1266 66th Street, Suite 4
Emeryville, California
94608-1117
T: +1 510 594 6000
1 888 MTSOBEK (687 6235)
F: +1 510 594 6001
info@mtsobek.com
www.mtsobek.com
Ultimate Alaska: Sea Kayaking Expedition
Our most comprehensive kayaking expedition starring Alaska's legendary wildlife
8 days ~ Alaska
8 days easy to moderate sea kayaking and hiking
DATES There are multiple departures available! See below.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit Alaska with the experts since 1972 -- we are the only company with permits for all three of these stunning locations!
- See whales, bears, glaciers, and icebergs up close—all on one trip!
- Kayak at Point Adolphus, Alaska’s most active humpback whale feeding area
- Overnight kayaking and camping expedition in Glacier Bay
- Search for Coastal Brown Bears fishing for salmon
Ultimate Alaska: Sea Kayaking ExpeditionOur most comprehensive kayaking expedition starring Alaska's legendary wildlife
Overview
If you only have one shot at visiting Alaska, this is the trip for you! With abundant whales, bears, and ice, it’s the “triple crown” of sea kayaking, with the most diverse and rewarding experiences in Alaska you’ll ever find.
You’ll paddle sea kayaks in Glacier Bay National Park for a two-night kayaking expedition amidst a panorama of sprawling tidewater glaciers, icebergs, and stunning mountain peaks. You’ll also kayak Point Adolphus in the Inside Passage, a famous feeding ground attracting countless marine mammals (humpback whales, sea lions, and seals among others). Our comprehensive adventure alternates hotel and inn accommodations with wilderness camping for a real taste of Alaska’s legendary wilds.
Day 1: Fly from Juneau to the bush town of Gustavus, Alaska
RENDEZVOUS: This trip begins in Juneau, Alaska. You will need to arrive in Juneau no later than 4:00 p.m on Day 1 of the trip.
On Day 1 we meet In the Juneau Airport and fly to Gustavus. You will check into your lodge at the edge of Glacier Bay National Park and have a pre-trip meeting with your guide. We share a welcome dinner and then you will have plenty of time to explore the nearby sandy beach and beach fringe meadows.
Dinner / Annie Mae Lodge - Gustavus
Day 2: Point Adolphus
After an early breakfast, a charter boat in Gustavus will be waiting to carry us across Icy Strait to the whale-feeding grounds of Point Adolphus. Here we’ll set up camp and then paddle our way leisurely along the shore, taking time to watch for humpback whales and other marine mammals in the area. We can enjoy the spectacular scenery as we prepare and eat our evening meal at the water’s edge, and are lulled to sleep by the gentle sounds of whales breathing as they pass by.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Camp
Day 3: Point Adolphus
We anticipate humpback whale displays and chances for viewing sea lions, otters, and seals as we kayak along the shore of Chichagof Island. We’ll picnic on the beach and return to camp after a full day of exploring.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Camp
Day 4: Glacier Bay – Gustavus
After breakfast and breaking camp, we’ll kayak along the shore to meet our charter boat for our trip back to Gustavus. In the late afternoon we can explore the town, and then dine at one of our favorite local restaurants before settling in for a great night’s sleep.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Annie Mae Lodge - Gustavus
Days 5-6: Glacier Bay kayaking expedition
We meet for breakfast and then board our charter boat for a spectacular scenic cruise into Glacier Bay, a journey through geologic time. Then, switching to sea kayaks, we set off on our two-day paddling expedition. Our pace is leisurely as we paddle and hike along the scenic shores of the bay, with ample time to appreciate and photograph the fantastic surroundings, which include tremendous glaciers, fascinating land forms, icebergs, flowers, seals, birds, and (if the skies are clear) the magnificent mountains that rise above us. We camp both nights.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Camp
Day 7: Gustavus
We return to Gustavus by boat and head back to the B&B. We’ll have a final farewell dinner together, then, after dinner, you can go for a stroll or bike ride, play golf, or just relax.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Annie Mae Lodge - Gustavus
Day 8: Depart
After breakfast, we will go for a hike in Gustavus. At noon, we board an air taxi to Juneau. The flight from Gustavus to Juneau is about a half hour, and lands at Juneau’s main airport where you can connect with your homeward-bound flight. (You can schedule your flight out of Juneau for anytime after 3:00 p.m.) We can drop you at your lodging if you are spending the night in Juneau before flying home.
Breakfast
Ultimate Alaska: Sea Kayaking Expedition
Departures & Land Costs
Departures
Jul 6 - 13, 2012
Jul 20 - 27, 2012
Aug 3 - 10, 2012
2012 Prices
$3,195 + local tax (4-10 members)
$3,495+ local tax (3 members)
$250 internal airfare
$500 single supplement
Rates quoted are per person, based on sharing double accommodations.
If you prefer single accommodations, you must pay the Single Supplement Fee. If you’re traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we’ll try our best to find you a roommate. If that’s not possible, we will only charge you half of the single supplement.
Payment & Cancellation Policy
Payment
| At time of reservation | $400 |
| 120 days prior to departure | $800 |
| 60 days prior to departure | Balance |
Cancellation
| If written cancellation is received: | Cancellation fee will be: |
| 90 days prior to departure | $150 |
| 89 to 60 days prior to departure | $400 |
| 59 to 30 days prior to departure | 50% of Land Cost |
| 29 days or fewer prior to departure | 100% of Land Cost |
Tier Pricing
Adventure travel works best with a small group of people. In order to operate these small groups, our trips are priced according to the number of full-price passengers on the trip. (Mountain Travel Sobek staff, trip doctors, and other discounted travelers are excluded from the count for this purpose.) We initially invoice you at the highest tier level price (the smallest group size we can operate). If the price drops due to an increase in group size, you will be refunded the difference.
What’s Included
- expert leadership
- accommodations as noted in itinerary (or similar)
- if applicable, tent or safari accommodations and all arrangements in the field, including camp and cook staffs, comfortable and roomy two-person tents, kitchen and dining tents, and other community equipment
- meals as noted in the itinerary
- sightseeing as noted in the itinerary
- additional guides and porters where necessary
- tips for lodge and hotel
- entrance fees and permits, unless noted separately in costs
- basic medical and evacuation insurance
What’s Not
Airfare; meals not noted on itinerary; insurance other than basic medical and evacuation insurance noted above (we strongly recommend you purchase the supplementary trip insurance offered by Mountain Travel Sobek, which includes trip cancellation insurance); optional tipping to leader, guides and local staff; excess baggage charges; airport taxes (international—varies by location); cost of medical immunizations; and items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).
Air Travel
Airfare is not included in the land cost of our trips. For air reservations, we recommend you contact the airlines directly, either by phone or the Internet. In addition, many travelers elect to use their “frequent flyer” miles when traveling with us. But please check with our staff before purchasing or obtaining your tickets. We need to verify your arrival and departure schedule and ensure we have enough participants to operate the trip.
What you can expect
Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.
Shelli Ogilvy
Shelli Ogilvy, Alaska Discovery Kayak Guide: Shelli was born and raised in Alaska. She grew up in Gustavus with Glacier Bay as her backyard. She has been guiding for Alaska Discovery as a wilderness leader since 1997. She has a deep love for this place and ecosystem, finding peace and joy through sharing the experience of the wilderness. When not guiding, Shelli tries to find time to paint and work on her cabin. She currently spends her winters in New Mexico skiing and eating green chilies.
Keith Thompson
Keith Thompson, Alaska Discovery Kayak Guide: Originally from Pennsylvania, Keith left a job in medical research to pursue his love for travel and the outdoors. He's been involved in a rock and ice climbing business, worked as a bike guide, and traveled extensively throughout North and Central America, and Southeast Asia. In 1999, his travels led him to Alaska where he fell in love with his surroundings. Keith writes, "I found the pristine Alaskan wilderness an inspiration and guiding a way of sharing and learning about this special place." (Bonus: Keith is also a massage therapist.)
Tom Schwartz
Tom Schwartz started guiding canoe, skiing and sea kayak trips in Southeast Alaska in 1997 with a non-profit organization for youth in Juneau. He joined the Alaska Discovery team in 2003 guiding trips to Berner's Bay, Pack Creek and Glacier Bay. His experience as a fine dining chef has inspired him to create excellent food in amazing places. Keep an eye out for a wilderness cookbook!
The Next Step
Ready to go? Signing up is easy!
Just call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) and reserve your spot! If you prefer to use a travel agent, he or she can book your trip at no extra cost and provide other helpful assistance.
Then Leave the Rest to Us
Before you go, we provide you with extensive pre-departure information, including clothing recommendations, suggested reading lists, up-to-date health advice prepared by our consulting physician (an expert in wilderness medicine), and other details.
Why Mountain Travel Sobek is Your First Choice for Adventure
Mountain Travel Sobek is the pioneer in active adventure travel. No other adventure travel company can lay claim to that title. We were the first to take Americans trekking in Nepal, raft the wild rivers of Africa, and open up many previously inaccessible corners of the world to curious travelers. We set the standard for adventure travel and have a strong reputation for excellence that we do everything we can to maintain. Since we are the leading adventure company, we have a lot to live up to, so we make sure we provide safe, quality trips and the best customer service to our passengers.
References
Don’t take our word for how great our trips are. We’ll be happy to provide you with references of satisfied past travelers.
Questions?
Feel free to call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) if you still have any questions or concerns. We’re here to help you. You can also check out our website at www.mtsobek.com.
Note on Itinerary
Although we will do our best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed, it is subject to change. Please read the Limitation of Liability and Booking Conditions in the four-page Participant Information Form. You can find all this information on our website at www.mtsobek.com/faq and the form itself at www.mtsobek.com/pdf/participant_info.pdf.
Note: This trip is run with use under permit by the US Forest Service and the Tongass National Forest. Mountain Travel Sobek, including its subsidiary Alaska Discovery, is an equal opportunity employer.
Terms & Conditions
Once you have made a deposit for a trip, you agree to be bound by all our terms and conditions including the Limitation of Liability Clause. The full Terms and Conditions can be found at www.mtsobek.com/faq/#liability or call 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) for a copy. These are partial conditions. Your participation is contingent on your signature on the full list of terms specified in the four-page Participant Information Form (www.mtsobek.com/pdf/participant_info.pdf). Any dispute concerning, relating or referring to the Terms and Conditions, to any literature concerning this trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration in San Francisco, California, according to the then existing commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association. Such proceedings will be governed by substantive California law (but not procedural law) without regard to the California Arbitration Act.