Travel Tips
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Travel timing: We recommend arriving a day earlier than your scheduled trip date. Lodging on Kodiak Island runs the gamut from cozy B&Bs to chain hotels.
Among others, we recommend the Best Western Kodiak Inn, which has a fine restaurant and is conveniently located downtown. Booking Your Travel: Alaska Airlines flies a 737 jet onto Kodiak Island twice a day from Anchorage. In 2019, this was the most reliable way to travel to Kodiak. Ravn Alaska traditionally flies from Anchorage to Kodiak several times a day in DeHavilland Dash-8 or similar aircraft. This service was interrupted during the 2020 pandemic but we are hopeful that this option returns to Kodiak in 2021 or 2022. Regardless of which airline you choose, we recommend purchasing travel insurance as a safeguard against delays and complications in getting to Kodiak. We strongly encourage you to book directly through Alaska Airlines and not through a discount airfare search engine, as the latter are less responsive if a weather delay requires re-booking. |
Alaska Airlines photo
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Travel Advisories: You'll want to know about any effective travel advisories for both interstate and international travel before booking, and monitor these advisories before your trip. This includes the jurisdiction of your departure as well as your arrival in Alaska. Alaska's health advisories can be found at the Alaska Coronavirus Response Hub.
Luggage Suggestions: We strongly recommend using soft-sided luggage wherever possible. Hard shell luggage can be difficult to stow in a small airplane or under your bed. Please limit weight of luggage to an average of than 50 lbs (22 kg) per traveler. If you’re on extended travel in Alaska and have extra luggage, we can provide secure storage on Kodiak island for the duration of your stay on the Island C.
Ground Transportation: Ground transportation will be provided for you for the 5-mile drive from Kodiak State Airport (ADQ) to downtown Kodiak where the Island C and Island Air Service are located.
Gearing Up in Kodiak: If you can’t get some of these things where you live, don’t worry. ALL of the packing items listed here, particularly raingear and boots, are available on Kodiak island at reasonable retail prices.
Cell Service/Emergency Communications: The city and surrounding urban area of Kodiak has excellent cell service. However there is little or no cell service in Katmai National Park or remote coastal areas of Kodiak Island. Family or friends who need to contact you in an emergency may reach the Island C by satellite message from our Contact Page. We will furnish a handheld Satellite phone for you to communicate with home.
Fabrics: Some fabrics are, well, more fabulous than others. Cotton (including denim) is a liability in Kodiak's frequent wet weather. Even when covered by rain gear, cotton takes a long time to dry and does not provide insulation when wet. We recommend polypropylene or wool base layers, puffy or fleece insulating layers, and a lightweight but impermeable layer of raingear as an outer shell. Andy's pro tip: a puffy jacket as as an insulating layer instead of fleece offers the same quality of insulation, but at a lighter weight and with less friction against your outer shell.
Medical & Dietary Restrictions: Please advise us well in advance of any dietary restrictions you have. Our chef will plan accordingly, and may contact you individually to fine-tune their understanding of your needs/preferences. Please also advise us of medical conditions which may limit your ability to participate in the activities you see described in the trip.
Luggage Suggestions: We strongly recommend using soft-sided luggage wherever possible. Hard shell luggage can be difficult to stow in a small airplane or under your bed. Please limit weight of luggage to an average of than 50 lbs (22 kg) per traveler. If you’re on extended travel in Alaska and have extra luggage, we can provide secure storage on Kodiak island for the duration of your stay on the Island C.
Ground Transportation: Ground transportation will be provided for you for the 5-mile drive from Kodiak State Airport (ADQ) to downtown Kodiak where the Island C and Island Air Service are located.
Gearing Up in Kodiak: If you can’t get some of these things where you live, don’t worry. ALL of the packing items listed here, particularly raingear and boots, are available on Kodiak island at reasonable retail prices.
Cell Service/Emergency Communications: The city and surrounding urban area of Kodiak has excellent cell service. However there is little or no cell service in Katmai National Park or remote coastal areas of Kodiak Island. Family or friends who need to contact you in an emergency may reach the Island C by satellite message from our Contact Page. We will furnish a handheld Satellite phone for you to communicate with home.
Fabrics: Some fabrics are, well, more fabulous than others. Cotton (including denim) is a liability in Kodiak's frequent wet weather. Even when covered by rain gear, cotton takes a long time to dry and does not provide insulation when wet. We recommend polypropylene or wool base layers, puffy or fleece insulating layers, and a lightweight but impermeable layer of raingear as an outer shell. Andy's pro tip: a puffy jacket as as an insulating layer instead of fleece offers the same quality of insulation, but at a lighter weight and with less friction against your outer shell.
Medical & Dietary Restrictions: Please advise us well in advance of any dietary restrictions you have. Our chef will plan accordingly, and may contact you individually to fine-tune their understanding of your needs/preferences. Please also advise us of medical conditions which may limit your ability to participate in the activities you see described in the trip.
Recommended Clothing & Equipment
Body Wear
_____ Rain Jacket with hood and rain pants
_____ Wool Socks
_____ Quick drying pants (belt loops preferred)
_____ Polypropylene or Wool Long Underwear (not cotton)
_____ Puffy Jacket or Fleece Insulating Layers
_____ Fleece or Knit Cap and Gloves
_____ Swimsuit (if you’re so inclined to take a dip in the North Pacific)
Foot Wear
_____ Rubber Boots (complementary pair available by request)
_____ Light hiking shoes (optional, you can get by with casual shoes onboard + issued hip boots ashore)
_____ Casual slip-on shoes for relaxing onboard the Island C
Personal Items & Accessories
_____ Mask
_____ Prescription meds, plus spares (our guide can carry your extra epinephrine shot, etc)
_____ Polarized Sunglasses
_____ Bug Net
_____ Belt (for holding up waders)
_____ Sunscreen
_____ Re-usable water bottle
_____ Toiletry/shower kit
_____ Prescription Medications
_____ Device charging cords (with adapters if traveling from overseas)
_____ Camera with lens, hood and rain cover
_____ Small day pack for excursions ashore
_____ Small dry pouches or zipper top freezer bags( for wallet, phone etc)
You don’t need to bring these
X Hip Boots (we provide)
X Life Jacket
X Pillows, Linens & Towels
X Hand Sanitizer
X Your entire medicine chest (we have the basics)
_____ Rain Jacket with hood and rain pants
_____ Wool Socks
_____ Quick drying pants (belt loops preferred)
_____ Polypropylene or Wool Long Underwear (not cotton)
_____ Puffy Jacket or Fleece Insulating Layers
_____ Fleece or Knit Cap and Gloves
_____ Swimsuit (if you’re so inclined to take a dip in the North Pacific)
Foot Wear
_____ Rubber Boots (complementary pair available by request)
_____ Light hiking shoes (optional, you can get by with casual shoes onboard + issued hip boots ashore)
_____ Casual slip-on shoes for relaxing onboard the Island C
Personal Items & Accessories
_____ Mask
_____ Prescription meds, plus spares (our guide can carry your extra epinephrine shot, etc)
_____ Polarized Sunglasses
_____ Bug Net
_____ Belt (for holding up waders)
_____ Sunscreen
_____ Re-usable water bottle
_____ Toiletry/shower kit
_____ Prescription Medications
_____ Device charging cords (with adapters if traveling from overseas)
_____ Camera with lens, hood and rain cover
_____ Small day pack for excursions ashore
_____ Small dry pouches or zipper top freezer bags( for wallet, phone etc)
You don’t need to bring these
X Hip Boots (we provide)
X Life Jacket
X Pillows, Linens & Towels
X Hand Sanitizer
X Your entire medicine chest (we have the basics)