Hallo Bay Bear Viewing
Tours 19 & 112

Hallo Bay is a private camp located on the Pacific Coast of Katmai National Park specializing only in guided bear viewing and photography trips. Bear observation in the field is conducted under the direction of professional guides whose primary duties include the safety of guests and the continued preservation of this unique area and its magnificent wildlife. Hallo Bay Wilderness is designed to be a wildlife and bear viewing experience in a true Alaska wilderness setting. There are no viewing platforms or man-made trails at Hallo Bay, and with a client to guide ration of 5 to 1, the human footprint on the wildlife habitat is much less impacted.  The Hallo Bay Bear Camp was created with an acute awareness of the pristine environment rather than focusing attention on luxurious accommodations.

5-HOUR Tour Program Tour 19

The trip begins with a morning departure from Homer by charter airplane, flying across the Cook Inlet and past Mount Augustine Volcano.  The flight to Hallo Bay takes about 1 hour and the route follows the lush green coastline of the Alaska Peninsula which is capped with active volcanoes and massive glaciers terminating in iceberg filled lakes. This is the habitat of one of the largest natural concentrations of Brown Bears in the world.

Upon arrival you will be met by your naturalist guide for an orientation, and then your guide will lead you to the best bear viewing location for the day.  The walk can vary with the season and while not strenuous, it requires guests have good mobility.  The grassy terrain is natural and fairly level with only wildlife trails.  The walk could be up to approximately 1 to 1.5 mile.

The tour is about 5 hours long in total. At Hallo Bay you will spend about 3 hours viewing bears from a safe distance with your guide.  Please note that the departure and return time of this tour will vary depending on the weather conditions of that day.

Overnight Programs: 2-Night Tour Tour 112

Day 1: Homer to Hallo Bay Bear Camp

 This morning, depart on a 1 hour charter flight from Homer to Hallo Bay Wilderness camp. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you to assist with moving your gear and provide a brief orientation. Once settled in, enjoy lunch and a bear safety discussion by your Hallo Bay Guides. Then enjoy bear viewing with your guide and a family style dinner at camp. Tonight, lounge around the galley while discussing the day’s adventure, relax in the lounge chairs with a nice cup of coffee or hot chocolate, play cards, read a book or play a board game.

Day 2:  Remember to look around before you step out of your cabin as it is common to have bears in the camp at anytime!  Breakfast is served in the galley. Your lunch will be packed by the cook in preparation for a full day outing.  Spend the day on a guided walk (easy but long distance) to the south of the Camp where there is a very interesting tidal lagoon. The point overlooking the lagoon affords good views of the area's glaciers, volcanoes, brown bears, moose, shorebirds, waterfowl, and nesting bald eagles. The lagoon is excellent bear habitat in all seasons, providing succulent sedges from May to July, and salmon runs from July to October. The beach combing in this area is incredible due to the nature of the currents. Japanese glass net floats, old shipwreck debris, thousands of beached logs, whale bones, and countless other objects are stacked against the sand dunes.   Return to Camp in time for dinner, followed by an evening educational program which may be about bears, geology, wildlife photography, or native culture.

Day 3:  Return to Homer after breakfast.

5-HOUR Tour: 1-hour scenic flight from Homer to the Pacific coast of Katmai National Park and return. Guided bear viewing with a Hallo Bay naturalist guide.

Overnight Tours: 1-hour scenic flight from Homer to the Pacific coast of Katmai National Park and return.  Guided bear viewing with a Hallo Bay naturalist guide. Overnight in comfortable accommodation with shared wash room facilities (see important notes). All meals included during stay. Stay is based on a 24-hr period.

Meals for the 5-hr tour. Gratuity on all tours.

5-Hour Tour: Daily departures from May 15 - Sept 25, 2008

2-Night Tour: Mondays and Wednesdays from June 2 - Sept. 22, 2008

3-Night Tour: Fridays from June 6 - Sept. 19, 2008

Helpful Information

·   Bear viewing opportunities: Hallo Bay Camp is located in the highest natural concentration of brown bears in Alaska. Anytime from May to October Hallo Bay provides excellent opportunities to observe the bears. The area of Hallo Bay is a food rich natural habitat where bears find all foods and do not leave the area, whether it be fish, berries, clams, or sweet grasses.

·   Weight limit for flights: 200 pound is the total allowed weight per person including body weight & luggage

·   Bear Viewing: Bear viewing is by foot. Accompanied by the guide (usually 4-5 guest per guide) guests walk through wilderness including grass, meadows, along the beach etc. Guests need to be prepared to walk up to 8-9 hours, for about 4-5 miles average. Difficulty level: moderate walk.

·   Overnight accommodations: Guest overnight in weatherproof designed tent cabins. They are very simple, have wooden floors, solid doors, windows with screens, a small sink and vanity, table/chairs, gas lighting, heater and beds/bedding. There are two private hot showers located in separate buildings and two composting toilets serving the camp.

·   What to bring: warm clothing, rain gear, boots and rubber boots. (Clothing colors should be kept to dark or earth tone shades such as green, blue, brown, black and grey). Towels for the showers, shampoos and soaps. The camp operates an environmentally friendly eco camp.  All products being used and that guests use have to have the environmentally friendly label on every product. Alcoholic beverages are not available at the camp but can be brought to the camp by guests.

·   Weather Circumstances: Guests need to prepare for rainy days. Even though it rains a lot in the area, guests still will go out for bear viewing.  It is important to plan several extra weather window days AFTER this tour program in case the return flights is being delayed due to bad weather!

·    Children are welcome at the camp but they must be under parental supervision at all times!

This itinerary may change - without notice - due to weather, tides, animal behavior, arriving or departing aircraft schedules and client safety.