2025 Alaska Bears, Auroras, and Puffins

Dates: Aug. 26 – Sept. 1, 2025
Location: Lake Clark National Park
Focus: Photographing coastal brown bears, auroras, puffins, fox, otters, moose
Limit: 7 persons (1 spot left)

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve

Late August is the perfect month to get those famous “fishing bear” photos, along with cubs sparring and playing among the last of the bright pink fireweed. As bears try to fatten up before hibernation, get ready for non-stop action! Plus, we take a special trip out to “puffin island” to view hundreds of puffins (horned and tufted) flying with silvery lances in their beaks to their nests to feed chicks. Other animals out and about include moose, fox, wolves, and bald eagles. BONUS: August provides us opportunities to photograph the stunning northern lights!

Trip Level

When you think of Alaska, you think of bears. On this trip, we guarantee you’ll see them or we’ll credit your deposit toward a future trip! While this trip is perfect for shutterbugs, others who enjoy wildlife viewing and fishing will get a true Alaska adventure. To join this trip, you must be able to walk up and down stairs, and ride comfortably in planes, small boats, and shuttles. The activity level is rated 2 / relatively easy.

The Trip at a Glance

  • 6 days and 6 nights, including fully guided, safe bear viewing in the heart of bear country.
  • Comfortable accomodations with modern ammenities and gourmet meals.
  • Small group size: 6 tour participants
  • 1-hour+, round-trip flightseeing tour to and from Lake Clark and Anchorage.
  • Daily photography instruction, along with educational dialogue about bear behavior and the flora and fauna of Alaska, while shadowing Michelle Theall, Alaska Magazine’s executive editor and award-winning photographer for the title.
  • 4xs per day+ bear-viewing excursions along the coast and rivers, depending on tides.
  • 1x boat trip out to puffin island to photograph horned and tufted puffins, kittiwakes, sea otters, and bald eagles.
  • Northern lights viewing on clear evenings, away from light pollution of cities.

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Airfare to and from Anchorage and your home, trip insurance, and gratuities, not included. Full terms and conditions available with deposit.

For more information or to secure a spot on the trip, please contact info@wilddepartures.com ASAP or book immediately by submitting your deposit below. Or, call: 720-635-1380 for additional details.

2025 Alaska Bears, Auroras, and Puffins

$8,550.00

1 in stock

Pay a deposit of $4,000.00 per item

Your Guides

Explore wildlife around the world with our expert tour leaders. You’re in good hands with the best in the business.

We understand animals, but we also know what it takes to make photographers and wildlife-lovers happy. A couple decades in the field working with humans and critters allow us to make your trip easy, fun, and awe-inspiring. And while you’ll see amazing creatures, it’s also what you won’t see that will make your trip successful. Our team’s exceptional planning, logistics, and nimble problem solving skills create worry-free travel for our clients.

Michelle Theall

Michelle Theall

Michelle Theall is the executive editor and a professional photographer at Alaska Magazine. She owns Wild Departures, a company she started to share her global travel expertise with avid shutterbugs, to bring them to the right place at the right time for the image of a lifetime. Her work has appeared in publications and private galleries and she’s been profiled by Oprah, the Travel Channel, and the Today Show.
Woman in lime green coat holding camera with telephoto lens sitting on rocky area

Corrynn Cochran

We call Corrynn Cochran “superfun” because she brings that attitude to her work. As the former photo editor at two different national titles and an accomplished professional wildlife photographer, Corrynn makes sure everyone gets the shot.