Kenai Fjords Tours Guide (What you need to know)

On your next Alaska trip, take time to see the best of Kenai Fjords National Park onboard Kenai Fjords Tours!

Kenai Fjords Tours

For me, there isn't a better way to spend a day than by taking a Kenai Fjords Tour on one of their lovely catamarans into the heart of Kenai Fjords National Park!  You will get to see some of the area's geology and some of Alaska's epic wildlife and rugged coastline.

Tours Offered

Day cruises are typically offered in the summer months, beginning in late Match and running through the end of September.  These tours also have several options, including duration and areas to visit. All tours leave out of Seward's small boat harbor on 4th Avenue, just past the Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center.

Tour options include:

• Spring Resurrection Bay Tour - this 4-hour half-day cruise is a springtime highlight as you get the opportunity to witness the migration of giant Gray Whales. This tour may also have calmer waters as you never leave the protection of Resurrection Bay. The tour comes with lunch served on board, typically from mid-March through mid-May. As of 2024, the tours are operated Thursday through Sunday at noon.
• Kenai Fjords National Park Tour at 8:00 am or 11:30 am- This classic 6-hour tour contains wildlife, glaciers, high peaks, and thick forests, and lunch is included. This tour typically begins in early May and runs through late September.
• National Park Tour with Fox Island- This full-day 8.5-hour adventure is the most popular as it includes all the highlights plus an unforgettable dinner on Fox Island. This tour includes lunch served on board and dinner on Fox Island! As of 2024, this tour begins at 10 am and runs from mid-May through the end of August.
• Resurrection Bay Tour with Fox Island- This 5-hour tour is a quick trip into Resurrection Bay with dramatic scenery and wildlife and includes lunch on Fox Island. This tour may also have calmer waters as you never leave the protection of Resurrection Bay. As of 2024, this tour begins at noon and typically runs from mid-May through early September.
• Northwestern Fjords Tour - The Northwestern Fjord tour is an 8-hour tour that gives you a rare chance to see alpine and tidewater glaciers, not to mention lots of wildlife, by going farther than any other tour. This trip includes a light breakfast and lunch. As of 2024, it runs from the end of May through the end of August and begins at 8:30 am.
• Glacier Dinner Cruise - This 5 ½ hour cruise is a memorable evening of highlights of Resurrection Bay and glaciers, with dinner served aboard. Typically, tours are offered from mid-June through mid-August. As of 2024, the tours start at 3 pm and include a special dinner served on board.
• Cruise for a Cause - on 5/17/2025, Kenai Fjords Tours by Pursuit is partnering with the American Red Cross of Alaska to host a 4-hour cruise to help raise funds and disaster relief for a special Cruise where all proceeds made for the benefit of the Red Cross of Alaska. This tour includes a hot lunch.

Helpful Information

• Check the weather before going - Make sure to plan more than one day in the area, as the weather can cause your trip to be canceled. Plan another day to explore the Exit Glacier Area of Kenai Fjords and Seward. 
• If you must cancel your trip, call (888)478-3346 up to 4 days before your trip for a full refund.
• Infants under 2 years cruise free
• All tours have meals and/or snacks and are subject to change. I received chips and salsa with a turkey wrap on the last trip. On previous trips, I had a choice of a complimentary deli lunch, including a roast beef sandwich, a turkey sandwich, and a vegetarian option. 
• We also had a chance to purchase a souvenir reusable cup with free refills for coffee, tea, and soda while onboard.
• Dietary Restrictions - A typical lunch includes chips. Vegetarian options are available upon request. You are also welcome to bring your own food, in fact they encourage anyone with dietary or allergy restrictions to bring their own food. 
• Remember that you are not permitted to bring Alcoholic beverages onboard, but the boat does have an assortment of mixed spirits available for purchase.
• Due to limited space and safety reasons, you can't bring some items onboard, including strollers, scooters, and tripods.
• Pets are not permitted on board unless they are service dogs that are trained to perform a task directly related to a person's disability. Emotional support to comfort animals is not permitted.

The parking lot for the Kenai Fjords Tours is down the road and across the street The company

Wildlife Viewing Opportunities

Don't forget your binoculars; this tour could be called the Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise! Kenai Fjords National Park has some of the best whale watching opportunities I have ever seen. It is possible to see humpbacks, orcas, gray whales, fin whales, and minke whales!

On this tour, I have also seen black bears, Steller Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, sea otters, Dall's Porpoises, and mountain goats.

Don't worry, birders; there are also plenty of opportunities to see Bald Eagles, kittiwakes, Horned Puffins, Tufted Puffins, Black oystercatchers, and cormorants, along with several other seabirds.

Kenai Fjords Tours Reservations

Click here to book your reservation for Kenai Fjords Tours.

Kenai Fjords Tours is part of Pursuit, which includes:

• Alaska Collection - The Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, Denali Cabins, the Denali Backcountry Lodge, Seward Windsong Lodge, and the Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge.
• Banff Jasper Collection - includes the Elk+Avenue Hotel and the Mount Royal Hotel. They also operate five of the biggest attractions in the Canadian Rockies: the Banff Gondola, Lake Minnewanka Cruise, Glacier Adventure, Glacier Skywalk, and the Maligne Lake Cruise.
• Glacier Park Collection - including Apgar Village Lodge & Cabins, Motel Lake McDonald, and Glacier Park Lodge in Montana. The Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Park, AB.
• Sky Lagoon - When you are in Reykjavík, Iceland, experience the Sky Lagoon! This incredible seven-part experience includes geothermal pools, cold baths, body scrubs, and more!
• Flyover Attractions - Flyover attractions are the new craze. They use state-of-the-art technology with wraparound screens as your seat soars, dips, and turns through the sky with the true feeling of flight that gives you the feeling of flight. Shows include Wonders of the American West, The Canadian Rockies, and Legendary Iceland. Flyover attractions are located in Las Vegas, NV., Chicago, IL., and Vancouver, BC.

Don't Forget to Pack

The boat does have a heated cabin, but it is a guarantee that you will want to go out on the viewing decks when you start seeing some of the areas marine wildlife appear, especially Humpback Whales, Orcas, sea otters, glaciers, etc.

Guests should wear rubber-soled shoes. Several types of hiking boots have Vibram soles, which can be very slippery in wet conditions. Bring gloves and dress in layers as the weather can change quickly in Alaska.

Camera and Binoculars, remember you will want to see wildlife!

Seasickness: I prefer the Acupressure motion sickness wristbands over Dramamine, as I get sleepy and less alert. If you decide to take Dramamine, make sure to take it at least 30 minutes prior to departure for best results.

Alaska Wildlife Field Guide - easy-to-use folding pocket field guides make it exciting to identify wildlife.

Alaska Bird Field Guide - easy-to-use folding pocket field guides make it exciting to identify birds.

Sunscreen—I buy environmentally friendly sunscreen whenever I can because you will inevitably pull it out when you are at the beach. Alaska may not be the beach, but it gets hot and sunny in the summer. Summer daylight hours are also much longer than you are used to from the lower continental US!

Additional Kenai Fjords National Park Tours

Kenai Fjords National Park guided snowmobiling Tour - Have you ever wanted to ride a snowmobile? Here is your chance to take a two-hour tour through the breathtaking landscape of Kenai Fjords National Park, which offers beautiful viewpoints and stunning landscapes.

Harding Icefield Trail Hiking Tour—This is an 8-hour wilderness hiking tour on the Harding Icefield Trail with a professional guide. The breathtaking Kenai Fjords National Park wilderness area provides jaw-dropping landscapes and lots of wildlife viewing opportunities, including bears, moose, marmots, mountain goats, and Bald Eagles. The tour does not take you onto a glacier or the Harding Icefield.

Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise -  Major Marine Tours also offers Kenai Fjords boat tours out of Seward. If one tour operator is full, make sure to check the other for availability. I have been on both tours and both are very similar and offer a great experience while enjoying views of Aialik Glacier and Holgate Glacier, epic views in Resurrection Bay and Aialik Bay, and wildlife in Kenai Fjords National Park, including whales, bears, sea otters,  Harbor Seals, Stellar Sea Lions, puffins and more! Make sure to bring your camera.

For more information on Kenai Fjords National Park

Complete Guide to Kenai Fjords National Park - Complete guide to planning your vacation to Kenai Fjords National Park

Exit Glacier Campground Kenai Fjords  National Park - The only designated campground in Kenai Fjords National Park

Additional Alaska National Parks

Complete Guide to Denali National Park - Your complete Guide to planning a vacation to Denali National Park

Riley Creek Campground - Complete guide to plan your stay at Riley Creek Campground in Denali NP, including amenities and photos.

Savage River Campground - Savage River is one of six campgrounds located in Denali National Park, and it has 32 campsites.

Denali Bus Tours - Guide to riding the Bus at Denali National Park

Complete Guide to Wrangell St. Elias National Park - Complete Guide to planning your vacation to Wrangell St. Elias National Park

Things to do in Wrangell St. Elias National Park - List of the most popular activities in Wrangell St. Elias National Park

Kendesnii Campground Wrangell St. Elias National Park - The only campground located in America's Largest National Park by size!

Complete Guide to Glacier Bay National Park - Complete Guide to planning your vacation to Glacier Bay National Park

Glacier Bay Lodge- Beautiful National Park lodge right on Bartlett Cove

Bartlett Cove Campground Glacier Bay National Park - The only designated campground in Glacier Bay National Park

Glacier Bay Boat Tour - The boat tour goes deep into Glacier Bay National Park and departs from the pier in Bartlett Cove

 

Check out all of the Alaska National Parks along with National Parks in Washington, California National Parks, and National Parks in Hawaii