Your first glimmer of the immensity of Alaska comes as the airplane drops in for a landing at Anchorage. There are towering, snow-capped peaks and icy waters practically beside the runway. And the northern sky is indescribably wide and high, the air crisp and pure. Heading for the hotel, one gets the distinct urge to jump out and start birding immediately as breeding-plumaged Mew Gulls course over ponds dotted with phalaropes and waterfowl. Red-necked Grebes? Barrow's Goldeneyes? And those scaup were probably a mix of Lessers and Greaters. A tight flock of crossbill-like birds whizzes over and plummets into the spruces -- probably your lifer White-wingeds. Calming yourself, you realize this is just the beginning of one of the greatest of birding trips, in one of the wildest, most beautiful places on Earth.
Part One of our grand birding tour includes the Pribilofs, where thousands of breeding seabirds pack the cliffs and migrants from Asia dart across the landscape, and magnificent Denali, with its incredible scenery and wildlife spectacles. On Part Two, it's on to Nome where we'll witness the merging of two major avifaunas (American and Eurasian) with Bluethroats, Arctic Warblers, and Bristle-thighed Curlews; the icy waters and rugged peaks of Kenai Fjords NP with its Black Oystercatchers, Kittlitz's and Ancient murrelets, and Humpback Whales; and far to the north, in Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow), four eiders and Snowy Owl alongside hundreds of displaying shorebirds. June is the time to be in Alaska, when the birds are in courtship and full breeding regalia. Head north with us!
Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.
Client comment "A person whom I met on local bird walks and who has used Field Guides repeatedly recommended your company. This was an excellent tour. It could not have been better! The guides were superior and all the arrangements were so carefully made that the travel was easy and efficient and there was very little time spent not birding. I'd absolutely travel with either Chris Benesh or Doug Gochfeld as a single leader or both of them together! They are a dynamic team and individually very knowledgeable, skilled, personable, and willing to go out of their way to offer the group the fullest experience possible and to make sure that everyone individually sees the birds. I had not used a national company prior to this for a birding tour. I was impressed that your big company could make this tour just as personal an experience for me as the trips I do with guides and clients whom I already know." D.M., ALASKA 2019
ITINERARIES • TOUR STATUS • DETAILS • SPACE REQUESTS
ITINERARIES • We issue a separate itinerary for each year, typically at least 9 months before that year's first departure. Most itineraries don't vary much year to year, but there may be small or rarely more substantive changes. A sample previous-year itinerary is usually available even if the one for your chosen departure is not. We do not require any deposit for provisional bookings until the itinerary for the departure is ready.
DEPARTURES • We have 13 departures currently scheduled through 2023, with details including limits, guides, fees, and space available listed below.
2021
May 29 - Jun 6, 2021 - Part One Guided by: Chris Benesh & second guide TBA Tour Manager: Karen Turner Tour Limit: 14 Status: Waitlisted - The itinerary has not been finalized for this tour. The trip has provisionally filled but, if you are interested, we can waitlist you for the trip. As we do not require deposits until the itinerary and price are finalized, we often have folks drop off a tour when the deposit is required, and so space opens up! Click below to be waitlisted for this tour with no obligation; if you are waitlisted, we will also notify you in case of an added departure of this tour. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2020=$6275 REQUEST WAITLIST OR MORE INFO
Jun 5-13, 2021 - Part One Guided by: Tom Johnson & second guide TBA Tour Manager: Karen Turner Tour Limit: 14 Status: One space available - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2020=$6275 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
Jun 5-15, 2021 - Part Two Guided by: Chris Benesh & second guide TBA Tour Manager: Karen Turner Tour Limit: 14 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2020=$6175 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
Jun 8-18, 2021 - Part Two Guided by: Dave Stejskal & second guide TBA Tour Manager: Karen Turner Tour Limit: 14 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2020=$6175 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
Jun 12-22, 2021 - Part Two Guided by: Tom Johnson & second guide TBA Tour Manager: Karen Turner Tour Limit: 14 Status: Waitlisted - The itinerary has not been finalized for this tour. The trip has provisionally filled but, if you are interested, we can waitlist you for the trip. As we do not require deposits until the itinerary and price are finalized, we often have folks drop off a tour when the deposit is required, and so space opens up! Click below to be waitlisted for this tour with no obligation; if you are waitlisted, we will also notify you in case of an added departure of this tour. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2020=$6175 REQUEST WAITLIST OR MORE INFO
2022
May 28 - Jun 6, 2022 - Part One Guided by: Tom Johnson & Cory Gregory Tour Manager: Karen Turner Tour Limit: 14 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2020=$6275 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
Jun 4-13, 2022 - Part One Guided by: Chris Benesh & Micah Riegner Tour Manager: Karen Turner Tour Limit: 14 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2020=$6275 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
Jun 5-15, 2022 - Part Two Guided by: Tom Johnson & Cory Gregory Tour Manager: Karen Turner Tour Limit: 14 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2020=$6175 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
Jun 12-22, 2022 - Part Two Guided by: Chris Benesh & Micah Riegner Tour Manager: Karen Turner Tour Limit: 14 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2020=$6175 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
2023
May 27 - Jun 5, 2023 - Part One Guide: TBA Tour Manager: TBA Tour Limit: 14 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2020=$6275 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
Jun 3-12, 2023 - Part One Guide: TBA Tour Manager: TBA Tour Limit: 14 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2020=$6275 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
Jun 4-14, 2023 - Part Two Guide: TBA Tour Manager: TBA Tour Limit: 14 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2020=$6175 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
Jun 11-21, 2023 - Part Two Guide: TBA Tour Manager: TBA Tour Limit: 14 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2020=$6175 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
ABOUT OUR TRIPLISTS • After every tour we issue an annotated triplist of the birds recorded on the trip, illustrated with wonderful images (and sometimes video clips) from the tour's participants and guides.
Enjoy looking through the 8 most recent Field Guides triplists for this tour linked below!