Travel

Realize that best is subjective and relative, so your expectations unfortunately are not realistic.

Hi,

I ve spent multiple seasons guiding for both Spirit Walker Expeditions and Glacier Bay Sea Kayaks. Both are quality companies and locally owned. Both offer really quality lunches (which was always the highlight of my trip as a guide). Spirit Walker requires much more safety and natural history training from their guides.

GBSK only offers guided day trips and self-guided rentals (unless you are confident paddling in strong currents and cold water, I wouldn t suggest renting). They only paddle around Bartlett Cove in Galcier Bay ($100, I think). Unless you are supremely lucky you will not see whales on this trip.

Spirit Walker offers two day trips. One leave from the Gustavus dock a paddles to Pleasant Island (this is the cheaper alternative $130) (This is my all-time favorite trip, paddling to the island and hiking in the old-growth forest). It is unlikely you will see whales on this trip. The other day trip takes a locally-owned water taxi over to Point Adolphus where there is one of the highest near-shore populations of humpback whales in Southeast Alaska. Because of the water taxi this trip is more expensive ($400 or so).

jjo mentioned that you will only see whales close if you are very lucky. I have to disagree to an extent. Whales often feed very close to shore (very often too close for the comfort of your guide). It s important to note that you cannot legally approach close than 100 yards or place yourself in the path of marine mammals (unfortunately, this rule often gets broke by whale watching boats). After guiding for for years, spending just about every other day at Pt. A for 4 month of the year, I can honestly say that there was NEVER a day that I didn t see whales. Sometimes they were in the distance, but even then, they are closer than any whales watching trip on the east coast!

If you are going to spend the money for a day trip to Pt. Adolphus, I have to suggest a multi-day trip. Since most of the cost of the trip is in the water taxi, you can double or triple your time to kayak with the whales for only a small percentage increase in the price.

Another suggestion I give to folks who want to both kayak and see whales is to do a day trip with one of the kayak operators then do a half day whale watch on the whale watching boat. The only one that is locally owned is (Cross Sound Express) M/V Taz. They are about $90 for 4 hours, which is plenty of time to see loads of whales.

Sorry for the dissertation. Hope it s useful.