Quick Details
Kayak and Fish in the heart of Kenai Fjords National Park!
Our Best of Alaska Overnight Expedition is the Ultimate trip for families and group trips. You will kayak among tidewater glaciers, and waterfalls and see some of the most stunning sites we have. After a full day of exploring Kenai Fjords National Park, we take you to the stunning Fox Island where you camp on a spit, cook the fish you caught that day and then enjoy a good night’s rest before kayaking through the Eldorado Narrows into the mystical Humpy Cove.
Where We Paddle
On the first day, we kayak in Kenai Fjords National Park near the tidewater glacier(s) of your captain’s choice. We always choose paddling locations based on weather, scenery and even wildlife sightings. Here you will kayak among ice, harbor seals and will experience Kenai Fjords’ geologic antiquity to the fullest.
On the second day, we kayak from Fox Island spit into Humpy Cove, and if the group would like to go farther we can go beyond to Thumb Cove. There you can explore waterfalls, caves, vast marine life such as sea stars and anemones, as well as unique geologic formations such as basalt and dikes.
Deep Sea Fishing in Kenai Fjords
On this trip you will spend about two hours fishing, this is totally customizable for your group as well. During this time we either float or set up an anchor and will target all species of fish depending on the time of the season and fishing regulations. On our Best of Alaska trips we catch rockfish, yellow-eye, ling cod after July 1st, Halibut except on Wednesdays and other specified closure days, salmon and pacific cod. You can read more on the species we catch and regulations below.
About the Crew
Our team of guides will prepare your meals and work to customize your trip to maximize your experience. Enjoy exploring, taking photos, fishing, or paddling all while following the rules and ethics established by the National and State Parks. These areas prescribe Leave No Trace wilderness ethics, and we make every effort to do exactly that. Kayak guides are trained in assisted rescue techniques, natural history, first aid / CPR, and emergency response tactics. Miller’s Landing owns its own fleet of water taxi vessels. As a result in the unlikely case of an emergency, we are uniquely positioned to establish rapid and unplanned egress from even the remoteness of the fjords.
We are also operated and owned by 3rd generation fishermen and are still located on the family homestead, we have been fishing in Alaska’s cold waters before the company was even born. So. fish with the confidence that your captain and crew are equipped with all the knowledge or tools at our disposal.
Meeting Time |
Ending Time |
Meeting Place |
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5:30 am Plan to arrive at 5:30 am to check in, pack up, and meet your guide. The taxi will depart at 6 am sharp to Aialik or Northwestern Fjord | Between 3 and 4 pm Expect to be back at Miller’s landing between 3 and 4 pm your last day. Return time is dependent on our boat schedule and weather. | Meet at the main office, 13880 Beach Drive Seward, AK. |
Age Requirements |
What We Provide |
What to Bring |
This trip is best for ages 8 and up. Feel free to contact us with questions! | We fishing gear, provide Kayaks, light carbon paddles, PFDs, spray skirt, pogies, and splash gear when needed. For camping we have all the cooking gear, sleeping bags, liners, pads, tents, and other items to make your experience comfortable. | Fishing License, warm synthetic or wool layers, rain gear, medical necessities, water bottle, and then we do provide a more detailed packing list later on! |
Tips for a Great Trip |
Difficulty |
Bringing a Camera? |
Be sure to pack comfortable shoes that could get wet, and good layers, and extra clothing. Reach out if you have questions about gear | This kayak trip takes place on calm waters in a protected bay, and the boat is always nearby on this trip. | We use sit-in kayaks for this trip, you can have your camera around your neck or in a dry bag. |
More Information
- Price includes approximately two hours of water taxi time watching for wildlife each way!
- On this trip, you will either go to Aialik Bay or Northwestern Fjord the first day
- This is a great trip for beginner paddlers who want a lot of time on the water in one of the most gorgeous places on earth
- All kayaking and fishing gear and instructions provided
- Gratuities are not included in the original sale price, a suggested 20% guide tip is greatly appreciated! (Suggested tip $50 to $100/person)
- Please note: We do not target halibut on these charters – unless otherwise stated as an exception at the time of booking, any halibut caught incidentally during the fishing portion of the tour will have to be released.
- Dry suit rentals are available, each suit comes with 2mm neoprene booties and is $300 for the first two days — $75 per additional day. Dry suits are typically not needed, and have never been the standard but are available.
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- We depart Miller’s Landing at 6 am, fully loaded with kayaks and bait! Keep a lookout for whales, porpoises, sea lions, and more as we ride.
- The Thomas Sea or the Fox Willie ventures two hours to Aialik Bay or Northwestern Fjord arriving around 8 – 8:30 am, where the Captain and kayak guide determine the best kayaking destination, dropping you at a beach within a short paddle of Holgate, Aialik, or Northwestern. Here, we can kayak with ice floes and watch actively calving tidewater glaciers. Kayaking not your thing? Stay aboard and take pictures of the rest of your group and view the action from the deck of our custom-built landing craft!
- By 12 noon we’re back on the boat after working up appetites. Lunch is offered to the group while the captain manages to navigate through the often ice-filled fjords toward the fishing grounds.
- Fish until 2 or 3 pm Catch fresh, wild Alaskan fish, like Silver Salmon / Coho (in season late June – early September, limit six per person in the bay, three outside the bay), Black Rockfish, Yelloweye, and sometimes Ling Cod (after July 1, limit one per person and over 35″). Rockfish limits are four per person, (only one of which can be a nonpelagic such as a Yelloweye). Around 4 pm, the captain calls for lines up, and the vessel returns back to the Landing to hang your catch for photos and fillet them!
- Head back to Resurrection Bay and arrive at Fox Island around 3:30 pm depending on the weather and fishing.
- After you are dropped at the camping location, set up camp, get comfortable and relax while your guides cook up your fresh fish and other bites. The captain and deckhand will head back to Miller’s Landing to process and store the rest of your fish.
- After a good night’s sleep, enjoy your morning and then paddle from the spit where you camped to Humpy cove. Along the way, you will cross Eldorado Narrows, and see waterfalls, basalt cliffs, and other unique sites on the Eastern side of Resurrection bay.
- Get picked up after lunch by the water taxi and head back to Miller’s Landing with your guides. Get back around 4 pm and pick up your fish caught the day before (we can store them for longer if needed).
Please be sure to inform us if you have medical or ethical dietary restrictions. We plan meals for the “average eater.” Feel free to bring your own snacks! We really try to accommodate everyone’s diet, but please understand we don’t have enough room to pack a buffet in a kayak. If you would like to buy your own groceries, a $20 refund will be subtracted from your trip cost. This trip is best for ages 12 and over!
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Aialik Bay can only be accessed by foot, helicopter, plane or boat. We utilize our own 36-foot landing craft that can carry up to 24 passengers. It exceeds the 5-star safety rating and has music, a heated cabin, windows for viewing the landscape or wildlife, and comfortable seating. We also have a 6 pax boat that can fit a smaller group, it has many of the same features. On the way to the park, we generally stop for wildlife such as puffins, sea lions and otters. If we see orcas or other whales, we generally stop to view them.
The water taxi ride generally takes 1.5 to 2 hours depending on weather, tides, and if we see any wildlife to get to the National Park. While the water is usually calm, it can sometimes get bumpy if the weather comes in. We always do our best to make the ride comfortable, but we can’t control the weather!
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- A $10 cancellation fee is imposed for all reservations cancelled.
- Cancellations must be received by email only to reservations@millerslandingak.com The cancellation notice date is the date the email was received at reservations@millerslandingak.com Phone cancellations will not be accepted.
- Cancellations received by email 30 days prior to the first day of the reservation are charged a $10 cancellation fee and you will receive a refund of 90% of the total amount of the reservation.
- Cancellations received by email 15 to 29 days prior to the first day of the reservation are charged a $10 cancellation charge and you will receive a 75% refund. of the total amount of the reservation.
- Cancellations received by email 14 days to zero days prior to arrival are charged a $10 cancellation fee and you will receive a 50% refund only if we are able to rebook your camping, cabin, fishing, kayaking, watertaxi, shuttle, lunch, or activity. If we are not able to rebook your reservation then no refunds will be issued and. You must call or e-mail Miller’s Landing post date of cancelled stay in order for us to research whether or not your site booked. Sites that were booked of course qualify for the 50% refund, sites that were not unfortunately do not.
- In some situations a raincheck worth 75% of your reservation may be issued at the discretion of Miller’s Landing management instead of the applicable cancellation charge. If this option appeals to you please suggest this at the time of cancellation. Rainchecks are good for one year and may be used for activities, camping or lodging owned by Miller’s Landing or towards the cost of hats, tee shirts, gifts, etc. sold in the Miller’s Landing store or items sold online. For items purchased online the customer is expected to pay for the cost of postage. Rainchecks may NOT be transferred to another person.
- A 100% refund will be issued for any activity that was cancelled due to weather by Miller’s Landing. Miller’s Landing reserves the right to determine weather cancellations. Rain does not constitute cancellations.
Please note: Miller’s Landing encourages only guaranteed prepaid reservations. Unlike many other states, Alaska has a very short tourist season which can make it difficult for us to rebook when we have cancellations without ample notice.
If you are booking a charter and lodging and your charter , water taxi or kayaking is cancelled due to weather you are still responsible for the lodging or camping reservations and the normal cancellation policy applies. All of our activities are possible during rain, so rain does not constitute a cancellation. Miller’s Landing is not responsible for vehicle break downs, personal emergencies, flight delays, health issues or other unforeseen hardships. We will try very hard to work with you but the cancellation policy will need to be applied if we cannot issue a raincheck or find an alternative solution that appeals to both parties.
Please understand that Miller’s Landing also incurs a hefty financial merchant fee from our bank for the cost of charging your credit card and again for the cost of refunding it, and there is also a cost involved for the time involved in processing and refunding your reservation in employee costs. Our goal when taking your reservation is to have a solid, guaranteed prepaid reservation. We strongly discourage the practice of making reservations without having an airline ticket or making tentative reservations. Thank you for your understanding.
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Before the trip, your food is prepped by your guide in a clean and well-maintained kitchen operated by Barrio. A coffee shop located inside Millers Landing’s office. They have a clean, certified, and modern kitchen. All food plans are double checked or are planned by multiple people to ensure satisfaction.
Barrio does not only prepare food for our kayaking trips but makes delicious beverages, breakfast and lunch for our customers, and caters to weddings as well as special events such as birthdays! Our guides as well as Barrio’s staff takes all measures to maintain a clean and well-run kitchen so you can not only enjoy Alaska but enjoy your meals.
In the backcountry, your guide will prepare meals using a whisper-lite stove. We chose these because the fuel canisters are re-fillable reducing waste, and they are reliable and maintainable. Your guide will not only cook you fresh and warm meals but will have hot water for coffee, hot cocoa, or tea.
If you have any special dietary needs or medical issues please let us know!
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Fishing regulations change each year. For the most up-to-date information, please see the ADF&G website, at www.adfg.alaska.gov and the Southcentral Region, specifically linked HERE.
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Fishing licenses are not provided but can be purchased online prior to departure or even days before the trip. Buy your fishing and hunting license online at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/store/ – these can be printed out ahead of time, but must be on your person whenever you fish!
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Our Guides come from all different backgrounds; from being ski instructors, snowmobile guides, wranglers, or passionate outdoor enthusiasts. Everyone comes from a customer service-rich background with a passion for interpretation, protecting the outdoors and safety. Our team is trained for two weeks to refine their skills together and learn all they need to know to safely guide our clients. We instruct and certify our guides as ACA II kayakers, practice cold water rescue techniques, and require that all guides have an up-to-date Wilderness First Responder Certification. Learn more about our training process by reading our blog from the 2022 training session!
Check it out here: Kayak Guide Training Summer 2022 | Miller’s Landing (millerslandingak.com)
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Spend a summer outdoors and in the Stunning Kenai Fjords National Park and Resurrection Bay, teaching, guiding, and enjoying all the amazing experiences Alaska have to offer. Miller’s Landing is a family-run business that started operations shortly after Kenai Fjords National Park was established in 1980 and the tourism industry began to form in Seward. We work hard to provide every guest with a memorable experience, with a focus on safety, education, stewardship, and fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment.
We begin our hiring process in the winter, between December and January, and suggest you apply in December. Our training begins May 1st and the season runs until September 15th. We ask that guides are able to attend training and can stay until at least mid-August. Learn more about our requirements and the hiring process here: Kayak Instructor / Guide | Miller’s Landing in Seward Alaska (millerslandingak.com)