13 Day Tour
Taking you to three remote lodges situated in the stunning Alaskan wilderness, this safari provides numerous opportunities to see the iconic grizzly bear in its natural habitat. Guided tours will take you to the right place at the right time to see these magnificent creatures and a host of other wildlife.
The grizzly bear is one of the most instantly recognisable animals on the planet. Both charismatic and fearsome, these massive mammals are found across Alaska, but the remote wildernesses that you’ll be visiting in this safari are favourite haunts of this apex predator. Visiting three lodges across south-central Alaska, all of which are situated close to waterways that provide grizzlies with their staple summer food of salmon, you’ll be able to watch the bears from boats, kayaks and on foot. In addition, you can explore the remarkable forests and mountains that are found throughout the state, as well as spot Alaska’s prodigious birdlife and marine life.
- Explore the national parks of Katmai, Lake Clark and Kenai Fjords.
- Search for black bears and grizzly bears by boat and on foot.
- Kayak across clear, still lakes in search of bears fishing for salmon.
- Potentially see grizzly bears gathering in massive numbers.
- See the Alaskan wilderness from the air during floatplane transfers.
- Enjoy the stunning wilderness areas in which your three remote lodges are situated.
DAY 1: Arrive Anchorage
Today you will arrive in Anchorage in Alaska’s south-central region, bounded by the Chugach Mountains to the east and the Cook Inlet to the west. After transferring to your hotel and preparing for the coming days, you will be free to explore the state’s largest and liveliest city at your leisure.
DAY 2: Anchorage – Redoubt Bay
After a free morning to explore Anchorage, transfer to the Lake Hood Seaplane Base, just a few miles from your hotel. From here you’ll board a floatplane and take a scenic flight to the remote Redoubt Bay Lodge, which will be your home for the next three nights. As the lodge is the only accommodation within a 171,000-acre critical habitat area, you’ll get to experience the true wilderness and natural beauty that is quintessentially Alaska. Upon arrival, settle into the lodge and join a guided wildlife tour in search of bears and the other wildlife that frequent the area, including eagles and other birdlife. Tours from the lodge are primarily by boat, but you can also get up close to the animals on a kayaking trip, which offers a different perspective for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers alike.
Stay At: Redoubt Bay Lodge
DAYS 3-4: Redoubt Bay
In the mornings, you will have the option of an early start to head out and see the bears. The bears around the lodge are best seen early in the mornings and late at night, so set off with your guide for a sunrise photo opportunity before heading back to the lodge for a hearty breakfast. The Redoubt Bay Critical Habitat hosts one of the densest brown bear populations in the state, thanks to the salmon populations found in the chain of lakes fed by the Big River. Brown bear viewing is at its best in July, but throughout the summer months you can also spot harbour seals, eagles and lots of other bird species in the area surrounding the lodge, so keep your camera ready! Black bears are often spotted around the lodge, but once the salmon run is in full swing, the black bears retreat as the grizzlies take over the local area. July sees much lower numbers of black bears, but by using the expert knowledge of your guides you may be able to track them down! Spend your days at the lodge exploring the area in search of the bears and enjoying the spectacular scenery and sunsets.
Stay At: Redoubt Bay Lodge
DAY 5: Redoubt Bay – Anchorage – Kodiak
This morning, wake up early for a final bear-viewing excursion. Speak to your guides to find the best spots for viewing the bears before returning to the lodge to prepare for your departure back to Anchorage. Your departure will be after lunch, arriving back into Anchorage in the early afternoon. On arrival into Lake Hood, transfer to the Anchorage International Airport where you will catch a flight to Kodiak. From here, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for the night.
DAY 6: Kodiak – Katmai National Park
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to the dock to meet your plane from Kodiak to Katmai National Park. Upon arrival, you will be met and taken to Katmai Wilderness Lodge to settle in and have a quick lunch. After lunch you will be taken on a boat trip for a couple of hours to tour the bay looking for whatever wildlife presents itself! Katmai National Park is one of the best places in the world to see giant grizzly bears with over 2,200 bears calling the park home. 42 species of mammal inhabit the park, so in addition to bears, you may also see seals, sea otters, foxes, wolverines, wolves, moose, lynx, whales, sea lions and mountain goats. Return to the lodge for dinner in the evening.
Stay At: Katmai Wilderness Lodge
DAYS 7-8: Katmai National Park
Each day, you will depart the lodge after breakfast on small landing-craft boats. Your professional guides will explore different beaches within the bay and, wherever opportunities present, will allow you off the boat to join the grizzlies on land for excellent photographic opportunities. Guests often see bears digging for clams, eating sedge grasses in the tidal zones, and (in the summer months) fishing for salmon. You may also cruise along many seal rookeries to observe seals as they sun themselves upon the rocks, and photograph sea otters, sea lions, eagles, shore birds and ducks of all varieties. Keep your eyes peeled at all times for possible sightings of wolves along the coast as they look out for salmon in the clear waters. Keep your camera with you even in the evenings as there are a lot of bears in the area! Back at the lodge, relax and watch the sunset as you edit photos from your day’s excursions.
Stay At: Katmai Wilderness Lodge
DAY 9: Katmai National Park – Anchorage
After one last tour this morning, it’s time to say farewell to the Katmai bears and transfer back to Kodiak. You will depart the lodge by floatplane for a 1-hour flight back to Kodiak. Upon arrival, connect with your flight back to Anchorage International Airport. Once you’ve touched down in Anchorage, you will be met and transferred to your hotel where you can check in and relax for the evening. If you want to explore Anchorage further, add an optional sunset photo safari which will take you out to some of the most spectacular local areas within easy reach of the city.
DAY 10: Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise
Meet early at your hotel and join your private transfer out to Seward. The drive takes around two hours and 20 minutes, but passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the region as you drive along the coastline of Turnagain Arm. Continue through Moose Pass and gaze out of the window at the beautiful lakes and mountain peaks. Join your cruise for the day and set out in search of whales and other wildlife! This cruise travels through the pristine waters of Resurrection Bay for up-close encounters with wildlife. The wildlife cruises will be guided alongside large bird rookeries and sea lion colonies, providing stops for pictures and to view passing whales and sea otters. You will also have the opportunity to view several types of glacier, including the enormous Bear Glacier, which is the largest glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. A deli-style lunch is included on board. After your tour ends, head back to Anchorage via private transfer to relax for the evening before setting off for your final lodge tomorrow.
DAY 11: Anchorage – Winterlake Lodge
Transfer from your hotel to Lake Hood and then board your floatplane for a scenic 50-minute flight to Winterlake Lodge. The flight takes you north and west with views of Mount Denali. Land on Finger Lake – the location of an Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race checkpoint – before checking into your cabin. Join your hosts Kirsten and Carl at the main lodge for a brief orientation and then plan your days with your guides.
Stay At: Winterlake Lodge
DAY 12: Winterlake Lodge
After breakfast, meet your helicopter pilot and guide for a day-long adventure outing via the lodge’s Robinson R-44 helicopter. You can visit Canyon Creek for fly fishing or the Tordrillo Mountains for glacier trekking and hiking. In the afternoon, enjoy lunch in the grounds of the lodge. This afternoon, you may choose to hike to the top of Wolverine Ridge where the view of Mount Denali is spectacular. Be on the lookout for wildlife around the lodge and keep your camera at the ready! Brown bears are frequently seen while fishing via helicopter in the Winterlake area, although the area is also home to black bears in the summer (the black bears are a little more elusive and harder to find). Your chances of seeing bears at the lodge are good, so remember to keep one eye on the grounds as bears have been seen strolling across the front yard in the summer!
Stay At: Winterlake Lodge
DAY 13: Winterlake Lodge – Depart Anchorage
After breakfast, depart WInterlake Lodge and head back to Anchorage to connect with your international flight home. The flight back to Anchorage takes around 50 minutes and passes over some spectacular scenery. Check in at the international airport for your flight home.
13 days from £13995 pp
The price reflects the suggested accommodation in this itinerary. This will depend on when you travel and is subject to change. All of our Wildlife holidays are completely tailor-made to your requirements. We are happy to make recommendation to meet the quality and experience you are looking for, within your given budget.
