Alaska River of Bears
July 19-26, 2026
Join us on an Alaskan photo tour during peak season, when bears and their cubs are actively fishing. Capture these animals' daily lives and behaviors up close. On our last trip, we photographed 25-30 different bears each day, making us excited to return.
Our lodging is uniquely situated by a breathtaking river. From this base, we will travel on small boat excursions, offering exclusive opportunities to photograph bears from the river, boats, and land.
Besides bears, we may also photograph eagles, osprey, peregrine falcons, and moose. Occasionally, we might see and photograph wolves, foxes, mink, beavers, river otters, northern harriers, and various waterfowl.
$9850
Deposit: $2000
Day 1: We will meet at the King Salmon Airport in the morning. We recommend you fly into King Salmon the night before. We will have a short 25-minute flight to the bear lodge (included). We will introduce ourselves, discuss the itinerary, unpack, and eat dinner.
Days 2-7: We will start our mornings with a hearty breakfast at the lodge, then embark on an exhilarating boat ride down the river, where you will have the chance to capture stunning images of numerous bears in their natural habitat. One of the days, there is an option to venture out to the famous Brooks Camp to photograph bears fishing on a waterfall. This side trip is not included in the price.
Day 8: Last Day. We will say goodbye to our friends at the lodge and take a 25-minute plane ride back to King Salmon. We will leave King Salmon for Anchorage sometime after 3 p.m.
Safety
Our utmost priority is safety. Bear attacks are extremely rare plus there has never been a recorded instance of a bear attack on a group of four or more people. John, along with the camp staff, possesses numerous years of experience in handling bear encounters.
Itinerary
Objective
Our main goal for this tour is to capture stunning photographs of magnificent bears, especially the adorable cubs during this prime season. We will have numerous opportunities to photograph bears fishing, spending hours observing and capturing their behaviors.
Included in Price:
Flights from King Salmon to the lodge and back
Lodging in private cabins (this is double occupancy only; single occupancy is not available)
Food while at the lodge (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
Daily boat ride excursions
Hands-on field instruction. Plus, wildlife identification and behavior.
Not Included in Price:
Transportation to and from Anchorage
Transportation from Anchorage to King Salmon (approx. $400 round trip)
Gratuities for lodge staff. One tip includes them all.
Alcohol is not included
Optional fly out to Brooks Camp $400
GROUP SIZE
8 Photographers
Plus 2 Tour Leaders
FITNESS LEVEL
Participants must navigate boat
entry and exit, with minimal walking.
Rivers may be slippery; staff assistance provided for small river crossings.
GETTING THERE
Participants fly in and out of King Salmon (AKN), with direct flights offered by Alaska Airlines and other companies to/from Anchorage.
SKILL LEVEL
This tour is for experienced photographers. The participants should have a working knowledge of their camera, a love of nature, and enjoy the company of other people.
QUESTIONS
Email john@sphotography.com