Orca Island Cabins

We loved our stay at Orca Island! Since we had limited time in Alaska we did one night, but I would recommend two or more! We started our visit with a calm and very scenic boat ride to the island. Seating was inside and (standing) outside which made it comfortable and fun to look for animals. We saw otters, seals and eagles on the way. ||Activities on the island are mostly water based. There are plenty of non motorized boats and kayaks to choose from. They also provide wet suits, snorkeling gear and fishing gear. We saw several people catch fish and filet them on the dock. We kayaked over to the creek to see salmon and the waterfall, which was beautiful! We saw eagles, puffins, otters and starfish on the property.||We loved the Yurt! It was very comfortable and outfitted well with a nice layout for the two of us! I’m glad we brought sleep masks and ear plugs. There is a lot of light that comes into the yurt, and the rain was loud most of the night. ||Alaska in August was colder than I expected, so bring layers! It also rained the entire time during our stay at Orca Island which I was told isn’t too uncommon. If we visit again, we will bring ALL WATER PROOF items: jackets, pants, and boots/shoes. ||Of note, when we arrived in Seward the closest parking lot to the dock was full, so plan accordingly. Also, we bought vacuum packed fish at the dock along with ice, so that was convenient. ||All in all a great trip and would return, thank you!

Hidden gem with breathtaking views! I highly recommend Orca Island Cabins. From the moment we arrived, the crew was incredibly friendly and accommodating. They went out of their way to make sure our stay, especially with my parents, was relaxing and enjoyable. The cozy yurt, peaceful surroundings, and thoughtful little touches made it a truly memorable experience. Seeing wildlife was definitely a highlight! I honestly wish we could’ve stayed longer. I’ll absolutely be coming back.

Wow! This was one of our favorite parts of our trip to Alaska. I’d highly recommend staying here. The beautiful boat ride left Seward at one and we arrived by 2. Well had the day and evening, since it’s not getting dark, to explore. The price includes the use of fishing poles, stand up paddle board kayaks and rafts. There is a ton of wildlife to see and we saw 100s of starfish, urchins, jelly fish, birds etc. we kayaked to a beautiful waterfall around the corner of the bay and saw the salmon spawning. The yurts were cozy warm and provided all of the kitchen essentials. This was the best place! The staff was friendly and helpful. Family owned for 2 generations.

Orca island was truly a magical experience you have to see to believe! From the start of the trip the staff were extremely friendly. They carry all your bags down to the boat and deliver them to your cabin before you even get to your room while you’re on a tour of the facility. There are so many options of things to do too! We went on a hike to the iron doors, Izzy dropped us off at the trailhead by boat which was so fun. We also snorkeled and spent a lot of time by the fire. This place is worth every penny and I actually think you get a lot for what you pay. Kayaks, snorkel gear, private boat rides to trail head, an extremely attentive staff, well taken care of fire pit lookout, fishing gear, and all inclusive wildlife boat ride to and from the island. I will be coming back one day, because I have never felt peace like this! Thank you Orca Island Team and a special thank you to Izzy for making it so enjoyable! Oh! And I forgot to mention- the kitchen is fully stocked and has everything you need. My only regret was not thinking to pack creamer since they said they provide coffee.

Orca cabin yurts are an amazing getaway experience. You are off the grid, and free to enjoy the beauty and quiet of nature. There are kayaks provided with a nice bay to kayak in. The staff is friendly and helpful. We had an enjoyable meal, of grilled black cod. Grilled on the provided gas grill.

A delightful two nights on Ocra Island. The yurts had everything needed for a relaxing stay. It was terrific waking up in a comfy bed followed by a hot shower so far off the grid! Cabins and property had the proper amount of privacy to totally enjoy the views form your own deck. Unlimited access self service kayaking provided a special experience. Staff was there to support when needed, but otherwise you were left to enjoy your own little retreat by the sea as you wanted. Love camping in forest service cabins but this was an extra special treat. Just pack your clothes and food and the rest is taken care of. Great way to celebrate a special occasion.

My family of 4 stayed in one of the yurts for 2 nights. It was fabulous!! We loved being secluded and off devises. The yurt was comfortable (we added in a cot too for 2nd child). I loved how quiet it was, loved the included activities. We kayaked to the waterfall and saw the salmon. We also did the hike and fished. Beautiful views! We also took advantage of the grocery pick-up.

This is one of the most wonderful places we've ever stayed in 40 years of traveling! Can't say enough about Simon and Jonah, the two brothers who took over OIC from their parents, and are great hosts, from driving the boat to the island, to helping launch kayaks and row-boats, to attaching the right lure to our fishing pole. All the staff were incredible. We were a bit concerned about too much "roughing it", but we were pleasantly suprised that the yurts were spacious, with a comfortable queen bed and well-stocked kitchen, hot running water, a gas stove and fire for warmth, and even one electrical outlet for charging phones. The deck had an incredible view. Also, shout out to Taylor, a Marine Biologist who took us for a 3 hour boat tour of the area and all the amazing sea life. Pricey, but once you stay here you can see why. We are recommending it to our friends, and we will be back!

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!

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.

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!

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

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.

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**

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.

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

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!

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!

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.

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! :)

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 !!!!!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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.

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!