Eco Orca/Dolly Varden vs. Chilkat Guides, recent experiences??

[NHsnowpup]

First timers. We are on Diamond P. with full day in Skagway. Would like to clear out of town and go over to Haines for the day. The DH and I really would like to do one of the floats, (scenery and a few eagles will make us happy) not jetboats or just bus up and back the highway. Does anybody have a recent experience with either Eco or Chilkat? Research turned up '06 discussions, but nothing much later. I know that Dolly is Eco's wife and handles most of his bookings now. Is he back in OK graces of the town of Haines? Fast ferry looks like fun all in itself. Opinions welcome.

[NHsnowpup]

Am I right that Chilkat Guides run the excursions for the cruise ships? We were looking for a smaller outfit. Eco Orca seems to fit that bill, but are they reliable?

[pamfj]

I am also looking at a trip to Hanies as our excursion. Thanks for the tip on ECO--so far I had only found info on the fast ferry.

[dyeadave]

First of all, the scenery will be all around you, overwhelmingly, by the time you get here!

If you seek eagles, just look around you and above you. You won't be disappointed!

Now, to your question; we here nothing but good feedback from people who take the tour to the glacier, etc., with the Chilkat guides. If you are not comfortable with going on your own, then by all means this is the best tour to go over to Haines, IMHO:rolleyes:

I always send my friends and family over there, independently (on the same fast ferry which all of the tours use!) Then they usually rent a car for the day and follow the advice of the "Sage of Haines"; one who goes by the moniker of mombear. She can be found, singing the praises of Haines, over on the forum site of the sister site of CC, and that, of course, would be Trip Advisor. Look for the US forums and then it is easy to narrow it down to Alaska and then Haines.

Mombear is a wealth of unbiased info re. Haines and she can be very specific on what can be expected to be seen at the time which you will be here.

Happy travels!

DD

[CT Husky Lover]

We contacted Dolly Varden Tours in Feb 2011 for a sled dog ride during our June 13, 2011 cruise. They confirmed availability and sent us and email in march 2011 saying theyd be mailing our etickets out soon. Their website states to be patient because they handle all reservations personally. In june (one week prior to our cruise) they told us they didnt have availability. We questioned how could this be as we reserved in Feb and they told us they had availability. They said they never told us that. We then forwarded them all the email correspondances, they never replied. Gutless scammers!