For the 2023 summer season, Tutka Bay Lodge will debut a series of new natural world-based adventure and wellness offerings, with the addition of a new 18-passenger catamaran and the peony farm. 

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Catamaran Excursions

 

New for 2023, is the addition of the lodge’s 18-passenger catamaran, The Lightning, which will take guests on exciting adventures in Kachemak Bay. These wildlife and sightseeing tours will bring guests closer to nature where they can spot an abundance of marine life including humpback whales, sea otters, and an array of unique shorebirds. On a Sunset Cruise guests can enjoy grilled s’mores and other hand-crafted desserts and drinks under fuzzy blankets as they experience dramatic views of the sun setting behind Mt. Augustine, Mt. Redoubt and Mt. Iliamna. 

 

Guests can also experience an Oyster Farm Tour, which teaches the process of growing oysters from seed to market as they indulge in a floating raw bar experience where they can shuck and eat grilled oysters fresh from the source. The vessel can also take guests to explore Flat Island and the Seldovia Village to visit local galleries and shops. 

 

Hiking, Biking & Climbing 

 

For adventure travelers eager to explore the rugged backcountry the lodge offers heli adventures for heli-biking and climbing excursions, where dirt roads lead bikers to upper bowls and high alpine vistas, and touring the town of Seldovia to explore this quaint small fishing village and for a bite to eat. 

 

For a full-day biking adventure, the lodge can transport bikers via helicopter, boat, or plane across the Gulf of Alaska to Augustine Volcano, a breathtaking volcanic island with an incredibly unique moon-like landscape. Still with active vents releasing plumes of smoke makes this a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Back on property guests can explore new hiking trails including the new Tutka Bay Back Door Trail. 

 

Fly Fishing & New Water-Based Activities

 

In June, the annual salmon run sees hundreds of thousands of salmon travel up streams and rivers to inland spawning grounds. This is the perfect time for fly fishing on a private beach accessible by plane in Katmai National Park. 

 

A 15-minute flight from the lodge, guests can explore the Outer Coast and stunning glaciers on a day trip to the magnificent Kenai Fjords National Park for fishing, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, and even glacier jet skiing. Once travelers land on the ocean just where glaciers meet the sea, they will meet a team of experienced naturalists at our “Adventure Headquarters” including a support boat that is anchored in the perfect place to spend the day exploring and relaxing.

 

Regenerative Wellness Offerings

 

At Tutka Bay Lodge, wellness is woven skillfully into each day at the lodge. Within the Wild cuisine, cooking classes, adventure activities, and opportunities to explore in nature all add to the overall culture of well-being at the lodge. To offer a deeper connection to nature and one’s self, Tutka Bay Lodge is offering a new regenerative program that includes daily outdoor yoga, and forest-and-ocean meditation, which includes kayak or paddle board for a floating treatment, or guided breath walks through the local forest to find inner stillness, self-reflection, and grounding.

 

Taking advantage of the lodge’s unique location, Forest Therapy incorporates guided hikes into an old-growth rainforest or deep into the nearby Kachemak Bay State Park. From this ideal setting, guests can immerse themselves in sound bathing, which incorporates a full-body listening experience that intentionally uses sound to invite gentle, yet powerful, therapeutic and restorative processes to nurture the mind and body. 

 

Back at the lodge, a Wilderness Tea Lounge invites guests to gather herbs and berries from the forest to create a healthy and healing tea, which can be enjoyed before or after a Cold and Hot Water Therapy session or Herb & Salt Scrub Treatment. 

 

Elevated Culinary Experiences 

 

Leading the culinary charge at Tutka Bay Lodge are mother Kirsten Dixon and daughter Mandy, two award-winning chefs and cookbook authors. The addition of their new Danish Daughter Farm in Homer, which produces over 60,000 peony blooms and an array of herbs and vegetables, will complement their on-property gardens, local farmer relationships, and foraging efforts to promote a local and sustainable culinary experience. During the Annual Homer Peony Celebration in July, the farm will be available for tours with the opportunity to enjoy these edible fragrant blooms and dine in the farm fields with intimate meals prepared by celebrated chefs Nick Wells and Timothy Crockett who also offer onsite cooking classes from their demo kitchen.

 

A Deeper Commitment to Sustainability

 

A proud member of Regenerative Travel, Within the Wild is firmly committed to its efforts to save and preserve the natural world within Southcentral Alaska and beyond. Their non-profit ‘Be the Wild Stewardship Project’ recognizes the enrichment they receive by living close to wild places and their desire for the same quality of life for future generations to enjoy. These new initiatives will focus on preserving wild land, Alaska cultural heritage, and maritime ecosystems, which enrich the guest experience. They are working to contribute to the preservation and protection of wild places, wild species, and wild ecosystems that make Southcentral, Alaska so unique. Guests of Tutka Bay Lodge have the opportunity to contribute to the Be The Wild Stewardship Project.

 

The summer season at Tutka Bay Lodge extends from June 1-Sept 30 with rates starting at $8,415 per person for a 3-night experience with two off-site adventure excursions, all meals, guided activities & related gear, wellness & cooking classes, wine pairings, and other lodge amenities. The popular two-lodge adventure package between Tutka Bay Lodge and Winterlake Lodge will continue to be available for booking in the summer. Buyouts are also available starting at $126,000 for three nights/three days. For more information visit www.withinthewild.com or contact info@withinthewild.com.