experience the magic of canada’s
majestic owls & wild north
Embark on a thrilling photo tour in the Edmonton area, where the elusive great grey owl awaits. Known for their striking yellow eyes and silent flight, these majestic raptors thrive in the boreal forests and open meadows of Alberta. With expert guides leading the way, you’ll have the opportunity to capture intimate portraits of these incredible owls as they perch, hunt, and glide through their natural habitat. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or a passionate wildlife enthusiast, this tour offers a rare chance to photograph one of North America’s most iconic and elusive birds in stunning detail.
General Information | Overview | What’s Included | Reviews
Gallery | Itinerary | Location & Accommodations | | Jasper National Park Extension
Tour Leader
Northern canada owls
Dates: january 23-27, 2027 (owls); January 28-31, 2027 (Jasper extension, see below for more information)
Location: edmonton, canada
Price: $3299 usd*
*Price per person, based on same-sex double occupancy accommodations. A limited number of single supplement rooms are available for an additional $475, which you may select at time of booking. If the single supplement rooms are sold out online, please contact us, and we will reach out to the lodging to see if we can accommodate more, though we cannot guarantee this is possible.
Fitness Level: LEVEL TWO - GENTLE ADVENTURE
Group Size: 4 participants + group leader
Tour Highlights:
Given the duration and location of this tour, expect many opportunities to photograph owls and other bird species.
High chance to encounter: Great grey owl, Northern hawk owl, Northern shrike, Spruce grouse, Ruffed grouse, Pine grosbeak, Canada jay, Blue jay, Redpoll, Pine siskin, White-winged crossbill, Boreal chickadee, Black-capped chickadee, Bohemian waxwing, Snow bunting, Northern flicker, Pileated woodpecker, Hairy woodpecker, Downy woodpecker, Plain’s bison (location dependent), Moose, Coyote
Lesser known area, away from the more popular viewing areas.
Guided by experienced local Nick Parayko: “I do my utmost to capture beautiful images of wildlife and scenery from around the world, with a focus on my home province. My goal is to provide professional quality photographs that do justice to beautiful environments and their many inhabitants.” To date, Nick has worked with and had images published by Travel Alberta, Canadian Geographic, the Government of Alberta, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and Hawkwatch International.
Nick is also a wildlife biologist, and he will do a presentation about the owls and local area at dinner one evening. We will also work together to educate participants about ethical practices in owl viewing, recognizing signs of stress in an owl, and how to capture beautiful images of owls that include the environment.
Join us for an unforgettable winter adventure in Edmonton, Canada, a premier destination for wildlife enthusiasts. This trip offers a unique opportunity to witness the majestic great gray owl in its natural habitat, along with other fascinating songbird and raptor species. We will enjoy a presentation about the local wildlife and ecology from our guide and wildlife biologist, Nick Parayko.
Our itinerary includes comfortable accommodations, expert guidance to ensure a memorable and enriching experience. Don't miss this chance to create lasting memories in the heart of Western Canada’s winter wonderland.
Ethics Statement: Responsible Owl Viewing
At Focus Photo Tours, we are committed to promoting responsible owl viewing practices. We believe that it is important to respect the natural habitats of these magnificent birds and to minimize disturbance to their daily lives.
Our Ethical Guidelines:
Observe from a Distance: We maintain a safe distance from owls to minimize stress and disruption.
NO Baiting: Baiting owls is detrimental to their well-being and can lead to a range of negative consequences, primarily due to the habituation of owls to humans and the increased risk of injury or death.
Avoid Flash Photography: Flash photography can startle and disorient owls, so we use only natural lighting for photography.
Minimize Noise and Movement: We keep our voices low and movements slow to avoid disturbing the owls.
Respect Nesting Sites: We do not approach or disturb owls during nesting season to ensure the safety of the young owls.
Educate Visitors: We educate our visitors about the importance of responsible owl viewing and encourage them to follow our guidelines.
Non-Disclosure Agreement: Participants will be asked to agree to the terms of a NDA in order to protect the locations of these owls to limit traffic and pressure.
By adhering to these ethical guidelines, we strive to ensure that our owl-viewing activities do not negatively impact the owls or their environment. We believe that it is our responsibility to protect these amazing creatures and to promote a sustainable approach to wildlife tourism.
What’s Included:
Transportation to airport hotel via hotel shuttle
Transportation to location and throughout the duration of the tour
Transportation back to airport or airport hotel
Hotel accommodations January 23 to checkout on January 27
Breakfast (complimentary hotel)
Expert guiding and photography instruction in the field
Admission to Elk Island National Park
Presentation by wildlife biologist and guide, Nick Parayko
Tips/gratuities for local guides
What’s Not Included:
Airfare to Edmonton
Photography/personal Gear
Lunch/dinners
This tour begins and ends at Edmonton International Airport. Please make travel arrangements based on the itinerary below, or Contact Us for travel assistance.
“this was a wonderful trip. nick was an excellent guide and if it’s offered again, i’m already thinking about next year! Thank you!
— Karen Conradi
What People Are Saying About This tour:
“I recently returned from an owl photography trip given by focus photo tours. All that comes to mind is “Wow, wow, wow!” This photo tour was led by nick parayko. his ability to spot owls and other wildlife in the vast areas we explored was amazing. There is always a chance on a wildlife photo trip that very few of the wildlife you are seeking are actually spotted—that’s just the nature of any wildlife photography trip. With nick as a guide, we spotted over a dozen owls and as a bonus, we saw moose, bison, wolf, coyote, fox, and multiple species of birds on this trip. We were also given an evening by nick where we were given critiques of our work, which was both educational and thought-provoking. The philosophy of focus photo tours is not “Take the shot and move on”. There is respect for the animal in their habitat which was always conveyed as we approached each animal each time. This was appreciated by all on the tour. Leading up to this trip, we were given ample time and advice via zoom, an ongoing chat, and emails if necessary, to answer any questions or concerns we had about trip planning, whether it was concerns about the clothes we needed to have, or technical issues with our cameras or lenses. My only surprise was finding out that focus tours is a fairly new organization, only because of the maturity of this group and their knowledge of the subject of the particular theme we were photographing. i would check out their website for other tours to see what else they might be doing in the future. it’s well worth the planning and time to do any of their trips.”
— Jan Hillsberg
Day 0 (pre-trip, January 22)
Arrive at Edmonton International Airport (YEG) by end of day January 22 for early morning departure on January 23. Guests should book airport lodging (not included) at Fairfield by Marriott Edmonton International Airport,located directly across premium outlet shopping and popular entertainment venues. Upon arrival, take the hotel’s complimentary airport shuttle to the hotel from arrival terminal door 10. There is a restaurant on site for your evening meal.
Day 1 (January 23)
Meet for an early breakfast and enjoy a full day of searching for owls as we make our way to our accommodations in St. Albert. We will also visit Elk Island National Park to look for bison, moose, elk, coyotes, and other wildlife. The day will end with evening check-in at our hotel and group dinner at a local restaurant.
Daily itinerary
Day 2-5 (January 24-27)
Breakfast at the hotel or on the road. We will be departing early (6:30/7am) in order to arrive at the locations by sunrise to search for great gray owls and other wildlife. There will also be an opportunity to visit a songbird feeder set up for a variety of songbird species. Our lunches will be on the road (either packed lunch or a quick stop at a local restaurant) and we will enjoy discussions about settings, editing, creative tips, etc. When the light runs out in the evening, we will return to the hotel area for dinner at a local restaurant and discuss plans for the next day.
Day 5 evening
January 27 evening - transportation back to airport for those not doing the Jasper extension. *Please book at the same arrival hotel, Fairfield by Marriott Edmonton International Airport. Participants staying for the Jasper extension can join those for group dinner near the airport, or they can enjoy dinner on their own and use the evening to organize for departure the next day.
See Jasper Itinerary Below
location & accommodations
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![Map showing the location of Alberta, Canada, with Edmonton marked, surrounded by the provinces of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and the United States.]()
Northcentral Alberta
We will fly into Edmonton and then drive to our hotel. The exact location of this tour is intentionally kept vague to protect the privacy and exclusivity of the owls.
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Fairfield by Marriott Edmonton International Airport
Arrival/Airport Hotel (Not included)
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![Exterior of a Best Western Plus hotel with a parking lot and several cars in front, blue sky with clouds above.]()
Best Western st. Albert
Tour Hotel (Included)
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![Hotel lobby with front desk, seating area with orange chairs, potted plants, and retail shelves with snacks]()
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![A hotel room with two beds having dark wood headboards, white pillows, brown patterned bedspreads, a window with brown curtains, a desk with a chair, and framed artwork on the wall.]()
Jasper national park Extension
Dates: January 28-31, 2027
Location: jasper national park
Price: $2899 usd*
Fitness Level: LEVEL TWO - GENTLE ADVENTURE
Group Size: 4 participants + group leader
*Price per person, based on same-sex double occupancy accommodations. A limited number of single supplement rooms are available for an additional $650, which you may select at time of booking. If the single supplement rooms are sold out online, please contact us, and we will reach out to the lodging to see if we can accommodate more, though we cannot guarantee this is possible.
tour description:
For guests who want to extend their stay following the Edmonton Tour (or those looking for a short stand-alone tour) join us in Jasper National Park. In January, Jasper becomes something rare—quiet, wild, and completely stripped down to its essence. Snow-covered valleys, fewer people, and wildlife moving freely through a frozen landscape create the kind of moments photographers chase.
Our itinerary includes comfortable accommodations, expert guidance to ensure a memorable and enriching experience. Don't miss this chance to create lasting memories in this premier winter wonderland.
species list:
High:
- Bighorn sheep
- Moose
- Rocky Mountain elk
- Coyote
- Mule deer
- White-tailed deer
- Common raven
- Bald eagle
- Black-billed magpie
- Mountain chickadee
- Canada jay
- Clarke’s nutcracker
- Boreal chickadee
- American dipper
- American three-toed woodpecker
- black-backed woodpecker
- Pileated woodpecker
- White-winged crossbill
- Brown creeper
- Ruffed grouse
- Spruce grouse
Medium:
- Pine marten
- Red fox
- Mountain goat
- White-tailed ptarmigan
- Gray-crowned rosy finch
- Steller’s jay
- Great grey owl
- Northern hawk owl
Low:
- Boreal owl
- Golden eagle
- Dusky grouse
- Wolf
- Canada lynx
- Cougar
- Wolverine
Daily itinerary
Day 0 (January 27)
Participants from the owl tour staying for the Jasper extension can join those for group dinner near the airport, or they can enjoy dinner on their own and use the evening to organize for departure the next day.
FOR ANYONE ONLY BOOKING THE JASPER PORTION, YOU NEED TO ARRIVE AT EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOR EVENING PICKUP ON JANUARY 27. NICK WILL DROP OFF THE OWL GUESTS AND PICK UP ANYONE SIGNED UP ONLY FOR JASPER AND TRANSPORT TO ST. ALBERT FOR OVERNIGHT IN ST. ALBERT.
Day 1 (January 28)
Early breakfast followed by checkout for transportation to Jasper National Park. Scenery and wildlife along the way. Check-in at hotel accommodations in Jasper.
Day 2-3 (January 29-30)
Explore Jasper National Park
Day 4 (January 31)
Late morning/early afternoon transportation to Edmonton International Airport. *We recommend booking your flight for February 1 to allow for travel time from Jasper to the airport. Please book at the same arrival hotel, Fairfield by Marriott Edmonton International Airport.
Tour Leader: nick parayko
I am a wildlife and nature photographer from the Edmonton area (St. Albert) in Alberta, Canada.
My love for anything that runs, soars, crawls, or swims stems from my early childhood and, for as long as I can remember I have been passionate about experiencing and documenting wildlife and wild places. I do my utmost to capture beautiful images of wildlife and scenery from around the world, with a focus on my home province. My goal is to provide professional quality photographs that do justice to beautiful environments and their many inhabitants.
To date, Nick has worked with and had images published by Travel Alberta, Canadian Geographic, the Government of Alberta, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and Hawkwatch International.