Katmai
Park
7-Day Bear Viewing
Adventure Having appeared in magazines and films around the
world, Katmai's brown bears are renowned Alaskan icons. The world's largest
run of sockeye salmon up the Naknek River creates an ideal feast for brown
bears - attracting more than 2,000 of the bruins to the lands of Katmai
National Park and Preserve. This is one of the world's premier brown bear
viewing trips.
Our full day Wildlife, Natural History, and Glacier Cruise ventures deep into Kenai Fjords National Park. Alaska Saltwater Lodge has over 25 years experience, and will show you the Fjords best kept secrets. This is a photographer's paradise where you will see the Harding Icefield, calving glaciers, seals, Steller sea lions, porpoises, and sea otters. We will stop for lunch in front of a calving glacier, giving us ample time to witness and photograph the face of the glacier as mammoth pieces of ice thunder into the sea. A majority of the time we see whales on these tours.
During spring we are likely to spot grey whales on their annual migration to the arctic. In the summer we often encounter humpback, minke, and fin whales which have traveled thousands of miles to feed in the rich waters of the fjords. Orcas, also known as "killer whales", are present in our waters throughout the year.
You don't have to be a birder to appreciate the incredible number and variety of bird life along this coast. There are several bald eagle nests along our route, and with their white heads the adults are very easy to spot. We will see hundreds of puffins, both horned and tufted, along with great numbers of other sea birds such as parakeet auklets, marbled murrelets, shearwaters, common murres, and many more.
We are often asked, "What is the difference between our tour and the tours offered by the other companies?" One of the main differences between our tours and those of the other tour companies is that we only do small group tours with seldom more than 15 people. Nearly all of the other tour operators have 150+ people on their tours. With our small group, everyone gets an excellent view that is nearly impossible on the vessels where more than 100 people are attempting to see what is going on. The following testimonial probably explains this better than I can.
"Just got back from Alaska and wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed our all day tour on Saturday, August 26. Bruce was great about showing us the Kenai Fjords area (and spotting wildlife – including a swimming bear. We knew we made the right choice when we saw all the other tour boats with over a hundred people leaning over the side and we had a grand total of six. We can't thank you enough. Please feel free to use us as references if anyone wants to know about the quality of your tours."
Steve and Lynne Alterman
We depart Seward at 8 a.m. and plan on returning between 4:30 and 5 p.m. but on numerous occasions haven't gotten in until later: usually because we have encountered an unusual wildlife sighting late in the afternoon such as orcas chasing a humpback whale or a mountain goat giving birth and everyone on board is more interested in the sighting than getting back on time. We have the advantage of flexibility that is impossible with all of the large group tours that must adhere to strict schedules. We also enjoy flexibility in choosing our viewing route and therefore seldom take the exact same route two days in a row.
Anchorage departing trips depart Anchorage around 5:00 a.m. and return back to Anchorage around 10:00 p.m.
Repeatedly guests tell us that the Kenai Fjords Wildlife, Natural History, and Glacier Cruise was the highlight of their trip to Alaska.
Getting To Seward
Seward, Alaska is 125 miles south of Anchorage. You can reach Seward by road or Backcountry Safaris would be happy to package bus and or Alaska Railroad transportation to and from Seward as well as overnight lodging in Seward with your Small Boat Whale Watching Glacier Cruise.
2007 Tour Dates And Rates
One Day Kenai Fjords Whale Watching Glacier Cruise
Seward Departure, daily at 8 a.m.– Cost $149 plus tax and fees
Tax 6%, Fees $3.5 user harbor fee and $5 fuel surcharge each
WHEN YOU'RE READY TO GO!Fill out the secure on-line reservation form or call our office at (907) 222-1632 or toll-free (877) 812-2159. Reservation requires a 50% deposit. We accept payment by VISA/MasterCard. You will receive a pre-trip packet detailing the itinerary of the tour you have chosen and an equipment list. (Reservation and Payment Terms)
Last minute reservations may be available so don't hesitate to contact us. If a trip has space, we can get you on it.
Limitations of liability:
Although every precaution is taken to safeguard you and your belongings, our adventure trips involve inherent risks and dangers which are beyond our control and Backcountry Safaris shall assume no responsibility for personal injuries or deaths and loss of personal property. We highly recommend that you consider purchasing travel insurance. Travel insurance coverage can help with expenses for the unforeseeable such as lost baggage trip delays, emergency evacuation, and cancellation due to illness.
We use independent contractors to supply Backcountry Safaris with various services on many of our adventures. Some trips require us to use independent tour guides, drivers, lodges and hotels, air and water taxis, and other suppliers. Because we do not own, operate, manage, control, or supervise these suppliers, we cannot be liable for any acts or omissions on their part, including any negligence, gross negligence, or reckless or willful acts. Backcountry Safaris assumes no responsibility for any injury, loss, damage, delay, or death to person or property arising from the negligent or willful act or failure to act of any person who is to or does provide goods or services for this trip or for the action or inaction of any other third party. Without limitation, Backcountry Safaris is not responsible for acts of God, equipment failures, vehicle or vessel accidents, illness from food or otherwise, annoyance, delays, failure of any means of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled, and changes in transit or hotel and lodge services over which it has no control. We make occasional changes in trip itineraries for the comfort and well being of our guests. We will keep you informed of any necessary changes in a timely fashion.
On payment of your deposit to Backcountry Safaris, you agree to be bound by the above terms and conditions.
Alaska Adventure Travel Specialist Backcountry Safaris P.O. Box 231121 • Anchorage, Alaska USA 99523 1-907-222-1632 or toll-free 1-877-812-2159
