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An AdventureSmith Specialist is 1 of only 8 passengers on this Katmai bear viewing cruise in Alaska. See his incredible grizzly bear photography and read stories of the bears in this detailed trip review. This 13-day land-and-sea adventure focuses on photography and begins in Kodiak and ends in Homer, adding to the highlights of the cruise-only itinerary with unique time spent in Lake Clark National Park and a day boat tour of Kachemak Bay. For safety reasons, it is not possible to split the group, for individuals to return to the ship early, or to stay in one place while the rest of the group moves. Transfers between the ship and the float plane, and to the smaller skiff used to access bear viewing locations, require the ability to make a large step up or down onto an unstable surface. Depending on the weather and flying window, you have one last chance this morning to photograph the bears of Lake Clark National Park, admiring their majesty and whimsy alike.
Bear Viewing On Your Alaska Cruise
The other offers an eye-level vantage for bears that may wander close by. Footage in nature documentaries of Alaskan brown bears in the wild cannot adequately prepare you for the drama of an actual encounter with these magnificent beasts, often just yards away. They are North America’s largest land predators, and an adult male can weigh 900 pounds. Go ashore by skiff for an even closer view and traverse the beaches on foot. And far from dozing lethargically, these bears may put on quite a show in their efforts to fill up on enough protein-rich food to prepare them for a long winter in hibernation.
I always take advantage of every chance to hang out at the adults-only beach
After a full day of mind-blowing proximity to giant brown bears you’ll return to Anchorage, from which you can fly home or continue on to the next stage of your Alaska adventure. On this multiday bear viewing adventure, enjoy exclusive access to a safari-style deluxe tent camp on a remote and private parcel of land frequented by coastal brown bears. Live amongst the bears and take guided forays into the surrounding wilderness, returning to a conservation-minded camp with hot showers, real beds and gourmet meals. Today explore Kachemak Bay on a private boat cruise, with opportunities to photograph the dramatic backdrop of the glaciated Kenai Mountains (weather permitting, of course) and abundant marine wildlife and seabirds.
Crew & Guides Review
The plan is to have lunch in town, then board your plane, but timing is flexible in the event of weather contingencies—in which case you’ll explore more of Kodiak as you wait for clouds to lift. Once it’s time to fly, head west over Kodiak’s steep green mountains and across Shelikof Strait to the Katmai Peninsula, where the ice-crowned peaks of the Aleutian Range rise in a serrated spine behind the shore. The pilot is in radio contact with the Ursus, and soon you’re taxiing on the water to pull up alongside the ship. Exiting the plane, embark the vessel that will be your floating home for the next several days. The 73-foot Ursus was built as a deep-sea fishing boat called Time Bandit, which navigated the stormy Bering Sea in pursuit of the lucrative king crab catch. Its successor, the second Time Bandit, gained fame in the Discovery Channel TV series “Deadliest Catch.” The original boat was later transitioned for research use by the National Park Service and Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
You are about 30 minutes to the most visited North Georgia vacation hotspots. From the town of Blue Ridge to Helen Georgia there is so much to see and do that everyone will have a fantastic time. Relax with a cup of coffee or glass of wine with amazing views and fresh forest serenity or enjoy activities with family and friends, such as pool, darts, foosball, arcade, fireplace, or walking paths in the woods. I always make a point to stop in at the various shops near the family beach to see the Castaway Cay merchandise. On a recent trip, the shops had everything from spirit jerseys and T-shirts to Christmas ornaments and swimsuits. This peaceful chair-lined beach is a quiet spot away from the family beach, where I can sit back and enjoy the view or take a chair down to the water and let the waves crash over me.
Contact Us - Alaska Grizzly Encounter: Kodiak to Katmai
Visitors to the town harbor frequently see fishing boats unloading their catch—Homer is heralded as the Halibut Capital of the World. Depending on your arrival time, you might tour a local family homestead and artist studio, and/or take a walk along the long, sandy strip of Bishop’s Beach and Beluga Slough. When the tide is out, you can investigate the tidepools in search of small sea life including jellyfish and crabs. Once you’re settled in to your weatherproof tent cabins, gather for an orientation followed by your first opportunity to photograph bears. Two viewing platforms are located behind the camp, surveying the vast meadow where bears feed.
Activities and Special Interests
And these are the months they will be feeding on summer’s bounty of spawning salmon. This is as up close and personal as you’ll ever safely get with wild bears! Knowledgeable guides and an extremely small group size allow guests to approach the bears without disturbing them. Accessible only by plane or boat, Bear Camp offers you alone an unparalleled immersion in pristine brown bear habitat. Two viewing platforms are located behind the camp, surveying the vast meadow where dozens of bears feed.
Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation. Adventure Bears offers a stress-free, upscale, and enjoyable vacation experience that allows like-minded men to create long-lasting friendships. Whether you prefer being social and active or just relaxing, our cruises are designed to appeal to fun-loving guys who seek a more laid-back and relaxed atmosphere. New small ship cruises, adventure trips, ships & the best deals at your fingertips. Tips every savvy traveler should know when researching how to charter a yacht. This 7-step guide gives you insight from AdventureSmith's many years of arranging charter cruises to exotic destinations worldwide.
And while bears are usually plentiful right in the vicinity of camp, you also go into adjacent Lake Clark National Park for added variety. The bears continue grazing, while some sows come into estrus, offering potential opportunities to witness complex and fascinating mating rituals. While salmon runs are unpredictable, the fish often begin congregating at river mouths by late July. As mating season winds down, many large nomadic males disperse while females and their cubs loll in the rich habitat. July encounters typically include intimate time watching infants nurse and families play and graze on sweet wildflower meadows. Next, you’ll cruise through Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, which is renowned for its spectacular scenery, abundant glaciers, and equally abundant wildlife.
By now they are largely satiated and healthy, with thick coats ready for winter. Emergency medical evacuation insurance is mandatory for this trip, with a minimum recommended coverage of $250,000 per person. If you decline the operator’s insurance, then you must provide proof of third party insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget.
Several morning activity options are available in town, and your Kodiak guide can offer great suggestions. A moderate level of physical fitness is required for this small ship-based Alaska adventure, as it involves watching grizzlies on foot in open areas. At times, travelers must walk at least two miles to reach the daily bear-viewing location, in varied conditions including rough, uneven terrain, shallow water, and through mud while wearing chest waders (which can feel a bit awkward and uncomfortable). Transfers between the Ursus and the floatplane to the Zodiacs used to access the shore require the ability to make a large step up or down onto an unstable surface.
These are some of the world’s most active brown bear mating grounds, with the season peaking in mid-to-late June. Against a backdrop of sheer-sided peaks rising above the green valley floor, the bears are sometimes near enough that you can hear them chewing their food and communicating with one another in woofs, purrs and growls. While bear activity varies according to the time of season and weather conditions, and you can never predict exactly what bear behavior you’ll witness, there’s always something riveting going on. You may get to photograph bears wandering the tide flats on Chinitna Bay, mothers with playful cubs, or animated mating activity.
Since retrofitted for custom tourism charters, this sturdy veteran of wild Alaskan waters now offers comfortable accommodations in this remote marine wilderness. The Ursus (which means “bear” in Latin) cruises slowly along the coast, where coastal grizzlies, or brown bears, are often foraging for food. Begin mobile means cruising to wherever the bears are, following them from bay to bay depending on weather and sea conditions. Along the way, the friendly captain and staff of the Ursus ensure guests feel welcomed, safe and attended to. Alaska’s capital city is just a short floatplane flight away from Admiralty Island, sometimes referred to as “the fortress of the bears” due to its high concentration of coastal brown bears.
Since retrofitted for custom tourism charters, this sturdy veteran of wild Alaskan waters now offers her guests comfortable accommodations in this remote marine wilderness. This brown bear adventure requires a high level of physical prowess and mobility in terrain and conditions that can be difficult to navigate. Travelers must be able to step up into and out of floatplanes, and step into and out of small open boats in potentially unstable conditions. In order to maximize bear-viewing opportunities, you will spend long days ashore, sometimes returning late to the ship for dinner. You may spend several hours in essentially one spot with little movement, sitting on low buckets.
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