Several day trip operators only spent 90 minutes at the observatory, which is an absolute shame in my opinion. It's the whole journey of the tour. They say the waters of Behm Canal can be a bit choppy at times ours was a smooth ride. While this tour gives you an excellent opportunity for viewing, it's not guaranteed. I assume this is through a cruiseline? 71. During our first cruise of the season on Princess Cruises Majestic Princess, we booked a Neets Bay Bear Cruise. We also want to have some time to see Creek street , but are concerned that the Neets Bay tour doesn't leave us much time as the ship docks at 2 and leaves at 8. Bear Viewing time: 45 minutes at Neets Bay Observatory. ) 20 million fall chum eggs for release at Neets Bay. After a short floatplane ride flying over stunning scenery of mountains, lakes and forests, we smoothly landed in Neets Bay and glided up to the dock to meet our guide. Unlike our previous Neets Bay bear watching cruise, there were multiple black bear sightings within minutes of entering the forest. My husband can't do small planes so this would be great. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Read More As we were about to touch down on the water, the pilot pointed out a mother bear and her two cubs who were walking along the shingles by the water. Bears are the superstars of the Alaska wild and to observe them in their natural habitat is one of the most sought-after adventures. There is video on youtube for just about every excursion and activity. From a secure bear observatory, you'll look down on rapids where bears gather to feed on spawning salmon. However, if a flight is canceled completely due to weather circumstances, you will receive a refund. Neets Bay Bear Watch $399 Arriving Print Email Description Info Reviews (0) FAQs 4 Hours Duration About 45 minutes on-site A Brand-New Adventure With limited spaces Stunning Views Along glacially carved fjords Wildlife Opportunity Bear sightings very common (though not guaranteed) ", Sport, Personal Use, Subsistence Information, Forecast & Tracking Weekly In Season Updates, Summer Chum Cost Recovery & Broodstock Updates, Commercial Historic Fisheries Information. This is the one drawback of the boat cruise. Neets Bay Bear cruise or coastal Wildlife in Infinity in August? There is no minimum age to participate on this tour. Activities About Careers Local 907-225-8400 Toll Free 877-947 . Join Our Community. I booked a tour to go to Traitor's Cove with a very recommended company. Neets Bay is also home to one of Southeast Alaska's salmon hatchery operations. We drifted along the shore in search of bears for a good amount of time, but we just did not have any luck. Maggie, Hollis and Captain Keith are all wonderful, very knowledgeable and about the friendliest tour guides one could ask for! Answer: Yes, safety is a number one priority so weather conditions are taken into account each day. Most sources indicate that Anan Wildlife Observatory is the BEST place to spot both black and brown bears in their natural habits. A no-bag policy applies; however, if you have medical needs that require a carry-on bag, please see the Shore Excursion office on board. Bear viewings tend to be more frequent during the salmon runs. The day begins with a fully narrated motor coach tour from your ship where you will learn the history of this special part of the world. Set amongst the . The check in and safety briefing process was thorough, yet efficient (quick). This year, we again booked our Anan Creek tour with Taquan and we were not disappointed. There are platforms at this site over the stream and also a blind that observers get 15 minutes at a time to watch the bears up close and personal. We always thought this trip would be our best chance to see black bears and so it proved. Passenger names and weights are required by the FAA for weight and balance calculations and flight manifesting. It's a lifelong dream of mine to see bears in their natural habitat. We saw 9-10 wild black bear as close as 20 feet away. The facility is also home to the old Herring Bay Lumber Company sawmill, some totems on display, and a gift shop. Ample time is provided to observe the wildlife activity in this forest ecosystem before the hike back to your awaiting aircraft. It followed the coastline (35 miles or so) and we saw bear along the way and also around the hatchery. Posted August 14, 2005. QUESTION: we were planning on doing the Misty Fjords Floatplane trip in Ketchican (sans hubby!). My last trip to Traitor's, I was more intrigued by the bear up in the tree near the trail heading down to the platform. On the floatplane tour, a brief rainforest hike leads you to the viewing area where black bears congregate to feast on salmon. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Have you taken any of these excursions? Because of its position above a salmon-filled creek, Margarete Creek Bear Viewing Platform is one of the premier places for bear watching Ketchikan offers. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. It will then be a short walk along a manicured trail to the observation platform. Your email address will not be published. Mink, marten and wolf also frequent the area. The website for the service is as follows: Don't take the boat ride - it takes too long. The floatplane flight to Neets Bay was worth the price of the trip. We were able to see bears from both shores around the bay.float (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Now for the rest of the story. Same advice as before - know where you are going, not just a "bear watch" or "bear adventure.". We booked through our (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? I was at Anan Creek in July (peak is mid July to mid August, I went July 8th but was there for 3 days). Have to chime in here. You can view seals feeding on the bountiful harvest in the lagoon. This 3.25 hour tour includes a bear-viewing opportunity at Herring Cove. Time zone. This once in a lifetime experience is only available to a select few as access to Anan Creek is restricted by U.S. Forest Service Permit. Last year, Taquan (pilot Dave and guide Mark Phillips) did an excellent job at getting us to Anan Creek. Have to chime in here. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-18482490', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');plane only goes near creek. Monument to Expression Gde-Gde? Ketchikan Expedition Black Bear Neets Bay | Voyij.com For our second Alaska cruise of the season on Holland America Lines Nieuw Amsterdam, we opted to book a wildlife walk. We sat very near shore and watched a black bear wander around for 45-60 minutes. All except one company and one person. That will make a difference as to which area is "peak." did a great job explaining all the nature in the area and some of his past experiences. Attachments Alaska has the highest concentration of black (and brown) bears, so its no wonder many cruise passengers seek out bear viewing tours. To our surprise, we had amazingly sunny and warm weather.in Ketchikan. Neets Bear Encounter By Land & Sea - Norwegian Cruise Line Cancel up to 14-days before your tour for a refund, less any non-refundable fees., If for any reason the tour is canceled (due to unpermitting weather, for example), or if your cruise ship's schedule changes, you will receive a refund minus any non-refundable fees. Alaskan Bear by Floatplane or Neets Bay Bear Watch? But so be it. You'll board a 36-passenger boat and set out for adventure toward the Neets Bay Bear Observatory. Within a few minutes we were skimming across the water and taking off from Ketchikan. Heidi is a physical therapist by profession, cruise enthusiast at heart, and Princess all the time! Neets Bay is a hotspot for black bear during salmon season, but they are still wild animals. Several day trip operators only spent 90 minutes at the observatory, which is an absolute shame in my opinion. I would vote for the trip by boat. The Neets Bay Boat trip I took lasted 4-5 hours so I don't know if you can do both. He came very close to water edges and did not seem bothered by our boat at all or the sound of float planes landing and taking off. Boat had a bathroom and some of us sat up front for great (but windy!) National composition (at the beginning of 2019): .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}493752N 725017E / 49.631N 72.838E / 49.631; 72.838. Taquan runs a great airline, they employ an enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff (including expert guides), and our safety was their priority from start to finish. You just start to wonder when you are asked to pay half in advance to someone you have never met! as we checked back into our cabin which was located on the aft of the ship, we were rewarded with a pair of humpback whales breaching over and over again. Anan Creek Bear Viewing Tour our of Ketchikan Excellent Flight, Outstanding Guide, Great Seaplane Ride with Bear Visit to Anan Creek, Local 907-225-8400 Toll Free 877-947-7557. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Visitation to the area is limited to protect this pristine wilderness area. for experiencing the Last Frontiers iconic wildlife. During a -mile guided walk along a stunning, well-maintained nature trail through the Alaska rain forest, your naturalist guide will describe the habits of the bear and the lifecycle of their favorite meal - salmon. We also got a good view of some harbor seals lurking a safe distance from the bears. It followed the coastline (35 miles or so) and we saw bear along the way and also around the hatchery. One of our newest Ketchikan cruise excursions, this limited-space adventure starts with a scenic boat ride through the multitude of islands surrounding Ketchikan. Very Poor. IF the priority is bears- then you really need to consider a fly in. We saw 9-10 wild black bear as close as 20 feet away. Load up in an Alaska-classic DeHavilland float plane and cruise high above lush and lovely Revillagigedo Island as you head . If not, how to choose? Guardians should be able to carry infants both ways on a quarter-mile hike. Since you'll be doing some hiking, tennis shoes or boots and a rain jacket is advisable as well. I highly recommend this trip to anyone, no matter where you live!! A.J. We did book with the cruise line but it is somewhat cheaper to book through the provider - Promech Air. for a beautiful & fully narrated cruise North of Revillagigedo through lush Tongass Rainforest. Simplified Chinese: Amethyst occurrence in effusive rocks located in the territory of the Sary Shagan military range (Jambyl and Karaganda Regions), to the north of Kashkanteniz Bay, near the closed city of Priozersk (Karaganda Region; coordinates 461'33"N, 7341'29"E). The scenic cruise included narration from an onboard naturalist as we passed city landmarks. Our transportation was a 65 foot vessel that offered indoor seating as well as an observation deck. From a boat- which doesn't get close, gives you so so views anyway. The max size allowed is : 3 MB. I feel like every attraction I review from my recent Alaskan cruise gets the label "experience of a lifetime." I will check out the videos in a bit. Some of these included the Ketchikan airport, Totem Bight totem park, and Guard Lighthouse. No guarantees on viewing. We booked through our (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? However, given its distance from Ketchikan and capacity limits, most cruise lines do not offer excursions here. This was one of the two top tours our group took while in Alaska for twelve days. Given the high concentration of black bears in Alaska, we provide our input on the best bear viewing sites in Ketchikan, Alaska on a cruise. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. :eek: :p. Yes we saw whales but really had to search them out. This bear viewing location is one of a few sights in the world where you can watch both brown and black bear feed on spawning salmon. We could tell she loved living there and enjoyed sharing Neet's Bay Salmon Hatchery and black bear watching with us. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-18479956', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');plane to bear watch or the Neets Bay bear watch via boat.any new thoughts on this? Duration: 4.5-5 hours (Roundtrip from cruise ship terminal. Most sources say that the best time for bear viewing in Ketchikan, Alaska is between late June/early July and late August/early September. Answer: It's very rare that a ship is delayed into port, but in those cases, we will try our best to work with you to reschedule the tour to a later time. I am SO pleased to see there's a non-(ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Great job ProMech Air. Accessible by floatplane or boat, Neets Bay is another premier bear viewing location. As with our other Ketchikan cruise excursions, the Neets Bay Bear Watch Adventure begins with pick-up at the cruise docks. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Several day trip operators only spent 90 minutes at the observatory, which is an absolute shame in my opinion. Check us out and book your adventure today. QUESTION: we were planning on doing the Misty Fjords Floatplane trip in Ketchican (sans hubby!). To ensure the safety of all travelers, guests weighing 175lbs or more may be required to pay a weight and balance fee up to the price of a second seat, to be determined on the day of the tour. We got to get a real up-close view of the bears snacking away. This area is home to an abundance of wildlife that feasts on the salmon returning upstream each year. A special SHOUT OUT to Danita Scott for convincing me to trust her and her going the extra mile to make this trip happen!! But will there still be plenty of bear sightings from a fairly close spot? After landing on serene Anan Bay, you will receive a personal briefing from a U.S. Forest Service Park Ranger. They are literally 2-3 ft away (you are on a deck overlooking them). (we'll be in port 10:00AM - 6:00PM). Report inappropriate content . Bears inhabit the area and fish in this creek throughout the summer and early fall months. But so be it. Many cruise lines also offer excursions to Traitors Cove for bear viewing. viewing. This experience involves an increased amount of physical activity including walking over uneven terrain and extended periods of standing. Hotels near KarLag / Museum of Political Repression Victims Memory of the Dolinka Settlement, Hotels near Central Park of Culture and Rest. It was early in the season, so bears were not guaranteed. Taquan Air | Neets Bay Bear Viewing, Ketchikan, Alaska They are both great, but I would have to pick the floatplane trip with Promech, I've gone twice and have seen dozens of bears, some VERY close, both times, plus you get the whole floatplane experience, which is incredible. Each of these tours have their pros and cons. We saw 9-10 wild black bear as close as 20 feet away. Live your dreams. Comfortable hiking footwear and waterproof outerwear are recommended, Aircraft weight/balance may require guests 250 lbs or more to pay surcharge, Shopping opportunities will be available at Taquan Air's terminal. Answer: If you have sharp eyes, it's certainly possible to see wildlife on the mountains below. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Usually more bears are sighted there. The float plane ride was very authentic and our pilot was right out of Northern Exposure. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. While the Alaska cruise season runs from late April through early October, there are certain times of the Alaska cruise season that increase your odds for wildlife sightings. Hi guys. There was one large male bear fishing salmon out of the water and we were able to view him from about 3 metres away. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Cancel up to 14-days before your tour for a refund, less any non-refundable fees., If for any reason the tour is canceled (due to unpermitting weather, for example), or if your cruise ship's schedule changes, you will receive a refund minus any non-refundable fees. I can't say enough great things about Mark; we highly recommend him if you can get him for your tour. The floatplane flight to Neets Bay was worth the price of the trip. Keep your eyes open at all times. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. $449.00 (ages 10 and up) $259.00 (ages 5 to 9) Activity Level & Duration Moderate 5.5 to 6 Hours Experience Type Nature Age 5 And Up (recommended for ages 10 and up) Cruise to Neets Bay Bear Observatory and learn about the habitat of the Alaskan Bear. The Neets Bay Boat trip I took lasted 4-5 hours so I don't know if you can do both. Our naturalist was Amanda. Your Rating She is always looking for the latest and greatest adventures onboard and ashore, enjoys researching top things to do in ports of call, and loves dressing up for formal nights.