This photo tour will visit some of the best bear viewing bays in Katmai National Park. We will be aboard an 80' expedition/research vessel who, in recent years, has been doing research work for the park service in Katmai. I am limiting this tour to just 8 guests, increasing personal space and reducing our impact.
While motoring to the Katmai coast we will have the opportunity to see and photograph a wide variety of sea birds and marine wildlife. At one point we will pass through a passage known for its many minke, fin and humpback whales, at times all three have been seen feeding at the same time! Another place we will pass by has rafts of approachable sea otters sometimes numbering in the hundreds. These same productive waters are also home to horned and tufted puffin, plus rhinoceros and parakeet auklets to name just a few of the possible birds.
But the highlight of this trip will be the time we spend in Katmai National Park photographing brown bears. The timing of this trip should be perfect for capturing photos of bears catching salmon as our timing puts us in the middle of the salmon run. The prospect of seeing wolf fishing for salmon is not out of the question. We typically will cross between Kodiak Island and Katmai during the night maximizing our daylight hours (same on the way back). This means we will awake to the sight of world famous Geographic Harbor and its many brown bears.
Along with Geographic Harbor, and depending on the activity of the bears, we may also visit Hallo Bay and/or Kukak Bay. A lot will depend on recent activity and scouting reports, but with a boat we have maximum flexibility for finding the best bear viewing. Trips to shore will be made aboard a custom built 20' landing craft. We will spend a great deal of our time on shore with the bears.
Food aboard the ship will be top-notch and at least two of the dinners feature locally caught seafood.
So many great photo opportunities await you on this trip!
Included
- Dinner and lodging in Kodiak the first night
- Comfortable 6 nights lodging aboard the boat
- Meals and snacks aboard the yacht
- Beer and Wine
- Guiding and instruction
What's not included
- Airfare to and from Kodiak.
- Breakfast the morning of August 12, 2024
- Tips for boat staff.
Day 1: Fly into Kodiak by 4:00 p.m. and check into your room. Once settled in we will meet that evening for a welcome dinner.
Day 2-7: The morning of day 2 you will be on your own for breakfast. We will be transported to the boat late morning. Our sailing schedule is flexible depending on many factors such as weather and wildlife. Wildlife and sights we can expect to see will include:
- As we motor towards Katmai we will have the opportunity to view and photograph rafts of sea otters, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, bald eagles, auklets (rhinoceros and parakeet) and tufted puffins. Fin whale, minke whale, humpback whale and orca sightings are all possible.
- Once in Katmai National Park possible destinations include Geographic Harbor, Hallo and Kubak Bays for brown bear viewing.
- Permitted to go to shore.
- Evenings that we are not motoring will be spent in remote beautiful coves. The days and nights will be full!
Day 8: We will cruise back to the busy fishing port of Kodiak Island mid to late-morning. Chef will prepare a final breakfast onboard.
“We have completed four small boat adventures in the Inside Passage to date plus two marine ferry trips. Our recent trip with yourself was the best of the bunch. Thanks for your part in making it such a great experience.” Skip & Gayle
“This was another fantastic trip – a great little boat with wonderful crew, a fun group of fellow travelers and lots of great photographic opportunities” Kathy
“Thanks to both of you (Ron and Janine) for the recent trip. Looking at some of the pictures and video is already making us wish for more. It would be and is difficult to imagine a better guide and person than Ron. Which is why we will be back sometime in the future.” Barry
"This tour around Lake Clark National Park promises bear sightings, and thanks to a precision-timed itinerary, they're prolific: brown bears walking, sleeping and feeding on salmon." Time Magazine
"Thank amazing week with the bears in Alaska. Endless energy, positive attitude, sense of humor, patience, spirit of adventure and your leadership made this trip perfect for all." Judi
"This trip exceeded our every expectation...a 5 star adventure that we will always remember." Mike and Irene
8 days/7 nights On-Suite Cabin $9225pp / Regular Cabin $8975pp (based on double occupancy) We will not be signing up single travelers on this trip. If a solo traveler you will need to sign up with a roommate.
Payment Schedule
$3,500.00 non-refundable deposit per person due at registration.
Balance of $5725/$5475 is due by May 1, 2024.
Payment may be made by check or credit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Checks should be made payable to Niebrugge Images, LLC and mailed to: Ron Niebrugge, PO Box 463, Marana, AZ 85653.
Deposits are non-refundable unless we cancel the workshop.
WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND PURCHASING TRIP INSURANCE.
One option is: www.travelinsurance.com
To Register For The Photo Tour
RESERVE NOW! Call (907)224-7280 or email: info@wildnatureimages.com
Cancellations and Refunds
All cancellation requests must be received in writing. All payments and deposits to Niebrugge Images, LLC are non-refundable if you cancel for any reason. Niebrugge Images, LLC is a family owned and operated small business and we are significantly impacted by cancellation of spaces that we cannot refill. If you need to cancel your trip and if our trip is full and we are able to refill your space we will apply deposits and payments received toward a future photo tour with Niebrugge Images, LLC. You have two years to apply the credit to a trip. We will try our best to resell your space but success cannot be guaranteed. We are unable to make exceptions, for any reason, to our cancellation policy.
In the event that we cancel the trip you may transfer all of your payments to a future trip or receive a refund for payments made to the extent we are able to recover from our suppliers. If you paid by credit card a 3% fee will be deducted from your refund. Niebrugge Images, LLC does not assume responsibility for any other costs incurred by customer as a result of the cancellation.
There will be no refunds for delays or cancellations because of weather, flights, or other reasons before arriving or during the photo tour. Niebrugge Images is not responsible for additional costs that may be incurred by such delays.
We have the right to cancel this photo tour for lack of registrants up to 60 days prior to photo tour date.
We are unable to make exceptions, for any reason, to our cancellation policy.
WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND PURCHASING TRIP INSURANCE. One option is: www.TravelInsurance.com
