Anadyr Adventures
Anadyr Adventures
4.5
Eco ToursSightseeing ToursNature & Wildlife ToursKayaking & Canoeing
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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About
Half day to 7 day wilderness kayaking expeditions departing from Valdez Alaska. Glacier kayaking at it's finest with small group sizes and naturalist trained guides.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
403 reviews
Excellent
347
Very good
25
Average
7
Poor
9
Terrible
15
Bitzy
San Diego, CA10 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
Experience of a lifetime kayaking around icebergs to within 1/4 mile of Columbia Glacier, to watch the many calving moments! Our guide, Aiden was very knowledgeable, explaining all the science behind glaciers and he had a lot of experience in ensuring our safety. The gear Anadyr provides is ample to keep you warm and dry, and the kayaks are quite stable. Aiden also provided us with great photos of our experience!
Written September 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel M
2 contributions
Jun 2020
Aiden took me and my friend out to Shoup Glacier for an overnight stay. It was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had and my top five while I've been living in Alaska these past three years. Aiden was extremely knowledgeable on all things from wildlife to glacier science. He taught us best practices for kayaking and also prepared and cooked some pretty great meals, with dietary restrictions in mind, while we were out there. We saw a black bear, harbor seals, tons of sea otters, plovers, loons, bald eagles, and seagull chicks all in just a day or two. I recommend this trip to any novice kayakers, and absolutely recommend Anadyr adventures. They provided equipment and training as needed and it not only made the trip possible, but also unforgettable. My most favorite part of the experience was watching Sea Otters and the sunset over Shoup Glacier.
Written June 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey Rachel! Thank you for the very thoughtful review! We really appreciate it and are so glad that you had a great time exploring Shoup Bay! Thanks for sharing your trip highlights with us. We hope to see you and your friend in the future.
All the best,
The Anadyr Adventures Team
Written June 16, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kyle B
1 contribution
Jul 2020
My wife and I and our two kids (ages 12 and 15) capped an Alaska road trip with a day of kayaking at Columbia Glacier. Our guide Aiden did a great job engaging the kids and keeping my son and wife at ease as they were a little nervous with their first time on sea kayaks. He successfully guided our novice group to a truly amazing place and we will remember the amazing experience for a long time. My 15-year old daughter actually admitted to having fun!
Written July 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey Kyle!
We are so happy to hear that you and your family had a wonderful time and felt comfortable while exploring what can be an intimidating landscape. Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a kind review, we sincerely appreciate it. And a teen admitting to having fun, the highest of all compliments! Hope to see you all again.
Thanks,
Anadyr Adventures
Written July 31, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pkupiggy
Vancouver, Canada12 contributions
Jul 2021 • Friends
We did the Columbia glacier face kayak tour with Anadyr on 7/6. We went with this company because of the good reviews we saw on line. Overall, I would rate the glacier 5 stars, the guides 4 stars and the company 1 star.
The glacier looked awesome, but it was foggy and raining all day long, which I heard is not untypical for Valdez. For people who are interested in this tour, just be aware that the view may not be as clear due to the fog as what you see on the photos.
I was disappointed by the tour for two reasons:
1. Possible due to a surge of demand during the summer season, the company sold the tour to more people than they had seats for on the boat. They were 16 clients but only 15 seats. Some of us ended up having to stand for the whole boat ride which is 2 hour long one way. This is not only uncomfortable but also unsafe since the wave on the ocean can get really big. When I am paying 300+ for a tour, I expect at least a seat on the boat.
I also felt bad for the two guides because there were also no seats for them. They had to stand all the way through the boat ride. The guides worked really hard in the rain and cold to manage the trip and a crazy amount of gears. They deserve a chance to rest a bit on the boat.
When we raised the issue to the guy at the front desk who appeared to be the owner, he shrugged it off. Apparently this was a deliberate decision rather than a one time mistake. His attitude shows that he has no interest in listening to the concern of the customers. I would not go with a company like this again who values a few hundred dollars more than the comfort and safety of the customers and its own employees.
2. This is relatively a minor point compared to the first one. I think the tour can be improved if the guides did a better job providing introductions/info behind the scenery. I am sure they are interesting geographic stories behind those glaciers. I did not hear much. When the guide did try to explain something, it was done when people were on their kayak. Given the distance, it was really hard for everyone to hear. A better opportunity could be during the lunch break.
The glacier looked awesome, but it was foggy and raining all day long, which I heard is not untypical for Valdez. For people who are interested in this tour, just be aware that the view may not be as clear due to the fog as what you see on the photos.
I was disappointed by the tour for two reasons:
1. Possible due to a surge of demand during the summer season, the company sold the tour to more people than they had seats for on the boat. They were 16 clients but only 15 seats. Some of us ended up having to stand for the whole boat ride which is 2 hour long one way. This is not only uncomfortable but also unsafe since the wave on the ocean can get really big. When I am paying 300+ for a tour, I expect at least a seat on the boat.
I also felt bad for the two guides because there were also no seats for them. They had to stand all the way through the boat ride. The guides worked really hard in the rain and cold to manage the trip and a crazy amount of gears. They deserve a chance to rest a bit on the boat.
When we raised the issue to the guy at the front desk who appeared to be the owner, he shrugged it off. Apparently this was a deliberate decision rather than a one time mistake. His attitude shows that he has no interest in listening to the concern of the customers. I would not go with a company like this again who values a few hundred dollars more than the comfort and safety of the customers and its own employees.
2. This is relatively a minor point compared to the first one. I think the tour can be improved if the guides did a better job providing introductions/info behind the scenery. I am sure they are interesting geographic stories behind those glaciers. I did not hear much. When the guide did try to explain something, it was done when people were on their kayak. Given the distance, it was really hard for everyone to hear. A better opportunity could be during the lunch break.
Written July 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I’m glad to hear that you appreciated Columbia Glacier. In my opinion, it’s among the more interesting places on the planet. Our team feels really fortunate to get to spend so much time in such a dynamic environment.
I’m sorry you didn’t otherwise seem to enjoy your day with us due to the lack of a seat on the boat. You’re right that the boat was full on 7/6 with 16 guests. There’s usually a removable seat to accommodate everyone. I spoke with the boat operator and he confirmed that it was missing on your day.
For others reading this, I’d like to point out that most people don’t sit the entire ride. Remember kayaking is an activity done while seated which means that if you sit for the entire boat ride you’d be seated for 8 hours of the 10 hour trip duration. Our guides, knowing this, often enjoy standing on the boat, many of our guests do the same and our guides encourage guests to move about the deck especially while stopped for animal sightings, etc.
Also, it’s important to note that though this guest found it uncomfortable to stand it is by no means a safety issue. The water taxi is a 40 foot catamaran landing craft and PWS is not an open ocean environment. In fact it’s classified as inland waters. If there was ever doubt about the safety of the boat ride due to wind or waves the trip would be canceled.
To the reviewer; So you know, you didn’t speak with me (the owner) but with our office staff. I apologize if your concern wasn’t taken seriously. I appreciate your comments as it can help us improve. Thanks especially for your suggestions regarding better timing for guides to do trip interpretation. I’ve passed that on to the guides. I’m sorry if you missed that part of your trip as we know how important orientation is.
Written August 10, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jingjing C
8 contributions
Sep 2021
I had been dreaming about kayaking through the glaciers in Alaska (I did not get the chance to do that when I visited Iceland 5 years ago) all the time. Finally, my friends and I made the decision to go to Valdez this Sep. We booked the "Columbia Face" glacier kayaking tour with Anadyr Adventures. It costs $329 per person and the trip is worth every penny. We were very lucky since the weather was SUPER nice which is not too normal during this shoulder season in Alaska (we were so grateful). Our trip guides are amazing - they gave us lots of informative instructions (if you are new to glacier kayaking), told us the history of glaciers, and took lots of great pictures of us (which is the best part!). The best part is definitely the views! You could not find it anywhere else. They took us kayak through the ice (which is the hardest part for me) and we reached to the closest point of Columbia glacier. The views are stunning. It was a really special experience to see glacier in this way. I did not get a chance to take other tours with Anadyr Adventures, but I highly recommend you take Columbia Face Kayaking Tour if you have a full day you want to spend in Valdez. Definitely, a must-do on your Alaska trip!
Written November 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kendra P
Anchorage, AK34 contributions
Jul 2021 • Business
Me and my husband booked a trip for the weekend 7/17 for Columbia glacier face tour. I almost didn’t book this excursion with this company because of some of the reviews that I had read. But I decided to make my own opinion. I live here in Alaska and knowing how crazy the weather can be anywhere, and knowing how wet it always is in Valdez, we came prepared. This is Alaska and she does what she wants with the weather. Going prepared can make a world of difference. None the less we didn’t even need any of that because it was a beautiful blue bird day. I could see how some things pointed out in others reviews may not be enjoyable in the rain. But there’s literally nothing the company or the guides can do about that. So go prepared. Our guides and captain were very knowledgeable, kind and helpful. Made sure we were always comfortable and they seem to really know their stuff and enjoy it too.
We went to the west branch of the Columbia face and it was absolutely amazing, water was calm! Skies were clear. It really was the trip of a lifetime.
Also maybe some people should check out their website and requirements for their trips. I read it thoroughly and packed our own water and lunch, because they ask you too 😉
All in all 11/10 would recommend Anadyr Adventures 😎
We went to the west branch of the Columbia face and it was absolutely amazing, water was calm! Skies were clear. It really was the trip of a lifetime.
Also maybe some people should check out their website and requirements for their trips. I read it thoroughly and packed our own water and lunch, because they ask you too 😉
All in all 11/10 would recommend Anadyr Adventures 😎
Written July 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bob C
1 contribution
Jun 2021 • Couples
Goose and David were our professional guides on this epic trip. We traveled by boat for several hours in the astonishing beautiful waters surrounded by snowcapped mountains. Lots of interesting information was shared by our guides on the history, geology and wildlife including aquatic species. We saw whales breaching, slapping their tails communicating with others and many sea lions and otters. There were numerous sightings of Dahl Sheep , in one group I counted 11adults (some with babies). Once we started kayaking , after a very thorough safety meeting there were endless surprises …a Rock-wall water Canyon passage (6 feet in-between the two walls) on our way to viewing the Columbia Glacier and open waters covered with all sizes and colors of icebergs.We had an hour long on shore lunch, including very detailed information with maps and pictures of the history of Columbia Glacier as our backdrop. Forgot your camera ? No worries the guides take numerous pictures as you’re floating and kayaking around glacier bay. Goose, the head guide even provided hot drinks of tea or hot cocoa. If you’re new to kayaking, they are very experienced and it’s all about safety. Honestly, this is a trip of a lifetime … don’t miss it.
Written June 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah Holland
Denver, CO8 contributions
Jul 2020
Our family of 3 booked a last minute overnight camping trip to Shoup Glacier. It was absolutely amazing and we had an amazing and knowledgeable guide, Aidan. The office was great to work with accommodating our very specific dates needed. They were very specific at communicating what they provided and what they recommended we bring (sleeping bags, tents, pads, etc.)
When we arrived, Aidan did a great job at explaining the safety best practices and basic kayaking technique to our inexperience family. Everyone felt safe and comfortable being outside of our normal element in the Alaska wilderness. Along with an excellent personality and sense of humor, our guide's expertise on the glaciers, mountains, animals, and even flowers was beyond his years and illustrates the type of solid experience Anadyr values through their guides.
We were lucky with sunny, warm weather (around 50-60 degrees in July). Aidan was an excellent wilderness chef and brought very creative options consisting of pancakes, sausages, chicken tacos with beans and rice, tuna salad, chips and salsa (always a fav!), along with plenty of snacks. It was all so organized and we felt as though they did a great job at making sure things were extra sanitized due to COVID situation. Overall, great experience and there is nothing negative to speak of it outside of wishing we had more time out there. There is something so relaxing about kayaking the glassy Alaskan waters and going to places only really assessible by water. We were able to see bald eagles, sea lions, seals, sea otters, and some awesome birds! Aidan took us on some beautiful small hikes to see water falls.
When we arrived, Aidan did a great job at explaining the safety best practices and basic kayaking technique to our inexperience family. Everyone felt safe and comfortable being outside of our normal element in the Alaska wilderness. Along with an excellent personality and sense of humor, our guide's expertise on the glaciers, mountains, animals, and even flowers was beyond his years and illustrates the type of solid experience Anadyr values through their guides.
We were lucky with sunny, warm weather (around 50-60 degrees in July). Aidan was an excellent wilderness chef and brought very creative options consisting of pancakes, sausages, chicken tacos with beans and rice, tuna salad, chips and salsa (always a fav!), along with plenty of snacks. It was all so organized and we felt as though they did a great job at making sure things were extra sanitized due to COVID situation. Overall, great experience and there is nothing negative to speak of it outside of wishing we had more time out there. There is something so relaxing about kayaking the glassy Alaskan waters and going to places only really assessible by water. We were able to see bald eagles, sea lions, seals, sea otters, and some awesome birds! Aidan took us on some beautiful small hikes to see water falls.
Written July 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey Sarah!
Thank you for the very thoughtful review of your trip with us! We are happy to hear that you found the whole process of booking through getting out onto the water to be smooth. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on our sanitation procedures as we are working hard to do our part in keeping people healthy. We are so glad you found Aidan to be a knowledgeable guide and great cook! He really does love leading those camping trips and had a great time exploring with all of you. Come visit us again when you have some more time to adventure!
Thank you,
The Anadyr Adventures Team
Written July 10, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michael W
Cottage Grove, MN6 contributions
Jun 2020
I want to thank the people at Anadyr Adventures for the wonderful experience they shared with my wife and myself. We were in Alaska during the Covid pandemic. The procedures they have in place made us feel very secure and protected. We had scheduled a kayak trip with another company but due to weather and problems starting thier business during the pandemic.
Anadyr was able to setup our trip and our once in a life time dream came true. Our Guide Kayden or Bagel, was fantastic. He got use outfitted and on the water in no time. His knowledge of glaciers and the history of Valdez made the experience even more rewarding. We love the pictures Kayden took during the trip and will cherish the memories. We were first time kayakers and the experience was geared perfectly to our abilities.
Anadyr went out of their way to setup this adventure for us and their policies and procedures to prevent the Covid spread were impressive.
Anadyr was able to setup our trip and our once in a life time dream came true. Our Guide Kayden or Bagel, was fantastic. He got use outfitted and on the water in no time. His knowledge of glaciers and the history of Valdez made the experience even more rewarding. We love the pictures Kayden took during the trip and will cherish the memories. We were first time kayakers and the experience was geared perfectly to our abilities.
Anadyr went out of their way to setup this adventure for us and their policies and procedures to prevent the Covid spread were impressive.
Written June 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael,
Thank you for taking the time to write us such a thoughtful review and mentioning our guide Kaden. He is quite knowledgable!
Here at Anadyr Adventures, we are working hard to enact protocols to keep our guests and staff safe during these challenging times. We are glad that you felt safe and had a wonderful time while exploring Valdez Glacier Lake with us! We appreciate your kind words and feedback. Hope to see you again soon!
Written June 24, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
anglaisefrancaise
Paris, France365 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
We went out on a day kayaking trip with Anadyr adventures to Sawmill Bay. When we arrived at the office we were met by our guide and kitted out with dry bags and life vests. We had our own boots and rain gear otherwise they had some available. Then off to the harbour for our water taxi to sawmill bay. The clouds were lifting after a rainy day the day before and the water taxi trip across the Sound was beautiful and we headed into the tucked away creek for our kayak adventure. Surprisingly not many people take this excursion as the more popular excursions are out to the glaciers. We really enjoyed this as novice kayakers. I had chosen it as although the glaciers down into Prince William Sound are spectacular we thought this would give us a better chance to see some of the wildlife. The bay is calm and there is no rush from A to B so you can paddle around slowly taking your time. We were totally alone with our guide and we saw lots of eagles, otters, kingfisher, salmon and then luck of luck a black bear on the beach. It was really fun paddling along and having salmon jump everywhere alongside you. And then looking down into the clear water to see hundreds swimming along. We picnicked on the beach (not with the bear!) and had a small walk around to look at some of the plants and hunted for salmon berries and blueberries. Our guide was fun to be with and knowledgeable about what we saw around us. He didn’t rush us when kayaking and paid good attention to bear safety when we were ashore. He had only been in Alaska a relatively short time but had clearly absorbed a lot of information. A really fantastic trip which did not require a huge level of fitness just a basic ability to paddle in a kayak. I was a bit nervous as a novice about getting in and out of the kayak and water taxi while in the middle of the bay but it was fine and our guide patiently guided us all in and out.
A fantastic day out and I would highly recommend.
A fantastic day out and I would highly recommend.
Written August 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wondering if it is OK to take my almost 4 year old son to any of the Kayak trips? thanks
Written July 29, 2021
I don't know if you can, i don't know why you would want to. I'm all for taking kids along, but it just seems like they would be to young to enjoy. It's not like you can just step out of a kayak. It's a long time for them to sit still. It's a beautiful trip, but your floating on some pretty cold water.
Written October 4, 2021
Yes. I wish to know where this kayak tour starts? From Valdez? How long it last? How much it coast? We are planning to visit Valdez next July (early July). Thank you!
Written August 9, 2019
You have to meet at the office in Valdez to gear up for the trip. Most of the kayak tours start with a boat ride out to a drop off site. Length of the tour and cost depend on which tour you take.
Written August 10, 2019
Chris S
Portland, Maine
Hi My girlfriend and I are trying to decided the Valdez Glacier trip or the Columbia Glacier trip. The both look amazing! We are leaning towards the Columbia trip since we want to see as much as we can while we are there. However kayaking into ice caves seems like a once in a lifetime opportunity. I was hoping you could help us decide. I would love to hear more about what both trips have to offer.
Thanks
Chris
Written March 23, 2015
AnadyrAdventures
Valdez, Alaska
Hi Chris
Both trips are lifetime kayaking experiences and if you have time we'll give you 50% of the Valdez Glacier trip if you book both,
Valdez Glacier kayaking is in a freshwater lake that we get to by van. There are spectacular ice formations. You get up close to the face of the glacier You may paddle into ice caves. It's done in inflatable kayaks. Because it's in freshwater the ice tends to be more stable than at a tidewater glacier. It's not a great wildlife trip and there are of course no marine mammals. There is usually a bit of hiking on the glacier itself.
Columbia Glacier is the second largest tidewater glacier in North America. We access it by water taxi and the water taxi ride itself generally involves wildlife and spectacular scenery. The paddling is around large icebergs and explores newly uncovered shoreline as the glacier retreats. The area between the glacier moraine and the glacier face is excellent wildlife habitat. Typical animals seen are sea otters, sealions, bears, mountain goats, seals, humpback whales, orcas, and a lot of shorebirds and alcids.
The major reason for the difference in price is the water taxi.
Written March 23, 2015
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