From Kodiak enjoy the one hour flight to Kukak Bay in Katmai National Park. Upon arrival meet your guide and board the vessel for the following four days. Wasting no time after introductions your bear guide, a man who quite literally holds the spirit of the bear and its world deep within his soul, is eager to venture you into bear country.

Once you arrive in Katmai National Park your photo opportunities are endless. Look for Stellar sea lions, porpoise, whales, fox dens and bird rookeries. The Katmai Coast is home to hundreds of migratory birds such as horned and tufted puffins, cormorants, murres and kittiwakes. Photograph eagles and nesting eaglets. Watch in amazement as the ebbing tides expose miles of rich intertidal areas, second in world productivity to our precious rain forests. These inter-tidal zones are rich in clams, an important food source for the bears while they wait for the salmon returns. View numerous rivers and creeks carving their way down from glaciers and snow-capped mountains. Although bears in the wilderness are the reason many photographers take our tour, there are many other wild animals we shall likely encounter, depending upon the length of your trip. We can visit a rookery of Stellar Sea Lions. We may see salmon, porpoise, seals, sea and land otters, and foxes with kitts. Several islands are summer homes for Horned and Tufted Puffins, Oyster Catchers and chicks, Gulls, Eagles and Eaglets, Loons, and many other bird species. If we are lucky, we may even come across a pod of whales visiting the Shelikof Strait. The breath taking landscapes in this wilderness unspoiled by man are reason enough to visit Katmai. Every day along the coast is a new adventure on land and water with spectacular mountain backgrounds.

Accommodation
Accommodations are double occupancy staterooms (bunk beds) on a 73-foot boat with a captain, first mate, cook, and naturalist. The crew's only job is to keep the guests comfortable, safe, and happy. A skiff brings the guide and his group to shore and picks them up when the guide radios that they are ready for lunch or supper. Living on the boat means negligible impact on the land and bears. At night, the warm, clean boat is anchored in a calm bay. The shower and toilet are rustic but adequate.

Meals:
In the land of the "midnight sun" darkness is rare, leaving hours for you to play and work up an appetite. Our chef provides three gourmet meals each day made from only the finest ingredients. Fresh Alaskan seafood, including halibut, salmon, and crab, highlight many of the dinners. To make sure everyone gets the food they want, the captain sends out questionnaires before the trip and airlifts the requested foods to the boat to accommodate low-fat diets, vegetarian, Kosher, or other diets.   

Getting here:
To begin your Alaskan adventure, take a 60 minute seaplane ride on to a protected bay along the Shelikof Strait. The vessel, a sturdy 73' seaworthy boat, will be your floating lodge as you cruise the Katmai coastline. Skiffs will take tour members ashore frequently, giving you opportunities to photograph up close the earth's largest land carnivore, Coastal Brown Bears. Because hunting is prohibited and the nearest roadway is more than 150 miles away, Katmai National Park has the world's highest concentration of brown bears per square mile. The bears are often completely uninhibited by the presence of human visitors. In contrast with shore based operations we have mobility and a minimal impact on the environment.

The Guides
Accompanying you aboard is an experienced Alaskan crew. The crew consists of U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain and mate to ensure your safety on the water and a naturalist/guide to accompany you on your shore visits. Last but not least is your chef.

Buffer Days
One day needs to be allowed on the beginning and end of your scheduled stay on board the vessel. These two days create a buffer zone for changes in the weather and forces of nature.