Alaska Grizzly Safaris & Jacques Adventure Lodge

2026 Six-day trip all-inclusive trip

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Alaska Grizzly Safaris & Jacques Adventure Lodge?

First & foremost, we are a Photographers & Adventure Travelers Destination Lodge & Guide Service. Specializing in Remote Wilderness Photo Safaris of Grizzly Bears, Walrus, Wolves and Dall Sheep. We include daily bush flying adventures to get you into the wildest wilderness on earth. Our family has been guiding in Alaska since 1938. Your host, Jerry Jacques, has been guiding photographers in Alaska since 1977. The Lodge is family run and environmentally friendly. We are not a large adventure company running trips all over the world. We Are the Alaska Bear Experts. We are NOT a hunting, fishing lodge or Air taxi booking photographers in their slow seasons. We do one thing Provide Wildlife Photographers & Adventure Travelers the best Bear Experience in Alaska.

Where are you located?

Located in the wildest part of Alaska on the North shore of Lake Iliamna (Alaska's largest lake) surrounded by 18 million acres of roadless wilderness, accessible only by small plane. The lodge is nestled between Katmai, Lake Clark National Parks & Bristol Bay. There is no road access to this wilderness.

How do I get there? Important Information

You will start by flying to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, that flight is at your own expense.

From Anchorage we will make flight arrangements for you to get to the lodge on Lake Iliamna.

The roundtrip cost on the Air taxi is $650, but you do not need to worry about it as we provide the flights from Anchorage to our lodge and return you back to Anchorage at the end of the week.

There are two flights leaving from Anchorages Merrill Field, 8am and 4pm. You will be assigned at time at booking.

If you are scheduled to depart Anchorage on the 8am flight at the end of your trip you will arrive back in Anchorage by 11:00AM. If you are scheduled to depart Anchorage at 4pm you will arrive back in Anchorage at the end of the week by 8pm.

You will meet us at Merrill Field 1950 E. 5th Avenue. The is a small parking lot there. You will see the plane behind the behind the fence. Our pilot will let you in when you arrive. If you are on our afternoon flight. Check in time is 3:30pm for a 4pm departure. Morning flight check in is at 7:30am for an 8am flight.

We just want to make you aware before your arrival that our meeting location happens to be in the same parking lot as a company called Alaska Air Transport. We are not affiliated with them, and we kindly ask that guests avoid going into their business when arriving.

Early on, we had a few visitors accidentally stop in asking for Alaska Grizzly Safaris, which understandably interrupted their day. Since our plane is parked nearby, we simply want to be respectful neighbors and help avoid any confusion. Thank you so much for your understanding.

There are many times we have more than nine guests coming in and, in that case, we will make arrangements on Lake & Peninsula Air Taxi at 1740 E. 5^th Avenue. The flights will be comparable times to ours. The only difference is they have a 50-pound luggage allowance

For guests arriving on the morning flight – Important Information

You will arrive at the lodge at 9:30am. We will get you fitted for waders, have some time for a snack or coffee, find your room and then head to a plane to start your exciting adventure. We will be on the dock at 11am. For Lake Lodge guests the bus will take you to the planes out front at 10:45am.

We will have a lunch prepared for you with plenty of snacks for your day, but you may want to get something for breakfast before heading to the airport for your 7:30am check in time.

What are the accommodations like?

The Jacques Lodge overlooks lake Iliamna and is the gathering place for our workshops for editing and meetings.

If you are assigned the Jacques Lodge, most likely if you are attending a workshop, you'll enjoy the warmth and atmosphere around the stone fireplace reliving the day's adventure, project images on a large screen and plan tomorrow's adventures, all while taking in a 180-degree panoramic view of Alaska's largest lake and the glacial filled mountains of the Alaska Peninsula. We have 5 comfortable cabins each with a private bathroom and shower with unlimited hot water. There are 2 full-sized beads in each room, and you should expect double occupancy (2 people per room). There are two bedrooms upstairs in the main Jacques Lodge, one with a queen and attached bathroom and another with two twin beds that doesn’t have an attached bath. Both of those room share that bathroom with there being a door to the hall as well as the queen bedroom.

If you are staying in the Lake Lodge, most likely for any clients coming on their own, not in a workshop or if we have two workshops in the same week. The Lake Lodge has seven rooms with different set ups of beds all have two beds and a bathroom. The Lake Lodge is where we have our meals. There are large windows that offer a view of the lake from up above on the 2^nd floor.

If you are traveling alone, we will place you in a room with someone of the same sex. We do have a few Single occupancy rooms. Check for availability as these are limited. Single supplement for a private room is $1,000.00. If all single rooms are taken, we do have two rooms we can use for singles that don’t have attached bathrooms but it is just across the hall.

How physically demanding are the wildlife safaris?

Our trips are Moderate to Difficult but tailored to your individual needs. With our 5 planes, jet boats, rafts and kayaks we can accommodate almost anyone in reasonable shape. You should be able to walk 4 miles a day to consistently see wildlife from the ground. If you have a medical condition Alaska Grizzly Safaris should be notified prior to booking.

Only if you are seeking to get images of Dall sheep do you need to be in top physical condition, to get into sheep country you must able to climb extremely steep hillsides that are often rocky, this is only for Dall sheep.

Do I have to worry about arrival or departure delays getting to Iliamna?

No! The Iliamna Airport is very unique with a state-of-the-art instrument approach, making your arrival and departure days extremely reliable. In the last 10 years every one of our guests has arrived and departed on their scheduled day. Delays of a few hours can occur because of weather.

Is there a weight limit on baggage?

Your weight limit is 70 pounds and includes your carry on.  No overage is permitted. Our small 9-seat aircraft has a strict weight limit. If you need more than the 70 pounds it is possible to have your excess shipped to the lodge ahead of time.

What is the weather like?

The average summer days will be 45-70 (10-20 Celsius) Weather can change quickly in western Alaska so you need to always have your rain jacket and sun screen in your day pack just in case.

Meals?

The lodge has a long-standing reputation for fine dining. Meals are prepared fresh daily under the experienced eye of our executive chef Kellam Harp, his culinary team go to great lengths to ensure you have the best dining experience possible. With the lodge’s remote location, we require advanced notice of any food allergies so that we can be prepared for your arrival.

We require a 21-Day Advanced Notice Needed for Dietary Restrictions.

Vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten free, dairy free and allergies (milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish) must be notified at least 21 days in advance. Failure to do so may significantly impact your diet. For any question or concerns in regards of dietary restrictions and allergies please contact Debi Wiedekamp directly at wiedekamp@yahoo.com. We look forward to making sure you have a fine dining experience with us.

Alcohol?

Something else that our guests are surprised by is the fact that our district has a law that alcohol cannot be sold or served in the Lake Iliamna district. It is perfectly legal to bring your own alcohol for your own consumption. If you want to consume alcohol during your trip please bring your own as we are forbidden from providing it to you. Please note, we will not allow anyone that is intoxicated to board our planes and do not allow the consumption of alcohol while we are in the field on the day trips with the bears.

What is and is not included in the trip Package?

We are photographers & adventure travelers ourselves; our pet peeve is having hidden costs before or at the end of the trip. Included in the trip package is your transportation from Anchorage to our lodge’s remote location.

Also included is daily bush flights, boat trips, raft trips, food, lodging, guides, housekeeping service, waders, and camera tripods are included in the trip price. We even have Nikon and Canon camera bodies and lenses for loner gear should you have an issue with your camera. The only thing that is not Not included is alcohol and staff gratuities. All rooms are double occupancy unless prior arrangements have been confirmed.

Is there Hiking?

Yes! From the lodge there is a variety of hiking trails for every ability level. Using our private fleet of aircraft or boats we can get you to any kind terrain you desire. From High Alpine tundra to 50-mile-long black sand beaches or remote rivers. A person should be able to hike 4 miles a day.

Is it Safe?

Since 1977 we have been leading wilderness trips and flying in Alaska. In those 48 years we have guided 10,280 clients and never had one of our clients seriously injured. We take aircraft safety, boat safety and bear safety very seriously. We believe that we have the best trained guides and pilots in the industry and our safety record reflects that. Even with our perfect safety record there is still the risk of injury or death any time you are traveling in the wilds of Alaska. Our insurance company requires all of our guest to read and sign an assumption of risk/ liability release form before participating.

Daily flights from our lodge each day to different locations to see bears and other wildlife is what sets us apart from all fixed base lodges, camps and boat-based trips. On any given day we have 127 different locations to choose from to see wildlife.  Flying will always depend on variables like weather, winds, and tides. We endeavor to maximize your days no matter the conditions, but destinations are not guaranteed. We are constantly studying the weather conditions and getting satellite image updates during the day. Because there is always a plane dedicated for only your group and not committed to other duties during the day we can adjust our schedule to maximize the chances of getting you out every day.

How close do we get to the Bears?

Bears are individuals just like people. Each bear will have a different tolerance level for how close it will be comfortable with us approaching it. We often approach to 50 yards and bears will occasionally wander past us as close as 15 yards. Our guides are able to read the bear's body language and know just how close is a safe distance. We have many bears that we have identified and watched for years. There are a few sows that we have watched raising 3 generations of cubs. These momma bears have learned that we are not a threat to their cubs and will often come lay down to nurse very close to us.

Do you have Electricity?

Yes! Our power comes from a small hydro project and runs 24 hours a day. You have power to charge your camera gear, laptop or power a CPAP machine all night.  

Does the lodge have Internet and Phone service?

There is a lodge phone that you are free to use for incoming calls. Wi-Fi calling will work on your cell phone. Our satellite internet has limited bandwidth, but sending emails and photos works fine, please no streaming movies.

What happens if there is a medical emergency?

We are in remote Alaska but are incredibility fortunate to have a fully equipped medical clinic only three miles from the lodge that is accessible 24 hours a day, emergency evacuations are always available. Guides carry Satellite phones and or Garmin Inreach during the days in the field.

Mosquitoes how bad are they?

During the day insects are not normally a problem. The do come out in the evenings but a little dose of repellant will do the trick for most people. If you are particularly sensitive, bring a head net for the evenings and you will be fine. We provide Insect repellent.

What Clothing do I need?

Typical clothing consists of synthetic long underwear, fleece jacket and pants, hooded sweatshirt, warm hat, good rain jacket and plenty of socks. Fingerless gloves are nice for cool mornings late in the season. Dress at the lodge is casual.

What footwear do I need?

We will provide you with Gortex waders & wading boots. This gear will give you the ability to wade through streams or sit in a puddle while keeping you dry and comfortable. For sheep and walrus bring good hiking boots.

What lenses and other photo gear to bring?

A 100-400 F4.5 is a perfect lens for grizzly and walrus. If you plan to shoot Dall sheep or Wolf a 200-400 or 500 mm is recommended. Bring a rain cover for the body and lenses. A tripod is also recommended. We understand tripods are a pain to travel with on the airlines so we have Manfrotto 3221 tripods to loan, bring your own gear and you are set. We do have a few gimbal heads that are available to use. We also have a few bodies and an assortment of lenses for emergency use if your gear fails.

How does the lodge get its supplies and food?

We buy most supplies in Anchorage. Our preseason order is completed in February. We purchase our staple foods, aircraft fuel, boat gas, heating oil, cleaning supplies and lumber.  These supplies are trucked to the end of the road system and must be delivered to the Port of Homer Alaska by March 20. They are loaded onto an ocean-going barge. As soon as the ice goes out in the early spring the barge is launched & crosses 90 miles of open ocean. There are only 2-3 tides each month that are high enough for the barge to dock at Williamsport. The supplies are unloaded and stored at a staging area at Williamsport.  The staging area is 17 miles from the east end lake Iliamna. To get to the lake there is a one lane dirt road that goes over a dangerous pass. But it is a waiting game. The pass between the sea port and our lake is snowed in starting Early November until late April.  The pass opens in mid-May; the supplies are trucked over the narrow road to the east end of lake Iliamna. The supplies are then put on the Iliamna Lake Barge for the 40-mile trip to our lodge.

3-4 months after we buy our bulk supplies, they finally arrive at our lodge.  Everything else comes from Anchorage and must be flown in by small aircraft.

Gratuities?

Our lodge staff, guides and pilots work extremely hard for our guests. They work as a team to make your trip a successful experience that is comfortable, enjoyable and safe. The guides and pilots being with you every day are in the lime light. Less noticed is the support staff like kitchen, housekeeping and maintenance who are all equally important. Inevitably we get asked what is customary regarding tipping and who to tip. As we said, our staff is a team as such, they split all tips equally. 8-12 percent of the package cost per person seems to be the average. For people attending photo workshops $700-$900 per person seems to be the average. Gratuities can be left with our Chef Kellam or Hospitality Manager, Debi who will divvy it equally to the crew.

How did we choose our company name?

In 1977 Jerry Jacques was a starving young kid; Carl & Marge Jensen, highly respected Dena’ina Indian elders took him in to their home at the east end of Lake Iliamna & became like parents. Carl taught Jerry how to survive in the Alaska bush & about bears. Long before the white man came to Alaska Carl’s family called these bears K’ahdil’ani. Translated it means Large Grizzly Bear. Thinking of a name for our company Carl first suggested to Jerry Alaska K’ahdil’ani Safaris, Carl and Jerry ultimately decided on Alaska Grizzly Safaris.

How To Book Your Trip

To confirm reservations, we require a $1,000.00 per person deposit. The down payment holds your reservation until January 15 of the year your trip is scheduled when another $2,000.00 is due. The final payment is due when you arrive at the lodge to start your trip.

Our guests are booking years in advance; to get the week you desire you should make your reservation 12-24 months in advance. Space is available on a first deposit, first reserved basis.

Due to our short season of operation and inability to fill empty space at the last minute we cannot offer refunds on deposits. Dates can be changed without penalty on the same year of your schedule trip, or with 90 days’ notice you can change to the following year. All changes are based on our availability of open dates. 

Please note that we accept credit cards but must charge the extra 3% that our credit card company charges us

Cash, traveler’s checks, personal checks or bank transfer all work. If you need to use bank transfer, please contact us for directions on how to proceed.  Deposit checks should be made out to Jacques Adventures

Summer Address: Jacques Adventures PO Box 164 Iliamna AK 99606 1 907 571 6524 or 907 570 1459 1 208 308 8024

Winter Address: Jacques Adventures 3305 Oregon Trail Lane Kimberly ID 83341 1 907 570 1459

We strongly recommend trip insurance. For travel insurance we have heard good things of Squaremouth Travel (800) 240-0369. Give them a call, they are open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  Another option is InsureMyTrip.com website or call them at (800) 487-4722, (401) 773-9300 (Outside U.S.)

Alaska Travel Check List

.        Airline Tickets and Itinerary

·       Traveler’s Checks and/or Cash

·      Real ID – All airlines are requiring additional documentation. A STAR card on your driver’s license or Passport

·       Camera gear

·       Backpack for camera gear, your lunch, water bottle and rain coat each day while in the field

·       Sunglasses

·       Extra pair of prescription glasses

·       Water bottle – You will need this in the field every day

·       Toiletries

·       Prescription medications

·       Emergency contact numbers

·       Rain Jacket must be 100% waterproof

·       Fleece or pile Jacket/pullover

·       Light pile or fleece pants (to be worn under waders)

·       Light socks

·       Heavy socks

·       Underwear

·       Light pair long johns

·       Long sleeved shirts

·       Short sleeved shirts

·       Pants

·     

 Flip flops, Crocs or slippers for inside the Dining Room at the lodge (we don’t wear shoes upstairs in the dining room)

·       Stocking cap

·       Gloves

·       Bandana

·       Travel flashlight

·       Sun Screen & Lip Balm

·       Ziploc Bags if you need to keep something dry (phone, wallet, etc)

·       Dry bag for camera. Lightweight one that will go inside your camera pack and protect your camera if you fall in water during stream crossing. Recently there are good day packs on the market that are waterproof and many of our guests are using them.

·       Chargers for cameras & cell phone

·       Lens cleaning supplies

·       Extra SD Cards and Memory Storage.

·       Laptop for editing

·       OTHER ITEMS TO REMEMBER

·       ____________________________

·       ____________________________

So, are there other good bear viewing and photography lodges?

Of course, we believe we are the best at what we do, but to answer the question:

Yes, there are a few very good bear lodges and camps besides us. We will happily give you recommendations for the ones we believe are the best. Give Jerry a call at Alaska Grizzly Safaris and he will give you sound advice on some of the other fantastic operators we know.

As we cannot guarantee your stay elsewhere, please be careful as some operators may be very misleading in their advertising and a few are even dangerous. Should you choose another operation, we want you to have a wonderful and safe trip, so it is important to educate yourself before committing your time and money. To help you make an informed decision about your next adventure, we’ve compiled some questions to ask any lodge or camp provider before you venture out.

Questions that you need to ask about any potential bear viewing lodge or camp:

• How many full days (weather permitting) will I be able to spend with the bears? We know of two bear-viewing camps that advertise six-day trips but only gives you three & ½ days with the bears. We find that kind of advertising misleading!
• How many years has the lodge/camp been operating? In Katmai National Park there are new operators that claim to have been operating for years but are actually new.
• How many years have they been specializing in bear viewing/photography? Newcomers and fishing lodges are often trying to fill in their slow season by also offering photo safaris. These trips are expensive. In our opinion it is best to find a specialist - not a new or part time operation.
• Does each guest room have a private bathroom, or are you sharing a bathroom with others—or is it a glorified outhouse? 
• Does the lodge or camp have aircraft stationed on sight and for emergencies or to move you to different locations when the bears don’t show up within walking distance of their lodge/camp?
  Rember bear concentrations do change from year to year, just because the bears were on one river, bay or meadow every summer for the last ten years doesn’t mean that they will return next year. Bear concentrations and salmon runs do change far more often than people realize.
• If the lodge/camp offers flyouts to different locations, how many flyouts do I get?

Here is one of Jerry’s biggest issues: Aircraft Safety and leaving people in the wilderness without camping gear.

1. Is my plane available in case of an emergency?
2. Is my plane available in case of an emergency?
   First, only a few lodges offer daily flyouts. The good ones have the pilot and his/her plane stay with you during the day. This is a huge safety issue! Should someone get hurt, the plane is there to fly you to medical attention without waiting for help to eventually arrive to care for you.
   Believe it or not, some lodges just drop you and your guide off and then leave to do multiple other flights during the day. They promise to pick you up at the end of the day. On the surface this sounds reasonable. Here lies the danger in this practice: If the weather changes and it is not possible to pick you up, you are stuck overnight or even for two nights—with no camping gear in bad weather! Katmai Park forbids leaving gear unattended, so only the gear in your pack must keep you alive in a storm for at least one night and perhaps more. Alaska weather is very unpredictable and fast changing. The guilty operators who do multiple flights during the day—leaving their clients during the day—usually say they have never left anyone overnight. Are they telling you the truth? Be skeptical.
   Even If that is true here is the issue: Most fatal aircraft accidents in Alaska are due to weather. When a pilot leaves people in the wilderness with no camping gear, that pilot is under tremendous pressure to return and get everyone picked up. This puts everyone involved at extreme risk, and often flying in unsafe conditions. After five decades of flying the Alaska Bush, Jerry recommends that lodge guests never put themselves in the potentially risky situation of being left alone without their pilot and plane standing by.

 

2. Just in case of bad weather, how will you keep me safe?
   At Alaska Grizzly Safaris, our planes are always with you and have extra food, sleeping bags, and tents, as well as emergency first aid kits on board. You should expect nothing less. Please, ask any potential lodge or camp about their best practices for your own safety.

As Jerry says, safety is no accident and that is why after 48 years in business, no one has ever been seriously injured on one of his trips.

(Even if you choose an alternative that has not been in business as long as Jerry’s world-renowned lodge, Alaska Grizzly Safaris, expect nothing less than your safety first!)