Tswalu Loapi Tented Camp
Pristine ocean meets the old-growth forest with volcanoes rising in the distance at Tutka Bay Lodge. The private sand cove is ringed by ancient rocks that hold archaeological secrets from our native past. The lodge is situated on a 9-mile fjord that is a boundary to the Kachemak Bay State Park and wilderness area. We hike Grace Ridge for a stunning view, meander through the Herring Islands in kayaks, we fish for salmon and cook it fresh over live fire. In the evening, under stunning skies, we observe whales right off the dock. The 85-foot-ship cooking school is an ethereal all-wood space where we cook up foraged and grown Alaska dishes.
The main lodge at Tutka Bay is a small intimate building where guests can enjoy pre-dinner appetizers, dine, play games, or explore the National Geographic library and nature nook. The talented chef teams work hard to prepare approachable but intriguing meals that will bring you closer to Alaska and the foodways.
It’s here you sign up for lodge-based activities. The lodge offers daily 50-minute cooking classes with one of the chefs, complimentary massage, and yoga classes on the deck. The main lodge also offers daily wine and beer tastings featuring Alaska micro-brewed beers and wines from the U.S. and beyond.
For those quick check-ins to the real world, there is wi-fi here…Tutka Bay Lodge is opened May 1 through September 30.
There are six cabins ranging in size from 488 square feet (sleeping three) to 1,400 square feet (sleeping seven). Cabins include private bedrooms and bathrooms, wet bars, L’Occitane bath products and iPod docks. Views include bay, ocean and mountains.
The Cooking School at Tutka Bay
It was a desire to learn more about maritime culture – and cuisine – in Alaska that led us to the Kachemak Bay along the Kenai Peninsula in the spring of 2009. We were lucky enough to purchase Tutka Bay Lodge, after living for more than a quarter of a century together in the backcountry of Alaska, far from the ocean. Now, we find ourselves captivated with the daily dramatic tidal change and the rich ocean life found in our small cove. To celebrate our adventure, we are pleased to announce the addition of our cooking school based at Tutka Bay Lodge.
Birdwatching
One of the joys of our lives is the abundance of migratory and resident birds, large and small, at both of lodges. Even if you aren’t a “big year” birder, you can find joy in spotting as many different species of birds on your trip to Alaska.
Tide Pooling
Each day we consult our tide charts at Tutka Bay Lodge to see when the low tides are – and, when the lowest of tides are in a particular month. We then scramble along our private cove to gather seaweed, observe incredible creatures, just experience the joy and wonder of it all. Join our resident scientist Karyn Murphy for a view of the minuscule creatures that live along Tutka Bay that you might completely miss without a closer view.
Natural History Tours
Tutka Bay Lodge is surrounded by a rich history of native settlements, early Alaskan fishing communities and turn-of-the-century pioneers that scraped a living together fishing for herring and halibut. We tour the quaint village of Seldovia, visit Yukon Island and explore the Herring Islands in search of clues from the past.
Sea Kayaking
Sea kayaking is a popular daily activity at Tutka Bay Lodge. We paddle along the shoreline of Tutka Bay and out into the Herring Islands, looking along the way for seabirds, otters, and even sometimes whales.
Fishing
Tutka Bay Lodge offers deep-sea fishing for salmon, halibut and other deep sea treasures.
Bear Viewing
Bear viewing at Tutka Bay Lodge is one of our adventure activity options. Fly by Cessna-206 to a remote beach location to watch coastal brown bears graze along the shoreline and in sedge grass fields.
The flight to the bear viewing area will take about 1 hour depending on the area which the guide decides to go and the route of flight that we take to get there. On the flight over we fly past some of the most amazing and dramatic scenery in Alaska. We have the opportunity to see at least 7 different active volcanoes, giant glaciers and maybe whales in the water below us. When the weather allows we always fly over the top of an active volcano on the way. This is an active tour, with about three hours of walking/hiking along the coastline viewing bears.
Glacier Trekking
From Tutka Bay Lodge, we take a short helicopter trip to Grewingk Glacier inside Kachemak Bay State Park, situated above the seaside community of Halibut Cove. This is a favorite after-dinner excursion accompanied by a bottle of champagne. For the adventurous, we can take a short hike to a small lake located at the foot of the glacier and paddle amongst ice floes. Time permitting, continue the adventure by floating the river from Grewingk Glacier to the confluence of Kachemak Bay. We offer helicopter excursions to numerous tidewater glaciers and fjords in the area. We can explore a traverse of the massive Harding ice field on your return to the lodge.
Helicopter Tours
We charter a variety of helicopters to fly over the stunning Kenai glacier fields, Kachemak Bay State Park, and along stunning coastal shorelines. We often see mountain goats, bears, and other wildlife from above.
Backcountry Hiking
From Tutka Bay Lodge we offer a two-mile old growth forest trail that starts at our beach and meanders along the shoreline of the outer shore of Tutka Bay. We stop along small beaches for a little beachcombing, which is especially fascinating at low-tide.
Just across the fjord from the lodge, we travel to Kayak Beach to begin the ascent of Grace Ridge, which offers an expansive view of the Herring Islands, Kachemak Bay and the surrounding fjords. We can hike along Grace Ridge between a one-hour and eight- hour outing.
Tutka Lagoon Trail is a two-hour hike through the Tutka Bay forest lagoon up to a waterfall. There are many other trails in the vicinity, including a bike and hike excursion to Seldovia or Rocky River. Helicopter hiking options are available to Broken Knife and other interesting nearby summits.
3-Day Itinerary
*Please note this is a sample itinerary. Actual adventure offerings and schedules may vary due to guest needs and weather.
Day 1: Homer to Tutka Bay Lodge
8:45AM: Check in at Mako’s Water Taxi for a twenty minute journey across Kachemak Bay to Tutka Bay Lodge. If you arrive early, stroll down the Homer spit for breakfast at La Baleine Café run by our very own Mandy Dixon.
9:00AM: Board for a scenic 20-minute ride across the bay to the lodge watching for whales, sea otters, seals, and eagles. Our lodge managers will greet you dockside and invite you to the main lodge for a brief orientation over coffee/tea and fresh pastry. Settle in and start your day with a morning walk on our trail system. Learn about the old-growth Sitka Spruce forest that surrounds the property. Hike to Tutka Lake to forage and enjoy views of the surrounding peaks. Sea kayak from the lodge to the Herring Islands to spot for otters, whales, seals, and eagles.
1:00PM: Luncheon is served in the main lodge. Our chefs craft each dish to articulate local wild flavors and inspire continued exploration of Tutka Bay. After lunch, board M/V Sea Salt for a ride to the neighboring bay and visit an oyster farm. Learn the unique conditions of raising oysters and mussels in the cold waters of Alaska and taste them fresh out of the water! Back at the lodge, join an afternoon stretch/yoga class as you settle into the serenity of your surroundings.
6:30PM: Appetizers are served in the main lodge followed by a three-course dinner served table d’hôte style. After dinner, Join our lodge manager for a sea life safari and educational discussion. During low tides, head to the beach and learn about the thirteen intertidal zones distinctive to Kachemak Bay. Sea Stars abound in an array of colors!
Tutka Bay Lodge Itinerary - Day 2: Excursion
6:00AM: Breakfast is served in the main lodge.
6:30AM: Depart for your full day excursion of either deep sea fishing in Kachemak Bay or bear viewing on the Katmai Peninsula. Deep Sea Fishing: With an early start, this excursion will take you to the deep, pristine waters of Kachemak Bay. Spend the day fishing for salmon and halibut alongside our informative local captains with all gear included. Kachemak Bay is home to one of the most productive fisheries in the world due to intense tidal fluctuations. Listen to stories from your guide about this unique region. A specialty lunch will be provided from the lodge chefs for your day on the water. At the end of the day, your captain will clean and fillet your catch at the dock. Ship it home or take it to the lodge for the chefs to prepare.
Bear Viewing: This excursion provides an amazing opportunity to explore one of the most populated wild habitat of Alaskan brown bears. The day starts with an early rise at Tutka Bay Lodge and a water taxi over to Homer where you meet your pilot and guide. At the hanger you will be provided with waders for the day and then take off for a one-hour scenic flight. The destination flight takes you over glaciers, volcanoes, and the rugged coastlines of Katmai National Park and Lake Clark National Park to land on a remote beach. You will walk alongside bears in their natural habitat and depending on the time of year, you can see bears grazing on sedge grass, digging up clams, playing together, courting, resting, and/or fishing. Stream crossings and some light hiking (2-6 miles) can be expected alongside highly knowledgeable and helpful guides. Please note: this is a remote trip and there is no access to facilities.
Upon return unwind with our afternoon stretch and yoga class, or enjoy a book in the hammock on the deck.
6:30PM: Join the lodge managers for wine, local Alaskan brews, and gourmet sodas during our appetizer hour. Following dinner, relax in the hot tub or enjoy the wood fired sauna. 
Sample Itinerary - Day 3: Grewingk Glacier
7:00AM: Morning yoga (optional).
8:00AM: Breakfast is served in the main lodge. After breakfast, explore one of the many trails through Kachemak Bay State Park or travel by boat with your guide to the Grewingk Glacier. View the glacier’s exposed gravel field and learn the anatomy of an Alaskan glacier. Take the Glacier Lake hike and be astounded by the icebergs floating in the lake nestled up in the mountains. Make it a full-day adventure and bring a picnic lunch, or plan to return to the lodge for lunch after exploring. Back at the lodge, warm up with a bonfire on the beach. Join fellow travelers over appetizers and wine to share stories of the day’s adventures. Dinner is served at 7:00PM. After dinner, join our boat captain for a sunset cruise around our neighborhood watching for whales and other sea life.
Most guests arrive at Tutka Bay Lodge via water taxi from Homer. To get to Homer, there are several choices.
One is to rent a car and drive down the scenic Seward Highway from Anchorage to Homer. This takes about four to five hours. The bore tides and a stop at the ski village of Girdwood make this drive interesting.
Another way to get to Homer is to fly commercially on Ravn Air. Ravn offers frequent jet flights throughout the day and cuts the travel time to about 50 minutes. These options bring you to the village of Homer, where you catch a boat ride to the lodge, a 25-minute ride across Kachemak Bay.
Another option for travel to Tutka Bay Lodge is to charter a flight from Anchorage and fly directly to the lodge dock, about an hour and a half flight.
We do offer some transportation options for guests arriving into cruise ship ports such as Seward and Whittier.
