Brown Bears of Alaska Photo Tour
July 22-28, 2026
$8495
Watch the video above on what to expect in Alaska
Guaranteed Bears
We’ll be immersed in bear photography during this tour. Our very comfortable lodge is set in the heart of the bear action and during their more than 40 years of business they have never gone a day without seeing bears. We’ll see, and photograph at close range, dozens of different bears. During the Alaskan summer, daylight hours are long and we’ll spend almost every waking moment among the bears. We’ll photograph all sorts of bear behavior, bear interactions, and gorgeous portraits as well. If we are lucky we might also see baby cubs with mothers.
Immersive Experience
The coastal Brown Bears of the area ignore people and spend their days feeding on grasses and other plants, digging clams at low tide, and sometimes feasting on things that the tide washes up. Our trained bear guide will bring us right to the bears in comfortable carts pulled behind ATV’s. We’ll also have the option to photograph coastal birds by boat at a nearby rookery. There are hundreds of puffins and other shorebirds at an island within Lake Clark National Park. Come with me and capture all the wildlife action in Alaska!
July 22, 2026
Arrive at the designated hotel in Anchorage, Alaska anytime this afternoon or evening. We have a group meeting and dinner at 6 pm to cover tour logistics, etc. Fly into Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (airport code ANC). The hotel in Anchorage is within 5 minutes of the airport and has a free shuttle.
July 23, 2026
We have a 9am flight via small bush plane to our lodge within Lake Clark National Park. Flight time is about 75 minutes. Once we arrive and transfer to our comfortable rooms, we’ll meet our guide and head out for our first bear encounter. Afterwards, we’ll head back to the lodge for lunch. Three delicious meals per day are eaten at the lodge. During the afternoon, (time depending on the weather and temperature) we’ll head back out for more bear photography. We’ll have dinner in the evening and then even more bear photography as the sunset doesn’t take place until after 10pm at these latitudes in July.
July 24- 26, 2026
Each day will have us spending tons of time amongst the bears and if/when the winds and tides are right we’ll take a boat trip one morning/afternoon to the puffin and shorebird rookery. This is the time to test out your high-action photography skills as puffins don’t glide and they fly really FAST. Don will be with you to help out with camera settings. Tons more opportunities with the Brown Bears every day as well. Of course we’ll enjoy all of our chef-prepared meals at the lodge.
July 27, 2026
One more early morning with the bears and a last breakfast at the lodge and then we take a bush plane back to Anchorage, arriving mid-day. We’ll check back into our Anchorage hotel and you’ll finally have some down time to review images and relax. We’ll have a final group dinner at a restaurant in Anchorage.
July 28, 2026
Take the free airport shuttle from the hotel to the Anchorage airport for your flight back home today.
- Tour begins and ends in Anchorage, Alaska at the designated hotel.
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport uses airport code (ANC). It is about 5 minutes from the airport to our first hotel.
- Our Anchorage hotel has a free shuttle you can take.
- The flight from Anchorage to Lake Clark National Park is via either a pontoon (lands on water) or wheeled (lands on the beach) bush plane.
- The bush plane flight (included) takes about 75 minutes one way.
- The weight limit of yourself and your luggage on the bush plane is 300 pounds.
- The bush plane holds a maximum of 6 passengers plus pilot.
- Weather often delays or cancels flights coming into or leaving Anchorage. Travel insurance is a MUST!
- Don’t buy a non-changeable or non-refundable flight from Anchorage to your hometown. Delays and cancellations are very common.
- If we are delayed due to bad weather in Anchorage room rates are $359/night.
- If we are delayed leaving the lodge and forced to overnight at Lake Clark National Park, there is a charge of $100/person to cover meals.
- I will provide all participants with a detailed packing list as some items are specific and necessary for this tour.
- There is very limited internet access from the lobby of the lodge. It may or may not work while we are there and if it does work the bandwidth is very limited.
- Cell phone service doesn’t exist from the backcountry of Lake Clark National Park.
- Plan ahead to generally be out of touch.
- High level of fitness required.
- We’ll be driven by trained bear guides to where the bears are, but getting into and out of the ATV carts is VERY tiresome.
- Some days we’ll climb into and out of the ATV cart dozens of times.
- This is also a WALKING tour and you must be prepared to walk up to 2 miles with all your equipment in order to get into the best position to photograph the bears.
- This is TRUE wilderness and there are no trails. The ground will be wet and slippery – bring proper footwear (this will be discussed by Don with all tour participants).
- Drinking plenty of water or energy drinks does help. Bring a refillable water bottle.
- Variable, with daytime temperatures in the 50’s, 60’s or 70’s Fahrenheit.
- Nights and early mornings are a bit cooler but not much, perhaps into the lower 50’s Fahrenheit.
- We might see the sun, we might not.
- IT WILL RAIN!
- Rainstorms might simply be a fine mist that lasts all day or a driving rain that lasts 10 minutes and comes and goes. Or the rain could be anything in-between.
- Biting insects can be bothersome in Alaska during some days or times.
- Digital camera body or 2 in order to have a backup.
- Wildlife zoom lens such as a 200-600mm, 100-400mm or similar.
- All-around scenic lens such as a full frame equivalent of 28-200mm or similar.
- Sturdy tripod, or monopod if you are used to using these – most photography is done hand-held however as this gives you the most flexibility to change angles quickly.
- Polarizing filter for your all-around scenic lens.
- Extra batteries and battery charger.
- Plenty of memory cards – you will shoot thousands of images per day.
Includes
- 6 nights accommodations* as follows – 2 nights in a hotel in Anchorage near the international airport (1 night before our Lake Clark lodge, and 1 night after), 4 nights at Silver Salmon Creek Lodge in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.
- Welcome dinner in Anchorage on July 22nd.
- Three delicious, chef-prepared meals per day while staying at the lodge in Lake Clark National Park.
- Final group dinner in Anchorage on July 28th.
- Round-trip flight via bush plane from Anchorage, Alaska to our lodge in Lake Clark National Park.
- In-depth photo instruction and leadership from a professional photographer.
- The services of a licensed and trained professional bear guide who will drive ATV’s (we ride along in carts behind the ATV) and lead us on all photo shoots.
- Weather permitting – a boat trip to a puffin and shorebird rookery off a small island in Lake Clark National Park.
- All necessary permits and national park fees.
- The advantage of traveling with a like-minded, small photo group who doesn’t mind waiting in order to get the best photos.
- True small group (maximum of 5) which facilitates even more learning and inspiration.
- The adventure of a lifetime.
- Tons of fun!
Not Included
- Flights (or ground travel) from your hometown to Anchorage, Alaska.
- Ground transportation in Anchorage if needed beyond getting to the hotel. The hotel has a free shuttle from the airport.
- Alcoholic drinks.
- Travel insurance.
- Gratuities to our guide and the lodge kitchen staff.
- Gifts and items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry etc.
