What an incredible experience. We stayed for 2 nights in July and wished we had booked a longer stay. Remote, peaceful, immersed in nature, this is hands down one of our favorite spots in all our travels. During the boat ride to the property we got lucky and saw a couple of orcas! Upon arriving we were in awe of the property, the views, and the amenities. We went fishing, cooked fresh salmon on the grill, hung out in the shared space and met other guests, and enjoyed the sound of rain on the yurt roof. I literally had the best night of sleep in my adult life in that yurt! So so cozy. There were river otters that came by each day, which was an added bonus. We will definitely return to take advantage of the surroundings more! read more

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It is difficult to imagine a better place to stay in Alaska. We loved these yurts. We were greeted time and time again by excellent staff from the boat taxi at check in all the way to check out. We had a memorable stay here at Orca Island. We were given the Oyster Catcher yurt which had a nice combo of a view of the inner cove and the outter bay. Our yurt was in excellent condition with great amenities. We did shopping in Seward before the trip as recommended by the hosts and had all we needed to prepare great meals at the yurt. We used the kayaks to stumble across salmon spawning near the cabins. The spawning was one of the most beautiful scenes I've ever watched. Thousands of salmon making their way upstream in all different stages of life. Incredible. The kayaks were in great condition and we appreciated being taught how to use the kayak skirts because we come from warm water area where skirts aren't used. I recommend bringing water shoes if you plan to kayak as ours came in really handy when getting off the kayaks at the nearby waterfall. If you plan to fish, I'd recommend bringing your own tackle. We weren't having much luck with what was rigged up but we also didn't fish for that long. Still would have been nice to have our own lures to use because their lures seemed too big for the fish in the cove. Tons of fish, not a single bite. I don't think the hosts are that big on fishing. Always good to do your own research if you wanna catch something. During our stay we saw a ton of jelly fish, bald eagles, thousands of salmon, otters, sea lions, puffins, and more birds I couldn't identify. Incredible experience. We loved the art gallery and communal coffee spot. Wish we bought some orca island gear while we were there but forgot to stop back in the shop before departing. Stay here!! Don't bat an eye at the price. It is worth it. read more

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Orca Island is an amazing little gem! Beautiful, majestic views will fill your city dwelling heart and put you at ease. The yurts are cozy and comfortable and well taken care of. You can kayak and find many creatures and waterfalls! My friends and I saw, river otters, harbor porpoise, seals, eagles, jellyfish, sea stars and sea lions! After our big day of kayaking, we settled down and made dinner with the food we brought and used some of the mussels that we found when it was low tide. To end our night we lit a relaxing fire to lounge by. All in all, a true alaskan experience that I will never forget. read more

This was a last second add to our trip and we are very happy they had space for us! If you are coming to Seward and are thinking of booking this 100% do it, we made dinner on the balcony overlooking the water. Took the kayaks over to the water fall, did some fishing from the row boat, all in just one day there. The best experience thus far. Unbelievable read more

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My wife, son, and I stayed at Orca Island this past summer as part of a bucket list vacation for me. It was expensive, but in retrospect I have no regrets as we had a fantastic time. The yurts are very comfortable and they have plenty of kayak and paddle board gear available. Do not miss the opportunity to paddle out to the waterfall. The hosts can tell you you how to find it. Amazing experience! read more

This is what heaven looks like. Every single aspect of this resort was perfection. The hospitality is impossible to beat. The Swederski family are some of the kindest and most knowledgeable people I've ever met. The yurt was a perfect accommodation and the views are absolutely unbeatable. We stayed for 2 nights and I wish we stayed longer. They have absolutely anything you could want to do: kayak, fish, rowing boats, paddle boards, etc! We ever caught fresh fish and cooked it that evening. I could not say enough about the positivity of this location. The absolute best trip! read more

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The location is beautiful; the water is so calm it's perfect for the stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking. Going out onto the water is different during high and low tide due to the large difference in water level so be sure to experience both! The yurt is adorable and even with a compost toilet, there is a self-venting system so any smell is virtually nonexistent. My family only stayed one night but two, even three, would've been awesome. Susan (and all of the family) are extremely nice and always ready to help out with anything whether it be fishing, moving the paddle boards and kayaks, or any general questions about the yurts, island or anything. The is a definite must-do for everyone who enjoy being on the water. **August is a great time to book as there is plenty of spaces available** read more

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Our stay at Orca Island Cabins was the highlight of our trip to Alaska. We planned to stay for one night and after staying in Seward before the cabins, we decided we were looking for a more remote experience and changed our reservation to stay for two nights. Seward was fine, but not what we were looking for in our Alaska trip. Orca Island Cabins were incredibly beautiful, remote, comfortable and very clean. I haven't slept so well in quite some time. We were fortunate to have amazing weather late August with not a cloud in the sky. It was also incredibly liberating not having cell or wifi for those two nights as it was first time my husband and I had completely disconnected from the rest of the world in many years. Yes, this is an expensive stay for a yurt. It was initially hard to justify since we have stayed in many hotels rated the best in the world by Travel & Leisure magazine for less than the cost of this yurt, and these hotels come with spas and restaurants, but let me tell you, our yurt was worth every penny and I would recommend staying here to anyone. Bringing food to the island really wasn't an issue as we brought super easy things to make for meals. If you look at the cost for the wildlife cruises out of Seward, these are not cheap either. We basically got our free wildlife cruise all day long while staying at the yurt. The yurts were an experience, not just a place to sleep at the end of the day. We saw whales, porpoise, eagles, river otters, bears (not on the island, when we kayaked elsewhere), and more. I would recommend Orca Island Cabins to anyone, it was an incredible trip. I hope that we are fortunate enough to return one day for a relaxing stay. read more

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Get off the grid and enjoy creation from a waterfront expedition via your choice of kayaking, paddle boarding, rowing, fishing, hiking, and we brought our own snorkel gear and did that too. Mountains, waterfalls, porpoises, seals and a humpback whale are just a glimpse of the beauty. Dennis & Susan the owners and their son, Simeon and a reservation specialist Kat all went out of their way to make our 3 nights splendid!! Thanks, Blair & Ronna, Josiah & Ryan read more

This experience was unbelievable! The staff is so friendly, accommodating, and have thought of everything! We enjoyed fishing, kayaking, and row boating! We will definitely enjoy another trip here in the future. Can't wait to come back out! read more

I've been a travel journalist for 20 years and Orca Island is easily one of the Top 10 coolest places I've ever stayed. My wife and I loved it and can't wait to go back. Serene location on Humpy Cove off Resurrection Bay is absolutely stunning. It's the ultimate getaway to unwind, relax, kayak, fish and simply enjoy the wonders of Alaskan beauty. Friendly staff make you feel at home, and the boat ride back and forth from Seward is an added bonus. It's a little pricey, but that's understandable and well worth every penny. Orca Island Cabins should be a bucket-lister for every traveler coming to Alaska. read more

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My husband and I spent one incredibly rainy night in the Steller's Jay Yurt. It was an unbelievable experience. Orca island is simply a magical place complete with an amazing atmosphere to relax, read and disconnect. We will definitely be back. Since Seward's weather is extremely unpredictable, we will stay at least two nights so we can get out on the water! :) read more

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Despite the rain, our stay was an experience of a life time. Glamping at its finest complete with hiking, kayaking to a magnificent waterfall, fishing/ grilling our caught fish for lunch and paddle boating all in a majestic setting. This may not be the place for everyone ( eg compost toilets, need to bring your own food, no hand holding) but it was the perfect place for us. Highest recommendation !!!!! read more

Orca Island Cabins - Where else can you paddle board with surroundings like this? - Hiking Near Me

This is truly a 5-star resort; call it camping, "glamping", or renting a cabin. The accommodations exceed all expectations. I'll never forget this unplanned 3-day excursion during our 16-day Alaska experience. The cabins are located on shores-line of Humpy Cove on Resurrection Bay. The cabins are equipped equally as an executive rental exceeding any camping experience; with every imaginable item for cooking; pots, pans, dishes, silverware, typical kitchen tools needed for cooking, olive oil. salt, pepper, and paper towels. Linens, towels, shower gels, and shampoo. Leave it all at home and enjoy the bay with everything you need to enjoy the bay; kaiaks, row boats, wet suits and all the safety gear needed. The hiking trails and views offered are beautifully beyond imagination and have to be witnessed. The hosts make this experience exponentially more enjoyable!This is an exceptional value for the price point. Enjoy! read more

When I first arrived at Orca Island Cabins, my first thought was "have I died and gone to Heaven". This place was absolutely amazingly beautiful. It definitely helped that the weather was perfect. Even if it was rainy, one could still have a lot of fun with the kayaks, paddle boarding, row boats, or just chill in your yurt. Of course the nice weather made it a lot more enjoyable. Dennis and Susan couldn't have been better hosts. They go above and beyond to make sure everything is going great. The design of this place is breath taking with each yurt having its own unique view. I highly recommend staying here. If you do, stay at least two nights so you have one whole day to explore. Three nights would be even better. I have no cons to write about this paradise. read more

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Best vacation decision yet! Amazing yurts with gorgeous views and so many activities- SUP, kayaking, fishing... Also Susan and Dennis are gracious and wonderful owners and hosts read more

Orca Island Cabins - Sun deck - Hiking Near Me

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Life doesn't get much better than visiting Orca Island Cabins. Susan and Dennis have created a magical hideaway taking glamping to a new level. Kayaking, Stand up paddle boarding, fishing, and hiking all under the watchful eye of bald eagles, stellar blue jays, sea lions, River otters, harbor seals, humpback whales, salmon and porpoises. read more

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Orca Island Cabins is a lovely place and a very fun experience. The reason I issue 3 stars comes down to value. My husband and I paid almost $700 for one night in a yurt at Orca Island Cabins. Staff is friendly, however fairly unavailable. At one point the family returned to Seward before our overnight host arrived at the island. I believe my biggest disappointment was in the small details that seem to be missing. The beds weren't incredibly comfortable and the bedding, towels, chairs etc. in the yurt felt a bit old and tired. I think that if the staff were to provide ice as you arrive, that would be a very small but impactful touch. I did not mind bringing my own groceries. I understand this is a glamour camping experience, but again, for the value of the price spent, I simply expected things to lean slightly more towards the "glamour" side of things. I do think our experience would have been much different if we were able to get out of the yurt and into some activities more, but unfortunately the weather did not cooperate with our stay. I think with slight improvements to the interiors of the yurts, the value of this experience would be greatly increased. read more

Simple, beautiful, satisfying and fun. Even though it rained hard everyday, the yurt was warm and cozy. We hiked thru rainforest dense trails, kayaked along dolphins, easily caught Rock Fish, paddleboarded, enjoyed views, grilled and watched a lot of rain fall. I loved this trip. read more

Journeying out to Orca Island was one of the best decisions I have ever made! The owners, Dennis and Susan, have created a little oasis that's just a 30 min. boat ride from Seward, Alaska. Dennis and Susan are super helpful, genuine hosts that will help with anything. This is a family business that is definitely worth supporting! Orca Island is unlike any place I have traveled too and it was well worth it. It is a perfect place for solo or group getaways. You fill your days with some authentic relaxation, beautiful kayak rides, walks to the waterfall, and wildlife watching. On our morning kayak ride, the local seal (aka "Sasha"), popped her head up right in front of our kayaks. So fun! No one should go to Alaska without making a stop on Orca Island! read more

Everything you would expect in an Alaskan cabin. The host was awesome. We had a great fire pit outside of a cabin in the common area with excellent deals to catch the day's Fresh Catch. Free fishing poles for use. We plan on going back read more

Are you kidding? This place was amazing. We are kayakers and were so excited to visit Orca Island Cabins on our first trip to Alaska. It sure wasn't a disappointment. We loved our yurt and the owners were great. We had fun watching the porpoises, otters, jelly fish, eagles, fish and sea lions right outside our door every day. Kayak just a bit and you'll see an amazing waterfall - we even saw puffins. Alaska is beautiful but nothing beat the serenity we experienced here. I would go back again and again. Thank you for creating such a beautiful getaway, Susan and Dennis! read more

My husband and I took our daughter for a couple of days to Orca Island Cabins and couldn't have been happier with our experience. The owners show you the kayaks, paddle boards, row boats, fishing rods, safety gear, as well as fire pits, etc., tell you what there is to see, and then give you the freedom to explore their beautiful location! It is so nice to be able to help yourself to the gear as you desire, without seeing a representative, signing forms, or paying additional fees! You use the equipment for as long as you want so you are truly at ease to fully enjoy your time together as a family. Please give it a try! We travel frequently but this place is unique and worth a visit! Thanks Susan, Dennis and Simon. read more