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Frequently Asked Questions

Visitors do need to be moderately physically fit for both regular bear viewing and hiking trips. There is no built infrastructure such as maintained trails, steps or handrails in any of the bays of the Katmai coast. Participants are asked to walk 1-2 miles over uneven and sometimes slippery terrain with slight elevation changes, wade through knee deep water (waders are provided), and to step up or down up to 18 inches in height at various points throughout the day, including embarking and disembarking the Island C. If you have concerns about the physical demands of our expeditions, please contact us to discuss before booking.

Lodging on Kodiak Island runs the gamut from cozy AirBNBs to chain hotels. The two main hotels are Best Western Kodiak Inn and Compass Suites. Both are conveniently located downtown and offer shuttle service to and from the Kodiak Airport. The Best Western is home to Kodiak Chart Room Restaurant, which overlooks St. Paul Harbor. We recommend arriving a day before your scheduled trip date, in case of a travel related delay enroute. Delays are far less common on your GMX expedition, and guests generally book flights out of Kodiak on the afternoon of the end date.
Alaska Airlines offers three flights to/from Kodiak Island in the summer time. Kodiak’s airport code is ADQ. We recommend purchasing travel insurance as a safeguard against delays and complications while traveling to Kodiak. Flight delays and cancellations due to weather are common. We strongly encourage you to book directly through Alaska Airlines and not through a discount airfare search engine. Discount providers are less responsive if a weather delay causes you to re-book.
If arriving early, ground transportation is available from the airport to the Best Western and Compass Suites. Call (907) 486-5712 or (907) 486-1086, respectively, to notify these hotels of your arrival time. Whether you are flying to the Island C or arriving or departing Kodiak by vessel, our van will transport you between the harbor and your hotel or the airport.
Please research travel advisories for both interstate and international travel before booking and monitor these advisories before your trip. This includes advisories for both your departure location and Alaska. Alaska’s health advisories can be found on the Travel Alaska website.
We recommend using soft-sided luggage wherever possible. Hard shell luggage can be difficult to stow in a small airplane or under your bed. If your trip has a float plane component, you must limit the average weight of your luggage to no more than 50 lbs (22 kg) per traveler. If you’re on extended travel in Alaska and have extra luggage, we can provide secure storage at our office for the duration of your stay on the Island C.
The city and surrounding urban area of Kodiak have excellent cell service. There is no cell service in Katmai National Park and remote coastal areas of Kodiak Island. However, satellite Wi-Fi is available on the Island C which includes messaging, and the speed and signal is usually strong enough to permit Wi-Fi calling while onboard the vessel.

Please advise us well in advance of any dietary restrictions you have by filling out our Guest Information Form. Our chef will plan accordingly, and may contact you individually to fine-tune their understanding of your needs/preferences. Please also advise us of medical conditions which may limit your ability to participate in the activities you see described in the trip. You will receive the Guest Information Form via email before your trip starts. Everything we need to know is listed on this form!

Guests are welcome to bring their own beer and wine for dinner. Add these to your luggage while in Kodiak, and our chefs will provide storage and daily access to your stash. There are numerous package stores in Kodiak, including one within a few blocks of downtown hotels. We are happy to include a stop here while providing your ground transportation.

The Katmai Coast is far more than a bear-viewing destination — it is a thriving coastal ecosystem teeming with wildlife at every level of the food web. Seabirds alone account for an remarkable diversity of species, from cliff-nesting Black-legged Kittiwakes and Horned and Tufted Puffins to the elusive Marbled Murrelet, which depends on old-growth forest to nest. Harlequin Ducks, Common Mergansers, and Surf Scoters work the nearshore waters alongside Pelagic and Red-faced Cormorants, while Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons patrol from above. Marine mammals are a constant presence — Sea Otters wrap themselves in kelp just offshore, Steller Sea Lions haul out on exposed rocks, and Dall’s Porpoise frequently ride the bow wave of our vessel. Pink, Red, and Chum Salmon pack the rivers in staggering numbers, and it is their abundance that draws and sustains the entire coastal community — bears, foxes, even wolves. Each bay we visit adds new species to the list, and guests are often surprised to find that the bears, as spectacular as they are, share the stage with an entire world worth watching.

The use of drones is generally prohibited within U.S. National Parks. The National Park Service does not allow visitors to launch or land drones anywhere within park boundaries, a policy adopted to protect wildlife, preserve natural soundscapes, and ensure the safety and experience of other visitors.


Because many of our expeditions operate in or around National Park units such as Katmai, guests should expect that drones cannot be launched or flown from park lands or beaches. However, in some situations limited drone flights may be possible from the vessel, provided they comply with applicable federal aviation rules and are conducted well away from park lands.


Regardless of location, our guiding philosophy is simple: wildlife always comes first. We maintain a strict non-harassment policy and do not allow drones to pursue, approach, or disturb bears, marine mammals, birds, or any other wildlife. If conditions or wildlife presence make drone use inappropriate, we will ask guests to keep them grounded.

Some fabrics are more fabulous than others. Cotton (including denim) is a liability in Kodiak’s frequent wet weather. Even when covered by rain gear, cotton takes a long time to dry and does not provide insulation when wet. We recommend polypropylene or wool base layers, puffy or fleece insulating layers, and a lightweight but impermeable layer of rain gear as an outer shell. See below for a packing list.

A recommended packing list is below. If you cannot find some of these things where you live, don’t worry! ALL of the packing items listed here, and particularly high quality rain gear, are available on Kodiak Island at reasonable retail prices.

We price these trips to fully support the crew and operation, so tipping is never required.


That said, we hold ourselves to a high standard, and most guests leave feeling like the experience exceeded their expectations. Many choose to tip as a way to recognize the crew’s effort, attention, and time in the field.


If that’s your experience, tipping the crew a portion of your trip fee (3-5% is typical) is a direct and appreciated way to say thank you. Gratuities may be provided directly to crew or to the captain for equal distribution among the crew.

Recommended Packing List:

Clothing

  • Rain jacket with hood and rain pants
  • Wool socks
  • Quick drying pants (belt loops preferred)
  • Polypropylene or wool long underwear (not cotton)
  • Puffy jacket or fleece insulating layers
  • Fleece or knit cap and cloves
  • Footwear: Light hiking shoes (optional, you can get by with casual shoes onboard and GMX-issued waders ashore) and casual slip-on shoes for relaxing onboard the Island C

Personal Items & Accessories

  • Mask
  • Prescription medications, plus spares (our guide can carry your extra epinephrine shot, inhaler, etc.)
  • Polarized sunglasses
  • Binoculars (particularly if you’re not taking photos)
  • A birding app or field guide
  • Bug net
  • Sunscreen
  • Re-usable water bottle
  • Toiletry/shower kit
  • Prescription medications
  • Device charging cords (with adapters if traveling from overseas)
  • Camera with lens, hood, and rain cover
  • Small day pack for excursions ashore
  • Small dry pouches or zipper top freezer bags (for wallet, phone etc)

You Do Not Need To Bring:

  • Waders & wading boots
  • Chair or stool (as of 2026 we provide telescoping stools for all guests)
  • Life jacket
  • Pillows, linens, and towels
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Your entire medicine chest (We have the basics!)
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