Valdez
Alaska's Little
Switzerland on Prince William Sound
About Valdez
Alaska
Valdez
is a picturesque community located on Prince
William
Sound. The surrounding coastal mountains
have been compared to views of the Swiss Alps.
On March 27,
1964 an earthquake that measured 9.2 on the
Richter Scale struck Alaska.
The quake lasted over four minutes and was
centered a mere 45 miles from Valdez.
Since its gold rush days, Valdez
has evolved into an important shipping center
 because
it is the most northerly year-round, ice-free
port in the western hemisphere.
Construction
of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline was completed in
1977 and Valdez
was chosen as the terminus for the 800 mile
pipeline out of Prudhoe Bay. During the
construction phase of the pipeline, Valdez’s
population surged to 10,000. When it was
completed and the oil started flowing, the
population settled to its current level of about
4,000 year-round residents.
Prices listed
include all taxes and fees.
2 days / 1 night -
Tour
396
 Day 1: Anchorage to Valdez
This morning your Era
Aviation flight departs from Anchorage airport.
On arrival transfer provided to your hotel.
At noon, board your comfortable excursion vessel
to begin a cruise on Prince William Sound.
Experience Columbia Bay with the spectacular
icebergs from Columbia Glacier, the largest
tidewater glacier in South-central Alaska. View
cascading waterfalls and the Sound's amazing
wildlife. Cruise through the glacier-carved
fjords and passageways of Prince William Sound.
Listen to the boisterous sea lions at Bull's
Head. Enjoy a light meal on board as you cruise
the protected waters. Complete your cruise with
a marine tour of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline
Terminal. Approximately 70 miles round-trip.
Overnight Valdez.
Day 2: Valdez to
Anchorage
Today explore Valdez
on your own. Valdez is a picture-postcard town
ringed by tall mountains, is also the
northernmost ice-free harbor in the
United States, making it an
ideal location for the southern terminus of the
800-mile oil pipeline. This evening
transfer to the airport for the return flight to
Anchorage on Era Aviation.
Extend your stay! Valdez
offers many choices for glacier viewing tours,
sea kayaking, and world class sport fishing.
Tour Note: If you prefer a longer
stay in Valdez, please
contact us
and we will be happy to customize this
tour for you.
Round trip flights from Anchorage to Valdez
on Era Aviation, 1 night
accommodation, 6-hour Columbia Glacier
cruise (including a light meal),
and all taxes.
 May 15 - September 15, 2008:
Daily departures
|
2009
Rates - Coming Soon! |
|
Single |
Double |
Triple |
Child** |
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
** Children 11 years
& under staying with 2 full paying
adults in room with existing bedding.
|
top
SHOUP GLACIER KAYAKING
Tour 393
$179 adult,
$162 child (6-13 years)
Perfect for children, beginners and more
experienced kayakers. This tour offers an
intimate experience at one of Prince William
Sounds' many calving tide water glaciers. Climb
aboard a motor boat for a taxi ride to Shoup Bay
where your scenic journey begins. Over the
course of the day you will paddle past floating
ice, past a nesting colony of Black-Legged
Kittiwakes, and up to the face of the glacier.
Wildlife abounds in the area - marine mammals,
birds, ducks, sea otters and harbor seals are
common. Enjoy a short walk on the beach and a
lunch spot with a colorful glacier view (lunch
not included). At the end of the paddle you will
be returned to Valdez by motorboat.
Duration:
8 hours,
including 40 minute one-way transfer.
Departure Time:
anytime between 8am and 12pm, depending on
tides.
Daily Departures: May 20 - September 10, 2009.
DUCK FLATS
KAYAKING
Tour 392
$59 adult, $54
child (6-13 years)
Enjoy an exciting and
educational paddle over the calm waters of
duck flats in a double or triple person sea
kayak. From the small boat harbor in Valdez,
you and your group will paddle into the calm
protected waters of Duck Flats. The path of
the tour will follow a chain of small
Islands recognized for their nesting birds
and sun bathing seals. Paddling into the
depths of Duck Flats brings you to the
nesting sites of Bald Eagles and ravens.
Your guide will
relate information about the town's unique
past, from its early Gold Rush days to the
destruction of the original town site by the
1964 earthquake. This is a wonderful paddle
for first time paddlers and those with
limited time. Tour includes instruction and
guided sea kayaking.
Duration: 3 hours.
Departure time: various. Daily Departures:
May 20 - September 10, 2009
*** we are happy to sell this excursion in
conjunction with one of our tour packages or
at least 3 other excursions
COLUMBIA GLACIER CRUISE Tour 390
$112
adult, $56 child (3-12 years)
 This journey
through Prince William Sound features a
visit to Columbia Glacier. On board you will
have a chance to view the Sound's wildlife,
including sea lions and whales. You will
learn about the mining, oil shipping,
earthquake, and fishing history, and you
will hear stories about the first people to
explore and live in the area. Included in
this tour is a description of the
Trans-Alaska Pipeline Terminal. A stop
Columbia Glacier presents an excellent
opportunity to witness glacial ice calving
into the ocean. A light meal is served
on-board (included). 80-miles round-trip.
Duration:
6.5 hours.
Departure time: 12pm. Daily departures: May
15 - September 15, 2009.
COLUMBIA AND MEARES GLACIER
CRUISE Tour 391
$147 adult, $73
child (3-12 years)
Enjoy a cruise in majestic waters of Prince
William Sound to both Meares and Columbia
Glaciers. On board you will have a chance to
view the Sounds' wildlife including a Bull
Head Sea Lion sunning area. You will learn
the mining, oil, earthquake, and fishing
history of Valdez, hear stories about the
first people to explore and live in the
Sound, and pass by the terminus of the
Trans-Alaska Pipeline. A stop
Columbia Glacier presents an excellent
opportunity to witness glacial ice calving
into the ocean. Your stop at Meares Glacier
gives you the rare opportunity to see an
advancing glacier tearing up trees and rocks
in its path as it grows. A hot lunch
and afternoon snack will be served on-board.
110 miles round-trip.
Duration:
9 hours.
Departure time:
10am. Daily departures:
June 1 - August 31, 2009.
WORTHINGTON GLACIER HIKE & CANYON RAFT
Tour 394
$154 Adult, $140
child (6-13yrs)
A great multi-sport trip! After
getting fitted into crampons, you will be driven
up to Worthington Glacier via Keystone Canyon
and Thompson Pass. Worthington Glacier is more
strenuous than Valdez Glacier and quickly
increases in elevation. Begin with a 2 hour
hike, then take a lunch break, and hike back to
the base of the glacier. End the day with some
extra excitement and raft Keystone Canyon on the
way back to Valdez, which is a one hour rafting
trip. Participants may arrange to meet at
Worthington glacier with advance notice. Rated
moderate to strenuous.
Duration:
5.5 - 6 hours.
Departure time: various. Daily departures: June 10 -
mid-September, 2009.
WORTHINGTON GLACIER ICE CLIMB Tour 395
$129 adult, $116 child
(6-13 years)
For the more adventurous soul! Get
fitted into crampons before taking the van
shuttle through keystone Canyon and over
Thompson Pass. A short hike brings you out to
the climbable sections of the glacier. Your
guide will teach basic climbing techniques and
set up top ropes for safety. Each person will
have several tries climbing the glacier ice
wall. You will also venture off on a short hike
further onto the glacier before taking a second
round of ice climbing on a different wall.
Participants may arrange to meet at Worthington
glacier with advance notice. Rated
moderate.
Duration:
7 to 8 hours, including about
3 hours climbing and 2 hours hiking.
Departure time: various. Daily departures:
June
10 - mid-September, 2009.
KEYSTONE
CANYON RAFT TRIP
Tour
398
$65 Adult, $55 child
(7-12yrs)
The Lowe River, through Keystone Canyon, is
one of the most spectacular and exciting river
runs in Alaska! Transfer from Valdez by van to
the river. From here, you will raft about 4.5
miles downstream through class III and IV
rapids. Float past Bridal Veil Falls and get a
close-up look at the water cascading off the
rock wall from 900 feet above.
Tour includes: roundtrip transfers from
Valdez, rain gear, life jacket and rubber boots.
Duration: 2 hrs, with 1.5 hrs of
rafting.
Departure time: 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm,
& 6pm.
Daily departures: May 26 - September 9,
2009
*** we are
happy to sell this excursion in conjunction
with one of our tour packages or at least 3
other excursions.
|
