Nestled into a 20-acre inholding in Lake Clark National Park, Bear Camp Alaska offers a remote, off-the-grid outpost from which to safely live amongst the bears. Access to this Kenai Peninsula property is exclusively by bush plane—fly past active volcanoes and the glacial Aleutian and Alaska Ranges, and land on a pristine beach. The weatherproof camp pairs the creature comforts of hot showers and gourmet meals with the thrill of expertly guided small group forays among prime bear territory. At this time-honored property, enjoy exclusive access and total immersion in one of Alaska’s premier bear viewing camps.
AdventureSmith Explorations’ Bear Camp Alaska review includes a detailed description and photo gallery. Our adventure travel experts can help compare Bear Camp Alaska with other adventure lodging and Alaska land tours.
Choose Bear Camp Alaska for its privileged location, where brown bears consistently roam (indeed, the camp hosted filmmakers for Disney’s 2014 documentary “Bears”). Lake Clark National Park is one of the world’s most renowned bear-viewing destinations, and the homestead that plays host to this Alaska bear camp is ready to host small groups in a sustainable, educational and comfortable way. The tranquil property on Cook Inlet has welcomed guests for decades, with bears comfortably on display at remarkably close range and both parties relaxed by knowing each other’s boundaries. In addition, while the 10 tents can house up to 20 guests, each departure plays host to only 14 guests, ensuring a quality stay.
Bear Camp Alaska is designed to maximize time spent among bears while minimizing any impact on them. The conservation-minded camp is primarily powered by solar panels, including its kitchen and electric safety fence. Electronics charging is available via this energy from the sun. And men’s and women’s restrooms feature solar hot water for showers, as well as composting toilets.
The dining tent brings guests together for chef-prepared gourmet meals at one long table. Food is fresh, healthy and filling, featuring local seafood and other regional fare. While alcohol is restricted, a glass of wine helps complement each night’s meal. The dining tent also acts as the main common area, a space for socializing, enjoying a small library with bear books, guide presentations and recharging camera batteries.
In addition, the camp features two elevated viewing platforms for a birds-eye view of the property and its bear visitors: one 300 feet from camp and the other a 1.5-mile walk. The property also offers direct access into Lake Clark National Park for additional excursions. An onsite vehicle is available to help guests access more distant viewing platforms.
The success of Bear Camp Alaska lies in its ability to respectfully coexist with the coastal brown bears that frequent the area; making for many unforgettable memories while exploring the surrounding wilderness. In May and June, mothers and spring cubs frequent the sedge grass. In June and July, large males come to feed on salmon runs. Expert guides with safety equipment lead photographers and wildlife enthusiasts on flexible treks from camp. A passion and reverence for the bears is embodied at all times.
Each of the 10 deluxe, safari-style guest tents at this Alaska bear camp is built from custom “Weather-Port” material that holds up to any elements. Tents feature a raised platform floor that extends through a solid door to a front porch. Every tent comes equipped with a propane space heater, two twin beds, seating, a desk, solar-powered lighting and a nighttime ensuite porta-potty. Two separate, standalone tents house the respective men’s and women’s bathhouses, each with hot showers and state-of-the-art composting toilets.
The Alaska Bear Camp Adventure provides a small group with exclusive access to a remote, off-the-grid tent camp in premier bear viewing territory: Bear Camp Alaska. Enjoy the opportunity to live amongst Alaska’s coastal brown bears in their frequented habitat along Cook Inlet in Lake Clark National Park.
This multiday, immersive experience stands apart from other Alaska bear viewing tours. Access the roadless camp via a private bush plane flight featuring views of active volcanoes and massive glaciers, complete with a beach landing and takeoff. Enjoy regular guided opportunities to explore the grasslands, marsh and forest that surround the pristine camp that once was a private homestead but now sits in a national park.
Highlights of Alaska bear camp overnight adventures include springtime mothers and cubs followed by large males feeding on salmon runs at the height of summer, gourmet meals, and the solitude afforded by a fly-in basecamp. Hosting bear-viewing guests for decades, this property and its staff provide an exclusive immersion into the daily life of brown bears.
This trip begins with an overnight at Land’s End Resort, located at the end of the famous Homer Spit on wildlife-rich Kachemak Bay. The remainder of the trip is based out of the remote tent camp, which features solar power, an on-site chef preparing gourmet meals, protective electric fencing and passionate guides. Enjoy this remote outpost, complete with creature comforts, with 14 or fewer total guests.
Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Alaska land tours or all Alaska trips by land and sea.
Many travelers come to Alaska expecting to see Alaska’s enormous brown bears lumbering over tidal flats, feasting on salmon and tending to their frisky cubs. But the fact is, very few will. This 8-day Alaska’s grizzly ship is aptly named because small groups of only 8 passengers journey by floatplane and aboard the small ship Ursus into the truly bear-rich wilderness of Katmai National Park.
First, a quick Alaska bear primer: grizzly bears and brown bears are the same species (Ursus arctos), but brown bears are generally considered as those who have access to coastal food resources like salmon, while grizzly bears live farther inland and typically do not have access to such marine-derived cuisine.
The brown bears—or coastal grizzlies as they’re often called—encountered on this Alaska cruise are the largest in the world, living in the remote reaches of Katmai National Park, far from any cruise ship or tour bus route. And these are the months they will be feeding on summer’s bounty of spawning salmon. This is as up close and personal as you’ll ever safely get with wild bears! Knowledgeable guides and an extremely small group size allow guests to approach the bears without disturbing them.
Home base is the converted fishing and research ship Ursus, ideal for exploring the scenic wilderness waterways of Katmai National Park. At only 8 guests, she’s one of our favorites for private Alaska yacht charters. By sleeping aboard a small ship each night, the route can be flexible, following the bears from bay to bay. Go truly remote: you can’t get here by road or traditional cruise ship!
Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Alaska trips and Alaska small ship cruises.
For adventure travelers looking for the ultimate Arctic experience, this is it! The East Greenland Arctic Adventure is a 10-day expedition in the stunning and remote Arctic landscape. Discover Greenland’s rugged beauty with close-up views of the ice sheets, mazes of fjords and islands and guided walks. Witness melting glaciers calve into massive icebergs that float into the sea in this awesome pristine wilderness.
Authentic encounters with Greenlandic Inuit people who practice subsistence lifestyles in this uncompromising Arctic environment illuminate a culture that remains largely in harmony with nature. During the summer months, the tundra is dotted by colorful wildflowers, ripening lowbush blueberries and crowberries. Whales occasionally frequent the bay, while icebergs, spawned from massive glaciers, glitter in the light of a late sunset. Beneath granite peaks that tower over deep fjords, Greenland’s east coast—the “Arctic Riviera”—offers some of the best hiking and kayaking in the North.
Complete creature comforts complement daily activities at Base Camp Greenland, your home base located near the edge of mighty Sermilik Fjord, with hot showers, private toilets and excellent chef-prepared meals. Basecamp Greenland accommodates a maximum of 12 travelers to ensure a quiet wilderness experience and personal attention from expert Arctic naturalists and guides.
In a region previously accessible only by hiking, kayaking or camping in tents on very limited short day excursions, travelers can now experience an eye-level vantage point of the Arctic’s huge icebergs floating by, and occasional whales and seals in the frigid waters. Thanks to Base Camp Greenland, you can discover Greenland like never before!
Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Arctic tours and Arctic trips plus Iceland cruises and Greenland cruises.
The Ursus provides accommodations for up to 8 passengers on coastal grizzly expeditions on the Alaska Peninsula. Ideally designed for exploring the remote waters of coastal Katmai National Park, the Ursus (Latin for “bear”) is 73 feet long with a deep displacement hull and an exceptionally seaworthy design with a high bow and fine horseshoe stern. She carries a full complement of modern, state-of-the-art navigation and safety equipment.
AdventureSmith Explorations’ Ursus review includes a detailed description of the small ship including deck plans and a photo gallery. Our Alaska experts have been aboard the Ursus firsthand. Please read our Ursus review below then contact our experts to compare the Ursus with other ships offering Alaska small ship cruises and private Alaska yacht charters.
The Ursus is AdventureSmith’s only partner sleep-aboard vessel sailing in the remote reaches of Katmai National Park. Choose this vessel if you want to witness Alaska’s famed brown bears up close in a wilderness environment. Being specifically designed for shallow water navigation, the Ursus allows her guests to cruise close to shore, watching bears foraging in the meadows and clamming on the tide flats. Accommodation aboard is simple and expedition focused, with no-frills cabins featuring upper/lower single berths and shared bathroom facilities.
The Ursus was originally built in 1984 as a crab fishing boat called the Time Bandit, which plied the storm-tossed waters of the Bering Sea and gained fame in the Discovery Channel TV series The Deadliest Catch. In 1989, the vessel was transitioned for research use by the National Park Service, Alaska Department of Fish and Game and other agencies conducting scientific study and monitoring. She has since been converted and comfortably appointed for custom marine charter use. In addition to Alaska bear cruises, the Ursus has outfitted two international filmmaking projects: the 2012 BBC/Discovery Channel documentary Great Bear Stakeout, and an NHK (Japanese public television) program on orcas hunting gray whales and humpbacks.
Inside, the ship is intimate and simply appointed, yet she provides ample space and facilities for activities. A well-lit galley and dining space are the site for convivial conversation over gourmet meals prepared each day by the onboard chef. Fresh Alaskan seafood, including halibut, salmon and crab, highlight many of the dinners. The ship also has a small library, computer, DVD and CD player on board.
The Expedition Leaders who guide Ursus’s grizzly adventures are professional naturalists and bear experts. The vessel takes pride in employing Alaska’s most qualified, dedicated and passionate natural history guides, and her Alaska Expedition Leaders average more than 15 years’ experience each. They also receive additional training from leading World Wildlife Fund scientists as the organization is also a partner company for Ursus’s Katmai bear cruise itineraries. These Expedition Leaders regale guests with their in-depth knowledge while remaining close at hand to ensure safety and comfort in every respect.
The Ursus accommodates eight travelers in four cabins with upper/lower berths. Guests share two toilets and two showers.
Tundra Lodge Adventure is a 6- or 7-day experience based in Churchill, the polar bear capital of the world. Experience polar bear viewing day and night in the subarctic tundra aboard the Tundra Lodge, a custom-designed rolling hotel that offers unparalleled seclusion and proximity to wild bears.
By day, explore aboard comfortable all-terrain tundra vehicles called Polar Rovers and perhaps be inches away from a polar bear below the corrugated steel mesh floors, where the more curious bears often walk. By night, be immersed in the Hudson Bay polar bear migration from inside the Tundra Lodge, where each guest has a private sleeping berth with window through which to watch polar bears and perhaps even the northern lights.
Stay two nights in the town of Churchill for cultural activities and a chance to meet the hardy locals who call this subarctic outpost home. Learn about the historic frontier, once a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post, and its distinctive northern identity through cultural presentations. Meet a local dog musher and his team to learn all about working sled dogs, and ride behind the enthusiastic huskies as they race through the boreal forest.
In addition to the main 6-day itinerary, there’s a 7-day Photography Adventure that focuses on photographing polar bears, with an accomplished photographer as your guide. And the 7-day Tundra Lodge & Churchill Highlights adds the unique opportunity to explore the historic town of Churchill.
You won’t find a more comfortable way to leisurely observe polar bears than from the Tundra Lodge. Enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in warmth and comfort. Don’t miss this chance to possibly check polar bears and the northern lights off your bucket list!
Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Arctic tours, Arctic trips, Canada adventure travel and northern lights tours.
This Classic Polar Bear Adventure spends 6 to 7 days based in historic Churchill, Canada, near the world’s greatest concentration of polar bears. While polar bears await the freeze-up on Hudson Bay and the start of seal-hunting season, guests ride in the world’s premier tundra vehicle—the Polar Rover—to safely and comfortably view polar bears up close.
With exclusive permits to access the full range of the Churchill Wildlife Management Area where the best—and often only—polar bear viewing occurs, this once-in-a-lifetime Classic Polar Bear Adventure boldly promises the highest-quality polar bear tour and sightings available. Polar Rovers have an advanced elite suspension system that smooths the ride, plus onboard flush toilet facilities, ensuring a superior level of comfort and safety. Built into the rear viewing platform of every Polar Rover is an innovative and exclusive feature pioneered for optimal polar bear viewing—corrugated steel-mesh floors. Guests come within inches of curious bears that often wander beneath the vehicles! Additionally, meet a local dog musher and his team, experience an authentic dog sled ride through the boreal forest and enjoy cultural presentations from Churchill residents.
In addition to the 7-day classic itinerary, a 6-day version skips the day for Churchill exploration. The 7-day Classic Polar Bear Photo Adventure focuses on photographing polar bears, with an accomplished photographer as your guide. And the 7-day Ultimate Churchill Adventure includes a helicopter ride to see polar bears from the unique vantage point of up above the tundra.
A fundamental element of this trip’s success is the small group maximum of 16 guests aboard each Polar Rover that has seating for 35. This guarantees every guest has plenty of space to enjoy a window seat, angle for the best photos and enjoy a personal experience with the polar bears without much intrusion from other travelers. On the tundra, among the bears, time stands still. Once in a lifetime does one get the opportunity to witness the majesty and unique behaviors of the north’s largest land carnivore—the polar bear.
Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Arctic tours, Arctic trips and Canada adventure travel.
The Kodiak Compass Suites sit one block off the ocean in the center of town on Kodiak Island. The island is known for its remote, untamed nature, drawing visitors for hiking, kayaking, fishing, hunting and history. And Kodiak Compass Suites is a hotel known for its modern, larger-than-average rooms and commanding views of the ocean and surrounding peaks.
Kodiak Compass Suites are ideally located near to some of the town’s top attractions, including the Alutiiq Museum, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, St. Paul Harbor, Kodiak History Museum, Kodiak Maritime Museum and the orthodox cathedral. A short drive accesses Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park. And a selection of municipal parks and hiking trailheads are nearby to the hotel’s front doors.
An onsite fitness center accommodates various fitness routines, with a bench and free weights, treadmill, elliptical machine, exercise bike, weight machine and rowing machine. Guest laundry facilities are available and the computer center means there’s no need to travel with a laptop (but WiFi is available throughout the property as well). An elevator accesses all three floors of the building, making the hotel’s public spaces ADA-compliant.
Kodiak Compass Suites does not offer breakfast or onsite dining, but the helpful front desk staff are ready to recommend the best local restaurants. And the onsite shop is stocked with travel essentials and snacks. Grab a snack from the vending machine and complimentary coffee from the lobby before enjoying the third-floor lounge between active excursions around Kodiak.
All of the guest rooms at Kodiak Compass Suites are either suites or mini-suites, offering a roomy stay. Common to all rooms are a private bathroom with walk-in shower, 50″ LCD TV, seating area, air conditioning and a kitchenette with sink, refrigerator, microwave, toaster, utensils, plates and glassware.
View rooms face the ocean and accommodate up to 4 guests in either a king or queen bed plus a sofa bed. Mountain View rooms face the mountains and accommodate up to 4 guests in a queen bed plus a sofa bed; a selection of these rooms are ADA compliant for up to 2 guests with transfer bars and roll-up shower and kitchen sink. Lastly, guests can choose a room with two extra-long full beds, for up to 2 guests.
Strategically located along road No. 1 (the Ring Road) in Iceland’s southern coastal town of Vik, Hotel Kria is an ideal base from which to explore. Named after the thousands of arctic terns (in Icelandic – kría) that make their way to Vík from the Antarctic every summer, the hotel features a natural theme with stone, wood, glass, metal and leather. Built in 2018, this modern hotel features clean and contemporary architecture and a cozy atmosphere.
Hotel Kria offers an inviting lounge and a game room with pool table, darts, table tennis and decks of playing cards. Helpful staff members are available at all hours and can help arrange day tours, luggage storage and overnight laundry service.
Housed within Hotel Kria is the Drangar Restaurant, featuring traditional Icelandic cuisine with a modern twist and a focus on seasonal ingredients. Walls of glass show off the surrounding mountains and stunning sunsets. Additional meal amenities include a cocktail bar and an included continental buffet breakfast (cereal, bread, fruits, toast, egg, bacon, skyr and pastries) available each morning. The bar offers a daily happy hour and craft cocktails with optional Icelandic-made spirits.
Hotel Kria offers easy access to some of the region’s top visitor sites and explorations. The staff is ready to help guests access the nearby black beach with its untamed waves and thousands of puffins living cliffside. Also nearby are volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, lava fields, lagoons and other fabled landscapes.
Hotel Kria offers 72 rooms (each 204 sq ft) and one Suite (376 sq ft), all non-smoking. Mountain View rooms offer just that, along the rear of the building. Standard Double rooms look out the front of the building. Beds can be configured for either one double or two twins in every room. The Suite features one king-sized bed, its own lounge and views to the front of the hotel.
All rooms come equipped with a private bathroom with a shower, while the suite features both a walk-in shower and a bathtub. All bathrooms have toiletries, towels and a hair dryer. Also common to all accommodations are: telephone, desk, free WiFi, TV, kettle for coffee and tea, blackout curtains and sound-proofed walls. A crib and/or an extra bed may be arranged (subject to availability).
Sitting in the heart of the city center, Hotel Reykjavik Saga offers 4-star elegance in a convenient and captivating part of the city. Materials of glass, wood and stone reflect the multifaceted geology of Iceland, and attentive service paired with posh amenities create an atmosphere of luxury. This modern hotel with Scandinavian design is an ideal stopover en route to an Arctic tour, or a base camp for your Reykjavik exploration.
Hótel Reykjavík Saga has its guests’ wants and needs in mind. The property is wheelchair accessible, with an elevator accessing all floors. Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel. The front desk is staffed around the clock, offering assistance with luggage storage, arranging cribs and extra beds, and services for arranging tickets and tours.
The onsite gym offers free weights, elliptical and rowing machines. The spa with steam bath and sauna provide wellness opportunities, as does the smoke-free policy for the entire building. In the summer, two sizeable rooftop terraces provide space to lounge and take in the vibrant cityscape.
Guests can fuel up both at the start and end of their day. Hotel Reykjavik Saga offers breakfast daily, and supplies each room with a coffee and tea maker. The hotel hosts Fröken Reykjavík Kitchen & Bar, an art deco-styled eatery with an upscale bar, wine room, winter garden and open-concept, honest kitchen. Guests are treated to fine dining with a menu of modern northern European dishes crafted with local ingredients.
Hótel Reykjavík Saga is ideally placed for access to a variety of must-see sights. From the hotel’s privileged location on Lækjargata, a historic street in the center of Reykjavik, guests are near to picturesque Lake Tjörnin, Reykjavik’s famous cathedral, art museums, shops and restaurants.
The hotel’s 130 boutique-style rooms offer a variety of options. Common to all rooms are satellite TV, a safe, WiFi, a coffee and tea maker, mini fridge, telephone and hair dryer. Standard and Superior rooms offer one double or two twin beds and a bathroom with tile shower for up to two guests. Deluxe Double rooms feature extra space and one double bed, plus a full tub in addition to tile shower.
The Family Deluxe Room accommodates three guests, as does the Suite and Junior Suite (the former with a loft bedroom and the latter with an extra bed), all with both shower and tub. Finally, the Executive Suite is ideal for two guests who desire the most available space, complete with a fully separate living room.