Alaska Polar Bears & Northern Lights
Do Both In One Trip!
Group Leaders – Roger Devore & Steve Kazlowski
October 16-20, 2016
5 Participants
Typical Workshop Schedule What Is Included Payment, Discounts, Cancellation, Refund Policies What to Bring
Return to Schedule of Offerings Return to Roger Devore’s Bio Page
For many years, I have been researching the “best” method and location to photograph polar bears. I have decided the trip below with Steve Kazlowski is the best for me and The Nature Workshops. Here are some of the reasons:
-It all takes place in the US, in Alaska, using Native American resources.
-Besides the bears, the Northern Lights are fantastic.
– I like the eye level view from the boat instead of looking down from a huge buggy.
Below is his description, take a look and come along:
Have you ever wanted to photograph polar bears, but have been intimidated about visiting some of the more well-known polar bear viewing destinations? Then join us to visit the Inupiaq Eskimo community of Kaktovik on Barter Island in Alaska’s Arctic wilderness. Up to 80 polar bears, including mothers and cubs, call the barrier islands near Kaktovik their summer home as they wait for the Arctic Ocean to freeze over in the fall. After arriving in Fairbanks, you will fly up to Barter Island on RAVN Air’s 2+ hour flight the next morning. Upon landing, you will often immediately encounter polar bears and be able to photograph them.
You will then check in to the Waldo Arms Hotel, which will be your base camp during the tour. The hotel is charming by Arctic Alaska standards. The dining room is large and comfortable, so you can stretch out and warm up after a long day outside photographing the bears.
We will have 3 full days and 2 half days to be out photographing the bears via boat and a private bus. Each day, you will set out with photographer Steven Kazlowski, who has been photographing polar bears in the area for the past 17 years, and with Jack Kayotuk, a local Inupiaq guide. Jack comes from countless generations of people who lived on and along the land and is wealth of knowledge of polar bears, the land and the local culture.
The bears are most often photographed at the water’s edge resting or frolicking. From the boat, you will be able to photograph the bears from a very low angle which allows for intimate portraits with pleasing soft backgrounds. We will be especially focused on photographing unique behaviors and bears in beautiful light.
On clear evenings, we will go out and photograph the northern lights (Aurora borealis) as they snake across the arctic sky.
On the last day of the tour, you can usually spend the morning photographing the bears, but will need to be back at the hotel by mid-morning ready for the return flight to Fairbanks.
Foggy weather can delay the plane at this time of year, but it has been possible to fly all the way to Seattle in the evening, though this cannot be guaranteed. Spending an extra night in Fairbanks on your way home is a good idea.
Cost is $8,500 for a shared room. These prices include everything from when you get off the plane from Fairbanks to when you return to Fairbanks, which is RT flight, hotel, all meals, bus rental, 26 hours of boat time per person, and guiding. When not in the boat, clients can spend as many hours as they would like in the bus, day or night, which will include northern lights if they are visible. If you would like a single room, we can check availability and cost. 50% non refundable (unless your spot is resold) deposit due at registration. We strongly recommend trip insurance to protect your investment.
