Wildlife of Alaska

The pristine wilderness of Alaska is, perhaps, the last vestige of thriving populations of North American wildlife. Where else can you see polar bears, bald eagles, blue and humpback whales, gray wolves, grizzly bears, orcas, lynx, moose, and hundreds of other rare and endangered species in their original and undisturbed natural habitats? Let our guides take you deep into the heart of these natural habitats beyond the end of the limited road systems. Take advantage of our lodges, flying safaris, or private shore excursions from your cruise ship. However you plan to travel through Alaska, let us take care of customizing your trip and making it the trip of a lifetime.

View Wildlife from the Finest Lodges in Alaska

Stay at a wilderness lodge for unlimited opportunities for exposure to the remote landscapes that the wildlife call home. Of course the wildlife in Alaska is just that, �wild,� but several of our lodges have prime wildlife viewing areas just outside their doors. Wildlife dominates the land in Alaska and your hosts and guides at the lodges will take you on the water, in the woods, and on back trails to explore the diverse environments that are home to creatures great and small.

North Face Lodge
Glacier Bay's Bear Track Inn
The Lodge at Whale Pass
Redoubt Bay Lodge
Favorite Bay Lodge
Kantishna Roadhouse

Flying Safari - The Ultimate Means to View Alaskan Wildlife

Let your Alaskan bush pilot/guide show you the secret wonders of the great land. Touch down on virgin beaches where herds of walrus tumble together in the sun. Land on river bars to observe bears, with no hint of human presence. If wildlife in Alaska is what you want to see, a flying safari is your ideal means of pursuit.

Learn more about Entrée Alaska's flying safaris

Wildlife Viewing on Private Shore Excursions

Our private guides will meet you at the end of your cruise ship dock and whisk you away to the heart of wild Alaska, where you will become one with the nature surrounding you. Although seeing wildlife is not a guarantee, our guides have a high success rate and since your tour is custom, they will make great efforts to take you to the most active areas that day.

Bears at Anan Remote Observatory - Ketchikan

Bears are near the top of almost everyone�s list of things to see when they visit Alaska, but the opportunities are very limited � especially for cruising visitors. We have designed this private and exclusive adventure for those who want to see bears in their natural habitat. Few natural places in North America offer the wildlife viewing opportunities found at remote and beautiful Anan Creek. Fly in your private float plane with an experienced bush pilot & guide deep into the vast Tongass National Forest - one of the most spectacular natural wilderness areas in this part of Alaska - to one of Alaska's premier bear viewing areas.

Anan Creek is an ancient Tlingit native fishing site that has the largest pink salmon run in Southeast Alaska, attracting significant numbers of black and brown bears to feast on the bounty. Your guide will lead you along the half mile trail to the observation deck, a covered deck area that gives you an opportunity to view the bears up close. The observation platform and photo blind overlook cascading falls where the salmon jump up river and the bears catch their meal. Although bear sightings are never guaranteed - after all it is the wild and not a zoo � we reliably see bears roughly 95% of the time from early July - mid to late August.

Duration: 4-hours (approximately)

Season: Early July - mid to late August

Note: Space is regulated by USFS permits; book early to avoid disappointment

Marine Mammals and Birds - Sitka

Experience a side of Sitka most cruise guests never see � if you love to discover wildlife in their natural environment, this trip is for you! While most of the marine mammal excursions offered on the ships in Sitka focus on sea otters, this wildlife safari has a much broader natural history approach. Join our naturalist/captain to see bald eagles, sea otters, sea lions, whales and a myriad of seabirds. Sitka Sound�s beautiful panorama unfolds for you as your experienced captain takes you to the hidden islands and inlets and helps you identify the species being observed.

Some of the birds often seen include tufted puffins, rhinoceros auklets, common murres, pelagic cormorants, glaucous-winged gulls and black oyster catchers. Take the opportunity to view the unspoiled, natural world that surrounds Sitka.

Duration: 4-hours (approximately)

Included: Gourmet picnic lunch

Note: This tour is limited to a maximum of six people

Wildlife Quest and Beach Trek Adventure - Sitka

Embark on Alaska�s most intimate wildlife viewing adventure aboard a deluxe catamaran, and step ashore onto a remote island to explore the rugged coast.

Your knowledgeable Captain will use his understanding of
tides, weather and seasonal evolutions to design an expedition uniquely suited to the day. The high speed and
maneuverability of your water jet-powered craft will allow you to explore areas unreachable by conventional boat, and witness the very best of Sitka Sound�s marine and coastal wildlife.

Whales, sea otters, puffins and brown bears are just a few of the species that thrive in this pristine environment. As animals are sighted, the Captain will skillfully maneuver the vessel to provide optimal viewing, and your expert Naturalist will explain their fascinating life-cycles and behaviors. Enjoy the encounter from the comfort of the spacious, window-lined cabin, or experience it with all your senses from out on deck. While beach combing, keep an eye out for Japanese fishing floats and other exotic flotsam.

Enjoy a delicious snack, beverage and the companionship of your fellow explorers, on the relaxing cruise back to Sitka. Note: Wear sturdy foot gear and warm clothing.

Duration: 3-hours (approximately)

Included: Snacks and beverages

Note: This tour is limited to a maximum of 16 people

Note: Participants should be in good health and able to cover uneven terrain. Total walking distance is up to a ½ mile.

Whales and Wilderness Expedition - Juneau

Southeast Alaska�s Inside Passage is a place where deep waterways rest between forested islands, where mountains rise steeply above rocky beaches, where ice fields cover the highest peaks and glaciers flow inexorably down valleys. Here the wilderness is full of the teeming life of the rain forest, plants and animals in a profusion so great you really have to see it for yourself to believe it. The best way to explore this wilderness is via your own private exploration vessel.

We don�t want you to miss this experience. That�s why we are offering this very special tour in a fully guided exploratory trip in a covered 32� rigid-hull inflatable boat. This watercraft is the perfect platform for wildlife watching; large panel windows open to give you an eye-to-eye experience with these amazing whales, and the boat is also equipped with a hydrophone to listen to the underwater songs of these fascinating mammals.

Your Captain will help you seek out the prolific wildlife that thrives off these rich waters: Breaching whales, spouting Orca's, playful porpoises, curious sea lions, soaring eagles and at times lumbering brown bears. Juneau is a place connected in many ways to the land & the sea and this limited tour provides a personal close up look into both of these wilderness environments.

Our award-winning Naturalist Guides are the best in the business, and will provide leadership and information throughout the trip.

Each trip will be custom-crafted to fit the interests of the group and the conditions of the day. We operate in most weather conditions; dress in warm layers and wear comfortable walking shoes. We will provide a picnic-style luncheon.

Duration: 4-hours (approximately), 3-hours on the water

Included: Picnic-style luncheon

Brown Bear Viewing with Flightseeing Adventure

This premium tour gives you a chance to experience the best of Alaskan nature. Start your tour in Skagway where you will meet your bush pilot to begin your fifty minute glacier flight. You will travel above the waterfall-strewn cliffs, peer down at the massive ice towers of the Davidson Icefall, and marvel at the Rainbow Glacier, a hanging glacier with an enormous waterfall pouring from its face.

Arrive in Haines where you will be met by your experienced naturalist guide. Travel by comfortable van to Chilkoot Lake State Park, a popular fishing and bear viewing area for local residents. This park has it all, a salmon-filled river flowing into the sea, a pristine lake surrounded by snowcapped peaks, and a healthy brown bear population that comes down to the river in the evening to feed. Beginning in August, the pink salmon are running and the chance of seeing bear increases substantially. Although we cannot guarantee wildlife sightings, we will make every effort to give you the bear viewing experience of a lifetime. Upon completion of your tour, you will travel back to Skagway for your embarkation.

Duration: 4-hours (approximately)

Included: Catamaran ride or small plane Haines-Skagway.

Please contact one of our travel planners.