When you want to experience Alaska’s wildlife, there’s nothing more amazing than spending time among Alaska’s famed coastal brown bears in their own habitat. Family-owned Alaska Bear Adventures flies you from Homer to undeveloped areas, for an unforgettable connection with wild Alaska.
Choose from a 4-, 7-, or 11-hour day trip. You’ll start out with a gorgeous flight over Kachemak Bay and will land at either Katmai National Park or Lake Clark National Park. As pilots fly over the area, they mark where the bears are located so that you can find them easily once you land.
The shortest trip gives you 1.5 hours in the air and 1+ hours with the bears. The “Classic” trip includes 1.5–3 hours of scenic flightseeing and 3+ hours with the bears. And the all-day trip features 2.5-4 hours on the plane and an unforgettable 6–9 hours with the bears.
About Alaska Bear Adventures
For Alaska Bear Adventures, bear viewing is not a sideline activity, but the main event. All pilots are fully trained bear guides who have an avid interest in bear behavior. During your excursion, you’ll do some hiking, some kneeling, and a lot of picture taking. Learn the ins and outs of bear behavior in the wild—beyond the limits of zoo bars or enclosures.
After years of bringing visitors to bear country, Alaska Bear Adventure guides know the clans well and can point out some of the recurring cast of characters. Maybe you’ll see “Lefty” (whose left ear is missing), “Righty” (yes, whose right ear is missing) or “Meanie” (who’s missing both ears). Depending on the season, you’ll discover cubs nursing, males fighting for dominance, or sows grazing on sedge grass. Watch bears dig for clams at low tide, or see them fattening up during one of many red salmon runs. Find out which mamas tend carefully to their cubs, or which might leave a cub with your group to babysit!
When you call up Alaska Bear Adventures to check out their tours, you’ll likely talk with Dee or her daughter Elena. They handle the customer service side of things and make your experience their number-one priority. Factors include how long you want to spend with the bears, your physical abilities, and what time of summer you want to go. Every trip includes some hiking around remote areas, so Alaska Bear Adventures strives to match up guests who have similar preferences. If you like to meander more slowly, let them know, so you don’t find yourself with a group of power walkers!
Weather and Safety
Guides put safety—both for the bears and for you—first. Sometimes the weather is great in Homer, but bad over at Katmai. Pilots monitor conditions, and may cancel or delay flights due to poor weather. While that doesn’t happen too often, it’s good to understand the policy in advance, especially if you can keep your travel schedule flexible. If your flight is cancelled, Alaska Bear Adventures will try to rebook you or will give you a 100% refund.
