Weaving through South-east Alaska’s magnificent Alexander Archipelago we have exclusive encounters with iconic and abundant wildlife such as brown and black bear, humpback whale, orca, Steller’s sea lion, sea otter and bald eagle.
Our Seldom Seen Alaska Photography Tour navigates a pristine and spectacular landscape where humpbacks erupt out of the water in feeding spectacles, bears patrol the coastlines for spawning salmon and the sheltered waters are the domain of orca, sea otter and gargantuan Stellar sealions. The charismatic tufted puffin with its elaborate head plumage and auklets, waders and icons such as the bald eagle will feature in our portfolio of birds.
This small group trip of only six participants explores by day in a specially modified private catamaran, providing us with exclusivity during encounters through this off-the-beaten track region. We come ashore at night to stay in several remote lodges, filled with character and warm hospitality.
With personalised tuition from a photography tour leader, we have the opportunity to develop our photographic skills and build a fantastic portfolio of landscape and wildlife images during this 12-day tour. One opportunity to gather unique images comes in the fascinating spectacle of humpback whales bubble-net feeding as we visit one of the few places in the world where you can see this.
Every day is active and engaging. During August, we can admire and capture the thrilling behaviour of both brown and black bears as they catch salmon on remote coastal rivers. We cruise past immense forests that harbour a rich web of life and discover the unique ports, colourful history, and inspiring Native Alaskan Culture.
We fly from London Heathrow to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport and take the complimentary shuttle service to our airport hotel.
Accommodation: Cedarbrook Lodge, 1-night
Day2: Fly to Sitka
We return to the airport and fly to Sitka. We're then collected from the airport and transferred to our accommodation in Sitka.
After we've had the chance to settle in, we explore some of Sitka, perhaps walking around the harbour and other points of interest.
We also aim to visit Totem Park, the United States' oldest National Historical Park. The park, spanning 45 hectares at the convergence of the Indian River, was created to represent and preserve the historical events that took place here. Over 20 totems are dispersed in a temperate rainforest, providing an inspiring photographic environment.
Accommodation: Aspen Suites, 2-nights
Day3: Bear Cove & Sitka Sound
Today we board our vessel “Catdaddy” for a cruise through the waters in and around the biologically rich Sitka Sound.
We begin our day by embarking on a thrilling wildlife photography adventure in Sitka, where our course is set for Bear Cove next to the Medvejie Hatchery. Here we can witness the spectacle of coastal brown bears feasting on salmon returning to spawn. This hotspot, often visited by sow bears and their playful cubs, provides a unique opportunity to observe their interactions, including playful fights.
Later, our expedition takes us beyond the sound of Sitka to circumnavigate St. Lazaria Island, a 6-hectare island where a staggering 500,000 seabirds’ nest earlier in the season. It's one of the most productive seabird colonies in the State of Alaska and although most of the birds will have left their nests, many still remain to feed in the area. We hope to enjoy photographing tufted puffin, rhinoceros auklet and black oystercatchers and turnstones here.
Day4: Boat excursions around Hoonah
Leaving Sitka behind, we depart early and begin our journey north, with sea and weather conditions playing a part in determining our course. We explore the sheltered waters and remote shorelines around Chichagof and Yakobi Islands before navigating through Peril Strait and into the wildlife-rich Hoonah Sound. During our exploration we hope to encounter our first humpback whales which frequently display the thrilling the bubble-net feeding behaviour here.
Accommodation: Icy Strait Lodge, 2-nights
Day5: Boat based wildlife watching from Hoonah
Today we continue our exploration of northern Chatham Strait, and Icy Strait, possibly along the shores of Admiralty and Chichagof Islands. These waters are famous for their abundance of humpback whale and regular sightings of orca, Dall’s porpoise and even the occasional sperm whale. We hope to enjoy some prolonged and excellent photographic opportunities with the marine life we find. We also investigate Tenakee Inlet, where it's common for coastal brown bears to peruse the shoreline, unearthing crustaceans along the rocky shoreline and harvesting salmon near the many streams feeding into the bays and inlets.
Day6: Whale watching in Chatham Strait
Today we head out to explore the middle and southern expanse of Chatham Strait. There are a number of great wildlife locations we can visit today including Midway Reef located along Catherine Island, which is a great location to find whales, orca and porpoises. We then call in at the captivating, Red Bluff Bay, a typical slice of Alaskan paradise where a flat meadow and numerous thundering waterfalls, soaring eagles, jumping salmon, and the promise of bears are all framed by majestic snow-capped mountains. Our route crosses over Chatham Strait to Kuiu Island where we explore the Tebenkof Wilderness Area, a bright green preserve legislated to remain unspoiled for future generations, and into the Bay of Pillars. In these surroundings, we're more likely to hear the blows of whales than any sound of man. The only human presence we might see, could be a glimpse of a distant fishing boat. More often will be sightings of humpback whales and other marine mammals. We continue on to the village of Kake where we spend the next three nights.
Accommodation: Waterfront Lodge, 3 nights
Day7: Explore Gunnuck Creek & Waters surrounding Kake
Today we have a relaxing morning, giving us a chance to rest after an activity-filled itinerary. You may want to take this opportunity to look through the photographs you have taken so far or explore the village. In the afternoon we set out across town to the Gunnuk Creek hatchery. If the hatchery staff is able to accommodate us, we can explore the inner workings of the hatchery. The hatchery is also a fantastic location to photograph black bears, which are frequent visitors that feed on the salmon species that use the creek to spawn.
After dinner the weather and sea conditions will determine our course as we explore the waters of either Hamilton Bay, Port Camden or Kadake Bay. This is an excellent area to encounter bubble-net feeding humpbacks.
Day8: Black bears and humpback whale photography
Today we have another full day to explore the wildlife highlights around the village of Kake. We're likely to return to the hatchery or another area where black bears are visiting to give us further photographic opportunities. The bears are used to people here and will often allow us to watch and photograph them from close distances. We're also likely to return to Fredrick Sound to hopefully enjoy further bubble-net feeding events with the humpback whales. It's not uncommon to witness numerous bubble net events in a single afternoon.
Day9: Sitka Sound Sea Otters
Today we set our course back to the town of Sitka, passing through some stunning, wild, and remote landscapes as we travel. Wildlife abounds along the journey; bald eagles are regularly seen in the trees and humpback whales may turn up anywhere. The shorelines of the quieter stretches are occasionally patrolled by the highly elusive costal wolf population. As we enter Sitka sound, we will again focus on finding rafts of endearing sea otters that we can enjoy capturing images of and curious sea lions near their haul out sites. Birdlife including pigeon guillemot, marbled murrelet, rhinoceros auklet, red-necked phalarope or surf scoter may also feature.
Accommodation: Aspen Suites, 1-night
Day10: Depart Alaska
After a leisurely morning in Sitka we transfer to the airport for our flight to Seattle.
Accommodation: Cedarbrook Lodge, 1-night
Day11: Return UK
Key info
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 12 daysfrom £11,150 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 10 daysfrom £10,300 pp
An award-winning photographer and author, with a background in zoology, Nick has forged a career by combining these skills with leading tours and lecturing.
Nick has written and photographed several critically acclaimed books, including: ‘100 Animals to See Before They Die’, ‘Mammals of Madagascar: A Complete Guide’, ‘Wild Borneo’, and ‘Chameleons’. He is a regular contributor to international magazines such as National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Africa Geographic and Geographical.
Nick has twice been a winner in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. In 2000, he won the prestigious Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife. His photographs appear widely in books, calendars and other publications worldwide. He is a Special Lecturer on the MSc course in the Wildlife Photography and Imaging at Nottingham University, where he studied.
Multi award-winner and full time photographer, Sean's work is regularly featured across a range of national and international publications.
After a career as a Royal Marine, Sean moved to the diverse habitats of Singapore where long-tailed macaques, snakes, lizards and tropical birds were just a stones throw away from his home.
Travelling through South East Asia and Australia with his camera was what ignited his love of the natural world and now he ventures across the globe to expand his wildlife photography. Sean has led numerous workshops in the UK and further afield in Europe at locations including Skomer, Greece, Finland, Spain and Scotland.
Along the Gulf of Alaska, in the south-eastern coast of the state lies a wildlife haven, The Alexander Archipelago. Around 1,100 submerged coastal mountains rise steeply from the Pacific Ocean to form a 480 km long chain of islands. Deep channels and fjords separate the islands and cut them off from the mainland.
Find Out More about {acc:title}
Where: South east Alaska
Ideal for viewing: humpback whale, orca, sea otter, brown bear, bald eagle
Excellent for: Wildlife photography, Photography tours With Nick Garbutt, Whale watching, Bear watching, Dolphin watching
Baranof Island lies in the northern Alexander Archipelago in the Alaska Panhandle, with a shoreline of around 1,000 kilometres. Officially designated as the South Baranof Wilderness, this forested island is famed for its brown bears and Sitka deer, and its major industries are fishing, processing seafood and tourism.
Find Out More about {acc:title}
Where: Southeast Alaska
Ideal for viewing: brown bear, bald eagle, Steller’s sealion, sea otter, tufted puffin
Chatham Strait is a deep 240 kilometre-long strait in the Alexander Archipelago, in southwest Alaska. Once the home of explorers and fur-trappers, it is one of the few places in the world where you can see the fascinating spectacle of humpback whales ‘bubble net feeding’ on the abundant supply of herring.
Find Out More about {acc:title}
Surrounded by the majestic snow-covered mountains of the Coast Range, the abundant krill and herring of this body of glacial fed waters make Frederick Sound one of the premier places to observe feeding humpback whales who migrate here from Hawaii to feed on its super nutrient rich waters.
Find Out More about {acc:title}
With stunning views across the icy strait, the family-owned and operated Bear Track Inn offers superb accommodation in a wild and remote setting on the edge of Gustavus and Glacier Bay National Park. The spacious log cabin lodge offers 14 rooms and fantastic views from its floor to ceiling windows.
Find Out More about Glacier Bay’s Bear Track Inn
This itinerary is available on the following
cruise vessel:
Catdaddy is a custom-built 13 metres, expedition-style catamaran and is the very best marine wildlife watching and photographing platform in Sitka. It features a spacious, heated cabin with large wrap-around windows for maximum visibility and ample deluxe seating, plus a restroom and galley.
Find Out More about Catdaddy
