August 21st - 27th, 2020
2020 Alaska Brown Bear Photography Tour – We LOVE this trip!
Daniel has photographed grizzlies in the wilds of Alaska for well over a decade. His guidance and experience assist in giving guests the opportunity to take their own amazing images. We invite you to join us in this exceptional bear-viewing location where no viewing platforms are used. Peaceful encounters with these magnificent giants of the north—there is nothing more exhilarating than photographing these bears! Beware: this trip can be addictive!
Meet Daniel and Tanya Cox
2020 Alaska Brown Bear Photography Tour Travel Plans
Friday, August 21 (D)
Meet the group in Anchorage, Alaska. Group welcome dinner. Overnight Courtyard Anchorage Airport
Saturday, August 22 (B, L, D)
Mid-morning departure to lodge by charter plane. The floatplane flight is approximately one hour with a beach landing during low tide or on a lake. We’ll be greeted by the lodge staff on ATV’s with trailers, a.k.a. the chariots of the north 🙂 After we get settled at the lodge and have lunch, we’ll venture out for our first photo opportunities with the bears. Five nights at the bear lodge.
Sunday, August 23 – Wednesday, August 26 (B, L, D)
Four full days of bear viewing! Each day after a hearty breakfast, we’ll travel by foot or hop onto an ATV with a trailer to locate the bears that are often near the lodge. These unstressed bears usually appear to be somewhat uninterested and rarely pay attention to our presence. The landscape is vast and wild, providing beautiful backdrops for images. We may also be fortunate enough to photograph puffins, kittiwakes, bald eagles, or fox.
Photographing the bears usually revolves around the tides, light, and weather conditions. August is the perfect time of year to photograph the big male bears chasing salmon through the rivers. We will regularly see moms with cubs; however, they keep their distance from the individual males. Nothing will prepare you for the feeling you receive when you encounter these magnificent bears just yards away…
We call Alaskan brown bears “fat and happy bears.” They feast on salmon and clams and do not struggle like other bears who need to forage for berries, roots, and tubers. They learn to live in close proximity of each other and usually do not see people as a threat, or a meal!
Fishing between photo excursions is possible. Each guest can have their salmon cleaned and packaged to take home with them.
Dan will be there for anyone who has questions about camera settings, digital workflow, or anything else related to photography. We’ll return to the lodge for lunch and have some time to download cards or rest before heading back into the field to photograph in the late afternoon. A great dinner will be awaiting when we return, perhaps fresh salmon or halibut. We finish the days with a good night’s sleep.
Thursday, August 27 (B)
Today we’ll return to Anchorage by floatplane, departing at around 10:00am. We’ll have a group day room available in Anchorage. Many flights leave hourly from Anchorage, including late evening flights to the lower 48. We suggest a late day departure in case of any bad weather delays during the charter flight.
Guest Limits
12 Guests Maximum
Trip Cost
EXPLORER RATE
6300 per person, based on double occupancyNON-EXPLORER RATE: Add 350
Single Supplement: Limited availability, please inquire
Deposit
$1000 Per person due at time of booking
Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, Discover, or check acceptedDeposits are non-refundable. If cancellations are necessary, we require this request in writing. We will do our best to resell your space. Only if we can resell your space, we will refund (minus deposit and discounts given to sell your space). No partial refunds are possible for unused services.
Installments
September 1, 2019: $3000 First Installment
April 1, 2020: Final PaymentCheck only for first and final installments. Please make checks payable to Natural Exposures and mail to:
Natural Exposures
810 N. Wallace, Suite E
Bozeman, MT 59715Included
- 1 night hotel accommodation in Anchorage
- Group welcome dinner and drinks
- Charter plane to/from fly-in lodge
- 5 nights accommodations at bear-viewing lodge
- All meals at lodge + meals where indicated (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- All alcohol/soft drink included with meals
- All guiding
- Daily park service fee
- Sales tax
Not Included
- Flights to/from Anchorage
- Refund if the weather is not cooperating. This would include flight rescheduling fees and extra hotel nights/meals.
- Gratuity for guide and lodge staff
- Fishing licenses/equipment
- Alcohol/soft drinks not with meals
- Travel/trip/medical insurance
Flights to Book
August 21, 2020
Arrive Anchorage (ANC) any time of day
Group welcome dinner this eveningAugust 27, 2020
Depart Anchorage (ANC) on a late evening/midnight flight
We suggest a late day departure in case of any bad weather delays during the morning charter flight.Travel Insurance
Travel/emergency medical evacuation insurance is not required for this photo tour, but we always recommend purchasing it for any trip. We recommend one or more of the following, depending on your needs:
Global Rescue
(use code natexp)Allianz Global Assistance
(use travel agency ID F203564)Terms & Conditions
Natural Exposures cannot control nor is responsible for abnormal weather, natural disasters, or any other disaster that might affect the trip. Travel insurance should be purchased to cover any missed flights or medical problems that may affect/delay your travel. National Parks have the right to change our itinerary.
By booking a trip with Natural Exposures, you agree to the following CANCELLATION AND LIABILITY POLICY
Accommodations for 2020 Alaska Brown Bear Photography Tour
August 21, 1 Night
Courtyard Anchorage Airport
A flawless blend of comfort and convenience awaits at Courtyard Anchorage Airport. Once you arrive, retreat to relaxation in their stylish rooms. Plush mattresses, free Wi-Fi, and flat-panel TVs with Netflix are sure to keep you comfortable and entertained. After a refreshing night’s sleep, fuel up for the day with Starbucks® coffee and breakfast sandwiches at The Bistro. Return in the evening for tasty entrées and signature cocktails. During downtime, stay active at the fitness center and enjoy a dip in the indoor pool. Make your trip worth remembering when you stay at Courtyard Anchorage Airport.Extra Accommodations
If you need pre/post accommodations during the trip, we would be happy to help book these for you. Please inquire for rates.August 22 – 26, 5 Nights
Our full-service lodge is located on private land in the wilderness near a pristine stream with mountain backdrops. Having a small group makes it easy to search out the best locations of bears chasing salmon for optimum photographs.Accommodations vary depending on whether you are in the main lodge or in cabins. All rooms will have either one queen bed or two twin beds with either a private bath or a bath shared between rooms.
The lodge’s menu may feature local seafood including salmon, halibut, clams, and mussels, as well as fresh greens and herbs from their garden. It is not uncommon for a bear to appear in the meadow in front of the lodge during dinnertime, creating the ultimate Alaska dining experience. Three meals are cooked each day by the resident chef, and the resident baker creates homemade breads and desserts.
There is a lounge with a guest computer that allows access to the Internet for personal use. Cell service is available, depending on your provider. A wood fireplace is located in the lounge to enjoy during rainy days if desired. If conditions are right, we may sit around a bonfire in the evening. If the skies are clear, there may be the opportunity to see northern lights. Kayaks are available for guests to use.
Bear viewing cannot be guaranteed, however, the lodge has had a safe and successful bear-viewing program for over 20+ years. Our group may have an opportunity to go by boat to photograph puffins and a resident otter in the area.
Helpful Information for 2020 Alaska Brown Bear Photography Tour
Guests should be able to walk short distances on uneven ground and possibly wade through low waters with their camera packs. When we encounter the bears, we’ll walk together slowly as a group. The bears are accustomed to human encounters. Our experienced guides often know the bears individually since they will return yearly to the same areas to feed on clams, sedges, or salmon. Caution and patience is always needed to photograph bears in the wild. Please note we are photographing in a national park. Park guidelines or regulations can change at any time. Fishing between photo excursions is possible. Each guest can have their salmon cleaned and packaged to take home with them or cooked up for group dinners.
The lodge supplies boots, but you can bring your own if you’d prefer. If you have any special dietary needs or food allergies, the chef and dining staff are happy to accommodate.
We will have most of the lodge booked for our group. However, there may be other guests (usually fisherman) staying with us too.
A package including an itinerary will be sent to each guest closer to trip departure time.
Natural Exposures is working with an authorized concessionaire within national park regulations.
Camera Gear
Dan will phone each guest prior to trip time to discuss camera gear and make suggestions for what to bring. Please feel free to email at any time if you have questions regarding camera gear for the trip.
Fishing
Licenses can be purchased at the lodge (cash only). Aside from incredible bear viewing, this area has world-class salmon fishing. Late July through August and early September provide good opportunities for silver salmon, Dolly Varden char, pink and chum salmon, and also sometimes offshore halibut. The lodge has a fishing guide who takes guests out, along with a supply of spin or fly gear available for rent. Limit two per day for salmon and halibut.
NOTE: Weather is sometimes unpredictable and can possibly disrupt our trip. We will do our best to work with any weather-related issues including delayed/changed flights and the need to book extra accommodations to make it less stressful for guests. Each individual is responsible for any costs involved with these unforeseen circumstances.
Have a question?
Have a question about this tour? We're happy to answer any queries you may have.
Testimonials from Natural Exposures' Explorers
"This morning I had a wonderful surprise waiting for me in my mailbox... my Natural Exposures package! OMG! So, cool and informative. I've traveled on other photography tours and even have done a Nat Geo Expedition and your package is far and above the very best I have received. I can't wait to get to Alaska! Thanks for the trip info. Until Aug."
Misty Nichols, Florida
"Still in the afterglow of spending so much time so close to Coastal Brown Bears! Thanks SO MUCH for an amazing Alaska Brown Bear experience. One of the best vacations we've had complete with great photographs (and salmon in our freezer!). Special shout out to Tanya for ensuring we made our flight despite weather problems! You two are really great!!"
Ian Enright, Alberta
"This is my fifth trip with you, as always, great photo opportunities,accomodations, food, transportation and instruction. What more can I say? Thank you for the fun and for taking such good care of me."
Dorothy Murray, Iowa
"Rob and I had an amazing time in Alaska, it exceeding our expectations!!!"
Shawynn Zaremba, Illinois
