Absolutely wonderful experience! First time to Alaska for our family with teenagers. Martin gave... read more
Absolutely wonderful experience! First time to Alaska for our family with teenagers. Martin gave... read more
Flew with Martin to Katmai for an incredible bear viewing experience. It was just like the pictures... read more
We researched and read many reviews for the best bear viewing in Alaska and found "Scenic Bear Viewing". Prior to scheduling a day, we had some questions and concerns. Martin responded promptly, assuringly and thoroughly months ahead. We scheduled our tour for Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate that early morning and Martin apologized for the delay. Since we had a flight out that night from Anchorage (5 hour drive), we had a decision to make about whether to stay. Martin did not sway us, was patient and understanding. We were most impressed with his emphasis on flight safety and the caution exercised. Our story could have ended there had we driven off. About one hour later, we were informed to head on over to the Homer airport. The weather cleared and the trip was on! We got outfitted with boots (waders) and climbed aboard with another very nice couple. The takeoff was flawless as the skies cleared even more. We flew across the inlet to a remote area where the brown bears hunt for clams. Imagine landing on a beach in paradise. The adventure began without delay. We spotted several bears immediately. I will leave what transpired to the imagination, only to say that the experience is the stuff off dreams and fantasies. Martin was informative, interesting, and quite reassuring in the presence of wild beasts that could use you as a frisbee at free will. His calm demeanor accompanied a profound enthusiasm for these amazing animals. We had plenty of time for photography and videography for the duration and any questions we could divine. It became obvious during our outing that Scenic Bear Viewing stood considerably above and beyond other tours. We enjoyed a relaxing lunch while Martin shared more of his experiences. As the tide rose and the wind picked up, our best bear friends bade us farewell for the day and we prepared for the return trip to Homer. This ranked tops in my lifetime as the most spectacular, jaw-dropping, unbelievable, out-of-this-world flight. You will see why when you fly it, weather permitting. So this ranks as one of the most memorable days of my life. Just pinch me. It was exceptional, thrilling and elevating - no pun intended. You’ll experience a great round trip flight of a lifetime with unmatched views and an experience with these gentle giants that will stay with you forever. “Scenic Bear Viewing” says it all. But expect even more, and then celebrate. This was the grand finale of our Alaskan trip. Don’t forget to bring an extra battery and keep your fingers on the camera shutter!
This was a trip of a lifetime! Book now - you will not regret it. We did this as part of our Alaska vacation and it was a highlight for sure. Martin was professional, the booking process was efficient and the morning out was nothing short of spectacular. We were in Lake Clark National Park with over 6 bears in their natural habitat. Martin took care of us - from a wonderful flight to a safe landing to bear viewing to safety tips. He also took pictures of us and the bears and immediately shared them. It is an experience I would recommend to anyone! Thank you for a fabulous day.
What a great day! Martin is an excellent guide and pilot. Beautiful flight over and back with a tour of the mountains on the return trip. Several hours on the ground, got up close (15 feet or so) to several brown bears that were digging for clams on the beach.
We recommend Martin 100%!
What an amazing experience. First off, Martin is an exceptional pilot. Secondly, he definitely has some sort of connection with the bears. They are at ease around him which allows you to get closer then you'd expect. I cannot say enough good things about this trip and it was worth every penny. If you are looking to book a trip to see bears, look no further.
This is by far my favorite LIFETIME travel experience!!! Martin is extremely safety conscious when it comes to flying and he has a special relationship/ connection with the bears which makes it a special, intimate experience that you likely won’t get with other groups. I am still in awe of how close we got to the bears and I never felt like we were intruding on their space. The bears seemed quite happy and content digging for clams or taking afternoon naps. We saw multiple cubs being curious and playful. One of them even came right up to our guide. When we talk about our Alaska trip to our friends and family, we spend most of our time talking about this amazing tour!
We almost decided not to take this tour, as it is rather expensive when traveling on a budget. I am so glad we didn’t back out, because we would have missed the experience of a lifetime. Martin was a fantastic guide and got us closer than I ever imagined I’d be to these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat, while never feeling unsafe. At one point as the tide was coming in, I counted 29 bears within sight, and all just went about their business relaxing or eating clams or salmon as we walked among them. We saw another tour group who’s guide kept them about 100’ from a momma bear and her two cubs. Martin safely brought us so close (he knew these bears already) that we had to shoo off one of the curious cubs as she repeatedly came within mere inches of our group. I absolutely loved this experience, it is one I’ll treasure and remember forever.