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safeguard the major wildlife
elements, but in the event of unexpected disruptions, the best
advice to take it in your stride and accept it as part and parcel
of visiting Alaska.
Visas:
Visa requirements for Alaska and the same as for elsewhere in the
United States, and British passport holders do not need to make
any prior arrangements, though passports must be valid for 6
months prior to travel. Visitors to Alaska generally clear US
customs & immigration en-route (e.g. in Chicago, Minneapolis, or
Seattle).
Time Difference:
Central Alaska (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Denali, Katmai NP, Kenai
Peninsula, etc.) is 9 hours behind GMT.
Communications:
With many clients taking mobile phones to North America as a means
to keep in touch with family and friends at home, you should be
aware that outside of major town and cities (Anchorage, Fairbanks,
Homer, Seward, etc.) reception can be very patchy, especially in
wilderness areas (e.g. Katmai & Denali National Parks). Hotel
charges for overseas call are as you would expect expensive and
should be avoided if possible. Most post including postcards will
take about a week to reach the UK/Europe.
Electricity:
As elsewhere in the US, Alaska operates on 110V, 60-cycle electric
power. Some sensitive equipment will need a surge protector,
particularly at remote wilderness lodges. Sockets here accept a
standard 2 or 3 pronged US plug so European visitors will require
a universal adaptor.
Money:
Cash in the form of US dollars is the most important currency to
carry and given the remoteness of some of the locations you may
visit, you should make sure you have enough, as credit cards and
travellers cheques will only be accepted at banks and major
lodges/hotels. Having said that there is a wide ATM network
throughout Alaska and credit cards are a must, not only for paying
for regular travel expenses, but also in order to rent a vehicle.
Tipping:
Normal tipping is 15% of the bill before tax, and is usually paid
to waitstaff, cabbies, and hotel attendants. Some restaurants
cheekily add a service charge to the bill, so obviously you will
not pay a tip if that is the case. Although wildlife guides do not
always expect tips, if you feel you have been well looked after
and educated about the area and its resident wildlife then a tip
is almost certainly appropriate.
Clothing:
Due to the changeable and sometimes extreme weather that Alaska is
rightly famous for, you have to pack appropriately. While extreme
temperatures are unusual during the conventional tourism season
(June through mid September) adequate rain and wind protection is
vital. A layered approach to clothing is the way to go, consisting
of breathable base layers or T-shirts, wool or fleece thermal mid
layers, and most importantly, a wind and waterproof outer layer
(jacket and trousers). On top of this you should take sturdy and
waterproof footwear (e.g. hiking boots or walking shoes), though
rubber hip waders are often provided on fly-in bear viewing tours
and multi-day wilderness lodge based programs.
Wildlife Viewing:
Always follow the instructions of guides. With much of the bear
viewing in Alaska being conducted on foot, often in close
proximity to the bears themselves, following the examples set by
the guides is all important. Keep noise to a minimum, encourage
others to do likewise, and maintain an unobtrusive and
non-threatening posture. Flash photography should be avoided at
all times. Respect the animals’ personal space and the need to
feed without disturbance or distraction.
Useful Items:
• neutral coloured clothing
• hat to protect head and neck from sun
• good quality ‘wraparound’ sunglasses with retainer
• small ruck-sack to keep belongings together and
dust/rain out of camera etc
First Aid and Medical Treatment:
If in doubt concerning any medical issue you should always seek
expert advice from a Doctor. Bear in mind that as in the rest of
the United States there is no free healthcare in Alaska so having
travel insurance with adequate medical coverage is a must. It is
sensible to carry with you an adequate supply of any regular
medication in your cabin baggage.
Cameras:
Photographers looking to get a reasonable close up of wildlife
should take at least a 300mm telephoto lens with their SLR, but a
range of lenses will allow you to capture landscape, people and
wildlife shots. Even remote wilderness lodges and camps have
generator and/or solar power for at least part of the day, but it
is always wise to take a spare battery and plenty of memory cards
for your digital camera. A tripod or monopod is not essential but
will give you greater stability for photographs in poor light
levels.
Useful Things to Take:
Insect repellent, universal plug adapter, torch and batteries,
water bottle, adhesive tape, alarm clock, wet-wipes, small ruck-sack
or daypack. |
