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3201 West 31st Ave Suite # 101 Anchorage, Alaska 99517
907-272-9299
| 888-567-7165 | fax 907-278-6092 | info@arctictravel.net
Polar Bear
Watching
& Whale Harvesting in Alaska
 Arrival
in Anchorage
on your own and transfer to a local hotel for check-in. (We can
assist with these arrangements for you.) The evening before the tour departs, we will meet with our tour leader and other
members of the group for an orientation meeting.
Day 1
An Alaska Airlines jet takes us north to the Arctic Ocean and the village of Barrow,
Alaska.
Upon our arrival, we will drop off our luggage and check-in at our
comfortable hotel. We then immediately board our specially equipped van for
polar bear watching. Sometimes the arctic ice pack is visible. Sometimes
arctic fox and caribou can be seen.
The village of Barrow is the northernmost city in the USA.
In the Inupiaq language the location of Barrow is called Ukpeagvik,
which means "the place where we hunt snowy owls". Archaeological
sites in the area indicate the Inupiat lived around Barrow as far back as
AD 500. Some remains of 16 dwelling mounds from the Birnirk culture of
about AD 800 are still in evidence today on the shore of the Arctic Ocean.
Day 2
After Breakfast, we visit the Eskimo
Museum at the Inupiat Heritage
Center. We will learn about native history and
culture, and meet with local people to discuss past and current government
policy in the arctic. We will explore Barrow and again go polar bear
viewing. Dinner will be at Pepe’s North of the Border, serving the
finest Mexican food in the Arctic.
Day 3
 After breakfast, we fly to Prudhoe
Bay where we will receive a special tour of the oil facilities
followed by a briefing on past and current government policies regarding
oil exploration in the arctic. Later, a short flight will take us to the village of Kaktovik. Kaktovik is a small native
village on an island in the Arctic Ocean,
and the only village in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). This is
whaling season and hopefully the local villagers have or will be landing
whales at the time of our arrival. Whaling and its ceremonies are
significant parts of native culture and village subsistence lifestyle. We
will observe traditional hunting ceremonies and the processing and sharing
of the whale and what it means to the people of Kaktovik.
Whales also attract polar bears including sows with cubs, and we will be
bear watching as well as exploring Kaktovik.
Day 4, Day 5, Day 6
Our mornings will be spent viewing the activity of the whale hunters
who might be going out again to hunt for more whales. We continue to
explore this island, visit with local people, and always watching for polar
bears. Evenings are spent at our comfortable arctic hotel where the coffee
is always on and food is always available. Be prepared for informal
meetings with local residents and other visitors who will share their
knowledge of whales, bears, and arctic village life. In the late afternoon
of Day 6, we depart Kaktovik and return to Anchorage.
Tour Size will be limited.
This is a specialized tour for nature and cultural lovers, photographers,
and anyone who wants to observe arctic wildlife and native culture at the
source. It is a unique arctic experience.
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Tour Costs: $5,999
(subject to change)
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Departure:
September 5 – 10, 2009
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Included in price
5 nights lodging ( Double
Occupancy)
5 days of possible bear viewing
4 days of possible whale harvesting
All meals during the trip
Round-trip airfare from Anchorage (subject to change)
Ground transportation
Tour Guide / Polar Bear Certificate
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3201 West 31st Ave Suite # 101 Anchorage
Alaska 99517
907-272-9299 | 888-567-7165
| fax 907-278-6092
email at info@arctictravel.net
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