August 15th - 21st, 2026
Adventure with Dan on the 2026 Alaska Bears by Air Photography Tour—Alaska’s ultimate brown bear safari! We’ll meet in Anchorage and then fly to our lodge in the remote wilds of Alaska. Take in the magnificent lake and mountain views while nestled in our cozy wilderness setting located between Katmai National Park, Lake Clark National Park, and Bristol Bay—home to the world’s largest salmon migration!
Daily, private charters from the lodge will take you to Alaska’s coastal grizzlies feeding on bright red Sockeye salmon, digging for clams, or eating sedge grass and blueberries on the alpine tundra. Experienced bush pilots and guides know the best locations for bears in the lodge’s surrounding 18 million acres accessible only by bush plane. A true photographic Alaskan brown bear adventure awaits!
2026 Alaska Bears by Air Photography Tour Travel Plans
Saturday, August 15 (D)
Meet the group in Anchorage, Alaska. Group welcome dinner. Overnight at the Courtyard Anchorage Airport or similar
Sunday, August 16 (B, D)
Rise and shine—the adventure begins! Eat breakfast at the hotel this morning. We’ll transfer to the airport mid-afternoon for our commercial flight to the small village of Iliamna. Our lodge staff will greet us upon arrival and transport us to the lodge where we’ll reside for five nights.
Get settled into our cozy cabins, have lunch, and gear up for our first excursion with Alaska’s brown bears!
Monday, August 17 – Thursday, August 20 (B, L, D)
Four full days of bear viewing! Each day after a hearty breakfast, we’ll travel by the lodge’s private aircraft and boats to photograph the giant coastal grizzlies of Alaska. The lodge has four planes that can fly us to any location in Katmai National Park, Bristol Bay, and Lake Clark National Park, along the Katmai coast, and also to Brooks Falls and McNeil River. Our pilot guides have decades of experience and know where to find the wildlife in this area. Don’t forget to look below and admire the beauty of Alaska’s untamed wilderness, glaciers, active volcanoes, spectacular waterfalls, and remote coastline.
This is the prime time to photograph brown bears feeding on vibrant red Sockeye salmon. This will be our main focus throughout the days, and we will likely have the opportunity to photograph other Alaskan wildlife too. The days are flexible—we can go out early and stay out late to photograph bears and choose what locations to visit based on our guide’s suggestions.
Fresh, gourmet multi-course meals will be prepared for us in the evenings by the resident chef. Overnight at the bear lodge for four more nights.
Friday, August 21 (B, L)
Today we’ll depart the lodge and return to Iliamna to catch our flight back to Anchorage. Fly home from Anchorage this evening. Many flights leave hourly from Anchorage, including late evening flights to the lower 48.
Please Note: The activity level for this workshop is moderate. This trip is more adventurous than our typical yearly brown bear trip where we stay at/near the lodge to photograph brown bears. On this trip, we will fly in small planes daily to photographic locations, possibly several times per day. These outings may involve getting in and out of boats as well as extended periods of hiking over uneven ground to get to the bears. You should be in reasonable health and be able to walk at least two miles per day and possibly more.
Also, Dan will be leading this tour. Tanya will not be on this tour.
Guest Limits
10 Guests Maximum
Trip Cost
EARLY BOOK RATE:
10,900 pp, based on DBL occupancyAfter June 1, 2025, ADD 500 pp
Rate includes Anchorage-Iliamna-Anchorage flights (700 pp)
Single supplement limited, please inquire
Pricing in USD
Deposit
$1500 Per person due at time of booking
Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, Discover, or check acceptedDeposits are non-refundable. If cancellations are necessary, we require this request in writing. We will do our best to resell your space. Only if we can resell your space, we will refund (minus deposit and discounts given to sell your space). No partial refunds are possible for unused services.
Installments
July 1, 2025: $3,500 per person first installment
December 1, 2025: Final paymentCheck only for the first and final installments. Please make checks payable to Natural Exposures and mail to:
Natural Exposures
810 N. Wallace, Suite E
Bozeman, MT 59715Included
- 1 night accommodation in Anchorage
- Group welcome dinner and drinks
- Internal flight Anchorage-Iliamna-Anchorage
- Daily bush flights from the lodge
- 5 nights at the bear-viewing lodge
- All meals at lodge + meals where indicated in itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- Pilot guides
- Daily park service fee
- Sales tax
- State-of-the-art GORE-TEX waders/wading boots (if needed)
- Tripod with gimbal head (if needed)
Not Included
- Flights to/from Anchorage
- Refund if the weather is not cooperating. This includes flight rescheduling fees and extra hotel nights/meals.
- Gratuity for guides and lodge staff
- Travel/emergency medical evacuation insurance
- Alcohol: The lodge is located in a dry county, so you must bring your own alcohol or have it shipped to the lodge before the trip time.
Flights to Book
August 15, 2026
Arrive in Anchorage (ANC) any time of day. Group welcome dinner this eveningAugust 21, 2026
Depart Anchorage (ANC) in the evening
Note: The flight from Iliamna should arrive in Anchorage by 6:30 pm.Travel Insurance
Travel/emergency medical evacuation insurance is not required for this photo tour, but we always recommend purchasing it for any trip. Emergency medical evacuation insurance is affordable and can be purchased for each trip or an entire year and can even be bundled with your regular travel insurance! We recommend one or more of the following, depending on your needs:
Global Rescue
(use code natexp)Allianz Global Assistance
(use travel agency ID F203564)Terms & Conditions
Natural Exposures cannot control nor is responsible for abnormal weather, natural disasters, or any other disaster that might affect the trip. Travel insurance should be purchased to cover any missed flights or medical problems that may affect/delay your travel. National Parks have the right to change our itinerary.
By booking a trip with Natural Exposures, you agree to the following CANCELLATION AND LIABILITY POLICY
Accommodations for 2026 Alaska Bears by Air Photography Tour
August 15, 1 night
Courtyard Anchorage Airport or similar
A flawless blend of comfort and convenience awaits at Courtyard Anchorage Airport. Once you arrive, retreat to relaxation in their stylish rooms. Plush mattresses, free Wi-Fi, and flat-panel TVs with Netflix are sure to keep you comfortable and entertained. After a refreshing night’s sleep, fuel up for the day with Starbucks® coffee and breakfast sandwiches at The Bistro. Return in the evening for tasty entrées and signature cocktails. During downtime, stay active at the fitness center and enjoy a dip in the indoor pool. Make your trip worth remembering when you stay at Courtyard Anchorage Airport.Extra Accommodations
If you need pre/post accommodations during the trip, we would be happy to help book these for you. Please inquire about rates.August 16-20, 5 nights
Our full-service, family-run lodge is nestled in the pristine wilderness between Katmai National Park, Lake Clark National Park, and Bristol Bay.Enjoy the warmth and atmosphere around the stone fireplace or play a game of pool in the main lodge while taking in a 180-degree panoramic view of the majestic Lake Iliamna, Alaska’s largest lake, and the glacial-filled mountains of the Alaska Peninsula.
The lodge has five cozy cedar guest cabins next to the main lodge. Each cabin has a private bathroom, shower with unlimited hot water, and heaters with a thermostat, so you can set the heat where you like it. There are two full-sized beds for double occupancy in each cabin.
Gourmet multi-course meals will be prepared for us in the evenings by the resident chef who gives the lodge its well-known reputation for fine dining.
Four dedicated aircraft, twelve boats, and the lodge’s experienced guides and bush pilots will get you to the right places to photograph the coastal brown bears of Alaska!
Helpful Information for 2026 Alaska Bears by Air Photography Tour
Please Note
Dan will be leading this tour. Tanya will not be on this tour.
Activity Level
The activity level for this workshop is moderate. This trip is more adventurous than our typical yearly brown bear trip where we stay at/near the lodge to photograph brown bears. On this trip, we will fly in small planes daily to photographic locations, possibly several times per day. These outings may involve getting in and out of boats as well as extended periods of hiking over uneven ground to get to the bears. You should be in reasonable health and be able to walk at least two miles per day and possibly more.
Camera Gear
Dan will phone each guest before the trip time to discuss camera gear and make suggestions for what to bring. Please feel free to email us at any time if you have questions regarding camera gear for the trip.
Weather
Average summer days are 50-70 ºF. Weather can change quickly in Western Alaska, so it’s always a good idea to pack a rain jacket!
Internet and Phone Service
Only cell phones with AT&T service will work at the lodge. There is a lodge phone you can use for non-international calls. The lodge’s Internet has very limited bandwidth and can only be used to send/receive emails without attachments (text only).
Have a question?
Have a question about this tour? We're happy to answer any queries you may have.
Testimonials from Natural Exposures' Explorers
"This morning I had a wonderful surprise waiting for me in my mailbox... my Natural Exposures package! OMG! So, cool and informative. I've traveled on other photography tours and even have done a Nat Geo Expedition and your package is far and above the very best I have received. I can't wait to get to Alaska! Thanks for the trip info. Until Aug."
Misty Nichols, Florida
"This is my fifth trip with you, as always, great photo opportunities,accomodations, food, transportation and instruction. What more can I say? Thank you for the fun and for taking such good care of me."
Dorothy Murray, Iowa
"Tanya and Dan’s logistic skills provide a seamless photo tour where one can truly enjoy the experience. With unlimited photographic opportunities Dan’s instruction has taken my photography to a higher level."
Linda Henry, Oregon
"I just wanted to again thank you for a wonderful week of photography and relaxation away from the office. It was a really a good group."
Sue Wolfe, Texas
