Congratulations to all this year's McNeil River Sanctuary lottery winners! You are in for a truly one-of-a-kind experience. Not only will you have the opportunity to witness the largest concentration of brown bears in the world, but you will also get the opportunity to take amazing pictures of these majestic creatures.
Whether you are a wildlife photographer or a brown bear enthusiast, this trip will be a memory you will never forget. We offer air taxi services to help make your trip as convenient and enjoyable as possible. Thank you for considering Alaska Bear Adventures with K Bay Air to take you on an amazing adventure.
Your departure time is dependent on the tide and the weather as well. As we approach your charter date, one of our reservationists will contact you the day prior to confirm your departure time and location.
For the ease of your charter, it is most convenient to plan to be in Homer the day prior to your departure. This way, if we need to leave earlier or later than your planned departure time we are able to do so.
When packing your gear, you are required to have all your belongings contained in bags and totes. We want to avoid having loose items inside the plane as it can delay your departure or cause issues when loading or unloading the plane.
If you have a satellite phone or device, we highly recommended packing this not only to keep in contact with your friends and family but also to reach us. Occasionally we have to pick you up earlier or later due to weather delays. Prior to your departure, we like to send a confirmation to your satellite phone to ensure we have the correct contact number.
Previous passengers appreciated having hip waders with them and are highly recommended by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. If you happen to forget your waders or find that they leak prior to leaving, we may have an extra pair for you. Please don’t hesitate to ask!
We have several parking lots where you can park your vehicles for an extended stay at no extra charge. If you need assistance, we can help transport you or coordinate a taxi for you to get to your departure location on time.
As much as we don’t like to discuss having to reschedule or cancel your charter, safety is our top priority. If we have to cancel your charter due to weather, you will receive a full refund. If tides, weather, and your lottery dates allow, we will do our best to try to get you out at a later date.
If you're interested in learning more about the McNeil River Sanctuary or applying for the lottery, we recommend reviewing the Alaska Department of Fish and Game site and an informative article from Travel Alaska:
Map of McNeil
