Haines Private Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve River Floating Excursion

Description

• Private round-trip transportation from your Haines cruise ship terminal!
• Private river float rafting excursion through Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve!
• Nature Walk along the wild river bank!
• English-speaking certified guide!
• All safety instructions and river rafting equipment are provided!
• A complimentary copy of Joe Ordonez's book: Where Eagles Gather, The Story of the Alaska Bald Eagle Preserve, Haines, Alaska!

Escape from the cruise crowds with this Private Haines Excursion and admire the stunning scenery of the Chilkat Valley. Upon arrival in Haines, you will meet your professional expert river rafting and floating cruise excursion guide at the pier and enjoy a 45-minute drive on the Haines Highway as it follows along the river. The drive is incredibly scenic: on one side, you have glacier-clad mountains acting as skyscrapers, and splashes of colorful wildflowers line the road. On the other side are winding channels along the river that provide habitat for moose, bears, and trumpeter swans. In 2009, the highway became a National Scenic Byway.

Once you arrive at the river in the heart of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, your guide will provide rafting life jackets to gear you up and your Haines shore excursion guide will give a brief safety talk before you board your 7-passengers private raft (also called float) and leave civilization behind you. Within moments, you are immersed in the Alaskan wilderness, as you drift along on the silent river currents.

This is a scenic float trip (no whitewater) and you do not have to paddle. Sit back and be awestruck as you drift through the home of the largest bald eagle congregation in the world. Thousands of bald eagles travel here to feed on salmon in the fall and winter. In the summer months, a healthy resident population of bald eagles lives along the river. As your river float excursion guide nudges the raft along, they will explain the intricate balance of nature that makes this a unique and special place. Have your camera and binoculars within reach at all times.

You'll have the opportunity to make a stop along the wild river bank to get out of the raft for a nature walk. Your private guide will point out tracks and other signs of wildlife. Keep an eye out for other wildlife besides eagles. Although wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, it is not unusual to see moose, otters, brown and black bears, and even wolves, who call the preserve their home.

You will spend approximately one and one-half hours rafting/floating the river based on the current flow. After the rafting of your excursion, you'll enjoy a scenic ride on your way back to town, and have your camera ready since there is always a chance of seeing wildlife.

For group excursion pricing and availability, please click on the links below:

Haines Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing Excursion (S1922)

Haines Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve River Floating Excursion (S1925)

What is included?

• Round trip transportation from Haines cruise ship pier
  
• River floating excursion through Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
  
• All river rafting excursion equipment, briefing, and supervision
• Nature walk along the wild river bank
• Stops for photos at several scenic lookouts
  
• Potential wildlife spotting
  
• Driver/guide who will introduce you to the history and breath-taking scenery of this area

Excursion Notes

• This excursion is done by van and rubber raft.
  
• Restrooms are located in the park. They are limited and basic.
  
• Please pay attention to the restrictions and requirements for this excursion, no refund will be granted if requirements are not met.
  
• For all cruise shore excursions in Haines and Alaska, we recommend wearing layers with the top layer being waterproof. Sensible walking shoes are also suggested.
  
• We suggest you have cash on hand for refreshments, excursion staff gratuities, shopping, etc.

Where we meet

For this Private Haines Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Rafting Excursion, you will meet your local excursion guide right at the Haines cruise pier area. All necessary details will be printed on your Electronic Shore Excursion Ticket.

Excursion Restrictions

• The minimum participation age is 7 years old.
• The maximum participant weight is 250lbs (113Kg).
• All children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Guests must be able to walk over hard-packed dirt and gravel on a slope to access the river.
• This excursion is not wheelchair accessible.
• Guests must be able to step on/off the ferry, step up into the van and step into the raft.
• Pregnant women up to 10 weeks should check with their doctor before booking this excursion. Pregnant women 10 weeks or more should not participate.

Excursion FAQ

Cancellation

• Your ship arrives into port late and you cannot make it in time to the meeting location (we will verify with the tour operator).
• Your ship skips/misses the port.
• Weather conditions or equipment failure prevents the operator from running the excursion.
• A medical problem prevents you from safely participating in the excursion (we will verify with the excursion operator and the guest may send doctor's note). This applies to individuals only and not the remainder of the group.
  
• Cancellations/deposit refund requests that do not comply with the above may not be subject to refund.
• Refunds may be subject to a service charge fee as determined by the payment processor, please refer to Terms and Conditions for more information.