June 28 - July 4, 2026
+++ WILD 🇺🇸 ALASKA +++
Salmon Sharks, Bears and Eagles
If you like the following, this trip might be for you:
Salmon Sharks 🦈
Alaska is one of the only places in the world where you can snorkel with the elusive Salmon Shark. This dinosaur looking shark is a master of heat regulation to help with bursts of speed in icy waters for prey. There aren't many shark experiences as unique as this one. Mane jellyfish are an also guaranteed highlight, together with daily sessions of whale spotting.
Bears and Eagles 🦅
Being largely uninhabited, Alaska's land areas host an abundance of life. Eagles, different type of bird species, and of course the enigmatic bears that roam the green grasses and forests. After spending the most of the morning and afternoon in the water, we will have daily excursions to find and photograph as many of these animals as possible.
Pure Wilderness 🌲
Alaska is one of the last remaining wilderness frontiers on Earth. It boasts expansive landscapes, including towering mountains, glaciers, fjords, forests, tundra, and rivers, providing habitats for a wide range of wildlife species. This remoteness contributes to the sense of awe and wonder that many people experience when visiting this place. It's really, really special.
Ravencroft Lodge 🛖
Our accommodation is the top rated and locally owned Ravencroft Lodge. The lodge does not pretend to be anything it's not: it's simple, quiet, tidy and blends in perfectly with its surrounding natural beauty.
Intimate Group ⭕
One of the cornerstones of our travel adventures is our small group travel. By keeping our circles small, we safeguard the authenticity of the animal encounters and the overal experience. 7 guests on one boat, that's it!
Above & Below 🌊
With both salmon sharks, jellyfish, bears, birds and tons of other land animals, this trip offers the very unusual combo of animal excellence both above and below the waterline. Something that doesn't come often!
Remote Wonders
This trip is a nature highlight and unique in our portfolio. We pledge to bring a group of dynamic and likeminded nature enthusiast together for an experience that sticks a lifetime.
Elite Destination
Alaska on top of as good as all of our client's bucket lists. It's a destination you save for and with good reason. It's wild character and untouched natural resources form one of America's biggest prides.
Nature At It's Finest
"I think Alaska is just one of these places that need little introduction. Everybody has an idea in his head of what it looks like. Vast green patches full of wildlife. Salmon sharks have been fascinating me for years. I cannot wait to go out and explore here. Hope to hear a bear while falling asleep too."
- Marcel, BTM Travel founder -
Your Trip Leaders
![](https://behind-the-mask.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Marcel-uai-258x258.jpeg)
Marcel Wilpernig
BTM Travel Founder & Trip Leader
![](https://behind-the-mask.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/4308bf91-13db-4698-8c76-13bc6ae9f8e9-uai-258x258.jpg)
Tim De Deygere
BTM Travel Product Manager & Trip Leader
Wild Alaska
Trip 1: June 21 - 27, 2026
Trip 2: June 28 - July 4, 2026
Trip Price:
- per person in a basic room (see details below for what is included in this price)
Included:
- 5 snorkel days with sharks and jellyfish, topside tours with bears, whales and eagles
- Private room each with two twin beds *
- Meals, snacks
- Wetsuits (let us know sizes 3 months ahead of trip, if needed) snorkel gear
- Weights
- Water-taxi transfers from Valdez, AK to lodge.
* Accommodations Basic single occupancy rooms with two twin beds are provided. Shared bathrooms and showers are located at end of building under covered, walk around porch.
Not included:
- Flights
- Alcohol & soft drinks
- Large snacks
- Internet
- Gratuities.
Important: We highly recommend DiveAssure insurance which also covers force majeure and single missed days of diving due to sickness. Feel free to ask us about it. Further extensions in Indonesia are always possible we’re happy to assist! Our terms & conditions apply!
ITINERARY
Day 1 (trip 1: June 21, trip 2: June 28)
Travel day from Valdez, AK to Lodge. Depart at 10am. Lunch not included, so be sure to bring a lunch when you arrive.
We’ll swing by Columbia Glacier for a quick snorkel dip and look for sea lions, whales and otters (weather permitting).
Then check into rooms/prep gear with trip briefing/orientation on sharks after dinner.
Days 2 – 6 (trip 1: June 22-26, trip 2: June 29-3 July)
Salmon Shark/Lions Mane Jellyfish snorkeling starts at 6am.
Breakfast and Lunch are to go.
Guided adventures end at 12pm.
If you still have energy after shark time, you’ll have free time to 5pm for self-guided adventures such as hiking, beachcombing, paddleboarding, dock snorkeling or just simply hang out at the main lodge with other guests until dinner is served at 5:30pm.
Evening topside photography trips for eagles, bears and whales are 7-8pm.
Day 6 (trip 1: June 27, trip 2: July 4)
Travel day back to Valdez, AK. Sit down breakfast 7:30am at lodge.
Depart at 9am sharp for Valdez. Arrival back into Valdez approximately 11am.
The Ravencraft Lodge
Prince William Sound is big even for Alaska standards and in this vast landscape, Ravencroft sits at her heart. There are no roads to where we are and the nearest lodge is over 80 miles away, across the Sound. It is only accessible by boat or aircraft and caters to no more then a group of 12 guests at a time. And because we are so deep into the wilderness, animal life is never far.
The lodge sits on 240 acres of private land that is surrounded by national forest on all sides with an amazing view of Prince William Sound and its impressive historic Chugach Mountain Range.
The property was once a bustling mine housing over 100 men. There are still remnants of the frontier with old tools displayed on the lodge deck. When the lodge was constructed by Boone and his father, many hardships were taken during the progression of raising the structures. The original forest had grown back with little sight of the original footings from the old buildings. It’s taken many years of blood, sweat and tears to bring this lodge and all its outbuildings to modern standards. And once again housing adventure seekers to this beautiful area. When you sit down on one of the decks and let the sounds of nature over take you, it’s easy to see why guests come back year after year.
![](https://behind-the-mask.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lodge-Aerial4-scaled-uai-258x129.jpg)
ALASKA
Alaska’s waters are teeming with fascinating marine life, including the elusive salmon sharks. These sleek predators, often mistaken for their larger cousins, the great white sharks, roam the frigid Alaskan waters in search of their favorite prey: salmon. With their impressive speed and agility, salmon sharks play a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of the marine ecosystem, showcasing the diversity of Alaska’s underwater world.
On land, Alaska’s iconic brown and black bears reign supreme as the undisputed kings of the wilderness. These majestic creatures, known for their sheer size and power, inhabit the rugged landscapes of Alaska’s forests and mountains. From foraging for berries and roots to hunting for salmon during the annual spawning runs, brown and black bears are integral to the ecological health of Alaska’s ecosystems, embodying the raw beauty and untamed spirit of the Last Frontier.
In the skies above, Alaska’s skies are ruled by the magnificent bald eagles, symbols of freedom and strength. With their striking white heads and powerful wingspans, bald eagles soar gracefully over Alaska’s vast expanses, hunting for fish and scavenging for carrion along the rugged coastline. Revered by indigenous cultures and cherished by wildlife enthusiasts, bald eagles epitomize the spirit of Alaska’s untamed wilderness, serving as both guardians of the land and ambassadors of the wild.