Alaska's Grizzly Ship: Kodiak to Katmai

Discover Alaska’s pristine Bear Coast, including Katmai and Lake Clark national parks. This area offers intact, pristine brown bear habitat with abundant salmon runs and other food that support the world’s highest density of wild bears. Learn why we must protect the bears, their habitat and the people who depend on both.

Sail Alaska’s wild coast aboard the Natural Habitat Ursus, a former fishing boat retrofitted for tourism, as you search for massive brown bears, whales, puffins, otters and more in the untamed Alaskan wilderness.

Join Drew Hamilton, Nat Hab Expedition Leader and bear expert extraordinaire, as he takes us behind the scenes of a Nat Hab grizzly trip on Alaska's Katmai Coast. Drew's passion for bears and conservation shines through as he shares why he became a naturalist and describes the magic of watching bears at close range.

Traveler Sarah Martens recounts her time traveling in Alaska with Nat Hab, including the power in up-close experiences with the bears of Katmai National Park.

Few species shape Alaska more profoundly than salmon. Expedition Leader Laura Geissinger reveals the remarkable life cycle of Alaska’s five salmon species and the vital role they play in northern ecosystems. Learn how salmon nourish bears, eagles, forests and entire river systems, while also sustaining human communities both culturally and economically. Laura also examines some of the challenges facing salmon today — and why the health of Alaska’s wild landscapes is so closely tied to the return of these extraordinary fish.

Experience Alaska’s brown bears up close on a small-ship adventure through some of the most remote coastal landscapes on Earth. Expedition Leader Shawn Eggleston shares what makes our Grizzly Ship journeys to Kodiak and Katmai so unique, from exploring secluded shores aboard the Natural Habitat Ursus—a former crab fishing boat—to tracking bears as they fish for salmon, forage along the coast and care for their cubs. Learn how bear behavior changes throughout the season and get the details on our daily activities, accommodations and travel logistics. Plus, discover how we maximize time in the field for unforgettable wildlife encounters and unparalleled photo opportunities.

Long before gold fever swept north, Alaska was already a crossroads of culture and trade. Expedition Leader Laura Geissinger tells the tale of early Alaska, where Indigenous cultures thrived for thousands of years and global trade networks reshaped the North. From Alaska Native civilizations to the Russian fur empire and American expansion, Laura reveals how exploration, migration and commerce transformed the region. Discover how this layered history laid the foundation for the Alaska we experience today—and why understanding it deepens every visit.