Alaska Photography Tour

Our 21st tour to beautiful Alaska, will offer you a unique holiday! This is an exclusive WPA small group land-based expedition for just 6 adventurers. Darran and Julia Leal will be your guides along with our expert local team from Alaska.

For over 40 years, the local land owners have habituated wild bears to ignore people. With a local experienced guide, we then go looking for the bears and ‘join them’ as they look for food. This varies from ‘clamming’ on the low tidal zones to catching salmon in the nearby creek. We also explore beautiful meadows. While bears will be a key target, the surrounding landscapes and nature are spectacular!

THE COST INCLUDES

• All land tour costs as per itinerary.

• Accommodation - wilderness lodge

• All meals as detailed in the itinerary.

• Entrance fees to parks as per itinerary.

• Professional photo guide.

• Local expert guide.

• Special bear experiences.

NOT INCLUDED

• International Air tickets & flights

• Personal expenses

• Items not included in the itinerary

• Tips and drinks

• Travel Insurance

Just 6 adventurers. How exclusive!

Check out some of our past Alaska adventures filmed for Snap Happy the Photography Show on YouTube. This is the Wrangell area, not Silver Salmon. Copy and paste this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PtAVOWgenw&t=3s

DAY 1 - Anchorage July 15

We include accommodation tonight at Seward. Seward is a small fishing village and close to our departure point for flying to our lodge. It is easy to walk around and explore this small fishing village. It also offers nearby adventures that might interest you from day trips for whales, to fishing. We meet at 5pm at reception for more information and our first workshop. Hotel Accommodation.

DAY 2 - Anchorage to Silver Salmon Creek July 16

We are transferred to Saldotna and fly to Silver Salmon Creek Lodge. (Flight 1 - this flight is included.) (Note that we return to Anchorage.) Flight departure time will be confirmed by your guides the day before. Luggage is limited to a maximum of 20kg including your camera gear. This is easy to achieve and more information will be offered about 3 months before departure including a suggested storage location for extra luggage in Anchorage. Silver Salmon Creek is a wilderness location with no roads, stunning scenery and a premier bear and wilderness adventure region. (Mainly brown bear ...) You will most likely see bears on our short drive from the beach to the lodge, or even while we are landing! How exciting! Have your camera ready! We enjoy lunch and then maximise your first afternoon exploring the region close to our lodge. Bears are very commonly seen walking out in the meadow or on the beach flats. This is a very special place on our planet! You are already filling those cards with amazing images... Silver Salmon Creek Lodge. (L,D)

DAYs 3/4/5/6 - Silver Salmon Creek July 17/18/19/20

Four full days targeting bears, (brown in particular) cubs and stunning scenery. Each day will offer you new images and experiences. Your WPA guides will optimise your photo shoots, while our local expert guides will maximise your experiences. We are talking about up close experiences ‘walking with the bears’. Our last tours here blew us all away - so much, that photographers have re-booked this tour. Yes it is that incredible! Also, the group size is limited to 6 plus your professional photo guide. A typical day is - we depart early after tea and coffee for a short 2 hour exploration of the beach. Bears are scavengers, hunters and browsers, so depending on the tide, we can witness them playing a different role in the environment. Back to the lodge for a cooked breakfast. After breakfast, we head out again in our quad bike pulled train - a great way to get around. We stop at the right distance from a bear and then walk slowly towards it, shooting as we go. Eventually, we are near the bear as it feeds or explores. Most often, the bear ignores us totally, so you need to be ready when it turns its face our way. Lunch is sumptuous! After lunch and a break, we drive out again to a new location. The nearby meadows are a magic place to walk through and shoot anything from flowers to bears. After a great day, we are back at the lodge to relax around the fire, tell a few stories and enjoy dinner. Have your camera ready - a bear might walk past the window! Rustic Lodge accommodation. (B,L,D)

DAY 7 - Silver Salmon Creek to Anchorage July 21

Morning shoot as time allows. A final chance to target that special image that you have always dreamed about capturing in Alaska. We fly back to Anchorage, (Flight 2 is included) this offering more photo’s and a great overall story of where you have explored. We transfer to our hotel in Anchorage. Free time to relax or explore. Option to get together for dinner. Hotel Accommodation - (B)

DAY 8 - Anchorage - tour ends... July 22

You can depart today to suit your flights. Interested in more of Alaska? Join our other linked Alaska adventures. They are all different. (B,L,D) - Confirms if Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner - are included that day. Itinerary and price is subject to change.