Ultimate Alaska Photo Expedition

Our grand Alaska photography adventure begins in Fairbanks, Alaska's "Golden Heart City." Capital of the vast Interior, Fairbanks retains its frontier flavor with pioneer saloons, paddlewheelers and outlying mining camps. Fairbanks is also home to the flagship campus of the University of Alaska system, where the famous Geophysical Institute is headquartered, leading research in the study of permafrost, earthquakes, sea ice and the aurora borealis. Meet your Expedition Leader at a welcome dinner this evening, who offers an orientation to all the photo opportunities to come.

This morning, we follow the Nenana River south to Denali National Park. At 6 million acres—larger than the state of Massachusetts—Denali is one of the world’s great wilderness preserves. The park's namesake is the highest peak in North America, towering 20,310 feet over alpine tundra and taiga that provide habitat for abundant wildlife. The mountain's name—Denali—means "The High One" in the Athabascan language. Our destination is Camp Denali, a wilderness outpost at the end of the 92-mile-long park road. At the park entrance, board a camp bus to make the journey into the remote backcountry, driving through boreal forest into open expanses of tundra below the peaks of the Alaska Range. Crossing the tangled veins of glacier-fed rivers through broad valleys, look for wildlife along the edge of the road and on the braided river bars—we could see moose, caribou, Dall sheep, grizzlies and occasionally wolves—“Alaska’s Big Five.”

Once we reach Camp Denali, settle in to our individual cabins for a three-night wilderness immersion, enveloped by the beauty and silence of wild country on a scale most people will never encounter in their lifetime. It’s the only accommodation inside the national park with a view of Denali from the premises, and the chance to stay here is a rare experience very few visitors to Alaska are privileged to have.

With views of the mighty mountain directly from Camp Denali, enjoy extended time in an unparalleled setting for photographers, with flexibility to adjust our timing around weather, lighting and wildlife sightings. Early risers may be rewarded with mirror reflections of Denali from kettle ponds just steps from their cabin. At dawn, sunrise may illumine the mountain’s face with pink alpenglow, rewarding photographers ready with long exposures, big glass and patience. Each day, choose from a variety of guided photography outings tailored to personal interests and skill level. Led by naturalist guides with deep regional knowledge—and attuned to the needs of photographers—hikes prioritize access to ridgelines, high-elevation vistas, sweeping tundra compositions, and wildlife corridors. Scout the tundra ponds for birdlife, or paddle a canoe on Wonder Lake for the iconic postcard shot of Denali’s massive white hulk rising behind. Expect a slower pace, time to set up for bracketed shots, and ample opportunities to explore everything from wide-angle landscapes to macro details like arctic moss, lichen and dainty wildflowers. Wildlife encounters may include caribou, moose, ptarmigan, or even bears.

As we explore, learn about the natural and cultural history of our environs, including the wildlife that thrives here, the Athabascan people who lived off this land for 10,000 years, and the pioneers who mined for gold in nearby Kantishna at the turn of the 20th century. Return to the lodge by late afternoon for a photo review, optional editing session, or one-on-one technique coaching. After dinner, consider heading back out—this far north, golden hour in summer can linger well past 10 pm, and soft twilight may offer a last chance to catch Denali peeking from the clouds.

After a final morning of activities, depart Camp Denali via private chartered bush plane for dramatic flightseeing en route to the park entrance. Weather permitting, we’ll get stunning views of the icy flanks of Denali at close range, and we may spy wildlife roaming the tundra below. Then we board a spacious mini bus for our journey south across the Alaska Range to Anchorage. Our route climbs above tree line over Broad Pass, then descends to follow the Susitna River through thick stands of birch, balsam poplar, willow and spruce. Eventually, we reach Anchorage on Cook Inlet, backdropped by the glacier-capped peaks of the Chugach Range. With a population of just under 300,000, Anchorage is Alaska's largest city and its primary commerce and transportation hub.

Rise early today to travel the most scenic section of the historic Alaska Railroad. Built in the early 20th century, the state-owned railroad’s mainline is 470 miles long, connecting Seward in the south with Fairbanks up north. From our dome car, enjoy a classic train journey along Turnagain Arm as we look for beluga whales, and keep an eye out for tidal bores that create waves big enough for local surfers to ride! We skirt the ice-clad peaks and lush glacial valleys of the Chugach Range, harboring the northernmost temperate rainforest in North America, then turn south to follow the rail corridor winding through the Kenai Mountains–Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area, a designation that recognizes the area's unique cultural, geographic and historical features. Once we cross Moose Pass, the rail line drops back to the coast, ending at the fishing town and port of Seward on Resurrection Bay.

In Seward's small boat harbor, expect to photograph charming sea otters bobbing among the yachts and docks. Here, we board a boat for Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge on private Fox Island, on the edge of Kenai Fjords National Park. Our isolated location, fronting a wild pebble beach backdropped by steep forested mountains, reveals a pristine side of Alaska most visitors miss. The Kenai Fjords region offers prime sea kayaking, and an optional paddling excursion late this afternoon may reveal some of the area’s prolific marine life.

Iconic images of Alaska are on display today from our private chartered boat as we explore a marine realm where vestiges of the Ice Age linger. Our small vessel allows us to approach wildlife at close range, and Kenai Fjords National Park provides excellent opportunities for photographing humpback whales, orcas, Dall's porpoise, sea lions, sea otters and puffins. Weave among islands and rocky cliffs where seabirds nest, and zoom in on bald eagles in the treetops. Jagged glaciers wind from the mountain heights to the sea, and we may capture shots of icebergs calving with a crash from a glacier's towering blue face. After our all-day outing, return to our secluded lodge on Fox Island for another night of peace and solitude in the coastal wilderness.

After a last morning on serene Fox Island, board our private boat for the return journey up Resurrection Bay to the historic harbor town of Seward. From Seward, head south on a spectacular drive to Homer. The mountain ranges of the Kenai Peninsula rise one after another, sourcing some of Alaska's richest salmon rivers. Homer is known as “the End of the Road” in Alaska, and we follow it all the way down to the harbor on the Homer Spit. Homer is renowned as the Halibut Fishing Capital of the World, and we may get photos of fishing crews unloading their catch—the biggest halibut can be eight feet long and up to 500 pounds! While halibut are one of Alaska’s most valuable fisheries, Homer also offers excellent fishing for several salmon species, lingcod and rockfish. We’ve got some free time to wander the spit, a long, narrow strip of land that juts into Kachemak Bay. The spit is where we find most of Homer’s shops, art galleries, seafood restaurants and beaches, and our hotel lies at the very tip of it: Land’s End, overlooking and island-studded marine realm that's home not only to coveted sport fish but also sea otters, seals, porpoises, sea lions, orcas, whales, bald eagles and puffins.

Accessible only on a privately guided walk, Inspiration Ridge Preserve offers a multitude of nature photography subjects. This mosaic of forests, peat bogs, meadows, ponds and creeks comprises 700 acres of critical wildlife habitat for a host of species, including a visiting summer population of sandhill cranes. Other wildlife here include moose, brown and black bears, lynx, muskrat, swifts and eagles. The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies manages the preserve, and one of its staff will join us this morning to interpret all we experience. Along our path high above Homer below, photograph a stunning panorama of Kachemak Bay and the Kenai Mountains, wander through dense spruce canopies and fields of magenta fireweed, and learn about ongoing monitoring projects and research partnerships.

Then, is it possible to say we’ve saved the best for last? Well, it all depends on how you weigh the wonders of Alaska, but our brown bear adventures begin this afternoon and will surely be a highlight of your photo safari. Board our chartered flight across Cook Inlet to reach Nat Hab's Alaska Bear Camp, where we spend the next two nights. The views from our private bush plane are stunning as we pass snow-clad volcanoes and jagged glaciers winding down from vast icefields. The terrain below, where the Aleutian and Alaska ranges meet, comprises some of the world's most critical brown bear habitat. Look for bears in the meadows and along the shoreline as we come in for a landing, taxiing down the beach along Chinitna Bay.

Bear Camp is located on a historic homestead, a private 15-acre inholding of coastal land surrounded by Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. These 4 million protected acres of wilderness are the ancestral homelands of the Dena'ina people, preserving an intact ecosystem at the headwaters of the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world. Accessible only by plane or boat, Bear Camp offers an unparalleled immersion in pristine brown bear habitat. From our comfortable new cabins, we have immediate access to some of the best, most consistent bear viewing opportunities anywhere in Alaska, due to the season-long availability of food. In late spring, protein-rich sedge grass supports rapid growth, and bears are often seen browsing in the meadow behind camp, as well as digging clams from the beach. Accustomed to our non-threatening presence, they see us humans merely as part of the scenery, allowing us to move safely in their midst on guided outings, at times photographing them from just a few yards away.

There's simply no wildlife encounter to match being among giant brown bears in their wild home. From Bear Camp's two viewing platforms, one elevated for a territorial view, capture shots of bears nearby and at a distance. We often see them right from camp, surrounded by electrified wires that ensure our safety on site. Against a backdrop of sheer-sided peaks rising above the lush valley floor, the bears are sometimes near enough that we can hear them chewing their food and communicating with one another in woofs, purrs and growls. Alaska's brown bears—the coastal version of the interior grizzly bear (which is the same species, Ursus arctos )—are the largest land predators in North America. Adult males can weigh up to 1,500 pounds!

While the bear activity we are able to photograph varies according to seasonal conditions, there's always something interesting going on. And while bears are usually plentiful right in the vicinity of camp, we also go into adjacent Lake Clark National Park for added variety. At every turn, we explore the area in the careful company of our seasoned bear naturalists who offer thorough coaching in respectful "bear etiquette,” as well as sensitive photography approaches. Our low-impact presence ensures that we never disturb the bears, and they in turn grant us comfortable access to photograph them as they go about their daily routines. After each exciting day, gather in the dining tent for dinner. Fresh local fare is always on the menu, including wild-caught Alaskan salmon.

We have one last chance this morning to seek photos of bears, admiring their majesty and whimsy alike. Few nature photographers have such an encounter with the raw beauty and profound silence of a landscape this size—these elements alone would make for a life-transforming experience. But the chance to watch Alaskan brown bears, incomparable icons of the wild, on their turf, their terms...it's a wonder to have bears welcome us into their world. We depart as ambassadors for the bears, our time among them leaving an indelible mark on us, inspiring us to do all we can to protect them.

After lunch, it's time to leave Bear Camp behind as we board our chartered bush plane to return to Homer, where we spend our final night at the tip of the spit. There may be time to stroll the beach, capture a few more trophy halibut photos at the harbor, or wander the shops and galleries nearby, before our farewell dinner in view of Kachemak Bay.

Our Alaska photography adventure comes to a close today as we transfer to the Homer airport for departing flights.