Experience Kodiak's Legendary Bears Up Close
Explore the wild beauty of Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge and Katmai National Park and Preserve, and experience the coastal brown bears for which this area is famous.
Your excursion begins at the Trident Basin Seaplane Base in Kodiak, where you’ll board an iconic de Havilland Beaver floatplane with pilot Wesley Dumm — a lifelong Kodiak local who loves sharing stories and knowledge about the island.
During the flight, you’ll take in sweeping views of rugged mountains, remote coastlines, and the wildlife that makes Kodiak famous, before landing in prime bear country.
Wesley will brief you on bear behavior and safety, then lead a guided walk to one of the best viewing locations in the world to watch these incredible animals in their natural habitat.
Walking distance varies between 1/2 to 3 miles, depending on viewing location. If walking a mile or more isn’t comfortable, let us know when you book your tour! You may also be interested in our flightseeing tours .
Along the way, keep an eye out for bald eagles, sea otters, whales, mountain goats, deer, puffins, and other wildlife.
Every day in the field offers a unique experience. The scenery and encounters are always unforgettable.
After exploring and photographing bears, you’ll enjoy a scenic flight and a hearty lunch before returning to Kodiak.
Bear Viewing Location Timeline
We take our bear viewing tours to undeveloped wilderness in Katmai National Park and the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge — pristine habitat accessible only by floatplane.
The map and timeline here provide a guideline of viewing seasons for each area, but viewing location will depend on the current conditions and bear activity on the day of your flight.
You may have seen the famous Brooks Falls bears — the stars of the live webcams and Fat Bear Week. Brooks Camp is in Katmai National Park, the same park where we conduct many of our tours. Brooks Falls is an incredible place. If it’s on your bucket list, ask us about charter flights to Brooks Camp.
Our tours offer something different: no platforms, no boardwalks, and often no other people — just undeveloped coastline and bears digging clams, fishing salmon, or lounging with their cubs. If you want to see bears in their wild, untouched habitat, come with us .
Because both bears and weather can be unpredictable, we recommend allowing some flexibility in your travel schedule.