Photographing the Chilkat Valley (from Haines)

Alaska Photography at its Finest!

This tour is sold out for 2024

Step off your Alaska cruise in Haines and meet your professional photography guide for a 4-hour adventure into the scenic Chilkat Valley for prime wildife and landscape photography. Your private photography guide will select their favorite locations for the best vantage points, lighting and views of different subjects and provide you with ample time to set up the best shots.  Let the beauty of Haines combined with the vast variety of Alaskan wildlife and birds, from bald eagles to brown bears, become the subjects of stunning photography – taken by you.

Your cruise excursion adventure begins here...

Day 1

Depending on the lighting and weather, different locations in the Chilkat Valley offer a variety of landscape and wildlife photography options. This area along the Chilkoot River includes the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, home to vast numbers of bald eagles feasting on the river’s plentiful salmon runs. Brown bears are similarly drawn to feed in this area and other wildlife and birds habitat here as well. Let your photography guide know your top priorities for customizing your day tour’s itinerary.

  • Bald Eagles: Haines is rightfully known as the bald eagle capital of the world. Hundreds of bald eagles live here year-round, and your guide knows their seasonal movements. You will likely get the chance to photograph an active eagle’s nest (or two!), eagles in flight, and even some close-up portraiture work of these birds.
  • Brown Bears: Haines has a growing reputation as a world-class brown bear viewing destination. Beginning in August, the Chilkoot River is teeming with pink salmon, and the bears reliably come down to the river to feed. Ask you guide about other lesser-known locations, in and around Haines, where brown bear can also be seen and photographed.
  • Marinelife and Wildlife: Depending on the season, humpback whales, Steller sea lions, moose, Dall sheep, mountain goats, beaver, and harbor seals can all be photographed from Haines.
  • Alaska’s Landscapes: The pristine beauty of Haines is unsurpassed from mountain vistas, glaciers, rivers, waterfalls, to abundant wildflowers, seascapes, etc. Whatever your interest, your guide can take you where you need to go to get a landscape photography experience that will exceed your expectations.

Your day is all about flexibility, fun, and learning versus adherence to a rigid schedule. While a simple point-and-shoot camera or smartphone camera will technically work, guests are encouraged to bring traditional photography gear to capture the best high-resolution shots. A boxed lunch is included on your tour so you may eat whenever you choose to while you focus on getting that perfect shot.

Amenities, nearby adventures and more...

  • Meet and greet at the cruise terminal
  • Private roundtrip transportation in Haines
  • Services of a professional wilderness guide and photographer
  • Privately guided photography tour to the Chilkat Valley
  • Boxed lunch

Customize your adventure

Add a flightseeing tour over Glacier Bay National Park

Upgrade your private excursion by adding a private flightseeing tour over Glacier Bay National Park

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Alaska Private Touring was fantastic. Cybill was a pleasure to work with in planning our trip and was very accommodating in making revisions during the process. Savannah was our driver for the entire trip and was awesome! I was a little hesitant in booking the trip due to the lack of reviews,... Read more  

Mike Mosely