• How safe is bear viewing? The bears at our location at Kukak Bay on the coast of Katmai National Park congregate on wide open tidal flats to catch salmon in streams, so you are always within their sight. By not surprising them with a sudden appearance, the danger is nearly eliminated. Also, the bears are somewhat habituated from seeing human bear-viewers every summer. Further, our guides keep the guests in groups (safety in numbers) and allow plenty of space for the bears to “do their thing.” In turn, the bears allow bear-viewers to “do their thing,” which is taking photos.

• How many bears can I expect to see? At any given moment on the tidal flats, guests can usually to see a half dozen bears, but it isn’t uncommon to see 10 to 12 at one time.

• How can you guarantee that I will see bears? There are only a half dozen places in the world where bears congregate in such large numbers. The Katmai coast where we are located is one of those places and the bears never fail to show up.

• What kind of fish can I expect to catch? Primarily halibut (saltwater) and salmon (both freshwater and saltwater), although other species are available. And yes, the lodge does sell fishing licenses on-site.

• How do I get to the Katmai Wilderness Lodge? Travel to Kodiak, AK via either Alaska Airlines www.alaskaair.com , or via ERA Alaska www.flyera.com , from Anchorage, AK. You will be met by either a KWL staff member, or by a staff member with the float plane charter companies we use, then taken to the float plane base at Kodiak for your trip to Kukak Bay on the Katmai coast.

• Do I need to bring rain gear and rubber boots? KWL provides rain gear and rubber boots, but guests preferring to bring their own gear are welcome to do so.

• Should I buy travel insurance? We recommend buying travel insurance, as inclement weather can cause delayed and even canceled flights. We suggest checking www.squaremouth.com , as you can get many competing quotes at that site, and you can also get A.M. Best Company financial ratings on the travel insurers.

• What is the deposit and refund policy? Under Deposits & Refunds, the KWL contract states:

a. Client shall return a signed and dated copy of this Agreement to lodge along with a US $500 non-refundable deposit for each member of client’s party within 30 days of making a reservation to secure the reservation dates requested by client.
b. In the event of cancellation or postponement by client for any reason, a paid deposit shall not be refunded by lodge. However, a paid deposit may be used to secure a postponed reservation.
c. Client shall pay the remaining balance owed to lodge 30 days prior to scheduled reservation.
d. If lodge is notified of a cancellation anytime prior to a client’s scheduled date of arrival, 50% of the total charge shall be refunded. Otherwise, client shall not be entitled to a refund.