kayak tour valdez

Glaciers, Wildlife, Wilderness

An intimate way to experience the alaskan wilderness.

A passion for Alaskan glacier and wildlife kayaking tours in the Prince William Sound wilderness defines Anadyr Adventures, the premier sea kayaking company in Valdez, Alaska.

Choose from a variety of world-class day trips or multiday camping, lodge or mothership based tours. We can also work with you to design a trip customized to your interests.

Anadyr Adventures operates under special use permits from the Chugach National Forest and the Alaska Division of Parks. We are proud to work with Valdez City Schools, Valdez Parks and Recreation, and Advocates for Victims of Violence to introduce kids to paddling.

And we are proud to have received the the 2004 Spirit of Alaska award, presented by ATIA to the Alaskan business best exemplifying the Alaskan spirit of community and public service.

Anadyr Adventures offers four types of trips: day trips for those with limited time in Valdez, multi-day camping trips, Mothership trips for those desiring the amenities of a support vessel, and lodge based trips offering Prince William Sound day excursions from the comfort of a remote Alaskan wilderness lodge. 

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Established in 1989, Anadyr Adventures offers naturalist guided sea-kayaking, sailing and hiking trips to novice and experienced kayakers, families, kids and the physically challenged. We are a company dedicated to sharing with you the beauty of Prince William Sound wilderness. Our groups are small, our impact is low and sustainable tourism is in the forefront of our agenda.

Valdez has been our home since 1984. Through the years we have kayaked, sailed and hiked Prince William Sound extensively. Consequently, we are uniquely positioned to help you plan your trip.

You may choose from a wide range of trips with varying levels of difficulty and comfort; from easy, suitable for novice paddlers and kids, to strenuous, geared for the more experienced paddlers. Our guided trips throughout Prince William Sound are small and intimate, giving you the perfect opportunity to view your surroundings and the abundant wildlife in a way that most larger tour companies simply cannot offer.

The trips we have listed are not exclusive…. in fact, many great tours have not made it on these pages! If you don’t see anything that immediately excites you, feel free to call for new ideas. You will find our staff knowledgeable, our pricing to be reasonable and affordable. We pride ourselves on providing honest and accurate information so that your expectations are well matched with what we can deliver. Don’t hesitate to call or write with your questions at any time.

Why choose Anadyr Adventures for your Alaska sea kayaking adventure?

Anadyr Adventures has over 30 years of experience leading quality sea-kayaking and hiking trips in Prince William Sound.

We carefully select only the safest, reliable and knowledgeable guides to lead you. Our guides are top professionals, who not only teach their skill, but offer interpretive discussions of the local history, geology, flora, and fauna. Whenever possible we make a point to employ locally in order to benefit the local community and its economy directly, thereby providing further incentive for local support and preservation of natural areas and wildlife habitat.

Because we are locally owned, we have more in-depth knowledge to share with you. The majority of our guides are Alaskans as well. Their knowledge of the Alaska wilderness, not to mention our native fauna & flora, was gained from years of first-hand experience in the backcountry, and not read from a book a few months prior to your tour. Your guide will not simply be another guest on the trip with you, but will have valuable insight to offer and practical knowledge to share on the areas you’ll be paddling through. We strive to make sure our guides are equally well versed in the natural history & geology of the area and often employ university professors and museum curators to assist with our training.

Finally, we pride ourselves on offering personalized service. We maintain small group sizes allowing us to ensure the highest quality of tours. We make every effort to coordinate our groups so the interests of our individual clients and guide complement one another. Please don’t hesitate to use “our client feedback” page to ask questions from our former guests.

Anadyr Adventures is a proud member of the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau, Valdez Convention and Visitors Bureau, Valdez Chamber of Commerce, Tok Chamber of Commrs, Valdez Trails Associations, Alaska State Parks Advisory Board and Alaska’s Wilderness Recreation & Tourism Association. We support local conservation organizations and encourages our clients to make a $1-A-Day voluntary donation to organizations working to conserve Alaska’s wilderness. We are proud to have received ATIA’s Spirit of Alaska award in 2004.

Valdez is located on the north shore of Port Valdez, a deep water fjord in Prince William Sound. Referred to as “Little Switzerland”, Valdez is surrounded by breathtaking snow capped mountains. Valdez lies 305 road miles east of Anchorage, and 364 road miles south of Fairbanks.

Valdez can be reached by the Alaska Marine Highway. The state ferry provides transport to and from Whittier, Cordova, Kodiak, Seward and Homer. It takes 6 hours from Whittier to reach Valdez via the ferry system.

Alaska Airlines has two, and sometimes three, daily flights from Anchorage. The flight from Anchorage to Valdez takes 40 minutes. Our advice is to make your reservation for an earlier flight or even for the day before to avoid potential flight cancellations.

The Richardson Highway connects Valdez to Anchorage, Fairbanks and Canada. Driving time from Anchorage to Valdez is 6 hours. Allow ample time for driving because the highways are very scenic and you’ll want to stop to admire the view and take pictures. Along the way there are a number of roadside lodges and campgrounds. If you are driving from Anchorage we recommend food and lodging at Sheep Mountain Lodge.

Once you reach Thompson Pass and enter Keystone Canyon, you are getting close to Valdez. Follow the Richardson Highway into town, ( about 10 miles), passing a number of RV Parks. Turn left on Chitna Drive, go to the end ( 2 short blocks) turn right on North Harbor Drive. We are located three buildings down on the right hand side at 225 North Harbor Drive. If you see a place called Fish Central or Mike’s Palace, you have just passed our office. For a complete listing of accommodations, tours, and services in Valdez, please visit our helpful travel links.

Natural History

From the many icefields covering the vallies of the Chugach Mountains flow more than 150 glaciers with 17 reaching sea level. The climate is maritime with moderate temperatures and an average precipitation of 100 inches annually.

Prince William Sound has the greatest diversity of wildlife habitat along the entire northern Pacific Coast. Two hundred forty species of birds have been observed, ranging from the tiny rufus hummingbird to the mighty bald eagle, and during spring and fall migration tens of millions of migratory birds traverse the area. Humpback, killer, and minke whales, seals and Steller sea lions reside in this marine environment. Thirty different land mammals have been recorded in Prince William Sound. Most easily spotted are Sitka deer, black bears and mountain goats. Commercial and sports fishermen harvest five species of Pacific salmon as well as halibut, shrimp, crab, herring and bottom fish in the rich waters of the Sound.

This vast resource of natural beauty and wildlife is easily accessible to you through Anadyr Adventures.

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COPPER RIVER SIGHTSEEING TOURS

Valdez Coastal Kayak Adventure

Approximately 8 hours

May 23 -September 11

Adult - $174.95

Child - $144.95

• Moderate Activity Level
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Take an exciting kayaking tour through Duck Flats in Prince William Sound near Valdez. Catch a unique perspective of the working waterfront from the waterline, as well as the adjacent stretch of scenic coastline. Paddle the pretty waters of this impressive intertidal zone while surrounded by the beauty and majesty of the Chugach Mountains. This tour is a wonderful introduction to sea kayaking. Start your kayaking trip right from the dock in Valdez Harbor and paddle along a small chain of nearby islands well known for their nesting birds and resident harbor seals. Sea lions, sea otters, Pink, Chum and Silver salmon also frequent the surrounding area so be on the lookout! Your guide will share information about the wildlife and the natural history of Valdez.

Special Note

Minimum age is 6. Maximum weight is 260 lbs. Maximum height is 6’5″. Guests with back, neck, heart or mobility problems are not allowed to participate. Wear sunscreen. Bring a hat and bottled water. Dress in warm layers. Rain jackets, rain pants boots and kayaking gear will be provided. Lunch can be arranged at the lodge prior to the tour and is at your own expense. Wildlife sightings are likely but not guaranteed. Suitable for all ages, you will pilot a tandem (two-person) sea kayak equipped with all the necessary equipment you need to make this journey memorable, fun and educational. Travel time is approximately 2 hours each way. Time on the kayak is approximately 2 hours.

This tour can only be booked in conjunction with a Gray Line Alaska package. To add this tour to your package, please call 1-888-425-1737.

Valdez Sea Kayaking Trips

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• Challenging
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• Whitewater Rafting
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• Silver Muse

Kayak Alaska

• Kayak by a large tidewater glacier
• Explore Heather Bay and the glacier
• Spot seals and sea otters
• Paddle to see a sea lion colony

Kayak Valdez

• Spend 2 days on guided kayak tours
• Kayak to Columbia Glacier
• Paddle Duck Flats spotting birdlife

Alaska’s Prince William Sound Explorer

• Discover dozens of glaciers
• Visit Cordova
• Explore College and Harriman Fjords
• Enjoy different activities

Top Valdez Travel Destinations

Valdez trips by activity.

• Valdez wildlife viewing (4)
• Valdez small ship cruises (3)
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Pangaea Adventures - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Valdez Glacier and Icebergs

Mid May - Mid Oct

Valdez Glacier and Icebergs in Detail.

The top-rated tour in Valdez on Trip Advisor. 99.9-100% 5-star reviews everywhere . Our Valdez Glacier and Iceberg tour begins at Valdez Glacier Lake, past the airport at the end of Airport Road. There we will meet you with a canoe and life jackets. This private tour requires a minimum of 2 people and can accommodate groups as large as 12 average adults at a time. No canoe experience is required. Guides do the paddling, participants may paddle if they would like to do so. One in 40 tours we experience winds on the lake and may request participants to help paddle. A couple times a year winds force us to cancel or switch tours. The full refund cancellation or switch and prorate is decided by the client, if the guide determines the conditions to be unsafe on the lake. We will canoe out towards Valdez Glacier exploring the icebergs, and when possible and safe, their ice caves. On July 7, 2020 the entire ice shelf of the glacier calved into thousands of icebergs. This year there are many large icebergs remaining and several quality ice caves. We anticipate there being several ice caves available to view throughout each tour with at least one that would provide safe entrance in the canoe. However, this is ice, it's constantly melting and changing so we can't offer 100% guarantees. These are our honest assessments based on years of observation out there. The option to walk on an iceberg exist if a suitable iceberg can be found for safe exit and entry of the canoe. Also, the stability of your group plays a large factor in determining the safety. The better you can manage your balance among your group the more options the guide has to work with. Be sure to ask your guide if walking on an iceberg is something that you're interested in so they can do their best to tailor your tour accordingly. Cruise Ship Days For cruise ship passengers this tour is NOT a private tour unless it is for a party of five or six. Otherwise on cruise days this becomes a combined tour of two guides and up to six passengers . We pick up cruise passengers at the dock and will return them to the dock or in town locations if they prefer. Life vests support up to a 52inch(132cm) chest.

• Life Jackets up to a 52inch(132cm) chest.
• Warm Jacket (The temp can be 10°F (5°C) colder at the glacier)
• Comfortable Shoes for walking across uneven surfaces
• Cruise Excursion - 2 hours - $215 Adults / $105 Youth | Includes pickup and drop off at cruise dock. 2 hours in the canoe touring, roughly 2.5 hours from pick up to drop off. This variation DOES NOT include a cruise. It's for cruise ship passengers needing transportation to and from the cruise ship, on a tighter time schedule.

Valdez Glacier and Icebergs Gallery

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Alaska Guide Co is based in Valdez, Alaska. We offer year round tours and seek to provide helpful information on all things Alaska outdoors related.

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Valdez Glacier & Valdez Glacier Lake

Valdez Glacier provides breathtaking sights and a glimpse into the local history and culture of the area. Known as the All- American Route, gold seekers traveled over the glacier into the interior of Alaska during the Gold Rush of 1898.

Valdez Glacier is a 20 mile valley glacier located in the Chugach Mountains and terminates in Valdez. The runoff of this gorgeous glacier is so vast it creates a lake in front of the terminus. During summertime Valdez Glacier Lake becomes a beautiful area to kayak on. Please be sure to wear your lifejacket, as this glacier-fed lake is approximately 640 feet deep. There are various outfitters in Valdez who will guide visitors on kayak tours.

In the winter, Valdez Glacier Lake becomes a frozen wonderland, where massive icebergs form into amazing natural sculptures. Ice skating, snowshoeing, skiing, or snowmobiling are also possible on this lake during certain times of the winter. Please be sure to check and make sure this lake is completely frozen before going on it. Safety first and have fun exploring.

Valdez Glacier in winter. Photo by Stephen Bugno

How To Get There

Take Airport Road out to Valdez Glacier Lake. Kayak tours of Valdez Glacier and Valdez Glacier Lake are available with our local kayak guides . 

View more Valdez maps . 

Safety & Etiquette

City of Valdez: "Aaron Baczuk, city emergency manager, shares details about dangers caused by the July 2020 Valdez Glacier heavy calving and separation event. Valdez Glacier experienced an extreme calving and separation event over the past 24 hours. A significant amount of unstable ice now exists in the lake. Rolling icebergs and underwater calving pose serious danger. For your safety, keep away from all floating ice and the face of the glacier. Observe and follow posted danger signs."

Video from City of Valdez

2021-2022 Safety Update

The City of Valdez released the following safety update on Valdez Glacier Lake on December 23, 2021:

" The City of Valdez recently received reports of underwater calving that penetrated through the frozen lake. Icebergs have also rolled and shifted despite the frozen surface. Conditions in the lake are changing and dynamic.

Water in the lake is constantly flowing from the face of the glacier to the lake’s outflow. This reduces ice thickness in some areas and contributes to unstable ice below the surface. Ice caves may collapse from lack of support or movement. Avoid climbing on ice and be aware of rocks, ice, and snow that may fall from overhead areas.

Blankets of snow may cover crevasses and other hazards. Locations of new ice may cause disorientation when visibility is limited due to weather or darkness, even for those normally familiar with the area. Snow avalanches and rockslides from adjacent mountains also pose a danger to those recreating on the ice and may compromise the lake’s frozen surface.

Please recreate responsibly. Gather information from a variety of sources prior to using Valdez Glacier Lake. Consider risk, weather conditions, and your intended route prior to departure.

If you chose to enjoy the lake, ensure you are prepared. Go with others. Make sure someone at home knows exactly where you are going and when you intend to return. Be realistic with the physical limitations of those in your group. Wear appropriate clothing. Take safety equipment, first aid supplies, and a working communications device in case of emergency, as cell coverage in the area is spotty."

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Gold-seekers crossed Valdez Glacier during the Gold Rush of 1898 . 

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Columbia Glacier Day Tour

Trip details.

St. Elias Guides

Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park

Columbia Glacier Sea Kayak Day Tour - The Guide's Choice

Itinerary- Here is how the general schedule works on this 10 hour trip:

• 8am: Meet at our office, usually returning to town around 6pm-
• Hour 1:  outfit and paddle talk
• Hour 2-4.5:  boat ride to Columbia Bay
• Hour 4.5-6:  paddle amongst the ice
• Hour 6-6.5:  lunch break
• Hour 6.5-8: more paddle driven exploration of the wildest place you’ve ever known
• Hour 8-10: boat ride back to town

Please note, the time spent paddling can vary, depending on how much wildlife we encounter and slow down for along the way while on board the water taxi.

This tour is offered most days of the summer, but please try and sign up in advance, as there are times we do fully book!

We use our own USCG inspected water taxis for all regularly scheduled trips.

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