Blue Waters Kayaking is based in Inverness, California, in the Point Reyes National Seashore area, just an hour north of San Francisco. This is a large, pristine waterway that has been called "The Place Out of Time." We serve thousands of guests each year through kayak classes and rentals, tours, group events and youth programs. We provide excellent customer service and a great vacation, whether you are with us for a day or for a week. Beginners are always welcome, as are children on many of our events.
One thing that sets us apart from other outfitters is that have top-quality guides who can instruct you and make your trip with us not only enjoyable but also a learning experience. We'll share with you our love of life and the natural world. Some of our highly trained guides are marine scientists, veterinarians, biologists; all are avid kayakers.
Alaska MotherShip Kayaking
Features:
• 7-day cruises on 65’ – 100’ Charter Yachts
• Small groups of 6 – 8 participants
• Naturalist guided kayak paddles • Fishing • Hiking
• Gourmet food • Luxurious and Comfortable Accommodations
• Families welcome • The Ultimate Eco-Tour Vacation
The Cruise Ship Alternative
You love the idea of a cruise -- unpack once, get comfortable, see lots of places. But you hate the idea of cruise ships -- 2,000 people, and at three stories tall, not so much boats as waterfront hotels. You want the travel and the service found on a cruise ship, but without the ship. You want good food, but not an all-you-can-eat buffet. You want picturesque ports, but not the commercialized harbors that target cruise tourists. Plus you would like to do some kayaking, have the freedom to explore remote places, see things that most tourists rarely get to see, get up-close and personal with the wildlife, catch a fish for dinner, learn the area and natural history from people with local knowledge and experience.
The opportunity is at hand. We call it Alaska MotherShip Kayaking!
Who is this trip designed for? Adults, Families with kids, anyone with a sense of adventure and the desire to experience the last great wilderness on earth in the safety and comfort of a charter yacht. You will be in the hands of experienced captain, crew, and kayak guides who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and experience of this magnificent place with you. You will have the option to paddle off on in a kayak and explore places where cruise ships cannot go, places where only people with local knowledge like your captain and crew, can take you. You will experience this with the utmost in personal, individualized service. This is the vacation of a lifetime!
Alaska Kayaking Trips for Teenagers:
18-Day Wilderness Immersion Kayaking Expeditions
The wilderness of Southeast Alaska offers spectacular scenery and a plethora of wildlife, both in the sea rich with marine life and in the virgin rain-forests that cover the primordial islands of the Alexander Archipelago. Our itinerary on these trips take us to the Northern end of Kuiu Island, the Tebenkoff Bay Wilderness area, a 65,000 acre wilderness preserve and one of the least populated areas of the Tongass National Forest. There are no towns on Kuiu Island; the inhabitants are wolves, black bears and sitka black-tailed deer.
On these trips, students will learn to identify and manage the hazards of wind and waves, rocky shore-line, fog, currents, open crossings, cold water and long stretches of exposed coastline. The time in Alaska will be made healthy and enjoyable as students learn to consistently manage risks in the environment and take full responsibility for themselves.
The themes of the trips will be:
Safety and Judgment -- Students will be taught to practice responsible actions and promote the health and safety of self, others and the environment.
Outdoor Living Skills -- Students will learn to live and travel in remote areas within a framework of personal safety and care of the environment and the equipment
Environmental Ethics -- An integral part of this trip will be to raise student's awareness of their effect on self, others and the environment.
Sea Kayaking Skills -- Students will the necessary skills for safe travel throughout the trip
Leadership and Teamwork -- The group will learn to work together, and as they learn about and depend upon each other for safety and comfort, strong friendships will develop. Learning to be a contributing member of an expedition can be a challenge with immense personal rewards. It takes a lot of commitment to the group and a willingness to set aside personal goals at times for an expedition to succeed.
Trips led by Chris Starbird, naturalist guide, NOLS instructor, expert kayaker and outdoor educator with 20 years experience. All guides are hand-picked by Chris, and have extensive sea kayaking and wilderness experience. All guides have current Wilderness First Responder qualifications or higher. Blue Waters has run these trips for many years and served hundreds of teenagers with amazing results. This trip can be a life-changing event for young people aged 16-18!
