Private Multi-day Tour
Sitka’s Spring Awakening
Venture to Sitka in the spring as whales, sea lions, and birds gather for one of the greatest feeding events on planet earth.
Trip Highlights
About this Trip
Each spring, Sitka Sound transforms into one of the most spectacular wildlife events on Alaska’s coast. Humpback whales bubble-net feed in turquoise water, sea lions patrol the shoreline, and thousands of gulls and eagles fill the air.
Our small-group photography workshop follows this natural rhythm — five field days of chasing light and movement, responding to changing tides and weather, and learning to anticipate the moments when everything converges.
You’ll practice shooting fast-moving subjects, refining composition in chaotic scenes, and reading light as it shifts across mist and sea. Each day ends with quiet review and conversation — a chance to reflect on what you saw and how you saw it.
This is a trip about presence, patience, and the art of witnessing abundance as it unfolds.
.webp)
What's Included
- Small-boat excursions with a USGS Licensed Captain
- Daily wildlife and wilderness activities guided by a Naturalist
- Float Plane, Kayaking, Biking, Activites
- Local Partner Science and Consevation Talks / Activities
- Daily field lunches in scenic locations
- Photography and storytelling instruction
- Printed photo memory book
- Rain boots
- All permits and facilities fees
What's Not Included
- Airfare or Ferry to / from Sitka
- Lodging in Sitka (See Where to stay in Sitka for options)
- Personal transportation for exploration outside of tour hours
- Breakfast & dinners outside of guided activities
- Personal clothing, rainwear, and camera equipment
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Gratuities for local guides and captains
Sitka Wonders Activities
Whale Watching
Rainforest Hiking
Brown Bear Viewing
Beach Combing
Floatplane Adventures
Sea Kayaking
Hands on Conservation
Birding
Citizen Science
Mountain Biking
Photo Instruction
Cultural Connection
Why basecamp out of Sitka?
A multi-day trip here gives you what neither cruises nor inland parks can — variety, flexibility, and depth. Each morning begins in Sitka and unfolds outward by boat, trail, or floatplane into a new ecosystem. Each night you return to comfort and community, surrounded by the same people and stories that keep this coast alive.
Sitka is the rare place where you can experience the wild without ever leaving it behind.
An invitation to Wonder
Every spring, Sitka Sound becomes one of the wildest places on Earth. The sea turns turquoise as herring gather to spawn, and for a few brief weeks, life here moves at a rhythm that feels ancient — whales feeding, sea lions surging through silver water, thousands of seabirds drawn into the feast. It’s raw, unpredictable, and fleeting.
For nearly two decades, I’ve filmed this coastline — for National Geographic, Smithsonian, and countless other projects that tried to capture what this place really is. What I’ve learned, after all those seasons behind the lens, is that the best images don’t come from luck or equipment. They come from stillness. From knowing when to wait, when to move, and how to see what’s right in front of you.
That’s the heart of our workshop. We move with the tides, not a schedule. Some days are filled with energy and motion. Others unfold slowly — mist over the forest, a gull against calm water, a single whale surfacing in silence. Each moment offers something worth noticing.
You’ll learn the techniques — exposure, focus, timing — but more importantly, you’ll learn to see Alaska differently. This isn’t just a photography trip. It’s an invitation to reconnect with curiosity, patience, and wonder — the same qualities that have guided my filmmaking in Sitka for twenty years.
When the last light fades across the Sound, you’ll leave with images that feel alive — and a deeper sense of belonging to this place.
FAQs
Related Trips
