A Front-Row Seat to
One of Nature’s Greatest Shows
Join us for a 5-day, 6-night immersive photography expedition into the heart of Katmai National Park—home to the world’s densest population of brown bears. This exclusive journey is designed for amateur and aspiring wildlife photographers who want to capture powerful, intimate images of grizzly bears as they fish for salmon, play, and interact in the wild.
You’ll be guided by renowned wildlife photographer Jason Bradley, who will help you refine your technique and find the moments that matter. Whether you're just starting your wildlife journey or looking to build your portfolio, this trip will elevate your photography and fill your soul.
What’s Included
5 full field days / 6 nights at Alaska Grizzly Safaris basecamp
Day 1: Charter to Iliamna • Settle at camp • Intro session
Days 2–5: Full days photographing bears (dawn to dusk) • Evening image reviews
Day 6: Final shoot + charter back to Anchorage
Private charter flight from Anchorage to Iliamna that includes private transport from Iliamna to Katmai.
Small group: limited to 8 photographers
Guided bear viewing and transport by boat or vehicle
Professional photography instruction and mentoring
Optional gear rental available through LensRentals.com
All lodging, meals, permits, and guiding fees
Why Katmai?
September is one of the most magical times in Katmai: the bears are fattening up for winter, the salmon are still running, and the light is soft and golden. You’ll witness bears catching fish mid-stream, mothers tending to cubs, and foxes and eagles in the surrounding wilderness.
There’s nowhere else on earth like this.
Where’s the Lodge?
The lodge is perched on Lake Iliamna’s north shore, not in Katmai National Park
That lodge serves as a launch hub, surrounded by roadless wilderness that includes Katmai, Lake Clark, and Bristol Bay
How We Get from Iliamna to Bear Country in Katmai
1. Anchorage → Iliamna
You fly via private charter flight from Anchorage directly to the lodge base on Lake Iliamna (approx. 1 hour).
2. Iliamna → Katmai Photography Locations
From the lodge, guests are transported daily into remote Katmai bear-viewing zones using:
2 floatplanes (seaplanes)
3 tundra-tyred bush planes
10 jet boats
3. Access & Flexibility
These aircraft and boats are exclusively dedicated to your group—no airtaxi sharing or waiting involved.
They stay with you in the field or on standby at the lodge—if bears move to a new river or weather shifts, you simply reposition instantly .
4. Bear Country Coverage
You get access to 127+ viewing sites across a vast 30,000-square-mile wilderness, including bear-dense sections of Katmai National Park and surrounding regions.
5. Travel Time & Experience
Typically, it’s a 30–60 minute hop from the lodge to prime bearzones—by floatplane, bush plane, or jet boat.
Result: More time photographing bears, less time in transit.
“I had almost no wildlife photography experience going in, but this bear expedition was truly epic. Being up close with wild bears in their natural environment felt like something out of a documentary. Jason made every moment feel accessible and exciting—even for a beginner like me.”
— Erin D.