Welcome to Ouzel Expeditions!
We are a small family run business based out of Girdwood, Alaska. We specialize in multi-day remote wilderness expeditions in Alaska’s National Parks, Preserves, and Wildlife Refuges. Our small group trips of 6-8 guests, are frequently private groups, that would like a more custom experience. Our in-house travel agency is specifically designed to assist guests in transportation and accommodations that are centered around the primary wilderness experiences that we provide.
Ouzel Expeditions was originally known as a remote river rafting and fishing company, offering trips in Alaska since the 1970’s. Rob Durnell and Amy Beaudoin, work together daily since 2018, when they purchased Ouzel from the Allred’s. Evolving Ouzel to incorporate their extensive Alaska backcountry guiding and education experiences, they have had the opportunity to grow the expedition offerings into more variety of outdoor experiences in the wilderness of Alaska. Ouzel Expeditions is now able to offer specialized experiences beyond the multi-day float fishing trips they became so well known for. We are now offering kayak and packrafting trips, basecamp exploratory adventures, bear viewing and photography, hiking and backpacking, multisport adventures, wilderness courses and professional development, film and photography support. Building custom experiences is what we thrive at!
A little history of Ouzel Expeditions
Ouzel Expeditions has been providing adventurous, remote river trips in Alaska since 1977. Over the years, a group of exceptionally talented, fun-loving, and hardworking guides have shared the rivers and landscape with guests. We love to fish. There’s something authentic about flying into a remote river, floating down by human power, building a campfire to cook a delicious meal, and sleeping cozy in a tent, that brings folks back year after year.
We like to travel too. To explore the wild areas still left untamed in this world. That’s what brought us to Kamchatka. Ouzel was the first western group that was invited there in the early 90’s. We shared our experience and equipment, they shared their local knowledge and cuisine. A great combination for an adventurous river trip.
We hope you will join us for an adventure! These rivers and the fishing never cease to amaze us, and we would love to share these unique places with you!
About Us
Rob Durnell and Amy Beaudoin
CO-Operators of Ouzel, Guides, and HMFIC’s
Rob Durnell, or Durny, as many know him has worked as a guide, with Ouzel for many years prior to becoming the present owner and guide of Ouzel Expeditions. Since 1992, Durny has worked as a professional guide and outdoor educator in Alaska. He has divided his years of guiding between roles as a Denali mountaineering guide, helicopter, snowcat, and backcountry ski guide throughout Alaska, outdoor educator for schools and universities, whitewater and float trips on oar, paddle, and kayaking, backcountry wilderness guide, and fly and spin fishing guide.
Amy Beaudoin co-operates Ouzel with her husband, Rob. She has been teaching and guiding in Alaska since 1994. She has worked in many capacities as an outdoor professional over the years. Whether its on an alpine peak, glacier, trekking across the tundra, sea kayaking, or rafting, skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing, or rock climbing around Alaska, she always makes camp at night feel cozy, like home away from home.