Guided Expedition into Katmai Bush

$1,595.00 person

Location: Homer • Offered by Emerald Air Service

Location: Homer | Offered by Emerald Air Service

Guided Expedition into Katmai Bush

$1595.00

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Last updated: 17 Mar 2025

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Overview

Duration: 9 hours

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Generous cancellation

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Lowest Price Guarantee

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Available Seasonally

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What We Will Do

This is Emerald Air Service's signature trip. Spend an unforgettable day in remote Katmai National Park and Preserve, far away from crowds, developed trails, and viewing platforms. Enjoy a scenic flight into the true Alaskan bush. You and the other members of your small group are led on a day hike by a naturalist guide who acquaints you with Alaskan Coastal Brown Bears and the amazing country that is their home. Depending on the time of summer, locations vary according to the bears' food sources.

What To Expect

Duration: Approximately 8-9 Hours

• Small group (9 guests maximum)

• Walk between 3-5 miles throughout the day

• Scenic flight from Homer to Katmai takes approximately 1 hour

• Spend an average of 5 hours on the ground hiking and sitting to watch the bears

*Check-in times vary, please check the confirmation email.

Detailed Schedule:

-8:00 AM: Check-in at the office, sign paperwork, weigh-in

-8:15 AM: Guide is introduced and clients are taken to boot shed to change into hip boots for the excursion

-8:30 AM: Briefing from guide at deck to go over safety instructions, bear etiquette, lunch, and bathroom rules

-8:45 AM: Load plane and receive safety briefing from pilot

Take Off

-10:15 AM: Land at Hallo Bay / Moraine Creek

-10:30 AM: Deplane and get ready for adventure!

Exploring / Bear viewing

Lunch / Snacks / Water

Bathrooms as group wants or needs

Exploring / Bear viewing

-3:30PM: Return to plane and embark

Take Off

-4:45 PM: Land in Homer and deplane

-5:00PM: Cookies, take off boots, debrief, Q&A, goodbyes

About Us

Embark on a scenic flight into the heart of the Alaskan bush with our Homer, Alaska bear tours, soaring past vast glaciers draping rugged mountains and steaming volcanoes. Spend an unforgettable day hiking 3–5 miles through the remote Katmai National Park and Preserve, wandering expansive sedge meadows or salmon-rich streams within its massive ecosystem. Led by a naturalist guide, your small group will dive into the world of Alaskan Coastal Brown Bears, exploring the breathtaking landscapes they call home on our signature Alaska bear watching tour.

A bear’s life centers on its food sources, shaping our journey. In early summer, we head to Hallo Bay’s sedge meadows, where bears graze on grasses, roots, clams, and other forage. By mid-to-late July, they shift inland to streams teeming with salmon migrating from the ocean to spawning grounds—salmon being their vital source of nutrition and fat for winter denning. During this peak season, we venture to Moraine Creek, offering front-row views of bears fishing, hunting, and feasting on millions of salmon surging through Katmai’s waterways.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations due to weather will be refunded in full. Cancellations made up to 30 days prior to trip are refunded minus a fee of $100 per person. Cancellations within 30 days are non-refundable. We commend purchasing travel insurance for your adventure.

Location

Meet your Guide

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Emerald Air Service

Emerald Air Service exists to educate our guests about Katmai's majestic residents, the Coastal Brown Bear, and the country in which they live. We hope that everyone who takes one of our trips leaves with, not only great photographs, but with an understanding of bears, knowledge of how to move through their world, and a love for all wild places.

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Venture to Brooks Falls, also known as Brooks Camp, to see the iconic moment of salmon fighting their way upstream, leaping up waterfalls only to be caught in the jaws of Coastal Brown Bears. Bear numbers typically peak in mid-July. Once you arrive from a scenic flight in our float plane, you will be given a safety briefing by Park Rangers at the Visitor's Center. After that, you can enjoy the park at your own pace. The falls where the bears congregate most densely for fishing an easy 1 mile walk away from the Visitors Center. In addition to watching the bears fish at the falls, you can attend one of the ranger-led programs, walk along the beach, and even enjoy a hot meal or cup of coffee at Brooks Lodge. Arrive at Naknek Lake, a premier destination for history, fishing, and brown bear viewing. The bears congregate around the Brooks River corridor starting in June, awaiting the 200,000 to 400,000 salmon who will make their way up the falls. Watch the bears dive, run, splash, and attempt to catch as many fish as they can. You may see bears on the shores of the lake, around the camp, crossing in front of you along the pathways, and of course, from the platforms. Perched above the river, you'll have incredible views to see them and grab those iconic shots that Brooks Falls is famous for. Detailed Schedule *Subject to weather and group delays - 7:30 AM: Check-in - 7:45 AM: Briefing from the office staff to go over current camp platform conditions and bear etiquette - 8:00 AM: Load the plane and receive a safety briefing from pilot ~~TAKE OFF~~ - 9:30 AM: Land at Brooks Camp - 10:00 AM: Deplane and head towards the visitor center Ranger Briefing — All camp visitors must do this in order to visit the area Rangers provide instruction on where to store your lunch Exploring / Bear viewing / Visiting platforms - 3:00 PM: Return to plane and embark ~~TAKE OFF~~ - 4:30 PM: Land in Homer and deplane - 4:45 PM: Debrief, Q&A, goodbyes

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