We were guided on a short walk by the hatchery and then shown to a viewing area where we saw 7 bears.My only negatives would be that it felt very rushed, and the audio on the plane was difficult to hear, but otherwise it was great. Could someone please tell me which is the better tour to go on - the "Alaskan Bear by Floatplane" touir or the "Neets Bay Bear Watch" tour? Bear sightings very common (though not guaranteed). When are you going? Then you get out with a guide and do a short hike (15-20 min) to the ranger station at Anan Creek--need to be able to walk a mile over rocky terrain. Thus, you can usually find bears at the mouths of rivers and streams feasting on these fish. Good certain times of the Alaska cruise season, Top Things to Do in Ketchikan, Alaska on a Cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line Premieres New Episode of EMBARK The Series Tonight, Carnival Corporation Improves Pre-Cruise Testing Access, American Cruise Lines Ready to Cruise Alaska, Complete Guide to Drink Packages on Celebrity Cruises (2023), Complete Guide to Princess Cruises Drink Packages, Complete Guide to Drink Packages on MSC Cruises, Everything You Need to Know About Norwegian's Free at Sea in 2023, Complete Guide to Drink Packages on Carnival (2023), Royal Caribbean Drink Packages Guide (2023). Keep your cameras on hand for towering granite domes and wildlife opportunities! This pristine wilderness area is limited to a small number of visitors each year. When we arrived at the bear viewing area, Mark helped us get signed up quickly so that we could get a slot in the bear viewing blind, and Mark continued to provide awesome commentary about different bears and occurrences that we saw when we were up at the viewing platform. Taquan had arranged a small boat to transport us from the dock to the shore, and that worked out very well. This one shows the flight, the trail, the viewing platform, and the bears. Most sources say that the best time for bear viewing in Ketchikan, Alaska is between late June/early July and late August/early September. We booked our Alaska cruise so late (past the final payment date) because we couldn't decide on what to do for our summer vacation -- and I read that Anan sells out months or year in advance so my chances of getting one now is probably fairly slim? That also helps you to determine which area is at peak season for bears. 14. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The bear sightings at the hatchery are much closer. You just start to wonder when you are asked to pay half in advance to someone you have never met! Our group was guided on about a 3/4 mile hike to an area controlled by the park to observe the bears. 71. I am also wondering which excursion to take in Ketchikan.float (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The max size allowed is : 3 MB. Ketchikan Bear Viewing Tours | Traitor's Cove, Alaska - Seawind Aviation It was early in the season, so bears were not guaranteed. Our transportation was a 65 foot vessel that offered indoor seating as well as an observation deck. The bears and Salmon ladder are amazing- nothing like it. To our surprise, we had amazingly sunny and warm weather.in Ketchikan. Answer: There are a few types of planes used for the tour, and you'll typically be in a group of 6-10 guests on the flight. After a short floatplane ride flying over stunning scenery of mountains, lakes and forests, we smoothly landed in Neets Bay and glided up to the dock to meet our guide. Interpretation by your pilot and guide will enhance this truly intimate natural experience, perfect for the nature lover and photographer. QUESTION: we were planning on doing the Misty Fjords Floatplane trip in Ketchican (sans hubby!). All participants will be charged at the adult rate, except for lap children under 24 months. Speciality Museums. If bear-watching is on your bucket list, you couldn't find a more enjoyable way to view bears catching salmon. The highlight was going to Anan Creek and seeing the bears feed on salmon. Can you see wildlife from the plane? Upon our return. Bear sightings not guaranteed. Several day trip operators only spent 90 minutes at the observatory, which is an absolute shame in my opinion. There is a colony of black bears who take advantage of all the salmon returning to their origin to spawn. I am also wondering which excursion to take in Ketchikan.float (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? My guess is once the salmon are gone, the bears will be too. Alaska Shore Tours donates 5% of profits to local charities. You can't be picky about a "highly" recommended vendor. We were able to see bears from both shores around the bay.float (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Hi guys. This walk is mostly on a manmade walking path and raised boardwalk not too far from civilization. Neets Bay Floatplane and Bear Viewing - Tripadvisor Your naturalist bear guide will escort you on a half-mile hike along a groomed trail bordering a creek, to a secure bear observatory overlooking a beautiful waterfall. Same advice as before - know where you are going, not just a "bear watch" or "bear adventure.". V Karagande! Since you'll be doing some hiking, tennis shoes or boots and a rain jacket is advisable as well. Both have similar flight times, although the 2nd one has more time at Neets Bay (unsure if this means more bear viewing time, or if this includes the walk to the bear observation site . We will be in Ketchikan Aug 3. Certainly, I rated it a top adventure for my viewing priorities, but some people have very unrealistic expectations with wildlife. Anan Creek Bear Adventure & Flightseeing - Call to Book Bear viewings tend to be more frequent during the salmon runs. Alaskan Bear by Floatplane or Neets Bay Bear Watch? This experience involves an increased amount of physical activity including walking over uneven terrain and extended periods of standing. Are you ready for a true Alaskan bear encounter? - Ketchikan Forum - Tripadvisor Answer 1 of 15: Could someone please tell me which is the better tour to go on - the "Alaskan Bear by Floatplane" touir or the "Neets Bay Bear Watch" tour? Bear sightings very common (though not guaranteed). Lastly, the tour concluded next to a local totem pole craftsmans workshop. By boat it takes a significant amount of time just in transit round trip. My kids (ages 22-28) wanted to see bears on our trip and we saw at least 10 of them. This Kazakhstan location article is a stub. I have taken the Neets Bay Jet Boat trip and it was. . She was the only one to contact me back and inform me that 48 or 72 hours prior to the day we wanted to go 12 more permits are released and she would do all she could to obtain four permits for us. QUESTION: we were planning on doing the Misty Fjords Floatplane trip in Ketchican (sans hubby!). We assumed these ideal conditions would be perfect for spotting wildlife. Several day trip operators only spent 90 minutes at the observatory, which is an absolute shame in my opinion. Taquan Air Tours offer other options that can be purchased. See all. Is there a big difference between the two viewing places? Ketchikan Black Bear Viewing Tour | Alaska Hummer Adventures I was debating about canceling our Traitor's Cove and booking Anan because it seems to be more popular/the place to go for bear-viewing. This ultimate Alaska bear encounter begins with a narrated motorcoach tour to your waiting boat. Answer: This tour operates during the annual salmon run from August 1st-September 30th. And its not just bears that youll see, as youll want to keep your eyes peeled for the Alaskan salmon as they swim their way upstream, and the other animals taking advantage of the feast including bald eagles and other native bird species. This platform is situated above a waterfall on Margaret Creek which is the prime bear viewing location. Load up in an Alaska-classic DeHavilland float plane and cruise high above lush and lovely Revillagigedo Island as you head . But will there still be plenty of bear sightings from a fairly close spot? :). From a boat- which doesn't get close, gives you so so views anyway. The plane flies low enough to distinguish individual animals, but of course the pilots have to respect local wildlife so it's not a direct objective of the flightseeing portion of this tour. Although most parties do, in fact, see multiple bears at Traitor's cove, we can't know with certainly that they'll be present at the time of the tour. There are platforms at this site over the stream and also a blind that observers get 15 minutes at a time to watch the bears up close and personal. We met with our pilot, Eric, immediately after the safety briefing, and he walked us down the pier to our plane. Mink, marten and wolf also frequent the area. We recommend staying at one of the most popular hotels in Karaganda, which include: Some of the most popular restaurants in Karaganda include: Karaganda is known for some of its popular attractions, which include: If you're a more budget-conscious traveler, then you may want to consider traveling to Karaganda between September and November, when hotel prices are generally the lowest. Given the high concentration of black bears in Alaska, we provide our input on the best bear viewing sites in Ketchikan, Alaska on a cruise. We were fortunate enough to visit Alaska twice this cruise season with a mission to find some bears. Very expensive but the best excursion we took. Neets Bay - accessible by floatplane or boat, Neets Bay is another premier bear viewing location. Peak hotel prices generally start between December and February. 2023 Kawanti Adventures. Bear viewings tend to be more frequent during the salmon runs. The pilots, planes, bus driver and staff A+++++++ Allie our Bear guide was the best, very friendly and knowledgeable about Alaska and the bears. Bear shore excursions with Holland America - which one? And Mark also provided expert commentary on plants and wildlife that we encountered on the hike. We did book with the cruise line but it is somewhat cheaper to book through the provider - Promech Air. Eagles flying all over too. Once aboard, the vessel will cruise through breathtaking Tongass National Forest to Neets Bay. My wife, myself plus another couple tried to book a trip to Anan a few months in advance of our trip this past July. The bear sightings at the hatchery are much closer. From bears climbing trees to those hunting salmon in the stream, we were a mere few feet away from these bears. I love being out on the water so my preference is by boat. Neets Bay Bear Watch Alaska Shore Tours Passenger names and weights are required by the FAA for weight and balance calculations and flight manifesting. Taku Glacier Adventure by Air, Water & Ice, Anchorage Helicopter Glacier Dogsled & Lower Glacier Landing. Neets Bay Bear Observatory Located 40 miles north of downtown Ketchikan, Neets Bay is known for the black bears that are attracted to the thousands of coho, chinook, and chum salmon that return every year to the bay. If you would prefer to spend some time on land, many cruise lines also offer a floatplane excursion to Neets Bay in the Tongass National Forest. And a coastal "wildlife", isn't a good option either. After departing the Ketchikan waterfront in a DeHavilland Beaver or Otter, you will fly over Salmon Falls Resort, historic Loring (established before Ketchikan), over beautiful Behm Canal and continue over the rugged Cleveland Peninsula. Keep your eyes open at all times. Use one of the allowed file type: jpg,png,jpeg. awesome! Everyone gets a window seat on these flights. Neets Bear Encounter By Land & Sea - Norwegian Cruise Line schedule in each port. I was at Anan Creek in July (peak is mid July to mid August, I went July 8th but was there for 3 days). viewing. Amazing places deserve to be shared with others - why not Write a Review! To ensure the safety of all travelers, guests weighing 175lbs or more may be required to pay a weight and balance fee up to the price of a second seat, to be determined on the day of the tour. This was an amazing trip. Top Spots for Bear Viewing on a Cruise to Alaska - AlaskaCruises.com By booking with us, you're helping to ensure a bright future for Alaskan tourism. Kawanti Adventures and Taquan Air take you places you've only imagined. Add Cruise Critic's Community Forums to your iPhone's Home Screen! My husband can't do small planes so this would be great. Neets Bay is located on Revillagigedo Island approximately 30 air miles from Ketchikan. The Traitors Cove Bear Viewing Tour is the longest experiences bear watching Ketchikan offers, allowing you plenty of time to explore the Tongass National Rainforest and the Margarete Creek Bear Viewing platform with your naturalist guide. Alaskan Bear Encounter by Land and Sea (KE17) - Disney Cruise Line From the bus drive to their terminal, to their check-in and flight briefing process, to the flight itself, and to the tour guide - Taquan offers a safe, informative and exciting tour. As we got underway, Mark guided us in the proper way to group ourselves in case we encountered a bear on the trail. Average Youll pass by the Neets Bay Salmon Hatchery, where each year many thousands of fry begin their journey toward the ocean, before arriving at last at the famous Neets Bay Creek. However, due to our ship's limited time in port last year, along with poor tidal conditions, we were not able to actually get to the trail head and take our tour. Current Production: 70.5 million summer chum eggs for release at Neets Bay. schedule in each port. They are both great, but I would have to pick the floatplane trip with Promech, I've gone twice and have seen dozens of bears, some VERY close, both times, plus you get the whole floatplane experience, which is incredible. Danita and our tour guide AJ came through for us and got the permits! Alaska has the highest concentration of black (and brown) bears, so its no wonder many cruise passengers seek out bear viewing tours. tours looking for them, but somehow surface in areas you don't expect. All rights reserved. (we'll be in port 10:00AM - 6:00PM). Luckily, there are several opportunities to see bears in Alaskas southeastern cruise ports. It involved flying by float plane to the Neet's Bay salmon hatchery. Perfect For such expensive tours, I would want to know where I am going and how long I will spend there. This elevated boardwalk trail includes viewing platforms overlooking Eagle Creek. Highly recommend! Posted August 14, 2005. Further, the majority of all tours visit one of three locations. This once in a lifetime experience is only available to a select few as access to Anan Creek is restricted by U.S. Forest Service Permit. John. Comfortable, sturdy shoes are recommended. I didn't just go to see the bears but to be on the water and fresh air.to see the area with a small group and a local from the water. But then we hiked over the salmon hatchery and there the fun really began. We sat watching bear while multiple floatplanes took off and landed so I am not quite sure how long passengers actually were on the ground. I want to see as many bears in the wild as possible. We saw 9-10 wild black bear as close as 20 feet away. From a secure bear observatory, you'll look down on rapids where bears gather to feed on spawning salmon.