A few weeks ago, I saw my first moose in New England. While it wasn’t by accident, I was still amazed by the size and beauty of these creatures. You probably ask how I saw a moose if it wasn’t by accident. During our stay in Lincoln, New Hampshire, we went on a moose tour — the Pemi Valley Moose tour, to be exact.
Since we were doing the moose tour as a birthday gift for my mom, I had to do my research on which one would give me the best chances of moose sightings. Pemi Valley Moose Tour’s website estimates a 93-97 percent chance of a moose viewing on their tours. While statistics wasn’t my best school subject, I knew my chances of spotting a moose were real good.
And the risk was rewarded. Now, I will note that we got fortunate because moose sightings are not guaranteed. Moose are wild animals, and you can’t predict when and where they will pop up. But we knew our chances going in, and they paid off. We saw three moose during our excursion into the White Mountains region.
About Pemi Valley Moose Tours
Pemi Valley Moose Tours has been offering tours since 1999 and, on average, goes out 120-130 times a year. Because of how long the tour has been going, they know the areas where moose visit and frequent in the Lincoln, New Hampshire area.
And not only do the tour guides know where moose like to visit, they are incredibly knowledgeable about these creatures. As you ride along, they will provide videos, facts, and various amounts of information on all things moose. Furthermore, they are the only tour in the state that uses spotlights so that you will get a clearer visual of the animals. With one driving and the other keeping an eye out, you have a higher chance of spotting a moose.
Ticket Pricing
The pricing varies by when you want tickets.
Nightly Moose Tour Off-Peak Pricing
For the off-peak pricing, you must book in May, June, July, or September. You do save money if you reserve tickets ahead of time and pay cash when you depart.
- Adults: $40
- Children 12 and under: $30
Nightly Moose Tour Peak Pricing
For peak pricing, you need to reserve in August. You also save money if you book tickets ahead of time and pay cash when you depart.
- Adults: $45
- Children 12 and under: $35
Because of the high gas cost, we had to pay a $2 fee per ticket. You can purchase tickets here.
How the Pemi Valley Moose Tour Works
You will get all the information you need days before your reservation via email. We got information on parking, what to expect, when to arrive, and when we would return.
The tour does ask you to arrive an hour early. Coming early to the meeting spot allows you to find parking, use the bathroom, and eventually get in line to find your seat. Seats are first-come, first-serve, but it goes by order of when you booked your tickets. If you book your tickets at the last minute, you will be at the back of the line.
The Pemi Valley Moose Tour takes 3-3.5 hours since they drive through the White Mountain area in an air-conditioned bus. Now, the windows are open so that the bus can get cool, so make sure you take a sweater if you tend to get cold quickly. The excursions include a tour of the local area, videos about moose, and exciting facts about the historical sites in the area. We even got information on where we could find moose on our own. And yes, there is a restroom break about halfway through the tour.
Tours sell out, so if you are considering purchasing tickets, do it.
PS: If you have a professional camera, bring it. We had our DSLR and we got some decent pictures.
Why You Should Do the Pemi Valley Moose Tour
If you are interested in seeing moose without worrying about hitting one or venturing in the dark on your own, this moose tour is FOR YOU. We had a blast learning about these majestic creatures and spotting them in the wild. Don’t get me wrong, I am somehow more scared of them, but that’s good. Now I know to watch where I am driving.
In all seriousness, if you want to see moose in New England, the Pemi Valley Moose Tour will be one of the best ways to do it.
