Hafen
Valdez

Discover the historical highlights and scenic splendour of Valdez during this relaxing, half-day sightseeing excursion via coach.

Valdez, Prince William Sound, Glaciers, Rainforests, Wildlife, Keystone Canyon, Waterfalls

Depart the pier for a picturesque drive through the wonderful coastal community of Valdez. Located near the head of a deep fjord in Prince William Sound, Valdez is an incredibly scenic mix of tidewater glaciers, rainforests, majestic mountains, and abundant wildlife on both land and sea. Along the way, a stop is made at the stunning Keystone Canyon for spectacular panoramic views and photo opportunities of its majestic waterfalls, which helped Valdez earn the nickname, 'Alaska's Little Switzerland'.

City Drive & History, Old Town, Historical Buildings

During your sightseeing drive, learn about and Valdez's energy and fishing industries, as well as pivotal moments in time that that helped to shape life in present-day Valdez, including the Earthquake of 1964 and Exxon Valdez Oil Spill in 1989. In the Old Town, pass by several early historical buildings from the Gold Rush era that have withstood the test of time and elements. Your orientation tour of Valdez concludes back at the pier.

Experience the spectacular Columbia Glacier and its surrounds from a unique perspective during this panoramic, full-day sightseeing excursion via boat.

Valdez, Prince Williams Sound, Columbia Glacier, Chugach Mountains,

Depart the pier for the short drive to your awaiting boat. Upon arrival, embark the vessel and begin your panoramic journey through Prince William Sound to the Columbia Glacier area. Here, view history in the making as the Columbia River retreats into the Chugach Mountains and see the amazing ice in Columbia Bay.

Seals, Sea Lions & Otters, Eagles, Puffins, Porpoises, Whales, Lunch, Breath-Taking Views

Your Columbia Glacier cruise offers a wonderful opportunity to observe, and photograph, a wide array of diverse wildlife and bird species, including seals, sea lions, sea otters, eagles, puffins, porpoises, humpback whales, orcas, and more. Enjoy light snacks with local specialities served with complimentary, non-alcoholic beverages on-board the boat, and accompanied by sweeping vistas of your breath-taking surrounds.

Natural & Local History, Trans-Alaska Pipeline Terminal

Along the way, your experienced captains and crew share details about the natural history of your surrounds, and stories about early explorers, gold-mining, the operations of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Terminal, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, and today's preventative safety measures. At the conclusion of your tour, return to the boat launch and disembark your vessel, then re-board your coach for the short drive back to the pier.

Experience the pristine natural beauty of the Alaskan coast from a unique perspective during this half-day sea-kayaking excursion to Duck Flats.

Duck Flats

Depart the pier for the brief transfer to the kayak launching area. Upon arrival, receive your safety briefing and kayaking gear and instructions, then embark your two- or three-person sea kayak and begin your 1.5-2-hour kayaking tour. Paddle towards the calm waters of Duck Flats. Along the way, your route follows a chain of small islands noted for their nesting birds and sunbathing seals.

While paddling around Duck Flats, a visit is made to the nesting sites of Bald Eagles. During the trip back to the kayak launching area, explore the Valdez Small Boat Harbour and take in a water-level view of the local fishing boats and fish processing plants. Upon arrival back at the kayak launching area, disembark your kayak and transfer back to the pier.

Experience the stunning natural splendour of Valdez, and a glacier landing and walk, during this exhilarating helicopter flight-seeing excursion.

Valdez, Heliport, Helicopter Flight-Seeing Tour, Fjord, Rainforests, Majestic Mountains, Glaciers

Depart the pier for the short drive to the heliport in Valdez, and your awaiting helicopter. Upon arrival, receive your safety and flight instructions, then board your helicopter and begin your exhilarating, approximately one-hour helicopter flight-seeing tour over Valdez and its surrounds. After lift-off, see the wonderful coastal community of Valdez. Located near the head of a deep fjord in Prince William Sound, Valdez is an incredibly scenic mix of tidewater glaciers, rainforests, majestic mountains, and other awe-inspiring sites.

Prince William Sound, Breath-Taking Glaciers & Canyons, Chugach Mountains, Wildlife, Marine Life

Enjoy spectacular panoramic vistas and photo opportunities whilst passing over historic Valdez Harbour, and Valdez Narrows. From here, continue over Prince William Sound,, icebergs, bay ice, fjords, Chugach Mountains, Mineral Creek Glacier and Canyon, and stunning Keystone Canyon, whose majestic waterfalls helped Valdez earn the nickname, ‘Alaska’s Little Switzerland’. In addition, look for abundant wildlife on both land and sea, including whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, bears, coyotes, eagles, seabirds, and more.

Glacier Lakes & Formations, Wildlife-Spotting, Glacier-Walk, Commemorative Glass, Glacier Water

Whilst exploring the many glaciers, glacier lakes, and glacial formations of Valdez and its surrounds, your pilot does some wildlife-spotting before finding the perfect spot to land. After landing, an approximately 30-minute glacier visit is made. Take a guided glacier-walk to experience walking on the ice like the early gold miners did, enjoy breath-taking views and photo opportunities, and use your special commemorative glass to drink some of the pure glacier water whilst enjoying a local treat. Following your glacier visit, re-board your helicopter and commence the short ride back to the heliport. Upon arrival, re-board your coach and commence the short drive back to the pier.

Experience the stunning natural beauty of the Keystone Canyon in a unique new way during this fun-filled and exciting, half-day river-rafting excursion.

Valdez, Keystone Canyon, River-Rafting Starting Point & Preparation

You'll be driven to a location where you will be fitted with drysuits and booties. Following this, there will be a 20-minute drive to and through the Keystone Canyon. Upon arrival, proceed to the river-rafting starting-point and your awaiting river-raft. After meeting your guides, receive your safety instructions and equipment, including rafts, paddles, helmets, life jackets, dry suits, neoprene booties, and personal flotation devices, and don your gear.

Rafting and Paddling Instructions and Practice on Class I-II Water, River-Rafting into Class III Water

Valdez’s only land-route to the Alaskan interior, the Lowe River through Keystone Canyon offers an exciting and historic white-water rafting adventure. The initial Class I-II water offers a great opportunity to conduct basic rafting and paddling instructions, familiarise yourself with the raft, and practice commands prior to entering the awe-inspiring Keystone Canyon. As the canyon narrows, the waves and rapids increase into Class III big water. If the water is really moving, you can hear boulders turning on the riverbed.

Bridal Veil Falls, Sheer Rock Canyon Walls, Mountain Scenery, Glaciers

Upon arrival at a short section of calmer water, a stop is made at Bridal Veil Falls, one of the many massive waterfalls adorning the sheer rock walls of Keystone Canyon. Afterward, return to your raft to navigate the rest of this magnificent canyon, which features amazing mountain scenery and glaciers. As the Keystone Canyon opens and the river calms, disembark your river-raft, re-board your coach, and commence the approximately 30-minute drive back to the pier.

Valdez, Valdez Museum

Depart the pier for your tour of all three museums in Valdez. Your first stop is at the nearby Valdez Museum, which preserves, presents, and interprets the heritage and culture of Valdez, the Copper River Basin, and Prince William Sound, Alaska. Upon arrival, you are welcomed by museum staff. View a collection of historical artefacts, documents, etc. displayed in the town's first museum, which was established by a local prospector in 1901 but perished during the Earthquake of 1964.  

Maxine and Jesse Whitney Museum,

Leaving the Valdez Museum, re-board your coach for the short drive to the Maxine and Jesse Whitney Museum. During a self-guided tour of this state-of-the-art museum, explore one of the largest collections of Native American art and artefacts in the world. Following your visit, re-board your coach and continue to your final stop, the Old Town Museum (Old Valdez Exhibit).

Old Town Museum (Old Valdez Exhibit),

View a wide array of local artefacts from the Earthquake of 1964 and learn about the town, and its survival, in the aftermath of that devastating earthquake. The museum also houses a diorama depicting how the Old Town appeared prior to the earthquake. Following your visit, re-board your coach and commence the short drive back to the pier.  

Experience the local culture and sites of Valdez in a unique new way during this scenic and fun-filled sightseeing excursion by vintage trolley.

Valdez, Vintage Trolley-Tour, Deep Fjord, Prince William Sound, Glaciers, Rainforests, Mountains

Depart the pier for the short walk to the trolley loading area. Upon arrival, board your vintage trolley and begin your guided and narrated, approximately one-hour orientation ride through the wonderful coastal community of Valdez. Located near the head of a deep fjord in Prince William Sound, Valdez is an incredibly scenic mix of tidewater glaciers, rainforests, majestic mountains, and abundant wildlife on both land and sea.

Historic Landmarks, Waterfront & Downtown Areas, Waterfalls, Wildlife, Cabin

During your trolley tour, discover historic landmarks, local neighbourhoods, the waterfront, and best places to walk, eat, drink, and shop in the downtown area. Enjoy breath-taking panoramic views and photo opportunities of a majestic waterfall, which helped Valdez earn the nickname, ‘Alaska’s Little Switzerland’, along with a wildlife-viewing platform. Here, you might spot endemic wildlife species that may include bears, moose, Dall sheep, caribou, wolves, foxes, bald eagles, and more. Season-permitting, a visit is also made to the National Forest Cabin.

Daily Life, Community Projects, Local Citizens

In addition to sightseeing, this trolley tour immerses you in the daily rhythms and vibrant tapestry of Valdez life. From its resilient spirit shaped by historical events to the warm embrace of its tight-knit community, discover the stories of everyday life in the ‘Snow Capital of Alaska’, community projects, and the people who call Valdez home. This tour is not just a glimpse into a town; it's an invitation to experience the heartbeat of Valdez, leaving you with a connection to the authentic life that thrives within this Alaskan town. Your trolley tour concludes back at the trolley-loading area. Upon arrival, de-board the trolley and commence the short walk back to the pier.

Valdez, Glacier Lake

You'll be driven to a location where you will get geared up with waterproof pants and jackets, rubber boots, personal flotation devices. You will be given dry bags for your belongings. Upon arrival, receive your kayaking orientation, safety, and tour instructions. Afterward, don your safety gear, embark your inflatable kayak, and begin your guided and narrated, approximately 2.5-hour kayaking adventure that is suitable for guests of all experience levels.

Mountain Scenery, Icebergs

Marvel at spectacular mountain scenery, icebergs, and glacial formations whilst gliding along the surface of this approximately 640-foot-deep (about 195-metre-deep) lake at a leisurely pace. 

Local History, Spectacular Views

Along the way, your guides recount the glaciers' formation, retreat, and role in the 'All American Route of 1889', when prospectors traversed its challenging terrain. A stop is made along the lake shore to relax a bit and enjoy exquisite views and photo opportunities of your surrounds, before paddling back to the kayaking base. Upon arrival, return your kayak and gear, then re-board your van and commence the approximately 30-minute drive back to the pier

Experience the spectacular panorama of the Mineral Creek Canyon in a fun-filled and exciting new way during this exhilarating UTV sightseeing excursion.

Valdez, Guided UTV-Ride, Chugach Mountains

Depart the pier aboard a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) with your professional driver - guide for your scenic and exciting ride up towards Mineral Creek Canyon from downtown Valdez. Mineral Creek is an approximately 10-mile-long (about 16-kilometre-long) creek flowing out of the Chugach Mountains from the Mineral Creek Glacier, then down a narrow valley behind Valdez before emptying into the Port of Valdez.

Mineral Creek Canyon

During your approximately two-hour, guided, and adrenaline-filled adventure up the Mineral Creek Canyon, travelling by UTV enables you to access panoramic vantage-points that cannot be reached by coach. Sites to be seen include the Chugach and other nearby mountains and valleys, Mineral Creek Canyon, towering peaks, glaciers, rivers, lakes, streams, waterfalls, the Port of Valdez, and more.

Photo Stops

Along the way, several photo stops are made to capture the pristine natural beauty of your expansive surrounds. Mineral Creek Canyon also offers wonderful opportunities to spot local wildlife. Your unforgettable, off-road UTV adventure concludes back at the pier.