Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime photo workshop photographing the grizzly bears of Katmai National Park. You won’t want to miss this incredible experience photographing grizzly bears in their natural habitat along with other Northern wildlife, all in the beauty of the Fall colors.
If photographing wild brown bears in their natural habitat is on your photography bucket list, this is the experience for which you’ve been waiting for. We are excited to announce another unforgettable journey to Southeast Alaska, where we’ll spend six days and six nights immersed in one of the world’s greatest wildlife photography destinations. This is far more than a typical Alaska bear photography trip. It is an exclusive, immersive adventure designed to maximize your opportunities for extraordinary images while enjoying exceptional comfort and safety.
Each day, we’ll fly via floatplane into Katmai National Park, then travel by inflatable raft along small streams through Alaska’s 
bear country. As we drift past grizzly bears fishing for salmon, we’ll stop whenever a great photo opportunity appears. Lunch is provided, and we’ll pause along the river to eat, photograph, or simply relax in the stunning wilderness. At day’s end, we’ll return by plane to the lodge for excellent food, a warm bed, and time to share stories from the day’s adventure. Bears may come quite close, offering an unforgettable up-close experience, but they are far more interested in salmon than in people. Our guides will navigate the rafts and help keep us safe in this wild landscape. Weather and conditions permitting, we may also fly to the world-famous Brooks Camp to photograph bears fishing at the waterfall and nearby areas. We may even have the chance to visit Dick Proenneke’s cabin at Twin Lakes—an inspiring glimpse into how he lived alone in the wilderness for many years.
Why September?
We intentionally schedule this expedition in mid-September for one simple reason: it is one of the most spectacular times of the year in Alaska. The rivers and streams are alive with salmon, and the brown bears are actively feeding as they prepare for the long winter ahead. This creates incredible wildlife activity and unparalleled photographic opportunities. Adding to the magic, Alaska’s brilliant autumn colors transform the landscape into a stunning backdrop of gold, orange, and crimson. Cooler conditions are common this time of year, along with the chance for interesting weather patterns, which adds to the excitement and drama of the experience.
A Private Lodge in the Heart of Bear Country
Our home for the week is a private luxury lodge ideally situated between Katmai National Park and Lake Clark National Park. Every detail has been carefully chosen to provide an exceptional experience while maintaining the highest safety standards. Each morning, we board bush planes and head directly to the locations offering the best photographic opportunities. With access to more than 30,000 square miles of wilderness—including Katmai National Park, Lake Clark National Park, and the Bristol Bay Watershed—we can go wherever the wildlife activity is at its peak. On previous trips, we experienced multiple days with more than 120 bears observed in a single day. Encounters on this scale are simply breathtaking.
Photograph Bears Up Close
Collaborating with experienced professional guides, we’ll travel by raft along remote rivers where bears gather to feed on salmon. These stable platforms provide outstanding photographic angles while allowing us to safely observe and photograph natural bear behavior. When conditions are favorable, we may also photograph from select locations on land. Conditions permitting, we will visit and photograph the iconic Brooks Falls within Katmai National Park.
Our unique advantage is flexibility. Unlike many operations, our aircraft remain with us throughout the day. This allows us to relocate quickly if the bear activity shifts, ensuring you spend less time waiting and more time photographing wildlife.
Luxury After The Adventure
After an incredible day in the field, you’ll return to our comfortable private lodge to relax, share stories, review images and enjoy a gourmet four-course dinner. We stay in cabins near the main lodge and each cabin is double occupancy.
Upon registration you’ll receive a complete PDF file containing everything you need to know concerning lodging, transportation, etc. for this once in a lifetime experience.
Activity Level
The activity level for this trip is Moderate. This means that you will need to be able to walk over uneven terrain or through shallow creeks, climb in to and out of float planes, plus in and out of rubber rafts.
How Much Does It Cost?
This trip is being announced well in advance of final pricing being established. Based on prior trips and the rising costs, we can estimate that the final workshop cost will be in the range of $10k-$11k per person. This does not include airfare to Iliamna or lodging/meals before or after the workshop.
How Do I Sign Up
Because we do not have final pricing yet, we are taking reservations via email from folks who are interested in going. No financial commitment is expected at the time of initial registration. Click the button below to send an email to be on the list!
Here is a video from our last workshop in Katmai National Park
