Trip journal - 4 days/3nts polar bear viewing in Kaktovik
Here is a link to my trip journal for an amazing 3 night/4 day trip to Kaktovik to see and photograph polar bears.
https://my.getjealous.com/fti
Though I seem to say it often, this might indeed be a "once-in-a-lifetime" trip. It is super expensive - by far the most expensive trip I have taken in Alaska. But I am so glad that I did it.
A 4-day, 3-night polar bear viewing trip to Kaktovik is one of the most extraordinary wildlife experiences available in Alaska. Located on Barter Island along the Arctic Ocean, Kaktovik is a remote Iñupiat village that has become world-renowned for its unique access to polar bears, particularly in late summer and fall when the bears gather near town to feed before the sea ice returns.
Travel to Kaktovik typically involves flying from Fairbanks or Deadhorse (Prudhoe Bay), with small charter planes providing service to the village. Because of its isolation, the journey itself is part of the adventure, offering sweeping views of Alaska’s North Slope tundra and Arctic coastline.
Most visitors join guided photography or viewing tours operated by licensed local guides who are authorized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These tours take you out by small boat or along the shoreline to safely observe the polar bears that frequent the barrier islands and coastline. Viewing is usually excellent between August and October, when dozens of bears can be seen resting, swimming, or feeding.
Typical inclusions for a 4-day/3-night trip are:
- Round-trip charter flights between Fairbanks (or Deadhorse) and Kaktovik
- Lodging in a local guesthouse or small inn
- Daily guided bear-viewing excursions, often by boat
- Meals prepared by the lodge or local hosts
- Opportunities for cultural interaction with Iñupiat residents
Because logistics are complex and space is limited, costs are high—often several thousand dollars per person. Despite the expense, most travelers describe the experience as unforgettable, offering close encounters with polar bears in their natural habitat and a rare glimpse into life in Alaska’s far north.
Visitors should be prepared for cold, windy conditions and simple accommodations, as Kaktovik is a small subsistence community with limited infrastructure. Internet and phone access can be spotty, and amenities are minimal, but the authenticity and natural beauty more than make up for it.
For wildlife photographers and adventure travelers, a Kaktovik polar bear trip truly is a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience—an intimate and humbling way to witness one of the Arctic’s most majestic animals in its fragile ecosystem.
