Juneau Shore Tours
Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour
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View LargeFrom the lovely and peaceful trails at the Mendenhall visitor’s center, you’ll be able to access the glacier overlook and Nugget Falls within just a 10- or 15-minute hike! -
View LargeEspecially early in the season, stunning Nugget Falls runs at high volume from high in the mountains down into lovely Mendenhall Lake! -
View LargeOur whale watching fleet consists of 2 boat sizes: one 25-passenger boat provides a smaller-group setting, but slightly less room for viewing, while our two-story catamarans can hold up to 45 passengers. -
View LargeThanks to expert naturalist guides, you’ll complete your whale watching and glacier tour with a new appreciation for just what intelligent and fascinating mammals Juneau’s whales are! -
View LargeCameras are essential on this outing! You’ll want to be ready in case the humpbacks decide to show off! -
View LargeWhat a view! Feeding humpbacks with beautiful Alaskan mountains in the background. -
View LargeA spinning orca seems to enjoy the attention and puts on a show for these guests -
View LargeAlaska’s state flower, a lone fireweed stands tall amongst a beautiful backdrop -
View LargeLeave the boat behind and head over to Mendenhall Glacier for views this like one! -
View LargeSet your camera to take sequence shots to get that perfect one! -
View LargeSpeeding along, it doesn’t take long for the captain to find great whale watching opportunities -
View LargeWalkways at Mendenhall Glacier allow you to explore the area from multiple perspectives -
View LargeThere’s no better way to see playful whales than from water-level -
View LargeMendenhall Glacier gradually spills into the lake, reflecting an array of colors -
View LargeOrcas often travel in pairs or small pods and also frequent the waters of the Inside Passage -
View LargeThe larger 49-passenger vessel provides ample viewing inside and out. Riding in style! -
View LargeSometimes we might even catch a bear foraging along the shore before or after the tour. -
View LargeThe interior of the smaller jet-boat provides plenty of space for everyone and excellent viewing opportunities from inside -
View LargeSplash! Surface activity is usually tied to feeding habits – crew will provide insightful narrative during your journey -
View LargeBubble-feeding humpbacks put on a show for these tour participants! -
View LargeA $3.00 admission into the Visitor’s Center is worth it for those interested in the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of glacier formation -
View LargePhotographers will love the opportunities to get up close to Juneau’s largest inhabitants
What to expect and what not to expect with this Juneau shore excursion
With a convenient pick-up location within walking distance of the cruise ships, a 25-minute transfer over to Auke Bay takes you through downtown Juneau while your guide narrates the journey, providing a great introduction and orientation to Alaska's capital city. Load up on the customized whale watching vessel and from there, it doesn't take long after leaving the bay to arrive at prime whale watching waters. Spend the next 2 hours in the midst of whales, sea lions, seals and countless birds, experiencing Alaska's diverse wildlife first-hand.
- 2 hours on the water for whale watching
- Light snack and refreshment provided
- Transportation to Mendenhall Glacier
- Combines two Juneau 'must-do' activities
- Entrance to Visitor Center included
As your customized whale watching vessel returns to the harbor, board the bus for a transfer over to Mendenhall Glacier. Take a self-guided stroll, examining the Glacier for multiple angles and exploring some of the trails in the area. The Visitor's Center, included with the tour, provides a wealth of knowledge and information. You have about 45-minutes to explore the area, and if you're looking for a bit more time to walk the trail to stunning Nugget Falls, just let us know ahead of time and we'll do our best to accommodate.
Please note: This tour may run in reverse. If you would like more time at the glacier visitor center, please contact our agents!
Looking for more wildlife excursions? Consider the Skagway Wildlife Safari & Bear Viewing Tour & the famous Ketchikan Bering Sea Crab Fishermen's Tour!
The Four Juneau Whale Watching Tours
Minimum Ages, Cancellations, Accessibility, Etc.
JUNEAU TOURS DETAILS:
- Restrictions: This is a family-friendly tour and all ages are welcome.
- Accessibility: This tour is rated 'Easy' in regards to activity level. There are a few steps to get in and out of the bus as well as a rugged dock a maximum of 300 yards to get to the boat. Please contact us in advance if you require assistance and we will do our best to accommodate!
- Cancellation Policy: In the event your cruise ship is late, delayed, or doesn't make it into port we will provide a refund. Changes or cancellations are allowed up to 14 days prior to the tour. Any cancellations made within 14 days of the tour departure are non-refundable.
- What to Wear: We recommend hoping for sunshine but preparing for rain for all of our tours. Drizzles are common in this area so we recommend bringing a waterproof jacket. We typically recommend long pants and closed-toed shoes for comfort. And don't forget your camera!
- Adult Rate: $144
- Child Rate: $129 (ages 3-12)
- Infant Rate: Free (ages 2 and under) + 5% sales tax
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We enjoyed our 4th of July trip in Juneau - the whale watching boat trip was excellent - enjoyed the scenery and we saw a lot of humpback whales - this is not the trip to see Orcas! Wish we could have gotten a little closer to the whales, but we appreciated the way the boat captains all worked together to not harass the whales - I could see that the crew definitely have a great respect for nature. The Glacier was awesome - we did the hike to Nugget Falls which we highly recommend. Took an hour round trip - easy hike and well worth the time to get closer to the glacier.
The glacier portion was great, because we were given our own time to go where we wanted.
The whale watching exceeded expectations. The crew took great care of us, and we were blessed with multiple breeches by the whales we saw.
Whale watching was super. Saw a baby calling for her mother, who did respond. Seals were what we saw the most of. I wish we had more time at the glacier. We were there for a very short time, didn't get to see the visitor center.
Brandy was our bus driver and guide and she was wonderful with a great personality. Ben and Jerry were our whale watching gentlemen and they were very knowledgable and friendly, great people.
We got to see several Whales and their calves it was so exciting. They swam so close to our boat. We got some really beautiful photos. Our captain was so focused and made sure we all had a great time!
