Alaska: Glacier Bay Expedition

7 days
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4.8/5 Excellent
64 reviews  
97%
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Private Guided
This is one of the classic sea kayak expeditions in Alaska! Glacier Bay National Park has it all—glaciers that calve enormous icebergs, an ocean teeming with humpback whales, sea otters, orca, seals, and sea lions. This National Park is home to a healthy population of both black and brown bears. The calm, glassy seas of the inside passage mirror and magnify t...
From$2,795
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Overview

Trip type
Private Guided
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Enjoy a sea kayaking expediton and wilderness camping in Glacier Bay National Park's West Arm
    • Experience magnificent scenery and abundant wildlife, including the endangered humpback whale
    • Paddle around icebergs and hike to the face of awesome tidewater glaciers
    • MTS holds rare permits to camp inside of the national park

What's this trip about?

    This is one of the classic sea kayak expeditions in Alaska! Glacier Bay National Park has it all—glaciers that calve enormous icebergs, an ocean teeming with humpback whales, sea otters, orca, seals, and sea lions. This National Park is home to a healthy population of both black and brown bears. The calm, glassy seas of the inside passage mirror and magnify the grand panorama of the Alaskan landscape. The National Park Service strictly limits camping—MTS holds these rare permits— making this a peaceful, spacious camping experience. This is a true expedition-style journey where we will pack our kayaks, move camp, and paddle 50 miles of Glacier 

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizePrivate - your group only
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityJuneau
End CityGustavus

Travel Themes

  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • North America
  • United States

Attractions

  • Alaska
  • Juneau

Activities

  • Bird watching
  • Culture
  • Hiking
  • Kayaking
  • Nature
  • Photography
  • Short Cruise
  • Whale watching
  • Wildlife viewing

Trip includes

    • 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
    • Airport transfers
    • Sightseeing as noted in the itinerary
    • Ground transportation
    • Additional guides and porters where necessary
    • Tips for lodge, hotel, or camp staff
    • Entrance fees and permits, unless noted separately in costs
    • Basic medical and evacuation insurance

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Juneau to Gustavus

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Annie Mae Lodge

Travel to Juneau, Alaska, and meet your Mountain Travel Sobek/Alaska Discovery representative and other guests at the Alaska Seaplanes ticket desk at 3:30 pm. We’ll then board a plane for the flight to Gustavu...

Day 2: Arrive in Glacier Bay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MTS Camp — Glacier Bay

After an early breakfast we will board a boat for a spectacular ride into the West Arm of Glacier Bay National Park. The scenery changes dramatically as we leave the lush forests of...

Day 3: John

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MTS Camp — Glacier Bay

The upper west arm of Glacier Bay goes farther and deeper into the Saint Elias Mountains than any other body of water in the inside passage. The water here is calm as we paddle thro...

Days 4-6: West Arm of Glacier Bay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MTS Camp — Glacier Bay

We’ll explore the pristine  fjords of Glacier Bay by kayak and on foot. Keep your camera ready for dramatic scenery of awe-inspiring 9,000-foot mountain peaks and calving glaciers (...

Day 7: Boat return to Gustavus / Departure

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

After an early breakfast, we’ll pack up camp, then paddle and prepare for our boat pick up. We'll enjoy a leisurely ride back to the park headquarters at Gustavus—put your feet up and watch the terrific scenery and wildlife as you rel...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,795
Price per day$399
Single supplement (single occupancy)$250
Last Updated: 9/16/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek).

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek) Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
Excellent
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Terrible
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Other MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek) Reviews

T

Tish

Aug 2023

Written on

Recommend Japan hikes but not with Mt Sobek

First, let me say our tour guide Tomomi S. is hands down THE best tour guide I’ve ever had - knowledgeable, fun and made great efforts to ensure that we were comfor...

A

Anne

Dec 2019

MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek) Company Reviewsby MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek)

Spectacular scenery

Spectacular scenery, great hiking, and fascinating conversations with...

A

Andrea

Dec 2019

MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek) Company Reviewsby MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek)

Truly enjoyable

Thanks to MT Sobek this trip was seamless and truly enjoyable. The accommodations, logistics, and guides were all excellent. I always felt safe, cared for, and well ...

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Tour Operator

MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek)

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Mountain Travel began with the belief that there is a little bit of adventure in everyone. The early days were fueled by the passions of outdoor enthusiasts who loved exploring wild places. 40 years later, we offer almost 200 adventures to destinations worldwide.

Expert Guides: When you venture into foreign lands, tackle snowy peaks or raging whitewater, you want the best guides at your side. With decades of experience in the field, MTS guides offer inspirational enthusiasm, exceptional leadership, and sheer volume of knowledge (better than any guidebook!).

What makes us great!

At Mountain Travel Sobek, we are driven by two philosophies.

One is the credo by which we have guided our company for over 30 years. Mountain Travel Sobek is a continuing experiment in discovery: of new lands, of exotic cultures, and of wondrous wildlife far from fences and highways. We believe the best way to bring to light the marvels of nature, the people of the world and ourselves, is by traveling in small groups—treading lightly with responsibility and sensitivity—while enjoying firsthand the boundless beauty and variety of our miracle planet.

The other is our philosophy for you, our client. Plan nothing, enjoy everything. We take care of all of the logistics so that you can have more time to do what's most important: relax, enjoy the experience, and have fun!

Active Unique Itineraries

Our adventures are planned with reasonably paced itineraries, incredible attention to detail, and the right mix of fun, learning, and challenge that ensure a memorable vacation. You will find our adventures physically active and culturally rewarding. Whether you ride a camel in Rajasthan or climb to the top of Kilimanjaro, you'll experience firsthand the cultures and environments of the region you are visiting. And after a long day of adventuring, we ensure you a comfortable night's rest in deluxe accommodations from regional inns to our own private camps.

In keeping with our founders' adventurous spirit, Mountain Travel Sobek is constantly seeking innovative new trips throughout the world. You will always find an array of new trips to exotic locales in our trip list in addition to the classic adventures for which we are renowned. So whatever your level of adventure, there is a Mountain Travel Sobek adventure just right for you.

Small Groups

You're probably wondering about the people with whom you'll share your adventure. Chances are, they're a lot like you. Our guests come from all walks of life and are spirited travelers who share a passion for our wonderful world. They range in age from their late 20s to mid-80s, reminding us all that you can never be too young or too old to have fun!

Our groups are intentionally kept small—usually less than 15 people—to allow you a more intimate experience with the people and wildlife you encounter on your Mountain Travel Sobek adventure. With such a small number of people, we can take advantage of many unexpected invitations and opportunities that would be impossible with larger groups.

Our guides often have very close ties to the local community and we are readily welcomed into the lives of the local folk. We may be invited to share lunch with a Turkish family or visit an artist's studio in Tuscany. Don't forget to ask us about the time we spent Thanksgiving at a Fulani "festival of the cows" in the Dogon lowlands of Mali—now there's something we won't soon forget!

Private Adventures

Our Private Adventures are an incredible series of itineraries designed especially for small groups, whether it be families, couples, or treasured friends. These selected trips are ideal for reunions with family or old friends, a great way to celebrate a milestone birthday or anniversary - and can you imagine a more exotic honeymoon?

Like all Mountain Travel Sobek trips, you can count on an adventure that reflects Mountain Travel Sobek's time-tested commitment to authentic, personalized experiences and world-class service.

Customized Adventures

You can either book your group on one of our scheduled departures, choose your own dates for one of our regular trips, or let us create a special trip hand-tailored to your specific needs and wishes. If you can imagine it, we just might be able to make it happen!

Safety

Our safety record is unparalleled (good to know if you're stepping into a river raft for the first time or planning to trek in the high mountains of Nepal). The guides are fully trained, our equipment is state-of-the-art, and we continually monitor conditions with our worldwide team of outfitters to make certain every trip is run safely and with the highest standards of quality.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International airfare
    • Meals not noted on itinerary
    • Insurance other than basic medical and evacuation insurance
    • Optional tipping to leader, guides and local staff
    • Excess baggage charges
    • Airport taxes (international—varies by location)
    • Cost of medical immunizations
    • Items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.)

Accommodation

,Annie Mae Lodge — Gustavus The Annie Mae Lodge rests on the banks of the Good River, surrounded by lush rain forest and overlooking the Icy Straits of Alaska's Inside Passage. Started by Annie Mae's three granddaughters and now run by her great-granddaughter, the aim of this family lodge has always been to provide traditional country hospitality in a place of exceptional beauty. Guest rooms offer a cozy, cottage atmosphere, which is perfect for an Alaskan vacation.   MTS Camp — Glacier Bay

Transportation & flights

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.
Guides
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   Wade Panzich Wade Panzich, Alaska Discovery Kayak and River Guide: Wade has lived in Alaska for 7 years, 4 of these working for Alaska Discovery. During the fall, Wade travels the globe searching for the perfect wave. Winters are spent teaching snowboarding in Alaska. Spring and summer finds Wade kayaking and rafting beautiful southeast AK. He has also spent time on the water in the western U.S., Central and South America. All seasons he is an avid backpacker and an aspiring mountain man. Wade’s got some good stories to tell, from hitchhiking across the country to tropical subsistence living, a trip with him will never be dull.   Jeff Sloss Jeff Sloss, Alaska Discovery Kayak, Canoe, & River Guide: Jeff has been a lead guide for Alaska Discovery for over 20 years. He has helped set the high standards of quality and commitment that makes us a great company. Whenever we think of exploring a new area we turn to Jeff to make it happen. In the winter, Jeff teaches skiing and snowboarding in Juneau, works on film projects, and helps raise his two daughters. Jeff is an active conservationist and has lobbied Congress to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Jeff carries a deep love for Alaska onto all of his trips. Jeff writes, "Among the high points of this career are experiencing some of the world's finest places, and meeting new people as well as enjoying the company of returning guests that share an appreciation of this Great Land."   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.)
Cancellation policy

If written cancellation is received cancellation fee will be:

  • 90 days prior to departure $150
  • 89 to 61 days prior to departure $400
  • 60 to 46 days prior to departure 50% of Land/Cruise Cost
  • 45 to 0 days prior to departure 100% of Land/Cruise Cost
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

6 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 6 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
mtsobe-AlaGlaMou

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