Image of a polar bear sitting in a field

“Make Friends with a Polar Bear”—Press from the L.A. Times

Calling all animal lovers! Gondwana Ecotours is offering adventurous travelers the opportunity to see Northern Alaska’s wildlife up close. For most people, visiting a polar bear, a seal, or an Arctic fox would mean taking a trip to the local zoo, where you might be able to catch a glimpse of these creatures lounging in man-made enclosures. While the zoo is nice, seeing wild animals in their natural habitats is a whole different experience. One way to experience this for yourself is to travel on Gondwana’s Polar Bear Adventure! This tour has been recognized by several travel magazines as well as the Los Angeles Times’ Concierge page for their small group sizes, unique itineraries, wildlife viewing excursions, and cultural experiences. Come make friends with a polar bear—from a safe distance of course!

The Wildlife of Northern Alaska

For many people, the rugged landscape of Northern Alaska feels like a completely different world from the one they know. Filled with icy tundras, towering mountains, dense forests, exotic wildlife, and the lights of the Aurora Borealis, it’s both remote and beautiful. Even here, north of the Arctic circle, a wide variety of animals live and thrive.  Not only do polar bears make the Arctic their home, but a large number of birds, snowy owls, whales, seals, walrus, caribou, foxes, and wolves also live in this region for much of the year. These animals migrate with the changing seasons, but if you travel on Gondwana’s Polar Bear Adventure, you’ll have the chance to see them on one of the four polar bear viewing excursions that are included. By boat and by land, experienced guides will take you to the hunting grounds of the polar bears where you can see these amazing creatures in action.

The Polar Bear Adventure

While the main focus of the Polar Bear Adventure is on wildlife tours, it’s not the only thing you can see or do. Although the trip only lasts for seven days, those days are filled with opportunities to learn about the environment and culture of Northern Alaska. You’ll start with a session with wildlife photographer Frank Stelges, who will teach your group some tips and tricks of nature photography. These photography skills will serve you well on the rest of your journey as you spend the night searching the sky for the Aurora Borealis, or as you set out by boat on a polar bear viewing excursion. You’ll also have the chance to learn about the people who live in the far north. You’ll meet with a local environmentalist and author for a talk about the effects of climate change on the region and with a whaling captain and elder of a local Inupiat tribe. He’ll show you the ancient whaling and fishing techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation for hundreds of years.

While many people initially sign up for the Polar Bear Adventure just to see polar bears, they end up getting so much more. They get a true feel for what life is like in the Arctic Circle. From the people and the animals, to the beautiful landscapes and the food, guests on the tour make memories that will stay with them the rest of their lives. But don’t take our word for it. Check out what our guests have to say!


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