This tour is offered in partnership with High Lonesome Birdtours.

Utqiaġvik is the northernmost settlement in the United States, located on the edge of the Polar Ice Cap, more than 300 miles above the Arctic Circle. Vast seas of ice extend from Point Utqiaġvik another 1,200 miles to the North Pole. From May to August, darkness never falls on Utqiaġvik as the golden glow of the midnight sun fills the sky. For birders, High Arctic species are the main attraction here. Snowy Owls are common, Spectacled and Steller’s Eiders are starting their very short breeding seasons in June, while Yellow-billed Loons also breed in the area. We’ll visit the numerous tundra ponds to look for breeding species as well as travel to Point Utqiaġvik in hopes of seeing some of the Arctic mammals – Polar Bears are fairly common during May and June. Many shorebirds, resplendent in their breeding plumages, are also possible here, with Buff-breasted, Baird’s and Pectoral Sandpipers all being regular breeders. Even Asian species such as Red-necked Stint and Curlew Sandpiper (both rare breeders) have been seen in Utqiaġvik during June, while there is always the chance for an unexpected surprise!

Please note: these prices are subject to foreign exchange fluctuations.