Itinerary

Day 1

• Scheduled evening service (4:30 pm) flight from Anchorage to King Salmon arriving King Salmon around 5:50 pm. Transport from King Salmon Airport to your hotel accommodation for the evening.

Day 2

• After an early breakfast transportation to the float plane dock on the Naknek River for the 8:00 am flight into Brooks Camp in the Katmai National Park and Preserve.
• 25 minute scenic float plane flight to Brooks Camp in the Katmai National Park and Preserve. Depending on weather conditions and air traffic you will fly in over Brooks Falls for your first glimpse of grizzly bears feeding in the salmon rich Brooks River.
• Land on Naknek Lake and take a short walk up to the National Park Service visitors center for a 15 minute ‘Bear Etiquette’ orientation program delivered by the friendly Katmai National Park staff.
• Bear viewing. Walk down through Brooks Camp to the falls keeping a look out for your first sighting of the majestic Alaskan brown bear.
• In the evening, at around 7:30 pm, assemble on the beach where you landed in the morning.
• Watch out for your red and white float plane to fly in, land on Naknek Lake, and taxi up to you on the beach. This is an ideal opportunity to take a photograph of the plane landing and taxing.
• After the scenic flight back to King Salmon you will be transported to your hotel for the evening.

Day 3

• After breakfast checkout of your hotel. Your pick up time is arranged for the early morning (8:00 am) flight into Brooks Camp in time for your second full day excursion to the Valley of the 10,000 Smokes.
• Check in with the Brooks Lodge office and you will be directed to the tour meeting point. Depending on timing, you will probably have time to do some bear watching before setting off on the 23 mile bus trip up to the valley.
• On the way you will stop at scenic vantage points where the National Park Service Ranger guide will identify points of interest, flora, and fauna.
• Once up at the Three Forks Overlook the Ranger will lead you on a hike down the Ukak Falls Trail to the confluence of the Knife, Lethe, and Windy creeks and the falls themselves. Here you will be surrounded by the spectacular scene of volcanic ash hundreds of feet high caused by the eruption of Novarupta in June 1912, the largest eruption in the 20^th Century. On the way down to the falls you will see spectacular vistas of the pumice and volcanic ash moonscape and have the chance to examine and walk upon this surface. A packed lunch is included in this tour.
• In the evening, at the pre-arranged time (about 5:00 pm), assemble on the beach where you landed in the morning. Watch out again for your red and white float plane to fly in.
• The flight back is timed to connect with the 6:10 pm scheduled flight back from King Salmon to Anchorage where you will arrive at 7:30 pm.

Price

All prices are per person and are inclusive of all taxes and National Park fees.

To book this tour (Tour DT122) or for further information please Contact Us.

Included and Excluded

Included

• Scheduled return air flights from Anchorage International Airport to King Salmon.
• Ground transportation from King Salmon airport to and from the float plane dock on the Naknek River and your hotel.
• Katmai National Park and Preserve park fees.
• Valley of the 10,000 Smokes tour with packed lunch.
• Hotel accommodation with private facilities on a room only basis.

Excluded

• All meals with the exception of the Valley of the 10,000 Smokes tour.

Additional Information

Afternoon cultural walk. This free walk is led by a National Park Service guide exploring the human history of Katmai and the Brooks River. Please check with the NPS Visitors Center for the times of this walk

Hike to Dumpling Mountain. There is a hike through the boreal forest and tundra to the outlook over Brooks Camp where you will get a magnificent panoramic view over Naknek Lake and surrounding mountains. This hike is led by a National Park Service Ranger/Naturalist. Please check with the NPS Visitors Center for the timing of this hike.

Brooks Camp. There is a restaurant with bar and circular fireplace in the Lodge at Brooks Camp. The restaurant serves refreshments, light lunches, snacks, and evening meals. For bear security reasons food cannot be taken out of the restaurant.

King Salmon. In King Salmon dinner and breakfast can be taken at the hotel or there is an alternative diner across the street.

Upgrade Options

Option 1. Valley of the 10,000 Smokes excursion on day 2 rather than day 3 as scheduled.

Option 2. Stay an extra night in the hotel at the end to catch the 9:40 am flight to Anchorage the next day. This will give you extra bear viewing time at the end of day 2 after the Valley of the 10,000 Smokes tour returns and when all the day trip folk have departed.

Option 3. Decline the Valley of the 10,000 Smokes tour and enjoy a second full day of bear viewing.

Option 4. Hotel Accommodation. Upgrade your accommodation to deluxe standard.

Contact Us to discuss these options and pricing.