Our group had an amazing experience with Emerald. We were not able to get to Lake Clark with a different outfitter and decided to walk around to see if we could with someone else. At the last minute on the last day we were in town, they said they could take us at the last minute. The pilot, Tom, and the office clerk, Maddie, were both totally awesome. She found the pilot for us even after he was done for the day and arranged the trip for us. He was extremely informative, pleasant, and an overall nice guy. We learned so much about the area and did get to land at Lake Clark. My face literally hurt from smiling so much for days after, and I slept like a rock that night. Thank you Emerald Air! read more

Emerald air is the standard when it comes to bear tours for Homer. The guides, pilots and staff, truly are an amazing group of people. The two otters and Beaver are some of the cleanest aircraft in the state. They offer multiple type of tours, depending on your hiking ability, taking a trip to Hallo Bay is a must. You will be surrounded by bears, from start to finish. Thank You Emerald air for great experience . read more

In a world where so often expectations fall flat, Emerald Air is a bright spot. We just returned for a couple days of bear viewing and were met with smart, warm people who conduct themselves with professionalism and competence. Terrylynn, Derrick, Dave, Arabella , Libby and Sky couldn't be more welcoming and positive. The experience they deliver shouldn't be missed. Fun, informative, unique and we have left with smiles on our faces each time!! Thank you! read more

I have lived in Homer, Alaska since 1985, so I've seen more than my fair share of breathtaking scenery and impressive wildlife, however, I have never seen anything like the views and the bears I saw yesterday when I went on the Brooks Falls trip with Emerald Air Service. It started with a jaw-dropping scenic flight in the spacious Otter, with our skilled and knowledgeable pilot, Mark. We flew over Douglas Volcano, saw crater lakes and hanging glaciers and then, after an hour and a half of mountain flying, we landed at Brooks Camp. After bear safety school we hiked to the viewing platforms and had our first close encounter with a grizzly. It lumbered past us, its coat a shiny, healthy merle and its ears fuzzy round like a teddy bear. The look in its eyes, however, was no cuddly gaze. This bear was wild. Under the calm guidance of our capable pilot, we stepped into the woods off-trail, remained safe, and saw this bear close enough to smell him. Fish feasts and sun-drenched fur. Wildness. Grizzly bears were everywhere then--meandering, sniffing, fishing, lounging, caring for their cubs. With Emerald Air, we got five full hours on the ground at Katmai, which is enough time for at least two visits to the platform at Brooks Falls, where the fattest bears dive and snorkel and scoop for salmon, where mother bears usher their tiny cubs up trees to safety, where lean bears steal salmon from fishermen, where the grizzlies are living their best bear lives, and our presence on the platform doesn't disturb them in the least. It is another world out there and the five hours with Emerald Air are more than enough time to be immersed in it, to get to know the demeanors of individual bears--their fishing styles, their parenting styles, what turns them on, what makes them tick. The journey didn't end at the end of the day, however, for once again we were treated to another hour and a half scenic flight back to Homer, where we spotted dozens of grizzlies fishing for the thousands of bright red sockeye salmon that were swimming upriver to spawn. And then we flew through the steam rising from the active volcanos of the Ring of Fire, back to Homer, where the friendly staff at Emerald Air greeted us with fresh-baked cookies. Best day ever. As a Homer local, I'm spoiled to have seen plenty of big wild animals and mountains up close, however I have never in my life had a day that was quite like this. Alaska is a once-in-a-lifetime trip if you don't live here, but the Brooks Falls trip with Emerald Air Service is a once-in-a-lifetime trip even for those of us who do. read more

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I'm a scaredy cat - I was nervous about the flight and nervous about being so close to bears. Emerald made me forget my worries as soon as we departed. The pilot was extremely experienced and the kind of guy that you just trust. Our guide was very knowledgeable and great. Her (and Emerald's) high standards for keeping the bears safe and their habitat pristine made me feel a little superior to the other groups out there :) I highly recommend these folks!! read more

This was truly the coolest thing we've ever done - it's mind blowing how close to the bears we were able to get and how safe I felt the entire time. Our guide Lance was incredible - he was extremely knowledgeable and funny and he made sure we had a great experience while also feeling safe and protected. The timing of early August was perfect because we missed mating season where the males are more aggressive but got there before the salmon started to spawn and die so there weren't any dead fish on the shoreline and we were able to sit there while the bears ignored us to fish. I wish I could do this every day - it's been two weeks and I still think about it constantly. Highly highly highly recommend. read more

Emerald Air Service - Aerial Tours Near Me - Homer, Alaska

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First of all, they led me on the most amazing adventure of my lifetime. Secondly, they were so incredibly kind, knowledgeable, professional and caring - it well surpassed any of my expectations. There was concern, post trip, that I may have been dehydrated. They called me the next day to see how I was doing. A day later I was out for dinner and the General Manager approached me to say how happy he was to see I was doing so well. The guide was fantastic, the pilot was fantastic, the admin was fantastic, as well as the GM. We were all in great hands!!! Mike Mankowich read more

Once in Homer, Alaska, dont miss it! You will have the time of your life - like I had.... Walk in and ask for their tours and prices.... they are absolute experts for the nature and wildlife up there.... they bring you out there to see the beauty of nature and wildlife... and to respect it! No hunters.... he he!!!! Have fun! read more

Emerald Air Service - Aerial Tours Near Me - Homer, Alaska

On August 11, 2019, my husband & I went on the guided walk "into the bush" of Katmai National Park with Emerald Air. It was the most amazing experience and the highlight of 2 weeks in Alaska. It even beat flying over Denali. We had a great pilot, Dave, and an amazing guide, Lance. He educates you about the brown bears and explains what the bears are doing and anticipates what they will do next. We saw at least 20 bears and cubs on our hike and when they walked by us (15-20 feet away!!) Lance was in front and reassuring us we were fine. The bears are so full from eating salmon, they just walk by. You will get amazing photos and video of this beautiful walk among the bears. Emerald Air gears you up with waders so you have no problems crossing the streams. You will not be disappointed and you will have a true respect for these amazing bears. read more

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What an amazing experience!!! Weather was perfect!! Saw bears!!! Momma bear and 3 cubs walked right past us!! Plane ride was absoultley the highlight of my trip! read more

Emerald Air Service - Aerial Tours Near Me - Homer, Alaska

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Mike, the pilot, and Lance, the guide, gave us the most unforgettable day we could have ever imagined! Weather was perfect (I am sure they had something to do with that) and we saw ten bears this day! Two came within 8 yards of us! No joke! We saw so many we started naming them! Ben, Cinnamon, Sandy, Mama, Dusty (the baby), Limpy, Gimpy, Trippy etc, They were very professional and Lance was very skilled at not only keeping curious bears at bay but keeping us reassured in his "scrunchy pants" bear deterrent. We joked to him these were retired Russian circus bears because they obeyed his every command. "Stay" seemed to be their best trick. I was assured that these bears were not under contract to act any particular way and that we were being treated to as wild and natural a bear show as anyone could possibly imagine. I'm having a hard time believing I'm actually putting this experience into words because I can tell you by the end of day, we were speechless! On the way back, Mike flew out of the way to show us some remarkable glaciers! Would highly recommend this excursion! read more

We booked Emerald Air Service sight unseen months ahead. We are really glad we booked with Emerald. The day was filled with amazement. The staff including pilot and naturalist were helpful and knowledgeable. They provided all the equipment and escorted us to a heavenly spot where we could watch and enjoy nature including amazing bears all day long. The Beaver aircraft is meticulously Emerald Air gave us an experience never to be forgotten, one far beyond our expectations. read more