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Backcountry Journeys
Backcountry Journeys
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About Our Company
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Great Alaskan Bear Safari
Lodge-Based Photo Safari
Upcoming Departures
Don't See The Dates You're Looking For?
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Trip Leader(s)
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Starting From [Block//Current Price]
Single Supplement: +$300.00
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Deposit: $3,995.00
Start/End
Homer, AK / Homer, AK
Length
7 Days/6 Nights
Fitness Level
Level 2 - What's This?
Group Size
Up To 10 Guests
Highlights
- Privately chartered float-planes & bush planes
- Unparalleled access to unique locations for bear photography
- Experience Alaska's beautiful, remote wilderness
- Decades of experience guiding bear photography trips
If you have any questions about a trip, itinerary, or gear, our Photo Experience Coordinators are available for a personalized one-on-one consultation to provide all the details you need.
Trip Description:
Join Backcountry Journeys for the most spectacular Brown Bear Photography Workshop on the planet.
This is a Once-in-a-Lifetime opportunity to experience & photograph Brown Bears in the wild....in Alaska!
Our Great Alaskan Bear Safari offers unparalleled access to the best bear viewing areas across the Alaskan Peninsula, where the wildlife and wilderness are as vast as they are breathtaking.
Travel deep into bear country aboard float planes and specially equipped bush planes outfitted with tundra tires, ensuring we can reach even the most remote locations. Each day, our expert guides will evaluate bear activity, choosing from a handpicked selection of prime viewing spots—scouted over years of guiding bear photography expeditions throughout Alaska.
Our flight coverage spans a vast & wild region, including the iconic Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks, the McNeil River area and the pristine Bristol Bay Watershed, which is home to the largest Sockeye Salmon run in the world. Lots of salmon = lots of bears!
Years of experience, location scouting as well as studying bear behavior & feeding patterns have allowed us to cultivate the ultimate bear photography experience. Few visitors have the privilege of accessing these locations, but at Backcountry Journeys we take you where the bears are - not where they might be.
Throughout your journey, you'll enjoy comfortable accommodations, modern amenities, and delicious meals, all while surrounded by the awe-inspiring beauty of Alaska's wilderness. This is your chance to photograph brown bears in their natural habitat—an opportunity not to be missed.
With nearly a decade of experience leading both wilderness and lodge-based bear photo tours, we know how to help you capture world-class images. Your safety and success are our top priorities and our expert guides will ensure you're in the best possible position to photograph these magnificent animals.
This is more than just a bear photo trip—it's a chance to create memories and images that will last a lifetime. Join us for the Great Alaskan Bear Safari and experience Alaska like never before.
This is a Once-in-a-Lifetime opportunity to experience & photograph Brown Bears in the wild....in Alaska!
Our Great Alaskan Bear Safari offers unparalleled access to the best bear viewing areas across the Alaskan Peninsula, where the wildlife and wilderness are as vast as they are breathtaking.
Travel deep into bear country aboard float planes and specially equipped bush planes outfitted with tundra tires, ensuring we can reach even the most remote locations. Each day, our expert guides will evaluate bear activity, choosing from a handpicked selection of prime viewing spots—scouted over years of guiding bear photography expeditions throughout Alaska.
Our flight coverage spans a vast & wild region, including the iconic Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks, the McNeil River area and the pristine Bristol Bay Watershed, which is home to the largest Sockeye Salmon run in the world. Lots of salmon = lots of bears!
Years of experience, location scouting as well as studying bear behavior & feeding patterns have allowed us to cultivate the ultimate bear photography experience. Few visitors have the privilege of accessing these locations, but at Backcountry Journeys we take you where the bears are - not where they might be.
Throughout your journey, you'll enjoy comfortable accommodations, modern amenities, and delicious meals, all while surrounded by the awe-inspiring beauty of Alaska's wilderness. This is your chance to photograph brown bears in their natural habitat—an opportunity not to be missed.
With nearly a decade of experience leading both wilderness and lodge-based bear photo tours, we know how to help you capture world-class images. Your safety and success are our top priorities and our expert guides will ensure you're in the best possible position to photograph these magnificent animals.
This is more than just a bear photo trip—it's a chance to create memories and images that will last a lifetime. Join us for the Great Alaskan Bear Safari and experience Alaska like never before.
What's Included
- All group meals and non-alcoholic beverages during the workshop
- All transportation during the workshop
- All lodging during the workshop
- Professional photography guiding and instruction
- Chartered Aircraft
- Gratuities for hotel staff and pilots
- Waders and wading boots
What's Not Included
Flights to and from Homer, Alaska (ANC)
Meals and lodging outside the workshop dates
Alcoholic beverages (must bring your own)
Souvenirs and personal items
Gratuity for photography guide(s). Please refer to our FAQ section for more details about gratuities.
Trip Insurance & Medical Evacuation Insurance (required) - see plans here.
Trip Itinerary
Trip Itinerary
Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 1 (D)
Travel to Homer, Alaska.
You can arrive into Homer at any time during Day 1. We will have an orientation dinner at 5pm at our hotel. We'll cover our planned locations, departure method, and what gear to bring out to see the bears!
Day 2 - 6 (B,L,D)
We will enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel and then depart to photograph brown bears.
A typical day will consist of utilizing a floatplane or tundra-tire equipped bush plane to access Katmai or Lake Clark National Parks, McNeil Bear Sanctuary, the Bristol Bay Watershed, or any location where bears are active.
We will photograph brown bears non-stop and seek out the best possible photography scenarios, with considerations for light, background, behavior, and location. We build an extra day into this itinerary to account for poor visibility / weather & we will spend that day photographing Bald Eagles, Moose or potential Marine life on the beaches near Homer. There will also be ample time to review images & work on post-processing if we are not able to fly on a given day due to weather conditions.
Depending on our schedule and conditions, we will either eat lunch at the hotel or enjoy packed lunches in the field.
Every evening, we will sit down for a fantastic meal to discuss the plan for the following day.
Day 7 (B)
On our final day, we will venture out to photograph the Kenai Mountains & work on some Alaskan landscape photographs before boarding flights back home. Flights out of Homer can be booked anytime after 8am.
Day 1 (D)
Travel to Homer, Alaska.
You can arrive into Homer at any time during Day 1. We will have an orientation dinner at 5pm at our hotel. We'll cover our planned locations, departure method, and what gear to bring out to see the bears!
Day 2 - 6 (B,L,D)
We will enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel and then depart to photograph brown bears.
A typical day will consist of utilizing a floatplane or tundra-tire equipped bush plane to access Katmai or Lake Clark National Parks, McNeil Bear Sanctuary, the Bristol Bay Watershed, or any location where bears are active.
We will photograph brown bears non-stop and seek out the best possible photography scenarios, with considerations for light, background, behavior, and location. We build an extra day into this itinerary to account for poor visibility / weather & we will spend that day photographing Bald Eagles, Moose or potential Marine life on the beaches near Homer. There will also be ample time to review images & work on post-processing if we are not able to fly on a given day due to weather conditions.
Depending on our schedule and conditions, we will either eat lunch at the hotel or enjoy packed lunches in the field.
Every evening, we will sit down for a fantastic meal to discuss the plan for the following day.
Day 7 (B)
On our final day, we will venture out to photograph the Kenai Mountains & work on some Alaskan landscape photographs before boarding flights back home. Flights out of Homer can be booked anytime after 8am.
Please note that the exact sequence of the itineraries on all photography trips will be based on weather and lighting conditions. The goal on these trips is to make sure we are at the right place at the right time for the perfect light on our subjects. Also, itineraries can change for a variety of other circumstances including floods, forest fires, national park closures, road closures, and more. Due to the nature of wildlife and landscape photography, we do not guarantee any specific sightings or specific compositions.
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Why Choose Backcountry Journeys?
UNPARALELLED
PHOTOGRAPHY
TRIPS
PHOTOGRAPHY
TRIPS
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Explore over 100 worldwide photo tours and workshops tailored to photographers of all skill levels, from iconic U.S. National Parks to Africa's untamed savannahs.
THE BEST TEAM
IN THE
BUSINESS
IN THE
BUSINESS
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We're proud to offer unmatched photography trips led by exceptional instructors who not only excel in photography but also serve as expert guides.
WORLD-CLASS
PHOTOGRAPHY
COMMUNITY
PHOTOGRAPHY
COMMUNITY
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Join the Backcountry Journeys Tribe, where shared adventures in breathtaking locations foster lasting connections with fellow photographers in a warm, inclusive atmosphere.
Testimonials From Our Customers
Julie K.
"I have traveled with Backcountry Journeys (BCJ) several times over the last 4 years to Glacier NP, Costa Rica (2x), Smoky Mountains NP, Joshua Tree, Zion and Bryce NPs, and most recently to Alaska.
Every trip with BCJ has been an outstanding experience. The guides are professional photographers who put the experience of the guests first. They are willing to provide as much hands on help as you need/want. The guides are also extremely knowledgeable and well trained in wilderness safety as well as the areas they guide.
BCJ trips are well run from the time of reservation through the entire trip. They will take you to great places and find great photographic opportunities."
Every trip with BCJ has been an outstanding experience. The guides are professional photographers who put the experience of the guests first. They are willing to provide as much hands on help as you need/want. The guides are also extremely knowledgeable and well trained in wilderness safety as well as the areas they guide.
BCJ trips are well run from the time of reservation through the entire trip. They will take you to great places and find great photographic opportunities."
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Scott S.
"BCJ provides an outstanding experience for photographers of all levels of experience/expertise. Each day's excursion is well planned-out and the guides always have a back-up plan if the weather is less than cooperative.
I have now been on 5 trips and each one seems better than the last. I find the guides to be very helpful and personable. The guides provide the level of hands-on assistance each participant wants.
The accommodations are always good, taking into consideration what each particular destination has to offer. I plan to continue doing these trips with BCJ and can't recommend them highly enough."
I have now been on 5 trips and each one seems better than the last. I find the guides to be very helpful and personable. The guides provide the level of hands-on assistance each participant wants.
The accommodations are always good, taking into consideration what each particular destination has to offer. I plan to continue doing these trips with BCJ and can't recommend them highly enough."
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Katherine P.
"I have now been on 8 trips with Backcountry Journeys. I love traveling with this company, as I am a woman traveling alone, and all I have to do is show up and they take care of everything else.
They have wonderful, caring, helpful, FUN, and knowledgeable guides who make the days fly by. They get us to the best photography sites possible and are always willing to help with anything and answer all questions.
We stay in great places and there is always too much wonderful food! I have met other travelers on their trips who will be friends for life, plus the guides are more than guides--they become friends too. I know I will be doing more traveling with them in the future."
They have wonderful, caring, helpful, FUN, and knowledgeable guides who make the days fly by. They get us to the best photography sites possible and are always willing to help with anything and answer all questions.
We stay in great places and there is always too much wonderful food! I have met other travelers on their trips who will be friends for life, plus the guides are more than guides--they become friends too. I know I will be doing more traveling with them in the future."
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Worry Free Travel Guarantee!
Worry Free Travel Guarantee!
HERE’S THE DEAL
We offer one of the most rock solid guarantees in the travel industry - our worry free travel, peace of mind guarantee to you!We’re so confident that the Photography Trips we offer will not only meet but exceed the lofty expectations set forth on our website – if your trip experience does not 100% match the promises laid forth on our website we will gladly give you a credit toward a future trip.
Natural events such as wildlife & weather are certainly out of our control but every aspect of the trip including logistics, accommodations, vehicles, itinerary & your expert trip leaders will match the lofty promises we’ve made on the site – we guarantee it!
BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2024
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.
BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLCs - Copyright 2024