*New Dates Just Announced for Summer & Fall 2021

July is now *SOLD OUT*  -  we still have space on our September Trips but hurry!
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Alaska Uncharted: Wild Coastal Brown Bears
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A few months ago we announced this special new trip with BCJ photographers Russell Graves & Russ Nordstrand.

We've since opened a few new departures and we now have just a few spots left on our September dates.

If photographing giant Alaskan Brown bears with our exclusive access to prime coastal habitat in remote Alaska sounds like your cup of tea - come join us!

This is a camping adventure & likely Backcountry Journeys’ most thrilling and adventurous wildlife photography tour yet!

Click below to watch the webinar we ran a few months ago with Matt Meisenheimer, Russell Graves, Kenton Krueger & Russ Nordstrand as they discuss the trip.

Let's go photograph some bears - we'll see you in Alaska!

Watch the Recorded Webinar

Watch as Russell Graves, Matt Meisenheimer, Kenton Krueger & Russ Nordstrand discuss this Backcountry Journeys special departure.

We've added new dates for summer & fall 2021 since this was recorded - see current dates below.

2021 Dates

July 10th to 14th, 2021 - SOLD OUT

July 15th to 19th, 2021 - SOLD OUT
July 18th to 22nd, 2021 - SOLD OUT
September 8th to 12th, 2021 - SOLD OUT
September 11th to 15th, 2021 - 4 Spots Left
September 11th to 15th, 2021 - 4 Spots Left

What happens when the surreal experience of photographing giant Alaskan Brown bears is combined with having exclusive access to prime coastal habitat in remote Alaska? Well, you get Backcountry Journeys’ most thrilling and adventurous wildlife photography tour yet!

Backcountry Journeys announces Alaska Uncharted: Wild Coastal Brown Bears, a Special Departure led by Russ Nordstrand & Russell Graves, that is all of those things described above, and more. We couldn’t be more excited about this one.

For this wilderness camping adventure, BCJ will take you to a remote corner of the Alaskan Peninsula for an exclusive opportunity to experience and photograph bears while camping amongst them in their natural environment. This unique opportunity to photograph coastal brown bears where few if any photographers have ever visited is possible due to local connections we’ve established from years of guiding in Alaska.

We’ll travel together to a remote corner of Alaska by chartered bush plane (there are no roads), where we’ll spend three nights in a private wilderness camp along the coast. This land is a rich coastal habitat far from any roads, towns, and other people. Submersing ourselves in the heart of ‘bear country’ will allow us excellent access to the action, maximizing our photography.

Each day, we’ll venture out from base camp in search of bear photography opportunities, of which there is no shortage. Everything you’re looking for in an Alaskan adventure will be for the taking here, including photogenic encounters with Alaskan Brown bears amongst a raw Alaskan landscape backdrop that most people won’t get to see. Yes, this one is truly exclusive!

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On this 5-day Tour / Workshop we will be immersed in brown bear photography from the beginning until the end. Alaska is the best place in the world to photograph brown bears. 98% of brown bears in the United States live in Alaska, and 70% of the total North American population. The western coast of the Cook Inlet in particular is home to the highest densities of brown bears in the world – and that’s exactly where we’re heading on this trip.

This trip offers countless opportunities to photograph bears. Depending on the time of year, bears may be feeding on sedges & clams, fishing for salmon, or just meandering & playing around. Expect opportunities to photograph big male ‘boars’ and tiny cubs too. It’s not unusual to see 30+ bears a day – Alaska bear photography is that good!

We’ll spend three nights at our remote private wilderness camp – equipped with tents, gear, and all the necessities needed for a comfortable camping experience. For the utmost protection, camp is protected by an electric fence. Our wilderness camp not only makes this the ultimate Alaska experience, but also puts us in close proximity to excellent bear viewing areas. This is a one-of-a-kind photo adventure. You’ll not only experience Alaska in its rawest form, but also capture once in a lifetime photos of Alaska brown bears.

Fantastic, full-frame images are possible with lenses ranging from 300mm to 400mm. Zoom out a little and you can photograph bears with beautiful. Rugged mountains in the background. The possibilities are endless! Aside from brown bears we may also have the opportunity to photograph other species such as moose, fox, wolf, Bald Eagles, sea otters and harbor seals.

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Join us for world-class bear photography on our Alaska Uncharted: Wild Coastal Brown Bears trip.

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  • Private Bear Camp
Enjoy exclusive access to our private bear camp in prime brown bear territory on the Alaska Peninsula between Lake Clark & Katmai National Parks!
  • Learn wildlife Photography from a pro!
Get hands on 1:1 instruction from two professional photographers who have both spent years photographing the bears of Alaska.
  • Cutting Edge Photography Techniques
Expect to learn everything from basic camera settings for wildlife to more advanced techniques like auto-focus tracking
  • Small Group

This trip strictly limited to nine photographers

  • So many bears....
This location is incredible. It is often possible to see up to 40 bears in one day!
  • The BEST Trip Leaders
Russ Nordstrand & Russell Graves have been exploring, guiding & photographing Alaska for years – you won’t find better trip leaders or instructors anywhere.
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Day-To-Day Itinerary

Please note: This is a “hiker” tour, so you'll need to be able to hike on sometimes rocky & uneven terrain.

Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Day One (Travel Day)(D) 

Arrive in Anchorage, Alaska by 5pm for orientation and welcome dinner.

Day Two (B,L,D) 

Today we will board a bush plane for the coast of the Alaskan Peninsula. After a safety briefing, we will begin photographing brown bears! We’ll spend the entire rest of the day photographing the bears as they run, swim, fight, fish the streams, roam the sedge meadows, and clam along the tidal flats. 

Days Three & Four (B,L,D) 

Full days of hiking & photography as we photograph countless bears along the coastal habitat of the Cook Inlet.

Day Five (B) 

We’ll have a morning session of photography during magic hour lighting and then have a delicious breakfast before we board the bush plane for mainland Alaska. After arriving on the Kenai Peninsula we will drive a short distance where you will have the opportunity to shower and freshen up before we shuttle the rest of the way back to Anchorage. You can book flights home any time after 7 pm out of Anchorage.

Wild Coastal Brown Bears

5 Days / 4 Nights

Trip Price: $3295

BCJ Tribe Members: $2965

Deposit: $1500

Fitness Level: Hiker (2)

Meals: All meals included

Start / End: Anchorage, Alaska

Our Guests Love Backcountry Journeys

At Backcountry Journeys we’ve been perfecting photography trips for years and have some of the BEST photo pros & Trip Leaders in the business. With one of the highest return guest ratios in the adventure travel space we’ve become the gold standard for what a photography tour / workshop should look like. Our commitment to our guests & personalized attention is what sets us apart from the rest – and it shows.

Backcountry Journeys “Tribe” community is one of the most active in the industry – and our guests come back year after year to experience new photo destinations – sometimes several times per year!

But don’t just take it from us! Our TripAdvisor page says it all – below are a few recent testimonials from some of our past travelers:

Testimonials
Backcountry Journeys Photography Trips are World Class
We set the bar high - but don't just take our word for it! The following reviews are straight from our TripAdvisor Page!

“What an amazing trip we had! Thanks to Ben and PJ, our very competent and patient guides, we saw a huge variety of wonderful vistas from delicate snow scenes in the first two days contrasted with the steam arising in places, to massive mountains in cloud and sunlight, magical pine forests and geysers. At all times we had access to Ben and PJ to ask for advice of needed and they offered suggestions for good angles for shooting landscape and wildlife shots. Among the wildlife we saw were many bison and elk herds, pronghorn antelope, bald eagles, grizzly bears (Mum with two cubs), chipmunks, Red-tailed hawk, coyote and even distant wolves! We were very fortunate with the weather which allowed us to see the landscapes in a variety of moods in snow, cloud and sunlight, all helping to give us a broad taste of these magnificent wilderness parks.

I can highly recommend these tours to anyone as they are great value for money, often exciting, educational and a lot of fun!”

Marion A

Sydney, Australia

“Glacier National Park is glorious! I highly recommend taking this Backcountry Journeys trip. It was our second trip (previously did Zion and Bryce with Russ and Crystal) and my husband and I were very happy with the results.

Matt Meisenheimer is a fabulous guide who really takes his craft seriously. He always made sure we were in the right place at the right time and was willing to put in extra time to allow us to see more areas within the park.

Matt taught me new functions and features on my camera that made me enjoy the trip even more. To be honest, you don’t get much sleep on this trip – up early and out until late, but the landscapes are so beautiful, you just don’t mind.

I can’t wait for our next two trips with Backcountry in 2020 – Yosemite and Grand Teton. I’m sure those trips will be equally awe inspiring and rewarding.”

Linda E

Chicago, Illinois

"Just completed the Great Smoky Mountains in Autumn standard trip with Backcountry Journeys. This is my 3rd trip with BCJ and as was expected it was another awesome trip. Our guides, Russell Graves and Ben Blankenship were great. Having focused mainly on landscape tours previously, this tour had a good mix of landscape and wildlife. Our guides were patient, proficient and extremely helpful in providing tips on appropriate lenses and the proper camera setting for every occasion. Since they had abundant knowledge of the Smokies we were in the right place at the right time. To top off the fact that being in the Park was special, the food and lodging provided throughout the trip were top notch!"

Tony E

Springfield, Missouri

"I'm an amateur photographer and wanted a tour that focused on getting "the picture" as well as teaching you about your camera and getting those pictures. This group did exactly that. I went on Backcountry Journey's Ultimate Northern Lights 6-day trip in Oct 11-17, 2020. Had a fantastic experience! Our guide, Russ, was knowledgeable, helpful, patient and definitely wanted us to have a good photo experience. Ours was a small group (thanks to COVID), but he gave individual attention to each of us and was always ready to answer questions or help. Fortunately for our group, the weather, KP numbers, and solar wind cooperated and we got some incredible pics! Russ had several different sites picked out for us to view the Lights, and was flexible to make changes when the weather dictated to do so. They chose a very nice hotel and restaurants for us. They also had COVID rules that the group adhered to, making the trip comfortable under the circumstances. I would highly recommend the company and will travel with them in the future."

Cindy S

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

"My first photo trip ever, booked almost last minute - and absolutely great experience!
Small group of people with similar expectations, led by two guides-professional photographers, knowing the area and understanding nature - all together looks like the recipe for success!
Yellowstone and Grand Teton in autumn offer unlimited opportunities for photographers, both professional and amateur. Having guides ready to give precious hints and advice taught me a lot, and nice personalities of Ben and Russell - our guides - made the trip also fun."

Dorota P

New Haven, Connecticut


"We had an exceptional trip with Backcountry Journeys to Katmai and the Northern Lights. We were able to get up close with the bears and have lots of opportunities to take great photos. The photographic advice was top notch. Same was true for Northern Lights!!

Our guide knew where to go, how to get us there and then get great pictures. Lots of night photography skills were shared."

Peter T

Piedmont, South Carolina



“This 5 day, six night photo workshop on the Big Island of Hawaii was more then I had even imagined. Monumental exploding surf, plunging waterfalls and isolated beaches for sunrise and sunset. Our photographer guide always at the ready with suggested gear or a strong arm down a steep hillside.
All inclusive workshop had us at very nice accommodations and great food choices from fine dinning to quirky breakfast spots.
My second trip with Backcountry Journeys. Also a wonderful way for a photographer to see the right spots.”

Stephana B

Fishers, Indiana


"This was a bucket list trip for me and it totally exceeded all my expectations and then some! From my initial conversations with Russ, the ease of booking, reminders/updates along the way and the trip in genearl was amazing! The guides, all experienced/advanced photographers, went out of their way to make sure we got the best shots possible and were always willing to do what it took to help! Even the rain didn't slow us down! My co-photograhers were also awesome and I made lifetime memories and friends!"

Terry B

Dallas, Texas


Book Your Trip Today knowing that your purchase is protected & backed by one of the most rock solid guarantees in the travel industry

HERE’S THE DEAL

We’re so confident that the trips we offer will not only meet but exceed the lofty expectations set forth on our website – if your trip experience does not 100% match the promises laid forth on our website we will gladly give you a credit toward a future trip. Natural events such as wildlife & weather are certainly out of our control but every aspect of the trip including logistics, accommodations, vehicles, itinerary & your expert trip leaders will match the lofty promises we’ve made on the site – we guarantee it!

Worry Free Travel

If there are still any COVID-19 related travel issues during any trip you book – rest assured you will be able to transfer your trip at no cost before your final payment is due. Our peace of mind guarantee to you!

On top of that we offer one of the most rock solid guarantees in the travel industry.

Book Your Spot!
  • Alaska Uncharted: Wild Coastal Brown Bears - ($3595 Value)

          Special Price: $3295 or $2965 for Tribe Members!


Book Your Trip

$3595

$3295

BCJ Tribe Member? $2965

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Trip Deposit Only $1500


Hurry. We are only accepting nine photographers on these exclusive departures. 

*Final Balance due 120 days prior to departure

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