Condition
Group size
Pricing
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Schedule
Flight from Brussel/Amsterdam to Anchorage (flights and overnight stay 16-17/10 are not included)
Flight from Anchorage to Barter Island, where our minibus awaits. Flights are not included. Everything is included starting from Kaktovik untill the return flight.
Poar bears and Iñupiat. We photograph the bears during several boat trips and get to know the local population of Alaska, the Iñupiat.
Return flight Kaktovik-Anchorage to Brussel/Amsterdam (flights are not included)
Arrival home, depending on the available flights
PHOTOGRAPHING POLAR BEARS ON INUIT SOIL
It took quite some effort, but I managed to reserve 5 days in a very unique place. Using the beaches surrounding Kaktovik as our starting point, we meet the polar bears of Barter Island up close using small boats, always remaining safe in the process.
In an effor to preserve their very traditional way of living, the Iñupiat (a local Inuit tribe) have permission to hunt a limited number of whales every autumn. Whatever they leave behind attracts both polar and grizzly bears, who come out to eat at night.
FRESH SNOW, UNIQUE PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES
We travel in a small group and make 3 to 6 hour-boat trips every day. Although we must take the weather conditions into account, close-up photography of polar bears remains our daily focus.
Fresh snow is rare in Alaska. Although predictions are impossible, traveling in October maximizes our chances of snowy beaches. In between the excursions, we explore the laguna close to Kaktovik. A splendid opportunity for some bird and landscape photography. Be on the lookout for Arctic duck species and other surprising birds!
CLIMATE, CLOTHING AND GEAR
Daily temperatures vary between 5 and -3 °C, but the weather is hard to predict in Alaska. We prepare for the worst and hope for the best. October sunrise in Alaska is around 9am, sunset at 18pm.
ACCOMMODATION
We sleep and dine in one of the 2 guesthouses in Kaktovik. Here, literally at the end of the world, accommodations are basic, but the charm and atmosphere generously compensate for that!
TRANSPORT AND FLIGHTS
No flights are included in the price of this trip. International flights cost about 1200 to 1800 euro, national flights 800 up to 1000 euro. Our travel schedule depends on the availability of national flights and can therefore slightly change.
We fly to Barter Island LRRS Airport via Anchorage and Fairbanks, where a minibus or jeep awaits us for further transport.
Around Barter Island, we use small boats for exploration, unless the sea ice has formed. If te sea is frozen, we explore by minibus, jeep or by foot.
PRE-EXTENSION ANCHORAGE
I’m organizing a short pre-trip in Anchorage before this tour starts, to explore the surroundings and photograph animals typical to the region such as moose, sea otters and bald eagles. Partaking in this trip is optional.