Chilkat Guides Shop

What Chilkat Guides Shop does

Chilkat Guides Shop (legal entity: Chilkat Guides Ltd.) is a privately held Alaska wilderness expedition company founded in 1978 by Bart Henderson and headquartered in Haines, Alaska. The company specializes in guided multi-day rafting expeditions on glacier-fed rivers in Southeast Alaska and the Yukon, with core products covering the Tatshenshini River (10 days, $6,500), Alsek River (13 days, $7,250), Upper Alsek River (8 days, $5,550), and Kongakut River (11 days, $10,750) per person. Operations rely on 18-foot inflatable rafts, satellite phones, SPOT GPS/InReach devices, EPIRBs, and bush plane/charter logistics into roadless wilderness areas including Glacier Bay National Park, Kluane National Park, Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer model: customers book via the website or phone, pay a $500 deposit per person, and settle the balance 90 days before departure. Pricing is per-person and all-inclusive of meals, camping equipment, charter flights, and guide leadership. Day-trip offerings (ranging from $150 to $275 per person) are distributed through the company's sister company Alaska Mountain Guides and a channel partnership with Skagway Excursions, giving access to cruise ship passengers in Haines and Skagway. Additional revenue comes from private charter trips, single tent upgrades, and travel insurance referrals.

Customer segments are horizontally split between adventure tourism enthusiasts seeking multi-day wilderness expeditions (ages 12-70s) and cruise ship passengers seeking half-day excursions. The company maintains a roster of 100+ staff including locally-based, year-round guides, and operates an in-house Guide School. Current leadership comprises founder Bart Henderson, President Sean Gaffney (30 years guiding experience), and General Manager/co-owner Eli Fierer (EMT-certified, 14+ years guiding). The company is privately held with no institutional funding, no parent company, and no subsidiaries.

Name

Chilkat Guides Shop

Legal name

Chilkat Guides Ltd.

Website

https://chilkatguides.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Chilkat Guides Shop is a privately held Alaska wilderness rafting outfitter, founded 1978 and based in Haines, that sells guided multi-day expeditions ($5,550-$10,750 per person) on glacier-fed rivers including the Tatshenshini, Alsek, and Kongakut, serving individual adventure tourists and cruise ship passengers via direct booking and Skagway Excursions channel partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adventure Tourism & Guided Wilderness Expeditions

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hiking, Trekking & Backpacking Tour Operators (THAAADAA), River & Wetland Ecotours (Canoe/Kayak, Mangrove/Swamp Tours) (THAAAEAE), Technical Outdoor Guiding Services (Hiking, Trekking, Mountaineering) (THAAALAA)

Keywords

• Wilderness rafting expeditions
• Alaska adventure tours
• Guided river rafting
• Multi-day rafting trips
• Alaska wilderness guides

Headquarters

HQ city

Haines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Expedition Rafting Tours: One-time expedition fees for guided multi-day wilderness rafting trips ranging from 8 to 14 days, with pricing from $5,550 to $10,750 per person. Revenue is generated through trip bookings with $500 deposits and full payment due 90 days prior to departure. Additional revenue from single tent upgrades and travel insurance referrals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Chilkat Guides Shop operates guided multi-day wilderness rafting expeditions through Alaska's remote national parks and wildlife refuges, including the Kongakut, Alsek, Tatshenshini, and Upper Alsek rivers. The company also runs Skagway-based day trips, backpacking adventures, and private/custom expeditions for individual travelers and small groups seeking professionally guided backcountry experiences.

Product overview

Chilkat Guides Shop offers a portfolio of guided Alaska wilderness rafting expeditions centered around glacier-fed rivers. The core products include four distinct expedition offerings: the Tatshenshini River (10 days), Alsek River (13 days), Upper Alsek River (8 days), and Kongakut River (11 days). These expeditions are supplemented by day trip programs in Haines and Skagway, backpacking adventures, and private trip customization options. All expeditions are led by professional guides from the company's base in Haines, Alaska, with trips ranging from half-day experiences to multi-week wilderness journeys.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kongakut River Expedition A multi-day guided rafting expedition on the Kongakut River in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, providing small groups with a remote wilderness river-running experience.
• Alsek River Expedition A guided multi-day rafting expedition on the Alsek River through Glacier Bay National Park and surrounding wilderness in Alaska.
• Tatshenshini River Expedition A guided multi-day rafting expedition on the Tatshenshini River through Kluane / Tatshenshini-Alsek parklands, offering a remote whitewater and wilderness experience.
• Upper Alsek River Trip A guided expedition on the Upper Alsek River section, focused on remote wilderness rafting through Alaska/British Columbia parklands.
• Skagway Day Trips Single-day guided rafting and adventure excursions based out of Skagway, Alaska, including options marketed to cruise ship passengers seeking a short wilderness experience.
• Backpacking Adventures Guided backcountry backpacking trips in Alaska's wilderness areas, providing small groups with supported multi-day hiking experiences.
• Private Trips Customized private guided expeditions, allowing groups to charter an itinerary and guide team tailored to their preferred dates, route, and adventure style.

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alaska Mountain Guides and Climbing School (AMGCSI)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSister company providing premier outdoor adventure guide services with trips in Alaska, Canada, and the Lower 48. Alaska Mountain Guides manages day trip operations and cruise ship passenger bookings for Chilkat Guides in Haines and Skagway.
• Skagway ExcursionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecializing in local day excursions in cruise ship ports of Skagway and Haines. Handles booking for Chilkat Guides day trips through their website, serving cruise ship passengers with tours ranging from 3 to 9 hours.
• International Wilderness Leadership School (IWLS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutdoor education school providing highest quality guide training, outdoor leadership training, wilderness education, and technical instruction. Supports Chilkat Guides guide development and certification programs.
• Alaska Yukon Discovery ToursminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Alaska and Yukon discovery tours, cross-referenced on Chilkat Guides website as related adventure provider.
• Mountain Guides InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational mountain guiding partner referenced on Chilkat Guides website.
• Port Chilkoot DistilleryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward-winning spirits producer based in Haines, Alaska. Chilkat Guides is proud to partner with Port Chilkoot Distillery, the hometown distillery.
• Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage center partner to experience and learn about Tlingit culture. Chilkat Guides partners with Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center to offer cultural education alongside wilderness expeditions.
• Alaska Fjordlines ExpressminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFerry service providing reliable transportation between Juneau, Haines, and Skagway. Supports guest logistics for reaching expedition departure points.
• Haines Skagway Fast FerryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFast ferry service between Haines and Skagway, supporting transportation between Chilkat Guides' operating locations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mountain Travel Sobek: Pioneer in guided adventure travel offering Alaska trips among a worldwide portfolio. Comparable as a premium multi-day active-adventure operator, though with significantly broader global reach than Chilkat.
• World Expeditions: International adventure tour operator with small-group wilderness trips including remote river journeys. Comparable in trip length, premium pricing, and experiential positioning, but with global footprint.
• G Adventures: Large global adventure tour operator offering small-group expeditions worldwide, including Alaska adventure itineraries. Far broader portfolio but overlaps on multi-day wilderness and active-adventure experiences targeting similar experiential travelers.
• REI Adventures: Adventure travel arm of REI Co-op running guided multi-sport trips including Alaska rafting and backpacking. Comparable in customer demographic (outdoor enthusiasts willing to pay for guided trips) though broader in scope and geography.

Direct peers

• Arctic Wild: Alaska-based wilderness outfitter offering guided rafting, hiking, and backpacking expeditions in remote Arctic and Interior Alaska, including Arctic National Wildlife Refuge trips comparable to Chilkat's Kongakut expedition.
• Natural Habitat Adventures: Nature-focused tour operator offering premium small-group wildlife and wilderness itineraries, including Alaska trips. Highly comparable in price point, group size, and focus on guided experiences in protected landscapes.
• ROW Adventures: Idaho-based river outfitter running multi-day wilderness rafting trips (Salmon, Middle Fork, etc.) at comparable per-person expedition pricing. Direct competitor in the small-group, premium guided rafting category.
• Alaska Mountain Guides and Climbing School: Sister company headquartered in Haines that runs backpacking, mountaineering, and rafting trips across Alaska, Canada, and the Lower 48. Operates out of the same region, with overlapping products (Upper Tsirku rafting, backpacking) and shares staff/management with Chilkat Guides.

Regional players

• H2O Guides: Hawaii-based rafting and adventure outfitter. Operates in a different geography but is a comparable small, premium guided whitewater outfitter with seasonal product and a similar expedition-style pricing model.
• Black Feather (The Wilderness Travel Company): Canadian adventure outfitter running whitewater rafting and wilderness expeditions primarily in Canada's Yukon and Northern rivers, overlapping with Chilkat's Tatshenshini-Alsek transboundary corridor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chilkat-guides-shop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chilkat Guides Shop