Expeditions
Why Start from Sitka?
If you’re planning a multi-day sea kayaking expedition, Sitka is the perfect “base camp” to start from. In addition to being an incredibly fascinating and beautiful little town it is also a great place to stock up on every manner of provision you might need. Plus, it requires the right degree of difficulty to get here – it’s easy enough for anyone traveling with a sense of purpose, but just hard enough to keep out the sissies and riffraff. Most importantly, Sitka is perched on the edge of one of the world’s most spectacular stretches of wild coast, amid a jumble of islands and narrow passages that offer the perfect terrain for adventurous souls who prefer to explore by sea kayak.
2012 Scheduled Expeditions
For the summer of 2012, we will be running a “limited edition” series of scheduled expeditions to explore some of the most spectacular paddle terrain in the world. These four, week-long journeys have been hand-crafted to suit a range of paddler abilities and interests. Each expedition group will be made up of no more than eight individuals, including guides. Here they are. If you are interested in joining us for one of these extraordinary adventures, please contact us soon, so we can reserve a spot for you on the trip of your choice.
1.Sheltered Passages Solstice Expedition: June 17-23 (7-days / 6 nights)
Includes: 35-40 miles of paddling, hike to Sea Lion Cove, cruise return to Sitka.
Experience: Beginner to Intermediate
2. Chichagof Islands Wilderness Expedition: July 1-8 (8-days / 7 nights)
Includes: cruises to/from Chichagof, 45-55 miles of paddling, hikes & beachcombing.
Experience: Intermediate to Advanced
3. South Baranof Wilderness Expedition: July 15-21 (7-days / 6 nights)
Includes: 40-45 miles of paddling, hikes & beachcombing, cruise return to Sitka.
Experience: Intermediate to Advanced
4. Alaska Without the Boys - Expedition for Women: July 29-Aug 3
(6-days / 5 nights)
Includes: Includes: 35-40 miles of paddling, 20 mile ATV drive/ride across Kruzof Island.
Experience: Beginner to Advanced
Customized Outfitting & Guiding Options
We appreciate that no two paddlers (or paddle groups) are looking to have the same adventure. Our goal is not to get you to conform to a particular trip itinerary or adventure style. Instead, we apply our local knowledge, combined with our outfitting and/or guiding capabilities to help you design the expedition that you want to do. And we have done our best to structure our services so that you don’t have to pay for help you don’t want or need. Below is a brief description of the general levels of support we can provide, plus an overview of our rates:
Levels of Support
- Self-Guided Basic – We supply kayaks and all the paddle gear you’ll need. You bring all your own camping gear and handle your own food provisioning. You act as your own guide, with local knowledge assistance from us. (For experienced multi-day paddlers only.)
- Self-Guided Plus – Same as above, except that in addition to kayaks and paddle gear, we will also provide you with bulky camping basics: tents, tarps, sleeping bags, pads and cooking gear. (You still bring your Swiss army knife, head lamp and other little gadgets)
- Guided + Rentals – We will supply a guide(s) in addition to the kayak rental, plus whatever camping gear you need to rent. Our guide(s) will provide route & camp site advice, and serve as your expedition naturalist. You handle your own provisioning and cooking.
- Fully Guided – You bring your camping clothes and your little gadgets, and we will take care of everything else, including all the provisioning and cooking. Yeah, it starts getting a bit spendy at this level, but many past guests have told us it was worth every penny.
Expedition Rates
If Expedition Requires SSOA Kayak & Paddle Gear Rental: 2-7 Days 8-14 Days Additional Days Single Kayak $50/day $45/day $40/day Double Kayak $65/day $60/day $50/day Triple Kayak $80/day $75/day $60/day Kayak Rentals Include: Paddle vests (PFD), spray skirts, paddles (plus spare), rescue float, bilge pump & sponge, repair kit, flares, bear spray, charts of the area.
If Expedition Requires SSOA Camping Equipment Rental: Sleeping Bag: $30 first night + $6.00/addl night Sleeping Pad: $15 first night + $3.00/addl night Full Rain Gear: $12 first night + $2.50/addl night Rubber Boots: $10 first night + $2.00/addl night Fishing Gear: $10 first night + $2.00/addl night If Expedition Requires SSOA Guide Services: 1-2 Person Group: $400/night (with one guide) 3-4 Person Group: $500/night (with one guide) 5-6 Person Group: $550-$700/night (with 1-2 guides) 7-8 Person Group: $800/night (with two guides) Note: A second guide is generally recommended for groups of 6 or more. If Expedition Requires SSOA Meal Provisioning & Cooking: Full Food Service: $50/person/night SSOA handles all provisioning & cooking. SSOA Assist Only: $25/hour (pre-trip) SSOA assists as needed, but client pays for all provisions. Note: If “Assist Only” option is chosen – On day of Expedition client will pay for time SSOA Guide has assisted with pre-trip meal planning, provisioning & packing. In the field, Guide and clients will share equally the meal prep and cleaning chores. If Expedition Requires SSOA Water Taxi Transportation: SSOA can provide water taxi transport to any location up to 75 miles from Sitka. For itineraries that require this service, the rate will be dependent on the estimated total running distance and the passenger & gear load. Please visit our Water Taxi page for additional information.
Please Note:
- All rates are based on the assumption that an Expedition "NIGHT" is defined as a 24-hr period, with the Expedition departing Sitka at about 12:00 PM on the start date, and returning to Sitka at about 12:00 PM on the end date. If a group requests an earlier start time and/or later return time, the additional charge will be pro-rated hourly, based on the estimated "per Night" cost of the Guide and Provisioning services.
- The prices listed above do not include Sitka’s 6% sales tax. It is important to keep in mind that our sales tax is “capped” at the first $1000 of purchase. So, even if the total price of your expedition exceeds $1000, you would still only pay a maximum of $60 tax.
- When planning your expedition it is a good idea to build in at least one day of “buffer time” per week, to stay safe ashore if the weather presents poor paddling conditions. And don’t plan to depart Sitka on the same day you’re planning to be back from your expedition.
- For your safety, only experienced kayakers/campers will be allowed the option of arranging a self-guided expedition. Inexperienced kayakers/campers must employ our guiding services.
Booking & Cancellation Policy
To ensure equipment and/or guide availability, we highly recommend securing expedition arrangements with as much advance notice as possible. All multi-day sea kayak expeditions require full payment within 7 calendar days of booking. If you do have to cancel:
- with 31+ days advance notice you’ll receive a full refund, minus a $50/person processing fee
- with 15-30 days advance notice you’ll receive a 50% refund
- with 14 days or less advance notice there will be no refund
We’ll do our best to work with you to reschedule an expedition should it become necessary, but please advise as soon as possible if a situation arises that may effect your travel plans – our ability to make equipment available, and re-assign guides, is greatly diminished on short notice.
Helpful Links for Expedition Planning
Here are a couple of links you might find helpful in your planning:
- Sitka Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Sitka Area Charts (17322-17328)
- Printable Booklet Charts (experimental)
- Alaska Tide Predictions
- Tongass National Forest and Recreation Cabin Information
- Expedition Clothing & Equipment Information
- Medical Information Form
- Expedition Float Plan
Sitka Sound Ocean Adventures is authorized by Special Use Permit
to provide Guiding & Outfitting services in the Tongass National Forest.
Are you coming to Alaska, or even just dreaming about it?
We invite you to join us this summer …
… to explore the coast less paddled.
