour

We will paddle through the remote Kenai Mountain range, where 6000 ft glacier capped peaks descend to pristine beaches. Witness calving glaciers, paddle past feeding bears and share the same waters with orca, humpback and minke whales.

Paddle exposed coastline, travelling through wind, swell and rugged fjords. For portions of the trip, we will travel through protected archipelagos, with channels and a myriad of islands. Sea otter, sea lions and seals are a regular occurrence, and sea birds in the thousands will greet us as we paddle past cliff faces.

Incredible views of tidewater glaciers, mountain ranges and rugged coastline will greet us each day. Be prepared for 16 days of challenging, yet rewarding kayaking for an adventure of a lifetime you won’t forget!

The Place

The Kenai Penninsula is a large peninsula jutting out from the coast of South Central Alaska. To the west is Cook Inlet and to the East is Prince William Sound. This is a wild place, with massive tidewater glaciers, rivers, and 6000ft mountain peaks.

The Weather

The weather in the summer can change dramatically as this area is exposed to the pacific ocean. Temperature can range from 10C- 18C during the day. Winds can whip up quickly on the exposed coast.

Ocean Conditions

We will experience a variety of ocean conditions on this trip. Large swell and strong currents, strong winds as well as protected bays where the ocean is mirror calm.

The Sea Kayaking

We will experience every sort of paddling condition during this trip. Paddlers must be experienced expedition kayakers and very comfortable paddling in a variety of conditions. We may paddle in 10 ft swell 20 knot winds, and strong ocean currents. This is a cold water environment where weather can change very fast. Paddlers must be familiar with surf landings and launches and be able to spend hours at a time in the boat.

What's Included

All breakfast, lunches and suppers starting on Day 2 of the trip through to lunch on Day 17
Expedition kayaks, paddles, life jackets and safety equipment
Dedicated kayak guide
Guided walks and land excursions
First night in Homer and last night in Seward

What's Not Included

Any flights
Airport transfers
Meals on Day 1
Alcoholic beverages
Travel insurance
Camping equipment (tents, sleeping bags, thermarests)

Trip Itinerary

Our itinerary will ultimately be determined by the weather and sea conditions. This is an 18 day trip with 16 days of paddling. The trip begins in Homer AK and ends in Seward AK.

Day 1

Meeting location

We will organize a pickup in Anchorage for each guest at noon on Day 1. A 1.5 hour shuttle will bring us to a small town, Hope, where we will sort our equipment, choose and outfit our boats, load the kayak trailer and van and spend the night in Hope. Any extra luggage can be left at this base in Hope.

Guesthouse. D.

Day 2

Early morning we will hit the road for Homer, an hour and a half drive. Upon arrival in Homer, we will unpack all our gear, load our kayaks and head out into the unknown!

Camping. B-L-D

Day 3 – 17

We will enjoy 15 days of remote wilderness paddling. Exploring tide water glaciers, exposed coastlines, sea caves and arches, shelter fjords and island archipelago’s. Each day’s route will depend on sea state and weather conditions and your guide will assess these conditions accordingly.

Camping. B-L-D

Day 18

Arrival in Seward. We will transfer to our base in Hope for our final evening of the trip. We will shuttle back to Anchorage in the evening.

B-L-Dinner not included.

Accommodation

This trip is a wilderness camping based expedition. The highlights of our tent based expeditions are sleeping under the stars, total flexibility in our route plan depending on weather and group desires, as well as self sufficiency during the trip. Tent based trips offer an intimacy with the natural environment that we don’t experience anywhere else in our modern everyday lives. Waking up to the sights and sounds of the wilderness offer a peace and tranquility to each day. Ending the day around a campfire, watching the sun go down and the stars come out is one of the highlights of these trips.

Each evening we will set up tents in a different location along our route and spend the night in a beautiful wilderness setting. The requirements for our evening campsites are beautiful views, water front property, and some sort of beach for ease of access with our kayaks.

Each campsite will consist of an area where we set up tents, a separate kitchen area where our dining tarp and kitchen are set up and a designated wilderness “bathroom”.

Photo Gallery

Route Map

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the meals like on this trip?

The meals will be prepared by your guide on the trip in a camp setting. Western type food will be provided with protein, vegetable and carbohydrate options for each meal. Meals are nutritious and healthy are aimed at providing participants with the energy required for a full day of paddling. We can accommodate any dietary restrictions so please let us know prior to the trip of any dietary needs.

Will we encounter rain on our trip?

There is a high chance of rain in Alaska. Guests should have excellent quality rain gear for both on the water and on land. A sturdy tent with a full coverage fly is a necessity during the trip. We recommend bringing a small tarp to add rain proofing to your tent at night. There will be a group tarp to protect against the elements when in camp or lunching on beaches.

What sort of winds will we encounter while paddling?

We will most likely encounter all sorts of winds. From calm to 15-20 knot winds. We may have day were we are beach bound because of the strong winds.

Will we encounter Swell during the trip?

The area we will paddle in has both protected waters and exposed coastline. We will be paddling in swell throughout the trip. One to three meter swell can be expected.

What is the average air temperature?

Air temperature can hover between 6C-15C.

What is the average ocean Temperature?

Average ocean temperature is 10C.

What sort of kayak will we be paddling?

There are numerous options for kayaks to paddle. We have both rudder and skeg boats as well as single and doubles. Please let us know your preference beforehand and we will reserve that type of boat for you.

What kind of paddles will be used?

We have Werner fibreglass blades. They are good blades, but if you are used to a carbon fibre or Greenland style paddle you may prefer to bring your own paddle.

What is a typical day like on the trip?

A typical day is as follows. This will depend on weather conditions: 730 am breakfast 900 on water paddling and exploring the area 1200 lunch break 1300 afternoon paddle 1700 arrive at our campsite for the night This will vary greatly depending on weather, currents, and conditions.

What sort of distances will we paddle each day?

The average distance we will paddle each day is 20-40 km a day.

How many hours will we paddle each day?

We will kayak around 6 hours a day with lunch breaks and rest stops during that time.

Will we encounter mosquitos?

We will encounter mosquitos during the trip. Some summer seasons can be worse than others. Make sure you have a mosquito head net and mosquito spray.

Trip Reviews

Scott Warren

I had a fabulous time paddling with Angela around the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. I felt pretty spoiled the entire time. On this paddle, I did not have to worry about anything. Angela took care of the entire adventure and I just had a great time paddling in the most awesome location imaginable. Angela is a very strong paddler and exceptional guide. She is very professional and has great decision making skills.

There were sunny days, rainy days and foggy days but no matter what type of day it was, the scenery and paddling were fantastic. Huge mountain ranges with glaciers all around you was the norm. Lots of caves to paddle into and explore and arches to paddle thru. Every one of our camping spots was unique and beautiful. It just doesn’t get any better.

We had fresh vegetables for the entire adventure. Along with that, not only is Angela an exceptional kayaker but she also earned the nick name of “Chef Angela”. All of our meals were outstanding. And, fresh baked brownies in the middle of the wilderness do not get any better! I had so much fun paddling with Angela in Alaska that I already have plans for two paddle adventures with her next summer.

Application Form

Once you’ve filled out our online application form we will contact you within 24 hours. Our follow up email will include the detailed trip notes.

We’ll also send you a medical form. This helps us make any necessary preparations, it does not exclude you from the trip. To secure the booking we require a 500 Euro deposit for each person. If you’d prefer to contact us directly we can be reached at info@expeditionengineering.com or at +12502662515

We’d be happy to discuss different trip options and help you find the perfect expedition holiday.

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