Alaska Grizzly Encounter: Kodiak to Katmai
Meet the mighty brown bears of Katmai up close on shore and from a private small ship.
SPECIAL OFFER
9.2*
ECO SCORE
8
PASSENGERS
8
DAYS
3.5/5
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Alaska: Drink It In
Nature puts on few displays as arresting as Alaskan brown bears feeding on summer’s bounty. These bears—the largest coastal grizzlies in the world—gorge on clams, mussels, sedges and spawning salmon as the fish swim up the glacial-fed rivers that pour onto wild beaches. Our private chartered ship, the Ursus, designed for exploring the Alaskan marine wilderness, offers an exclusive opportunity for just eight guests to follow and photograph bears as they fish, forage and amble along the shoreline. Here in Katmai National Park, experience this rarest of encounters with Ursus arctos in all its untamed majesty.
Travel Curator’s Insights:
- • You won't believe how close you'll safely get to giant brown bears—the world's biggest coastal grizzlies—in a wilder setting than anywhere else on Earth.
• With only 8 guests, you'll have unparalleled access to bear viewing and photography.
• This operator has curated Alaska programs for over 25 years!
Trip Sustainability Awards
CARBON
Fantastic advances in minimizing carbon footprints at locations.
ENERGY
On the East African Energy Renewal Board
EDUCATION
Runs local educational facilities for children.
Itinerary
Day 1: Kodiak, Alaska
On arrival in Kodiak, our local guide meets you and transfers you to our hotel, pointing out sights along the way. Depending on your arrival time, you may be able to explore some of Kodiak's Russian and Native heritage on your own this afternoon. Options include the Kodiak History Museum, Alutiiq Museum, Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center. All are centrally located in the compact town of Kodiak that surrounds St. Paul's Harbor. Our grizzly adventure officially begins this evening with an informal welcome dinner and orientation hosted by our local guide.
Accommodation: Kodiak Inn
Day 2: Kodiak Island Wildlife Cruise
While Katmai's grizzlies will be our main focus, Kodiak Island is an impressive wildlife destination in its own right, and today we explore a sampler of its coastal waters on a day-long private boat trip. A cruise among Kodiak’s secluded bays and rocky shorelines, past tidal pools and kittiwake rookeries, may reveal sea otters, puffins, bald eagles, sea lions and sometimes humpback and fin whales. Kodiak is remote, not often visited by travelers to Alaska, and our sense of an intimate encounter with nature is palpable as we glide through its rockbound coves and islands. We'll also spend time touring historic Kodiak, with a mix of activities that may include a walk through the coastal rain forest at Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park, a fisheries research center with aquarium and touch tank, and/or a drive up Pillar Mountain for sweeping views over the town and sea, when weather permits.
Accommodation: Kodiak Inn
Day 3: Kodiak / Katmai—Board NH Ursus
The day has arrived: We're off to see the bears! And we reach them via a classically Alaskan means of transport: a floatplane journey from Kodiak to Katmai to meet our privately chartered ship, the NH Ursus. Our plan is to fly out late morning, but timing is flexible in the event of weather delays, in which case we'll explore a bit more of Kodiak as we wait for the clouds to lift. Once we board the plane, we fly west over Kodiak's steep green mountains and across Shelikof Strait to the Katmai Peninsula. The pilot is in radio contact with the Ursus, and soon we're taxiing along the water to pull up alongside. Exiting the plane, we embark the vessel that will be our 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. Since retrofitted for custom tourism charters, this sturdy veteran of wild Alaskan waters now offers our guests comfortable accommodations in this remote marine wilderness. The Ursus (which means "bear" in Latin) cruises slowly along the coast, where we commonly find coastal grizzlies, or brown bears, foraging for food. Since we are mobile, we can cruise 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 we're welcomed, safe and attended to.
Accommodation: NH Ursus
Days 4–6: Bear Viewing in Katmai National Park
While we’ve all seen footage in nature documentaries of Alaskan brown bears in the wild, nothing prepares us 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. As we cruise just off the coast, bears dot the shoreline. We go ashore by skiff for an even closer view, traversing the beaches on foot. It’s not uncommon to find several massive grizzlies at once. 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.
The bear activity we witness will vary according to the season, weather conditions, and timing of the salmon runs, but there's always something riveting to watch. We may see bears fight to capture salmon in their jaws, trying to seize spawning fish that make their way up the streams flowing over the intertidal area. As omnivores, bears also dig for clams and mussels in the sand and browse on protein-rich sedges. Depending on the time of our visit, we may even see bears mating or cubs gallivanting on the shore. On our other Alaska trips, we watch grizzlies from viewing platforms or vehicles. Not here! In coastal Katmai we are on foot, carefully wandering the area in our small group under the cautious guidance of our Expedition Leader, who offers thorough coaching in safe "bear etiquette." Sometimes we see wolves, too, observing their interesting interactions with the bears. While occasionally there may be another boat in the region, we're usually alone in the wilderness, moved by a profound sense of solitude, peace and raw beauty. This trip offers an encounter with the Alaskan wild that we trust will thrill you beyond expectation.
Accommodation: NH Ursus
Day 7: Bear Viewing in Katmai / Return to Kodiak
One last morning is set aside for time with the bears before our planned flight back to Kodiak later today. Traveling in an open skiff, we head once more toward shore, looking for a glimpse of the glaciers that crown the tall mountains behind Katmai's lonely coastline. Typically these peaks are cloaked in clouds while evocative mists weave in and out of the bays, providing the moisture that keeps Katmai so lush and verdant. Deep ash covered the region after the massive 1912 eruption of Mount Katmai and adjacent Novarupta, and revegetation in the century since has come mostly as a thick blanket of willow and alder bushes, though some stands of spruce thrive as well—keep an eye out for bald eagles in the treetops. Seabirds abound, too—look for kittiwakes, terns, mergansers, pigeon guillemots and black oystercatchers.
On shore, we walk across the tidal flats and gravel bars, possibly fording a few streams to find the best vantage point for a last sojourn with the bears. Inevitably, it's going to be hard to leave here. Most travelers never get such an immersion in genuine wilderness, let alone the chance to sit in solitude with some of the world's most magnificent carnivores. We're sure to come away awed by the access the bears grant us to their world, and inspired to protect them from the very real threats of mining, climate change and other forces that may impact the ecosystem that sustains them—especially the salmon runs on which they rely. Back in Kodiak, our local guide meets us once more as we transfer to our hotel. A farewell dinner is planned at a local restaurant. Fresh seafood is always on the menu, along with other varied choices.
Accommodation: Kodiak Inn
Day 8: Kodiak / Depart
Our Alaska bear adventure comes to a close today as we depart from Kodiak. We recommend guests book an afternoon flight out in case inclement weather prevents us from flying back to Kodiak on Day 7 as scheduled. (Occasionally, weather delays may require a morning flight today from the Ursus back to Kodiak.)
Several morning activity options are available as we wait for flight departures, however, and our Kodiak guide makes sure there's plenty to engage us. Options may include a drive to the top of Pillar Mountain for views over the harbor and neighboring islands (hardy travelers may choose to hike to the summit or back down); a stop at the Kodiak Fisheries Research Center featuring regional species on display; or a visit to Fort Abercrombie, where we can walk trails through dense rain forest to a wild beach, snack on salmon berries in season, and encounter relics from a World War II coastal defense installation.
Please note: Most floatplane flights will depart Kodiak to meet the Ursus by late morning on Day 3 and return to Kodiak by mid-afternoon on Day 7. The exact timing will vary according to weather, marine conditions and other logistical factors.
Medical Form: Due to the extremely remote nature of this adventure, we require that all travelers submit a medical form before departure. This form must be completed and signed by your primary care physician.
Internal Air Cost: $695 per person (this will be listed separately on your invoice).
Single Occupancy: For a single room, add 50% to the trip price. If requested, we can also match you with a roommate. If we are unable to find you a match, you will not be charged for a single room.
Activity Level: Moderate to Difficult. This small-ship-based Alaska adventure cruise requires a moderate level of physical fitness in terrain that can be difficult to navigate. At times, travelers must walk at least two miles to reach the daily bear-viewing location, in varied conditions that may include rough, uneven terrain, shallow water, and walking through mud while wearing chest waders (which can feel a bit awkward and uncomfortable)—while carrying all of your own gear including camera equipment.
In order to maximize bear-viewing opportunities, we may spend long days ashore, returning late to the ship for dinner. Once at the bear-viewing site, physical activity is quite limited. We may spend several hours in essentially one spot with little movement, sitting on low stools or buckets. 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 NH Ursus (our small ship) and the float plane, and to the smaller boat we use to access shore, require the ability to make a large step up or down onto an unstable surface. It is generally not possible to view bears from the Ursus. Travelers must be of sound health and able to maintain a positive attitude in a wild and remote setting.
Important Information About This Trip: This trip involves watching grizzlies on foot in unprotected open areas. While bears are unpredictable and sighting them can never be guaranteed, our groups have never missed seeing them. The unpredictability of bears can also lead to dangerous situations. They are wild animals, and we ask travelers to heed the rules set by our staff and to understand that this trip can, potentially, present harmful situations. We ask that all travelers take their own safety into consideration when signing onto this (and any) adventure. On this rare adventure, we encounter giant Alaskan brown bears from an uncommon and fascinating perspective, at eye level! Very few people in the world have an opportunity to see these powerful and beautiful creatures in such an intimate context, and we are very proud that our guests are among the select few who do.
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Questions?
If bears are a passion, or if you're yearning for a highly remote adventure, this seasoned operator will make sure you have the wildlife experience of a lifetime!
Joy Martinello, Founder
Questions?
What’s Included & Cancellation Policy:
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Trip price includes: Accommodations, services of professional Expedition Leader(s), boat crew and local staff, all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on final day, beer and wine on board the Ursus, some gratuities, airport transfers on Day 1 and final day, gear including chest waders and boots for shore excursions, all activities and entrance fees, all taxes, permits and service fees.
Internal air cost includes: All float plane flights within the itinerary (this will be listed separately on our invoicing).
NOT INCLUDED
Travel to and from the start and end point of your trip, some alcoholic beverages, some gratuities, passport and visa fees (if any), optional activities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry and internet, etc.), airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes (if any), required medical evacuation insurance, optional travel protection insurance.
