We are planning to drive from Seward to Homer mainly for bear viewing bush plane tour. I was told there are similar tours from Soldotna. If they are good then we'll not have to drive to Homer. Please let me know your opinions. Also about the bush plane tours to 'Arctic circle' from Anchorage. Thanks.

Krishna

I can't imagine that the air tours from Soldotna would be worse than those from Homer. However, if you don't drive into Homer, you'll miss one of the most electifying and awe-inspiring views in the world. Coming into town, you'll come around a curving down grade and Kachemak Bay and the lower Kenai Peninsula will spread out in front of you.

The view of the bay and the lower peninsula are superb from any elevated area around Homer but especially so the first time you see it coming around that curve. IMO, it is an experience not to be missed.

Ooops...sorry...thought this was about nudist camps.
Carry on...

Do search here under "bear watching" and check these websites

Andrew Air
www.andrewairways.com

Harvey Flying Service www.harveyflyingservice.com

Sea Hawk Air
www.seahawkair.com

Bald Mountain Air Service www.baldmountainair.com

Emerald Air Service www.emeraldairservice.com

Inlet Charters
www.halibutcharters.com

Kachemak Bay Flying Service www.alaskaseaplanes.com

Smokey Bay Air
www.SmokeyBayAir.com

Natron Air in Soldotna
www.natronair.com in Soldotna

Bear Lake Air and Guide Service www.bearlakeair.com

Alaska Air Taxi
www.alaskaairtaxi.com in Anchorage

Before you decide on a specific company call each company and ask all possible questions. Then compare cost, duration, number of people, experience of guides,, where they go, how long, etc.,

If you want to take a trip from Homer you should spend AT LEAST one night there before your trip.

Natron Air from Soldotna has a mini-trip for bear watching. IMO, it is waist of money as this trip lasts only three hours which includes flying and bear spotting. You cannot possible fully experience bears during three hours trip.

This is how Natron Air describes their trips
<Cook Inlet Bear Viewing | $275.00 per person
This flight takes us over the Cook Inlet oil platforms, past two active volcanoes (Mt. Redoubt and Mt. Iliamna) in Lake Clark National Park, and over the bays and estuaries of the western shore of Cook Inlet. We then traverse Double Glacier down to the wet lands where we quite often see beavers, wolves, moose, bears, and sea otters.This flight includes a beach landing in which we will stop and stretch our legs and take a few pictures. This is the best flight to see bears which can be quite numerous, especially in June. The flight lasts around 3 hours including time on the beach.>

From this description it is clear that a bear watching takes a place from a plane only. It looks more like a sightseeing flight than bear watching trip.

Thanks for replying. Any information about 'Talon air service' in Soldotna. Also regarding the 'Arctic circle' tours (where to go, what to see etc..etc.)

This is what Talon Air has to say about bear watching trips
<You will be able to observe these magnificent animals from the safety of our 18 foot guide boats while the bears fish for salmon, rest and play>
It means you have only a small area for bear viewing and won't be able to walk to observe them. Be aware of very limited viewing options from a boat. You get what you pay for.

As to bush plane tours to Arctic circle from Anchorage I am not aware of guided tours on small bush planes. We did take a bush plane from Nome to our remote cabin but it wasn't a tour. We were dropped off in our destination and a picked up after a few days. Is this what you have in mind? There are organized tours to Arctic Circle with Alaskan Air from Anchorage but they are not on bush planes.

Another thought, it is too long distance for a small bush plane to fly from Anchorage beyond Arctic Circle. I suggest checking out tours with Alaskan Air

Your Arctic Circle trips are out of Fairbanks. Plenty of great options. If you want to do this I suggest you get there and spend at least 2 nights.

I have done the fly/shuttle twice, very well done and a great trip. And also flown several times to different above Circle areas on Cargo runs with Warbelows.

krishana

If you mention the Arctic circle bush plane tour from Ancorage as related to a bearviewing I have no specific information. Just read that it is not so common to see bears above the arctic Circle in Alaska, especially the polar bears.

We had a wonderful bearviewing trip from Homer to katmai end of august with Baldmountain and I would suggest to try Emeraldair first then Bald Mountain or Hallo Bay.

As regards polar bears I also gave up for Alaska and will make new plans for Churcill, Manitoba mid-october to mid-november, see www.tundrabuggy.com or a nice summer cruise in Svalbard Islands, Norway, see www.spitsbergentravel.no you would have morechances to see polar bears than above alaskan arctic circle !!

If I am wrong, please let me know once you are back from Alaska.

have a wonderful trip !