Last updated: October 2, 2019
Itinerary
What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.
September 9
Meet your guide for a pre-trip meeting at 4pm in Fairbanks at Arctic Wild headquarters in Fairbanks.
September 10
Fly from Fairbanks, over the mighty Yukon River, across the Arctic Circle to the Arctic Coast and land in Kaktovik where we settle into our hotel.
September 11
Weather permitting, we will enjoy a boat ride with a local guide. We will certainly see polar bears but we may also see bowhead whales, bearded seals and perhaps even beluga whales. Once back on shore and fed, we await evening and then will have the opportunity to watch bears on the beach.
September 12
Another full day in Kaktovik and we will spend it on the water with our local guide. With a full day to explore we can travel a bit further and take time to watch the bears interacting with each other.
September 13
A final trip out on the water to see what the bears are up to. Changing light, temperatures, and weather make each trip on the water unique. We will have the bulk of the day to watch loons, eiders, or polar bears, or do whatever suits your fancy. Weather permitting, we will fly back to Fairbanks in time for dinner.
Why so expensive?
The Arctic is an expensive place to work and live. Transportation costs are tremendously high. After years of relying on regularly scheduled air service to access Kaktovik, we have decided to only use chartered airplanes for this trip. We have found that charters are much more reliable when the weather is marginal, making it a better trip for you. We also don’t want to fill all the planes to this remote community with “tourists” when the locals rely on the plane for access to medical and other services.
