*** Warning *** Do not use Scenic Bear viewing company. We booked a trip with them to see the…read morebears. When we landed in Anchorage, we received a message that Martin had stained his foot and had to cancel. We were devastated that we might miss a trip we were dreaming about, but accidents happen and did not blame him for getting hurt. We were told we would receive our money back within 30 days. We scrambled and were about to take a trip with Smokey Bay air (go there!). Well its been over 75 day and no refund and does not respond to emails at all. So now I have to file complaints and take them to court to get my money back. Do not use this company if you can't afford to be without $2300 for nothing.

DO NOT BOOK with this company - it is a scam. While his sites are now showing as closed I am…read moreposting this in case they are active again in the future. My husband and I booked a bear viewing trip in July 2025 for my birthday. The day before the trip the owner cancelled because he "sprained his ankle". He assured my husband we would be refunded in full but several months later and after many attempts to contact him we have not received a refund. This is apparently not the first time this has happened. We have sought legal action and just hope to help other hard working individuals avoid getting their money stolen from this man again.

Have you ever wanted to load into an old Cessna airplane, and crash land on an island inhabited by…read morelarge brown bears? Do you wish you could sneak over the fence at the zoo? If so, this tour is for you! Zack expertly flew us out to his secret spot, threading the needle between mountain tops and volcanoes to land us on a remote wilderness. We hiked over to a feeding hole and watched as the bears came in to cool down, fish and play. No one else was there with the visible bears well outnumbering our group 2 to 1. The bears came as close as 50' but Zack and Tim kept us calm. We stayed tight in our group and enjoyed the show. It was fantastic. We hiked back and found the planes and we were airborne before we could say "where is the runway?" Bears aside, it was a beautiful ride and amazing location. I can't wait to do it again.

Absolutely amazing experience. Zack was awesome. The bears were in abundance. The time with them…read morewill be one I wont soon forget. I love animals and this was definitely the highlight of my Alaska experience. Thanks Zack!

We booked the Alaska Ultimate Safari. It certainly lived up to its name. My husband and I felt…read morelike this was the ultimate day in Alaska, all thanks to Eric and Kirsten. We went to the glacier first thing and saw mountain goats and spectacular glacial views. It was absolutely breath taking! Eric provided excellent commentary throughout - telling us about the natural history, geography and events that shaped the area. When we stopped back in Homer to refuel his wife Kirsten joined us to see bears and she was such a pleasure, adding even more interesting bear facts! She helped us to spot some moose and some super cool bear dens. We got to see a lot of bears in lake Clark national park and had plenty of time to take stunning pictures. Eric went out of his way to accommodate our desires and we were able to skip the volcano (very cloudy today) and go to another spot for more excellent bear viewing! The scenery was breathtaking the whole day but the last spot was truly stunning! It will be something we will remember for the rest of our lives! Also, they provide everything you needed for the trip including waders and a delicious lunch, so all we had to do was enjoy our day! Truly a wonderful experience

Absolutely phenomenal experience with Alaska Ultimate Safaris! If you're looking for the ultimate…read moreway to explore the wild beauty of Alaska, look no further than Kirsten and Eric -- by far the best helicopter pilots you could ever hope to fly with. From the very first moment, their professionalism, warmth, and deep knowledge of the region made us feel completely at ease. We embarked on the adventure of a lifetime -- bear viewing, landing on an active volcano, soaring over glaciers -- and every single moment was unforgettable. Kirsten and Eric went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, safe, and having the absolute time of our lives. Their attention to detail, calm demeanor, and passion for what they do shines through in everything, from the smooth flight experience to the stunning locations they take you to. Safety was a top priority throughout, and we never once felt anything but completely secure. It's rare to find people who balance excitement and adventure with such a strong sense of responsibility and care. As for value -- it's worth every single penny. This isn't just a flight, it's a full-on bucket list adventure curated by two of the best in the business. If you're thinking about doing anything involving a helicopter in Alaska, stop searching and book with Alaska Ultimate Safaris. You won't find a better team than Kirsten and Eric. Five stars just isn't enough!

Wow this guy is something else. We called to try to get a reservation and he was not only rude but…read moreracist. My brother had him on speaker and had asked if we were able to go fast anywhere on the trail. And the owner just went off saying things like "if you want to go fast go to that worthless Mexican down the street" (we're assuming he's talking about some other ATV charter). Then said he didn't want to do business with someone who'd ask to go fast? Then hung up on us. It was honestly so bizarre and we were all laughing about it after. Just glad we didn't sign up for four hours with that guy as our guide. Recommend you don't either

I go every year with Dan Eidm, the owner of AW4WT. He's a great guy, very informative, and best of…read moreall, the tours go something like this: Get to his house, sign papers, get in his truck and drive to nearby Nikolavesk (apologies if I can't spell russian village names correctly). He then shows you how to use the ATVs, and you follow him through the forest on ATV trails, while he rides in front looking out for animals (for your safety and his benefit... he's a hunter), picking up trash (hey, an environmentalist hunter, go figure), and stopping at the most amazing lookout spots and telling you pretty much whatever's on his mind. Really relaxing and fun time, and a fun way to see the wilderness at its best. Be sure to bring lunch (I.E. a sandwich from Subway on Pioneer works awesome), because one of the lookouts you will stop at will be an awesome lunch spot.

Be careful if you use this company or plan on using them. if you have ever left them a bad…read morereview-four years old. They may choose to leave you on the side of a mountain in November with a storm approaching. After agreeing to a price and a pick up time and location.

With a group of about 15, it cost about $45 each way for a ~20 minute ride from Homer, AK, across…read morethe bay to Kachemak Bay State Park. If you have a big group, be aware they allow about 6 people at a time on their boats. Coming back, we were scheduled for a 3pm pickup. We ran late due to some issues while rafting and messaged them on our InReach, easily rescheduling for a 7pm pickup. We finished early and with only about 45 minute's notice, they came and got us at 5:45pm instead! The captains have all been friendly. You can sit outside or in their cabin. They're also knowledgeable about the trails in the area; some are not very well maintained and they will give you a head's up on those.

This was a wonderful experience. We reserved the Classic Day Trip in June. From booking to checking…read morein the day before and the early morning pre-flight was great but nothing prepares you for how incredible this experience is. We were able to walk safely around the bears on beautiful Katmai Island. We saw several bears grazing on sedge grass and one mama bear digging for clams with three cubs. The guides explained a lot about the bears and led us to the right areas to take great photos and observe from a safe distance. Not to mention the stunning ~ hour long flight to and from the island, landing on and taking off from the beach and flying over and around scenic mountains and a volcano. Highly recommend.

I've heard about Alaska Bear Adventures for many years now. I've seen pictures and heard stories of…read moreencounters with the bears that at times seemed more fantasy than reality. A few years ago, I decided to add this activity to my list of "must do's" if I ever made it to Alaska. On June 13th, 2025, my "must do" became an "I did"! Words really can't describe the experience without writing a book, or at a minimum, a short story. If Disney got it right, this has become a core, golden orb memory for me, much like Riley's in "Inside Out." If you haven't seen the movie, suffice it to say that's a really good thing. The bear viewing was extraordinary, as all would hope for. Add to that the beautiful flight over and back that included scenery previously only dreamt of, and the knowledge, professionalism, and kindness of all the staff, including the orientation team and the pilots. If you ever get this opportunity, you need to strongly consider following through. Your "rest of life you" will be most appreciative. Sincerely, Larry Crump.

We combined a wildlife tour with a self-led hike to Glacier Lake for a fabulous all day outing with…read morethe utmost care provided by Bay Excursion: Gareth and Indigo. We saw dozens of puffins, otters with pups, eaglets, and thousands of nesting birds on Gull Island. It was a private tour and a delightful day all around! Couldn't recommend them more.

Tours of the bay for birders. Reasonable - $75 for a 3 hour trip…read more Captain Karl Stoltzfus is soft spoken, low key & highly knowledgeable. He found us Common Murrelets, a Long-tailed Jager, ayellow-billed loon, marbled murrelets, Glaucous-Winged Gulls, (also commonly seen at the pier); Black-legged Kittiwakes (ditto), Harlequin Ducks, Barrow's Golden-eyes, Brants, Pelagic & Red-faced Cormorants, Tufted & Horned Puffins. He's a great resource for birders.

My friend and I booked directly with Seabird Ventures vs using a third party. Highly recommend…read morebooking directly. We had great weather, June 2024. It's a 2-hour tour. Dave was a great, knowledgeable guide. The boat is very basic and it was great not having too any ppl on board so we could easily move around to take photos. We saw an otter, puffins, a sea lion, porpoise, eagles and other birds. Highly recommend taking this tour. 9 30am to 11 30am.

We had a group of four on it tour today. Davey and Lindsey were absolutely great! Personable and…read morewelcoming to everyone on the boat. Davey smoothly guided the boat throughout the tour while giving time to view the wildlife. Lindsey shared a wealth of knowledge about the wildlife, geology and history of the Kachemak Bay, Gull Island and Halibut Cove. Equipped with binoculars to share, Lindsey pointed out many species of birds and ducks including puffins and Eagles and many otters and their babies. We totally recommend this tour and would do it again!!

I wouldn't support this business due to the owners disregard for the safety of pilots and…read morepassengers. They think they own the water and put others in harms way for their personal gain. NTSB or Costal needs to step in.

Exclusive passenger ferry service between Homer and Halibut Cove, this experienced, friendly mostly…read moreall woman crew will get you there safely and comfortably, in the best looking small fishing craft in the harbor. All this while being surrounded by one of the most beautiful places on earth, with much of the beauty, nature, and wildlife explained to you by your intelligent and entertaining crew and skipper. We made a day of it, driving to Homer from Kenai, making our way through beautiful country, till the vista opens up and you see the breathtaking 180 degree view of the Kenai Mountains - jagged iron black mountains covered with snow and glaciers over the blue Kachemak Bay. A short drive through town and you end up on the Homer Spit, reaching far out into the Bay. With tours and artisan stores abounding, we opted for our reservation on the Danny J. The staff, many of whom are talented artists in their own right, were friendly, talented, and knowledgeable. In addition to skillful ocean navigation, one of the deck crew navigated around a full fledged two-year-old tantrum by carefully working her through wearing a life vest. The one hour ride across the bay to Halibut Cove included a full circle of Bird Rock, where Murres, Cormerants, Gulls, and even Puffins abound. We also saw sea otters playing. Hike and picnics in Halibut Cove if your budget is tight, or go ahead and eat at the Saltry - the food is fresh, home grown, home baked, with a big focus on sea food - but a bit spendy. Many artist studios and stores are within walking distance - all on the multi-level board walk - so enjoy and buy a few things. Get back on the boat at 4 pm for a quick half hour trip back to Homer (sans bird tour). This adventure as up there as one of our most memorable, most perfect travel days ever. Can't recommend them more!

Wow what a great bay tour. Never seen so many otters in my life. Pretty reasonably priced given the…read moreother options and the crew was great.

Loved the tour to Seldovia with Rainbow Tours and Victoria as the captain/guide! She was so…read moreknowledgeable about the history of the islands, the birds, everything! We saw puffins, sea otters, a ton of birds! Highly, highly recommend!!