Kenai Fjords National Park Tours from Seward
Seward, Alaska is the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park! There are two primary ways to access the park.
On the Water: Kenai Fjords
This is how you get out into the fjords. Many visitors are short on time, so the quickest, easiest way to gain access to the park is a day cruise. These tours range 5-8 hours and get you out to see the beautiful mossy green fjords, waterfalls pouring from the cliffs, seabird rookeries, whales, and glaciers. These day are comfortable with heated enclosed cabin, restrooms, as well as outdoor viewing decks, and they often offer a meal. If you’re craving a more active and personal experience, a guided kayak expedition is the way to go. Since the Fjords are a short distance from Seward, trips include a short boat ride first so you can maximize your time paddling in the fjords vs. paddling to the fjords! If you have the time, the ultimate experience is a multi-day private yacht or sailing charter through the fjords. You’ll linger longer in front of glaciers, go ashore for beach walks, and spend more time looking for wildlife. Experiences range from overnight to 5-6 days.
On Land: Exit Glacier
The only portion of the park accessible on land is at Exit Glacier, where a network of flat, well-maintained trails reach from the visitor center to the toe of the glacier. You can explore the area on your own – or you can get a more in-depth experience by hiking the trails with a guide. Guided walks and interpretive talks are offered by the National Park Service, but you can also sign on for guided hike with a private company for just your group. And, for the biggest thrill, you can also book a tour to hike on the glacier itself!
Get Your Passport Stamped
There are two spots in Seward to get your National Park passport stamped; the Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center in the Seward Small Boat Harbor and the Exit Glacier Nature Center.
National Park Tours
Sea Kayaking View All
Paddle around the bay or near glaciers
For a closer, quieter, and more peaceful version of the Alaskan glacier and wildlife cruise, travel by sea kayak. Paddle the shoreline of Resurrection Bay, where encounters with sea otters, seabirds, and spawning salmon are common. Choose from a variety of three-hour excursions or take a full-day trip.
Get up close to the Alaskan glaciers and wildlife you came to experience by taking a cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park on a custom-built catamaran out of Seward. The difference from other cruises, is that you’ll then get off the boat and into a kayak, paddle around icebergs, and watch for wildlife from your own vessel.
Members of 1% For The Planet, Kayak Adventures Worldwide strives to fulfill their mission to inspire an active stewardship of our natural world. Through small group sea kayak tours in Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park, they focus on safety, education, and connecting guests with the unique and fragile ecosystems you’ll visit.
Take a boutique, small-group kayaking trip with experienced guides at Liquid Adventures and get close to glaciers in kayaks or paddleboards while looking for whales and other marine mammals. You can even combine your adventure with a jetboat, helicopter, or wildlife cruise. There’s nothing quite like it in all of Alaska!
Sailing & Private Yacht Charters View All
3 - 6 nights in Kenai Fjords National Park
Charter a sailboat out of Seward and hit the waters of gorgeous Resurrection Bay! Choose an afternoon tour if you’re just in Seward for the day, or opt for a multi-day cruise. Your charter comes with a seasoned captain, or experienced sailors can rent the boat and take the helm themselves. Surrounded by mountains, the bay offers ideal sailing conditions, and you’ll have plenty of chances to see wildlife and glaciers.
Sail into stunning Resurrection Bay during an intimate full-day or multi-day cruise to see glaciers and wildlife from Seward, Alaska. This 38-foot-long catamaran is perfect for exploring the shimmering waters of Resurrection Bay. In an intimate group of no more than 6 guests, you can relax on board or sit out on the catamaran’s netting. And because the boat carries 4 tandem kayaks, you can paddle out onto the waters and get even closer to nature. ...more
Head out under power of sail when you go on a personalized chartered journey with Sailaway Alaska. Opt for a day trip in resurrection Bay, multi-day trips in Kenai Fjords, or sail from Seward to Whittier. You’ll be onboard a 45-foot Jeanneau Sun Odyssey with plenty of indoor and outdoor space, including 3 cabins, 2 heads, a well-equipped galley, spacious sitting area, and comfy deck.
$5,990+ (Inside Passage $2,400+)
5 days / 4 nights
Cruise Ship Type: Small Ship Cruises
Ship Name: M/V Sea Star
Set sail for 5 days and 4 nights with the crew of the M/V Sea Star for small ship adventure cruising in Prince William Sound, Kenai Peninsula or along the Inside Passage. The well-appointed yacht accommodates just 12 guests, allowing for a personalized experience where you are the explorer! Unplug from day-to-day life and soak up the wonders of Alaska’s amazing coastline. All meals prepared by an on-board chef and featuring fresh local ...more
Day Cruises View All
Seward • Best Wildlife • 2 hrs from Anchorage by car, 4 hrs by train
Intimate catamaran cruises into Kenai Fjords National Park from Seward for just 22 passengers, or up to 30 on private charters. Cruise through Resurrection Bay, keeping an eye out for humpback whales, orca whales (killer whales), puffins, Steller sea lions, Dall’s porpoise, harbor seals, and a large variety of bird species. Then make your way into the national park, and stop at the face of a tidewater glacier. You’ll enjoy a delicious lunch ...more
Hop on board the all-season Missing Lynx and Lost Lynx, the vessels bound for whatever Seward Ocean Excursion suits your fancy. Want to whale watch, see glaciers, go bird watching or just check out hidden coves? Captains Bixler and Krystin McClure will help your small group plan an outing catered to your preferences. No matter the season, you can always catch some excitement in Resurrection Bay!
This veteran tour operator runs a a fleet of fast, modern boats in Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park. You’ll visit tidewater glaciers as you watch for puffins, sea otters, Dall’s porpoises, sea lions, and more. Some tours are designed to please birders or shutterbugs, while others are perfect for families.
Get up close to the Alaskan glaciers and wildlife you came to experience by taking a cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park on a custom-built catamaran out of Seward. The difference from other cruises, is that you’ll then get off the boat and into a kayak, paddle around icebergs, and watch for wildlife from your own vessel.
Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords are great places to see wildlife and glaciers. And Major Marine’s vessels, which have cozy heated cabins and an outdoor viewing area, can take you out to see both. This family-owned tour operator has gone above and beyond to give guests an amazing day on the water since 1990.
Choose between the 3.5‑hour Resurrection Bay Tour or the 7‑hour Kenai Fjords National Park Expedition, either way, you’ll be treated to spectacular views of glaciers, sea cliffs, and iconic wildlife such as orcas, puffins, and bald eagles. With a maximum of six guests per tour, enjoy a personal and unobstructed view of the natural wonders.
Guided Hiking View All
Hike the trails near Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park, or trek on the glacier itself!
Take a spectacular private guided hiking tour in Seward — where the mountains meet the ocean — to explore glaciers and alpine ridges. When you go with Seward Wilderness Collective, you get a great tour plus a dialogue with their knowledgeable guides about the impacts of climate change, with living examples right in front of your eyes.
Traverse the majesty of Exit Glacier by ice hiking or ice climbing, or opt for a nature hike in the gorgeous terrain around Seward, Alaska. Never ice climbed or hiked on a glacier? Not a problem. All trips include instruction to get you started.
Start with a dramatic flightseeing trip in either a helicopter or ski plane and then get out onto an ancient river of ice for a thrilling glacier exploration either hiking or climbing.
Embrace Winter on an epic cold-weather snowshoe trek out of Moose Pass, a small town on the Kenai Peninsula, in the heart of the Chugach Mountains. Extend the experience with an overnight or 2‑night stay in a handmade, Mongolian-style yurt on the shores of remote Grant Lake.