Orca's Cove Kayaking & Misty Fjords Seaplane Tour from Ketchikan

Orca's Cove Kayaking & Misty Fjords Seaplane Tour from Ketchikan -- Leave the crowds behind, flying the Misty Fjords with our exclusive combined Misty Fjords float plane and sea kayaking trip.

From the solitude and peace of paddling remote bays in Orca's Cove, to sightseeing by seaplane over the Misty Fjords National Monument, this is the ultimate shore excursion adventure. Shore trips should all be this good!

Minimum 2 persons per order.

Trip Itinerary

This is our most popular kayak trip and was designed for the growing number of people looking for a true wilderness experience. Group size is limited to six.

We depart our waterfront location and travel by boat to remote Orca's Cove. Here you will meet your guides and become familiar with kayaking. After a basic lesson, we take off paddling, wandering amongst numerous islands, immersing ourselves in the surroundings and keeping a lookout for wildlife.

All around, mountains rise out of the ocean and the rainforest presses right down to the shoreline. Several Bald Eagle nesting sites are active here. Along the shore we often can see river otters, bear and Sitka Black Tail Deer. The water provides seals, sea lions, Dall's porpoise, Orcas and Humpback whales. On occasion we see Minke whales. Sea birds are numerous and Cormorants dry off their wings on the rocks around us. The inter tidal marine life visible at low tide or underneath the kayaks in the clear water offers a colorful display of starfish, sun stars and sea cucumbers.

The area is frequently used by native peoples for subsistence use. Goose tongue grasses are collected along the beaches and excellent clamming exists at low tide. Steelhead trout run in the streams and encourage feeding eagles and bears. Our guides are trained naturalists and will enthusiastically share their love of the land with you.

Excellent opportunities exist for photographing exceptional scenery and wildlife. Dry bags are provided to protect your camera or video recorder and we encourage you to bring along plenty of film. During the trip you can pass your cameras to the guides to get spectacular pictures of yourself paddling. At trips end, we will enjoy a smoked salmon snack and soft drinks before the return to town.

We use high quality fiberglass double touring kayaks by Current Designs on our trips - not plastic! The double kayaks we use have a centre pod and so you do not have to coordinate your paddling - making for a far more pleasurable trip. Our paddles are lightweight fiberglass. Rain gear, jackets and pants, are provided for your comfort. Our guides carry binoculars to share with the group and also hydrophones so we can listen to marine life beneath the water. We encourage you to dress in warm comfortable layers. Sneakers are ideal for foot wear rather than large hiking boots - we step into the kayaks off a dock and so you will not get your feet wet.

After paddling Orcas Cove you will enjoy a smoked salmon picnic on the back deck of M/V Sea Spree, but instead of taking a cruise back to Ketchikan by boat, an experienced Alaska bush pilot will pull up to the back deck and take you on a flightseeing tour of Misty Fjord's most dramatic scenery.

Everyone has a window seat and headsets so you can listen to your pilot as he explains the wilderness and wildlife unfolding below. You can chat back and forth and even suggest a closer look at something. The opportunity to take photos is exquisite - flying over Orca's Cove you can get spectacular photos showing where you spent the morning paddling, and later, the scenery of Misty Fjords. An exhilarating part of your trip will be landing on a wilderness lake inside the Fjords where there will be time to stretch out on a pristine beach and enjoy the breathtaking scenery.

Flying low, back to Ketchikan, picture perfect landscapes reveal views you can only imagine at 30,000 feet. Closer to town you can see the totem poles of Saxman Native Village, the town perched along the shore line and the cruise ships waiting at the dock. Landing in the protected harbor, alongside Ketchikan's historic waterfront, offers great photos of the town and ships. Transportation from the sea plane base to your ship or downtown is provided at the end of your bush plane adventure.

Our combined trip truly shows you the Alaska you came so far to see. Wild open spaces, endless mountain vistas, remote bays, secret passages and wildlife in their natural habitat. Immerse yourself in the wilderness of Orca's Cove, listen to the hiss of water as your kayak glides along the shore line beneath the rainforest, hear the blow of a Humpback whale and look up in wonder at Bald Eagles nesting above you. Then join the skies and let the magnificence of the Misty Fjords unveil itself as it passes beneath your wings. This is our back yard, our home, and we encourage you to come and share it with us.

Cruise ship visitors with reservations will be picked up by our guides straight from your ship. When you disembark we will be waiting on the dock with a sign with your name on it.

Minimum age to participate is six years old. Space is extremely limited for the Orca's Cove Adventure, and we recommend you make prior reservations at least 30 days in advance for June, July and August.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need to be experienced?
No experience is necessary to participate on our trips. We do ask that you are physically fit and inform us about any limitations you may have. Trips are suitable for old and young alike over the age of six. Our oldest participant to date was ninety years old. As we use double kayaks we can team people up to make our strongest group. Young children can ride in the centre of a triple kayak and still paddle so they are involved. Paddling is not difficult and as we keep groups small we can cater to individual needs.

What will the weather be like? Will I be cold?
Summertime in Southeast Alaska is mild with average temperatures in the 60's, but days can run into the 80's. We do live in a rainforest and our area is dependant on the rain that fuels the diverse ecosystem here. However the summer months are the driest. We do provide rain jackets for our trips and bear in mind the wildlife could care less if it's raining. Of a greater concern is strong winds, and if the conditions are unsafe we will cancel trips with a full refund. We ask you to dress warmly in layers as if you were hiking, but without hiking boots. Sneakers are appropriate footwear as we step into the kayaks from a dock and your feet will not get wet. Hiking boots on guys tend to be too bulky for the kayaks.

Will I tip over?
Not likely. Our sea kayaks are quite stable and our guides will help you develop technique and grace.

What if my ship gets delayed?
If your ship is delayed or you are unable to make a connection, we will try our best to re-schedule. If we can't, there will be a full refund.

Will I miss my ship?
Trips are scheduled to accommodate your timetable. Ships typically arrive early but we ask you to buffer your trip time by thirty minutes. If your ship gets in at 6:30 am, we could easily pick you up at 7:00 am. Cruise ships ask that you return aboard 30 minutes prior to departure, therefore we need to schedule your return 45 minutes prior to departure as a minimum. We are located only a five minute walk from the cruise ship dock. No one on our trips has ever missed their ship.

I?m pretty big, will I fit?
Over the years we have seen all shapes and sizes with very few not being able to participate. Our best advice is to try it. If you are not comfortable, don?t do it.

Can you accommodate people with special needs?
We are proud of our reputation of providing outdoor recreation for all. Again, let us know how we can cater to your needs and we will do our best to make it happen.

Important Information

This tour does not include hotel pick-up. MINIMUM 2 PERSONS PER ORDER. Price includes all taxes and fees. Child age is 6 to 15; no one under the age of 6 allowed. Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 888-653-6065.