Alaskan Wilderness Kayak Expedition

Yes. On 24th March 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker spilt nearly 11 million gallons of oil into the Prince William Sound. At the time, it was the worst oil spill in US history (since superseded by Deepwater Horizon). More than 11,000 Alaskans worked tirelessly throughout the region to restore the environment, and although for many years after the spill the marine ecosystem was severely affected. Three decades later, the vast majority of species and habitats are considered to be recovered. These include many of the wildlife highlights of this trip: sea otters, harbour seals, bald eagles, pods of resident orcas, and Alaska's famous populations of sockeye and pink salmon. While out on the kayaking excursion you won't see any clues that an environmental disaster has taken place here decades before – the area feels very much like an unspoilt wilderness. The spill is a dark part of Valdez and Alaska's history and one of many footnotes on the detrimental impact of fossil fuels on the natural world. However, seeing this place 30 years on with nature having recovered is a powerful experience and testament to the natural world's capacity for self-healing, with a little help from communities along the Kenai peninsula. People here came together to clean up the spill and to push for policies which will prevent another event like this ever happening again in Alaska.

There is so much to see and do in Alaska, and this expedition concentrates purely on the coastal region around the Prince William Sound, so there are myriad other options for places to visit before or after this trip. Your host is based in Valdez and can offer tips on other things to do in the area. Due to the distances involved, your host is unable to offer private transfers from Anchorage to Valdez and back for those who aren't using the included group transfers on day 1 and day 8, however they can advise you on the various travel options within the state if you need to make your own way to or from Valdez.

Anchorage is a relaxed and welcoming city, so if you're looking to arrive before day 1 to soak up Alaska's biggest city you can easily book accommodation independently, along with transfers from the airport. Remember to let your host know that you will already be in Anchorage so they can arrange to pick you up on day 1, alongside the 9 am group meet-up at the airport.

It is customary in the United States to tip service workers such as taxi drivers and waiters at around 15-20%, depending on the quality of the service you receive. A good rule of thumb for any visits to bars is to tip $1 per drink.

Tipping is also considered a customary part of your adventure, to show your gratitude towards your host who makes your trip happen. You’ll share 8 days in the wild with your host on this trip, during which time they are essentially in work mode 24 hours a day to ensure the trip is a memorable experience for everyone. Recognition and remuneration through tipping is an important part of this relationship. Guides and porters working in the outdoor industry in the US receive a comparatively low wage, and similar to other professions in the US they rely on tipping to bring up their income to a liveable level. Of course, the amount you tip is at your personal preference depending on the level of service you feel you received on the trip. As a guideline, we suggest budgeting $15-20 US dollars a day. You are free to tip more if you feel your guides did an outstanding job. Tipping culture in the US can be a little intimidating to anyone without previous experience of travelling or living there, however, your host will be happy to help you through the process anytime it comes up on the trip.

Drinking water is carried along the route by the guides with plenty of refill points from glacier streams at the various camp spots. Your guides use camping filters to purify the water where necessary, although many of the streams and waterfalls in the area do not need filtering. You should bring along a reusable bottle or two to refill as you go and keep with you in the kayak.

Yes, your host has a base and office in Valdez, the launch point for the expedition. You can store your luggage there on the morning of day 2, collecting again on the evening of day 7.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.