|  | |  | | | | Tour Highlights: | - Large population of brown bears during salmon migration
- Special platforms offer unobstructed, up-close bear viewing
- National Park Ranger programs available each day
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Tour Includes:
| - Round trip flights between Anchorage and Brooks Camp (via King Salmon or Kulik Lodge)
- Overnight at Brooks Lodge (see under Rates & Policies for accommodation information)
- Unguided bear viewing
- All taxes and park fees
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Brooks Falls, located in Katmai National Park, is world renowned for its
incredible brown bear viewing. Special viewing platforms are located along the
Brooks River and at Brooks Falls. These platforms offer safe, unobstructed and
up-close bear watching, and photography - within easy walking distance from
Brooks Lodge on maintained trails.
Peak bear viewing season at Brooks
Falls is from late-June through July. This is the period when you would most
likely see the bears fishing for salmon at the falls. From late-August until
mid-September, which is also a peak time, salmon will be actually spawning in
the Brooks River and the bears are feeding throughout the river. While much of
August is not considered peak bear viewing season, the bears of Katmai continue
to roam through the area and sightings are quite common.
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LODGE INFORMATION AND ITINERARY
INFORMATION
Accommodations:Cabins at Brooks Lodge have 2 sets of bunk beds (4 single beds
total), a sink, toilet, shower and heater. Television, Internet and cell phone
service is not available at the Lodge.
Bear
Viewing: While bears are typically seen in the area all summer
long, sightings are NOT guaranteed. Prime viewing is typically from the end of
June through July and the end of August through mid-September, when the salmon
are running.
Airplane
Information: The flight from Anchorage to King Salmon/Kulik is in a
twin-engine, wheeled plane. The flight from King Salmon/Kulik to Brooks is on a
small, 6 to 8 passenger, single-engine float plane. Due to limited space,
visitors are asked to keep their luggage to a minimum and bring only soft-side
luggage. Please do not bring hard-side suitcases!
Food and
Meals: Visitors are not allowed to bring food to Brooks. This is
for the protection of both people and bears. A dining area in the main lodge
serves breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets daily. Meals are NOT included with
any of the packages. The Lodge ONLY accepts cash, Visa and MasterCard.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Anchorage
to Brooks Falls / Katmai National Park
Depart Anchorage (as early as
7:30 am) aboard a scheduled flight to King Salmon or Kulik. On arrival in King
Salmon or Kulik, a local representative will transfer you directly to a seaplane
for a 20 minute flight to Brooks Camp. On arrival in Brooks Camp, meet with Park
Service staff for a brief bear safety orientation. Afterwards, check into your
overnight accommodation. Spend the remainder of the day exploring Brooks Camp,
viewing brown bears from observation platforms, and hiking on the numerous
trails. Overnight Brooks Lodge.
Day 2/Departure: Brooks Falls /
Katmai National Park to Anchorage
Spend the day at Brooks Lodge.
Relax at the lodge, take a walk on the trails to the observation platforms, or
take a guided bus tour to the Valley of 10,000 Smokes (not included). In the
afternoon or early evening you have a return flight to Anchorage **.
If
you stay longer: you enjoy more bear viewing and can part take in the offered
park ranger programs.
** The return to Anchorage can vary and depends on
the length of stay and availability of flights. If you book the 2 day/1 night
program you typically return to Anchorage at approximately 9:00 pm. With
the 3 day/2 night or 4 day/3 night programs you typically depart Anchorage
around 9:30 am on day 1, and return to Anchorage at approximately 4:00 pm on the
last day.
A night in Anchorage before and after this tour is
required.
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IMPORTANT
NOTES
REFUND / CANCELLATION
POLICY
Any time after our written
confirmation: $100 per person or 10% of invoice total, whichever is
greater.
60 to 45 days prior to lodge stay / tour date: 30% of invoice
total.
44 to 31 days prior to lodge stay / tour date: 60% of invoice
total.
30 to 0 days prior to lodge stay / tour date: 100% of invoice
total.
Day
tour and overnight packages are non-refundable, even if flights between King
Salmon and Brooks are cancelled due to weather. However, flights between
Anchorage and
King Salmon/Brooks Camp are generally very reliable in any weather.
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TRAVEL TO ALASKA: Please make sure you have your proper documents (US Drivers License or
passport) with you, your credit card and camera/video recorder. If you booked a rental car with us that you will pick up upon arrival in
Alaska, please make sure you provide us with your flight arrival information so
that your car is ready for you when you arrive! Also remember that Alaska has its own time zone. Alaska is 1 hour behind
Pacific Standard Time / 2 hours behind Mountain Standard Time / 3 hours behind
Central Standard Time / 4 hours behind Eastern Standard Time. WHAT TO PACK: Temperatures from June through August range between 60°F / 16° C to 80°F /
27°. May and September are typically cooler, with temperatures ranging between
45°F / 7° C to 55°F / 13° C. Temperatures in the winter can range from -40
degrees to 40 degrees. If summer or winter the general rule for Alaska is casual, comfortable
clothing that can be worn in layers. The first layer should be something thin
and next to the skin (try to avoid cotton). The second layer adds warmth and
allows you the option of removing if it gets warmer (mostly fleece or similar).
The third layer should protect you against rain and wind if necessary.
For day cruises into Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords National
Park, for example, we recommend an extra layer including a scarf, hat and
gloves, as it can be chilly on the boats - even in the summer!
Comfortable walking shoes or water repellent hiking boots are also
important.
If you visit in the winter, your outer layer should
protect you against the cold and wind. Even so jeans are comfortable, they are
not ideal when it is really cold. Ski pants are protecting better against the
cold weather. Do not forget to bring a warm scarf, hat, gloves, and boots.
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