Travel to Viewing Sites

Contents
o Regional transportation to communities near viewing sites
o Local transportation from communities to viewing sites
o Wilderness transportation

REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
TO A GATEWAY COMMUNITY

The least expensive way to reach a viewing site is to drive or to fly on a commuter hop to a convenient gateway community. Although many airlines fly into Alaska, very few fly within the state. The largest of these, Alaska Airlines, flies between all major cities in the state (as well as among many in other states). Era Aviation runs commuter hops from Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island. PenAir (Peninsula Airways) runs flights from Anchorage down the Alaska Peninsula. (Flights on both Alaska Airlines and Era can be booked on the web.) In Southeast Alaska, Taquan Air is the major carrier between towns and villages. Some gateway communities throughout Alaska are so remote that they can be reached only by chartering a plane or boat.

Many of Alaska’s best viewing areas are on the west coast of Cook Inlet or on the Alaska Peninsula. If you plan on visiting one of these areas, it’s usually best to book an Era flight to a gateway community on the Kenai Peninsula, rather than basing yourself in Anchorage or on Kodiak Island.

Many people regard the KP as the outdoor recreation capital of Alaska. There’s no better place to hike, fish, dine, or visit historical sites when you aren’t viewing (e.g., while waiting for your viewing expedition to begin, if you are held up for a day or two due to bad weather) or where other members of your group can enjoy themselves while you view bears.

TRANSPORTATION FROM A GATEWAY COMMUNITY
TO A VIEWING AREA

From the gateway community, travel to the viewing area will probably be by boat or bush plane. There are few viewing areas accessible by road.

There are several airline companies that offer seat fares or charters to major viewing sites on Kodiak Island, the west coast of Cook Inlet, the Alaska Peninsula, and various sites in Southeast Alaska.

There are also a few companies that ferry clients from gateway communities to viewing areas by boat. However, most companies, such as Katmai Coastal Tours, find that passengers prefer flying from a gateway community to the tour boat, then reserve the boat ride for cruising along the coast.

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Travel to Bear Viewing Sites

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