Travel Specialist, Rosie, shares insights into her stay at Alaska Bear Camp where wilderness meets cosy comfort meets amazing bear watching.
Start your bear camp adventure by flying over the Cook Inlet in a 1960s light aircraft, watching the beautiful Alaskan landscape unfold beneath you. As the Cook Inlet Islands give way to the towering mountains and volcanoes of Lake Clark National Park, the sense of entering somewhere truly wild begins to sink in.
Look down and you’ll see braided rivers winding through vast valleys, glaciers gleaming in the sun (and if you’re lucky, your first bear sighting) before the plane touches down on a remote strip of beach, just steps from your home for the next three nights: Bear Camp.
Bear Camp isn’t about luxury in the traditional sense, but it is designed for comfort. Guests stay in solid canvas tents with real beds, soft lighting, and everything you need to stay warm and dry. There’s always hot coffee brewing, gear is provided (from boots to binoculars), and the team goes out of their way to make you feel at home. Starting in summer 2026, these tents will be upgraded to cabins, bringing even more comfort while keeping that magical sense of sleeping on the edge of the wild.
The camp is run by Caprise Stoner, who has been here for over 20 years and knows this place inside and out. She and the team are welcoming, knowledgeable, and passionate about the bears and the land.
Then of course there are the bears.
Sometimes they’re grazing in the sedge meadows, sometimes turning over clams on the beach, or moving through the shallows in search of salmon. You might even spot a lone bear wandering past the edge of camp.
In June, bear activity is at its peak – it’s mating season, and sightings can be constant. You might see over 40 bears in one sweep of the telescope. Later in the summer, the big males head off into the forest to fish, meaning fewer bears, but more iconic moments like salmon fishing, and the year’s youngest cubs making their first cautious appearances.
Feeling inspired?
Alaska Bear Camp features in our Ultimate Alaska Wildlife Safari, a fully-escorted 12-day trip. Or if you prefer travelling independently, Rosie or our other Alaska Travel Specialists will be delighted to weave a bear watching experience into your tailor made Alaska holiday.
Get in touch to start planning your big adventure. Call on 01737 214 250, or send an enquiry to start chatting through options.