Icy Bay Sea Kayaking Trip

Deltas 17s. Brand new in 2025. And we’re in the process of getting a few new boats, including tandems as well.

These are SWEET boats – stable, comfortable, and perfect for multi-day trips in Icy Bay.

One reason Icy Bay is such a great sea kayaking destination is the distinct and very noticeable absence of cruise ships.

None of the major cruise liners venture into the bay, which makes this remote wilderness area very different from Alaska’s more popular sea kayaking destinations like Glacier Bay or Prince William Sound. A shallow sand bar near the mouth of the bay has kept the area free of these monstrosities, and we’re able to enjoy this incredible place in relative solitude. In a typical season the only other vessel we MIGHT see in the entire week is a small private sailboat that drifted nearby for a few hours.

Icy Bay is a great bird watching area, and we’ll see an array of ducks, sea birds, shore birds and raptors. Bald eagles are common, as are falcons as well. Both marbled and the endangered Kittlitz’s murrelets are found in Icy Bay.

Harbor Seals come into the bay as well, hunting salmon, which are always a treat to see. With an estimated population in the bay of over 3500 seals, you’ll more than likely see quite a few!

This is one of the few areas where they’re rarely bothered by orcas, so they’re often very visible in the calm waters, as well as loafing around, soaking up the sun resting on the icebergs. June/early July is birthing time, so it’s possible you’ll see some cute seal pups as well.

If we’re lucky, we’ll also see mountain goats as well. Grizzly bears are abundant in the area, and it’s likely that we’ll see them as well.

This is a beginner-friendly sea kayaking trip. Perfect for the intermediate paddler and darn near perfect for experienced paddlers as well.

That’s as honest as I can tell ya. Read the linked articles here for some tutorials.

The beauty of a basecamp sea kayak trip is the flexibility. We’ve done days with good, solid experienced paddlers where we covered almost thirty miles in a day. Other days, with other paddlers, 5 or 6 miles.

Absolutely! This basecamp-style trip is one of our most family-friendly adventures. The flexible daily distances and lack of moving camp each day makes it much easier for kids than a traditional expedition-style kayak trip.

We recommend children be at least 12 years old for this trip, though we’ve successfully taken younger kids with strong paddling families. The key is whether your child can handle 4-6 hours of paddling and has the maturity to follow safety instructions around water and wildlife.

Have a family adventure in mind? Let’s talk about whether this trip is the right fit for your crew.

We’ll have some tandems in 2026 yes.

I like to keep the group to five, maximum. Contact me to talk about bringing a larger group if you need to.

Flights on major airlines come through Anchorage or Juneau. Alaska Air will get you there.

Not too bad. Bugs vary a lot, anywhere in Alaska, and can vary a lot week to week. Just be prepared for bugs .. and be prepared for no bugs.

We have a comprehensive food form for you to complete and we’ll do our very best from there to put together a menu for the trip that you’ll enjoy.

We do our best to accommodate most dietary requirements, tastes and preferences.

Exact menu will be trip dependent. For a 12 day backpack and packraft you can expect a different constitution of food than you’ll see on a 5 day basecamp trip.

Another thing to remember is Expeditions Alaska isn’t a simple “production line” outfit. Guides all have their own systems and menus and favorites, so we don’t have a generic “here’s your trip menu” at all. Menus vary trip to trip.

What I can tell you is that we do the best backcountry food in Alaska. Bar none. You’ll enjoy good food. Really good food. Whether it’s a great pizza, a dish of Pad Thai or greek salad or a lentil soup, I assure you that you’ll appreciate your guides’ culinary expertise. Good food takes a bit extra effort, but can really help bring your trip experience up a notch. Or three.

This is a common question we get, and an important one. So important, it warrants its own page.

All your questions about our backcountry food answered right here.

Absolutely.

Many of our guides are or have been vegetarian or have dietary needs of their own.

Our food forms are comprehensive and cover any of your meal preferences.

If you are a picky eater, we want to serve you what you want. Don’t be shy. Be as precise in your meal forms as you desire.

Would you like to?

Sure. Here’s the form we have guests complete for us when they ask us to do food. It’s a pretty detailed questionnaire. We’ll compile that and make our trip menus from there. Nobody goes hungry.

This depends on the guide and their preferences, but our staple dishes include (but aren’t limited to)

• backcountry pizza,
• backcountry baking (fresh bread, garlic bread, cinnamon rolls, brownies, cookies),
• fresh backcountry salads with fresh greens if available (arctic dock, mountain bluebell, wild berries),
• fresh fish if available (arctic char and grayling),
• curries,
• pancakes,
• hash-browns, and
• burritos.

Something you’d like to have? Let us know. Mike baked a birthday cake for a guest last summer.

Reserving your place on a trip requires a 50% deposit. Deposits are non-refundable. All trips MUST be paid in full 45 days prior to the scheduled departure date.

We can take online payments, either ACH or Credit Cards. Credit Card merchants charge a 2.9% processing fee which is passed on to you if you choose to pay with a card. We can also take Zelle payments, or a check or international wire.

1. Credit Card – 2.9% fee
2. ACH – No fees
3. Zelle – No fees
4. Check – No fees
5. Wire – No fees

Some trips will have a slightly different process, but that’s the gist of it for most of them. See our Cancellation Policy & Terms post for more info.

Reserving your place on a trip requires a 50% deposit. Deposits are non-refundable. All trips MUST be paid in full 45 days prior to the scheduled departure date.

If the client cancels on a trip paid in full, 80% of the price can be deferred and applied to another trip that is scheduled to occur within the next 12 months, provided that all three of the following occurs: 

i) Expeditions Alaska, LLC is able to fill the cancelled spot,
ii) Expeditions Alaska LLC is able to fill the the trip that the client cancelled on, and
iii) 30 days (or more) notice is given.

If a client cancels a trip and Expeditions Alaska is not able to completely fill that trip, regardless of the number of original participants in that trip, Expeditions Alaska will not defer or refund any portion of the cancelling client’s payment. 

Expeditions Alaska, LLC cannot guarantee that a spot will be available on a scheduled trip in the next 12 months.  If no spot is available and you cannot use your deposit in those 12 months, the deposit is forfeited and non-refundable. 

If cancellation is within 30 days of the trip, only 50% of the fee can be carried over to a future trip. The remainder is forfeited and non-refundable.

No refunds, credit, or other reimbursements are given for cancellations within 14 days of the trip departure. 

Expeditions Alaska, LLC reserves the right to cancel and/or modify the itinerary of a trip for any reason. If Expeditions Alaska cancels a trip you will be refunded your payment in full, minus a $250 administrative fees plus any unrecoverable deposits Expeditions Alaska, LLC made to organize the trip.  If Expeditions Alaska cancels changes the date of a trip and you can no longer attend, you will be refunded your payment, minus a $250 administrative fees plus any unrecoverable deposits Expeditions Alaska, LLC made to organize the trip. 


If weather or other factors delay or impede your trip, there will be no refund of fees. Expeditions Alaska, LLC is not responsible for any other costs incurred by the client as a result of the cancellation, delay, or modification of a trip.

Additional costs incurred through weather delays and itinerary changes are the responsibility of the client.

Additional costs incurred by the client, such as changes to flights or additional costs, etc, are the sole responsibility of the client.

We’re excited to be part of your upcoming expedition. Your reservation reflects a commitment to an awe-inspiring Alaskan adventure. Our dedication to you includes careful planning, experienced curation, and a shared passion for adventure. It’s a commitment to the essence of Alaska.

In the spirit of consistency and transparency, we want to address our no-refund policy for trip deposits. While we understand unforeseen circumstances may arise, our consistent policies ensure fairness to all adventurers. This commitment allows us to maintain trip quality, prioritize safety, and provide the best experience for every participant.

With limited availability due to Alaska’s changing seasons, once you commit to a trip, we commit to it.

Understanding life’s unpredictability, we strongly recommend considering Trip Insurance. This additional layer safeguards your investment, offering peace of mind for the excitement and wonder in the Alaskan wilderness.

Your trust means a lot; our dedication to your adventure is unwavering. Let’s explore Alaska’s backcountry together.

Thank you for choosing us for this journey.

Thank you.

I know you do. I do as well.

I recommend starting with the General Trip FAQ page

More questions? Email me or call me  and we’ll go through them.

Upon your reservation I’ll also send out a comprehensive trip information packet that covers just about everything and more you might imagine about your trip.