Small groups. Warm hospitality. Unforgettable coastlines.

What you can do on a trip with us

Two children in orange life jackets and hooded jackets kneeling on paddleboards with paddles in hand, on a calm body of water with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.

Two people in jackets and life vests walking across a rocky riverbed between forested mountains.

A whale's tail breaching the water, with two additional whales' tails visible in the distance in a foggy ocean scene.

Sitka is famous for it’s world-class fishing.
Witness humpback and orca whales in their natural habitat.
Observe bald eagles, sea lions, seals, otters, and Alaskan brown bears from a safe distance.
Explore the wild beauty of the Tongass National Forest on guided hikes.
*We operate under special use land permits through Alaska Department of Natural Resources, The City & Borough of Sitka, and The US Forest Service.
Drop crab pots and enjoy fresh crab legs dipped in browned garlic butter.
Take a refreshing dip in crystal-clear alpine glacier-fed lakes, or just soak up the view.
So many critters to explore in the tidal zone: sea stars, limpets, shore crabs, seaweed, anemones, urchins…the list goes on.
Paddle to remote coastlines for a peaceful jaunt on shore.
There really isn’t much chasing involved. Southeast Alaska is full of them.
Picnic on secluded, picturesque beaches with food you didn’t have to plan.
Hike through the temperate rainforest, marvel at the muskeg, stand in wonder under a Sitka Spruce tree. Find some cool mushrooms. Watch the Sitka Black Tail deer grab an early morning snack on the shoreline.
The experiences go on and on. If you’re lucky you may even spot the elusive puffin.

Our expeditions are fully customizable to your liking but here’s a snapshot of some of the things you may experience:

How To Book

Here’s what makes us different:

Real Connection

We take only one group at a time (up to 6 people), which means your trip is truly yours. From our first conversation to the final docking, everything is tailored to your people, your pace, and your sense of wonder.

Locally Rooted

We live here. We raise our kids here. And we’ve spent years exploring these waters, forests, and quiet coves. That means we can take you to places that don’t show up on the hiking apps. We can introduce you to Alaska in a way only locals can.

All-Inclusive

From the moment you step aboard, we’ve got you covered. Lodging, handcrafted meals, fishing gear, transportation, and daily excursions. It’s all included. You show up, we handle the rest.

Soul-Filling Food

The food is part of the experience. Home-cooked, hearty, and thoughtful meals are made by both Lydia & Dustin. Whether it's fresh-caught salmon or sourdough french toast, every bite prepared specifically for you.

A True Alaskan Adventure

We aren’t a sightseeing shuttle. All our trips are fully immersive expeditions: hike through the Tongass, kayak to secluded beaches, fish for your dinner, and fall asleep to the sound of whales surfacing in the distance.

We’re here to show you Alaska as the locals know it.

What You’ll Eat

We’re passionate about making meals from scratch. We ensure every dish is packed with flavor. From molcajete and homemade bagels to freshly caught seafood, wood-fired pizza, and homemade bread, our menu has something for everyone. We’ll customize each meal to suit your family’s unique tastes, including options for even the pickiest of eaters (we know the challenge well!). Kid-friendly choices will always be available, so everyone can enjoy the experience.

A hot stone bowl with lobster and seafood, steaming on a wooden table, with ingredients and condiments in the background.

Canned salmon with forks on top, various canned seafood including sockeye salmon, rockfish, and king salmon, seaweed in a bowl, sliced carrots, cucumber, avocado, and a bottle of seasoning on a wooden surface.

A white plate filled with an assortment of sliced fruits including oranges, strawberries, blackberries, apples, and raspberries, on a wooden table. A fork is on the plate. To the left, there is a white plate with a bacon breakfast sandwich, and a mug of black coffee is nearby.

A pod of orcas swimming in a calm body of water with a forested shoreline in the background.

A whale breaching out of the water near a forested shoreline, with a boat railing in the foreground.

View from a boat on a fjord with rocky mountains on both sides, some ice floating on the water, and a glacier in the distance under a cloudy sky.

A person paddleboarding on a calm body of water surrounded by mountains and glaciers.

People sitting on the deck of a boat on a lake, surrounded by mountains with dense green forests and cloudy sky.

Two people, a man and a girl, walking through a grassy meadow towards a mountain with a forested base and partly cloudy sky.

A black bear walking on rocky terrain near water, surrounded by yellow moss and green foliage in the background.

A brown bear standing in a grassy clearing with dense evergreen trees in the background.

Two people kayaking on calm water on a cloudy day, with small islands and trees in the background.

Person in a red jacket and blue pants standing by a mountain lake, with a small campfire in the foreground and forested mountains in the background on a cloudy day.

View of a lake surrounded by forested mountains under a partly cloudy sky with a rainbow crossing over the mountains.

A forest trail with tall trees on a sloped hillside, sunlight filtering through the branches, and moss covering the ground.

Iceberg floating in a greenish lake with a rocky, forested mountain in the background.

Two people in orange jackets standing in shallow water near rocky shoreline with forest in background on overcast day.

Arrive in Sitka and step onto the Elysium, your home at sea. After settling into your cabin, Dustin will do a short safety briefing, while Lydia sets out lunch. Eat, relax, enjoy the views while we motor to our first anchorage. Once we drop anchor you’ll be able to kayak, paddle board, beach-comb, or just sit on the bow and soak in the pristine silence. Dinner will be ready when you are.
Wake up to the smell of espresso and fresh-baked bread. After breakfast, hop aboard the Zephyr, our 25’ Hewescraft, for whale-watching or a light fishing excursion in Salisbury Sound. Once you’ve had enough of that, zip back to the Elysium for a 5-star meal with a 5-star view. If a bear pops out on the beach while you’re eating dinner, hop on a kayak to get a closer look.
After a hearty breakfast, slip on your rain boots for a hike through the Tongass National Forest. Along the trail, keep your eyes open for deer, eagles, and the occasional brown bear snacking in the estuary. At the cove, enjoy a picnic lunch and perhaps a plunge into the chilly ocean if you’re feeling bold. Afterward, hike back to the Zephyr, and we’ll return to the Elysium.
After breakfast, we’ll set out for a day of exploring whether that be chasing salmon in the streams, wandering through tide pools, or looking for whales. After a day of play, you’ll eat a delicious meal and enjoy majestic evening views from the bow.
We’ll weigh anchor and make our way back toward Sitka. Enjoy a slow breakfast while soaking up your last views of the rugged coastline. Disembark with full hearts, bellies, and legendary memories. ‘Til next time, friends.

Sample Itinerary

Please Note: This itinerary is just one example of what your adventure aboard the Elysium might look like. Every trip is unique and shaped by Southeast Alaska’s weather, tides, wildlife, and, most importantly, your interests. Some days call for kayaking, others for fishing or hiking, and sometimes the best plan is simply following the whales. We’ll work with you to craft each day so it matches your pace, priorities, and sense of adventure.

Book your trip

Why Elysium?

In Greek mythology, Elysium was a place of perfect peace and beauty. It was a realm for heroes, artists, and those who had truly lived.

For us, Elysium isn’t an afterlife. It’s a way of life. It’s choosing to be present, to seek wonder, and to immerse ourselves in the wild beauty that surrounds us.

Get a glimpse of a trip aboard Elysium

We were honored to host Raarup Adventures this past October. Despite some classic late-season weather, the whale activity exceeded every expectation.