A Wildlife Watcher’s Guide To Touring Alaska’s Kenai Fjords

Anybody who goals of going to Alaska might envision beautiful landscapes and snow-capped mountains, however there’s rather more to the Land of the Midnight Solar than at first meets the attention. Should you’re dreaming of seeing wild animals of their pure habitat, think about beginning your Alaskan journey with a visit to the Kenai Fjords Nationwide Park. You’ll be able to journey deep into Kenai Fjords with the Northwestern Fjord Tour that begins and ends in Seward, Alaska.

Going additional into the Kenai Fjords than some other tour, this wildlife-focused, absolutely narrated boat tour is a journey to the distant Northwest which is dwelling to a few tidewater glaciers. It lasts a full 8 hours, weather-permitting, and lunch is served on board the boat. They cater to vegans, vegetarians, and people with different dietary wants when given advance discover.

The boat tour begins within the calm waters of Resurrection Bay. Because the tour continues into the Fjords, you’ll see wildlife and glaciers. A number of the animals you may even see alongside the way in which embrace whales, sea lions, sea otters, and harbor seals. Along with humpback and orca whales, some sorts of whales which have been noticed within the waters off the coast of the Kenai Fjords Nationwide Park are grey whales, fin whales, and minke and sei whales.

With seabird rookeries dotting the island, look out for Alaska sea birds that may’t be noticed wherever else within the park. There are over 20 species of seabirds to be seen, together with eagles and puffins.

The pure sights themselves are unimaginable. The primary time you see a tidewater glacier up shut in individual is prone to be a second you gained’t neglect. The Holgate, Northwestern, and Aialik tidewater glaciers could be noticed on the tour. You may also take within the park’s giant alpine glaciers and the Bear Glacier, the most important glacier in Kenai Fjords Nationwide Park.

Kenai Fjords excursions are given aboard three custom-built, 82.5-foot catamarans: the M/V Aialik Voyager, the M/V Callisto Voyager, and the the M/V Orca Voyager. All three catamarans had been created to assist individuals really feel immersed within the pure splendor with wildlife and glacier viewing whereas additionally being sustainable and environmentally pleasant.

The place To Keep

The Seward Windsong Lodge presents a mixture of understated luxurious and direct entry to Alaska’s wild magnificence. It hugs the sting of the Chugach Nationwide Forest by Resurrection River, and it is just minutes from the Kenai Fjords Nationwide Park. It has an onsite restaurant that may cater to vegans and others with dietary wants, and there’s additionally an onsite espresso store within the foyer.

Getting There

You’ll be able to take a practice or bus from Anchorage to Seward. In reality, there’s a bus from Anchorage or Denali that stops immediately at Seward’s Windsong Lodge, and a few individuals select to take the bus to the lodge and take the practice again to Anchorage after a number of days of exploration. That method, they will expertise each modes of transportation and see as a lot as potential.