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.
Of all Alaska's wonders, perhaps none will stamp your memory more deeply than viewing and photographing these magnificent animals. Great Alaska's private remote fly-in bear viewing camp was named the "Best bush camp in North America" by Outside Magazine. The camp, situated on the edge of Lake Clark National Park at the foot of Mount Iliamna, will quite simply take your breath away.
In the early spring, female brown bears (Ursos Arctos) leave their dens with young in tow, to feed on the succulent grasses and salmon found around our camp. This allows us the opportunity to view and photograph these magnificent animals. Our attentive guides will take you to several bear viewing point and share with you the knowledge that can only be gleaned from actually living with brown bears.
This spectacular bear viewing adventure starts with scenic drive to Sterling where you board an Alaska bus plane and fly-in, landing on the shoreline right in front of the camp. During the flight you will pass over towering mountains, active volcanoes and huge glaciers, often spotting bear and moose along the way.
The number of bears seen on each trip differs, with the slight possibility of seeing none -- however the camp's incredible location, great staff and the flight into and out of camp alone are worth the price of admission.
ITINERARY
Day 1— We start picking guest up at hotels around 7:00 AM and leave Anchorage shortly after. We travel out of Anchorage driving south along the scenic Seward Highway and then on to the Sterling Highway.
The Seward Highway holds triple designations: USDA Forest Service Scenic Byway, Alaska Scenic Byway, and All-American Road. The first 50 miles is along the Turnagain Arm that has the second highest tides in North America that can vary over 40 feet. We often see Beluga whales and Dall sheep along this section. We then head up into the mountains through Turnagain Pass. Keep your eyes open for the occasional moose along the highway and to see the hanging glaciers as we travel towards Sterling. We arrive in Sterling around 11:30 and stop at Great Alaska Adventure Lodge for a salmon lunch.
After lunch we transfer to the Soldotna airport for a spectacular 40-50 minute flight to the private bear viewing camp. You will fly-in on a six passenger Cessna 207, landing on the shoreline right in front of the camp. During the flight you will pass over towering mountains, active volcanoes and huge glaciers. We often spot bears and moose from the air along the way.
You're in for an action packed experience viewing and photographing brown bears. Your experienced guides will take you to several spectacular bear viewing points that will give you the best opportunities to get that perfect bear photograph. We'll spend approximately 1.5 hours on the ground viewing and photographing the bears before flying back to Soldotna and Anchorage. Arrive back in Anchorage around 8:00 p.m.
2007 Tour Dates And Rates
Daily Departures
Bear viewing fly-in one day adventure from Anchorage – cost $495
Bear viewing fly-in one day adventure from Soldotna – cost $445 Prices are subject to change without notice.
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
Experience: Locally owned and operated since 1986.
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Service: You are the most important part of our business. From airport logistics to pre-trip shopping, we customize your trip to remove the hassles and increase your enjoyment.
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Customization: We've guided adventure trips in Alaska for more than 20 years. This experience helps us plan a trip that best meets your desires. We work with you to create an Alaskan adventure of a lifetime.
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Credibility: We are members in good standing with major adventure and travel trade associations. Click here. References are available on request.
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Insurance and Permits: We are fully insured and have special use permits from the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and Alaska State Parks
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Guides: Our Alaska guides have the right mix of camaraderie, experience and leadership to make your trip memorable. All are professionally trained experts and have current advanced first aid certification.
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Safety: Your welfare is our highest priority and is reflected in everything we do. We are vigilant about your safety. We exercise judgment to prevent accidents, are trained to respond to situations, and carry a satellite phone, marine or VHF radio or other communication equipment that allow us to make emergency contact should any needs arise.
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Environmental Commitment: All of our Alaska adventure tours are run in matter to minimize environmental impact. We also support the voluntary dollar a day for conservation program and the National River Cleanup Week just to mention a few.
The number of bears seen on each trip differs, with the slight possibility of seeing none -- however the camp's incredible location, great staff and the flight into and out of camp alone are worth the price of admission.
along the highway and to see the hanging glaciers as we travel towards Sterling. We arrive in Sterling around 11:30 and stop at Great Alaska Adventure Lodge for a salmon lunch.
