princess shore excursions juneau

Five-Glacier Seaplane Exploration

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Description

Points of Interest

• Glacier Flightseeing

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Your adventure begins the moment you leave the Juneau waterfront on a 40-minute floatplane journey you will never forget. Flying through the Juneau Valley, you will soar over cascading waterfalls and lush rainforest, en route to the awe-inspiring glaciers of the Juneau Icefield. Gaze in wonder at the deep blue hue of the receding and advancing glaciers that make up the 1,500 square miles of solid ice. This once-in-a-lifetime flight will take you over the deep crevasses and azure meltwater pools of the Norris, Taku, Hole-in-the-Wall, East and West Twin glaciers. Everyone will enjoy a window seat on this exciting narrated flight, so bring your camera to capture all the magical memories. And keep a lookout for possible wildlife such as goats and eagles, before concluding this magnificent excursion with a smooth water landing.

Special Notes:

Tour timeline may vary to avoid overcrowding, etc.

Tour to seaplane base

Check-in & aircraft assignment, flightseeing over 5 glaciers - approximate flight time, tour back to cruise ship pier.

• SOUTH DAKOTA

Best Juneau excursions that I did (Princess cruise + book Juneau tours on your own) 🏔 Alaska cruise travel blog

went to Juneau on Princess cruise ships, so my experience is looking for excursions for Princess cruises… and booking on my own.

But of course, most of the excursions can apply no matter what cruise line you are on.

For any Princess excursions I mention, copy and paste the title of the excursion into google, and add the name of your cruise line. I have found that often times, the cruise ship excursions all have the same or similar names.

Here is your quick list of best Juneau cruise excursions you must consider:

• Juneau whale watching tour
• Juneau icefield seaplane tour + Taku Glacier Lodge salmon bake (I have an Alaska-specific pinterest account! These are my pictures from these excursions.)
• Juneau helicopter tour with glacier walk
• Juneau dog sledding tour by helicopter
• Mendenhall Glacier lake canoe tour

The most popular Juneau excursions are whale watching and the Mendenhall Glacier.

Juneau is considered one of the best cruise ports to do whale watching in Alaska .

There are a few different types of Mendenhall Glacier excursions you can do, and you can even do Mendenhall Glacier on your own .

The popular way to do Mendenhall Glacier on your own is a bit of a distant view, and so are the cheapest Mendenhall Glacier excursions, which are basically the ones that provide transportation.

But there are also other types of Mendenhall Glacier excursions so you can make it an even more epic Alaska experience!

I did the Mendenhall Glacier lake canoe tour that included a short hike on shore.

This was not an actually hike on the Mendenhall Glacier, but it felt like we got pretty close right in front of it.

It was amazing.

The Mendenhall Glacier is a retreating glacier, which means it looks like it keeps getting back and back from the visitor center.

They say that even from just a few years ago, there’s a noticeable difference on how far back the Mendenhall Glacier is going.

So much so, that we were told that the path we were walking was where the famous glacier ice caves were located! (They no longer exist. They have melted away.)

And then, another popular Mendenhall Glacier excursion is a Mendenhall Glacier helicopter excursion where you actually get to walk on the glacier.

Which bring us to another type of excursion you should definitely consider when you are in Alaska: a flightseeing tour!

You can do flightseeing tours like a helicopter tour or seaplane tour.

And you can do both a helicopter tour and a seaplane tour in Juneau.

Either one will take you to see the epic Alaska landscape from above that you will almost certainly say is completely and totally amazing. (Since that’s what most people say!)

There are flightseeing tours that will take you for a flight and “only” a flight.

But of course, even if you “only” do the flight it will be epic!

But if you are considering a flightseeing tour, then you really need to consider making it a flightseeing tour with a landing!

Even better if it’s a flightseeing tour with a wilderness landing!

Another cruise port where you can do a flightseeing tour with wilderness landing is Ketchikan. See the best Ketchikan excursions !

A wilderness landing will be something like the Mendenhall Glacier helicopter excursion or a dog sledding helicopter excursion !

Juneau is one of the best cruise ports to do dog sledding in Alaska .

The best dog sledding excursions will be on a glacier.

With these helicopter tours that go to a glacier, there is no specific landing spot, and the helicopter will literally just land in the wilderness on a glacier!

And then in Juneau, another type of flightseeing tour you can do is a seaplane tour that takes you to the remote Taku Glacier Lodge in the Alaska wilderness for a salmon bake!

Although this is not as “wild” as a glacier helicopter tour since there is a dock for the seaplane, the location feels wild and remote.

And even though it’s a group tour, it feels quiet and quaint.

How to search for Princess cruise excursions for Juneau

If you do want to look through the offerings of Princess, you can do so by logging into your account at princess.com .

Once you are logged in, go to: my account > manage this booking > excursions > view excursions for Juneau!

Look for the “customer reviews” for each individual excursion!

You can also look directly at the Juneau shore excursions with Princess without logging in if you just want to browse.

But when you want to book, you’ll need to go into your account.

It’s better to look at excursions directly from your account though, so that way you know that you’re looking at excursions that are offered during your cruise.

Some excursions may not be offered if you are on an early season cruise or a late season cruise.

And you will be able to easily see if there are still tickets available.

Many excursions get booked up if you wait too long, so it’s best to book sooner rather than later.

You can also book through the Princess app, but I personally don’t even like the way the shore excursions show up on the app so I wouldn’t even want to look through them!

And then when you are on the cruise ship, you can book through your stateroom TV, and of course directly at the shore excursions desk.

If you are getting on your Princess cruise ship without having booked excursions but are interested in doing so, then there is also a live shore excursions presentation with recommendations on shore excursions to book for Skagway and all the other cruise ports you’ll be going to.

If you miss the live presentation, then there will also be a replay available on your stateroom TV . If you can’t find it, you can call guest services or do a “crewchat” with them on the Princess app to find out how to find it.

Only budgeting for ONE excursion during your Alaska cruise? Also take a look at the best Skagway excursions and best Ketchikan excursions to see if you want to do an excursion in Juneau or Skagway or Ketchikan!

Or, view excursions by type! The best cruise ports for…

• Whale watching in Alaska
• Seaplane tours in Alaska
• Dog sledding in Alaska

More below about the Juneau tours that I did!

• West Glacier Trail guided hike (difficult hike to see Mendenhall Glacier)
• Harv and Marv's Juneau whale watching tour (tour company frequently recommended in facebook groups)
• Mendenhall Glacier canoe with shore landing and short hike to glacier lookout (the glacier keeps getting further and further back, aka it's receding, and you'll be walking across where the glacier used to be!)
• National forest flightseeing on a floatplane, kayaking, and wildlife sanctuary bear viewing tour (said to be the highest concentration of brown bears in the world)

Best Juneau tours that are so Alaska

1. juneau whale watching tour.

There are whale watching tours with different types of boats, and I chose a whale watching tour that had less people. There were around 20 people on the boat.

It was a whale watching tour on a research boat .

Another whale watching tour company I’ve seen recommended a lot is Harv and Marv .

With a pick-up for the excursion from Juneau cruise port, we took a shuttle to Auk Bay to get on a boat to go see whales.

You know the pictures you see in all the whale watching advertisements of the whales jumping out of the water?!

aka breaching

Well, it’s actually quite rare to see whales like that.

Still, I was happy with what I saw.

Especially since I got a picture of a whale with its mouth open!

We also saw sea lions on a buoy.

I talked to someone who went on a different whale watching tour and their boat went past a whole bunch of harbor seals. I saw the picture and it looked really cool. I wish our boat had gone by it!

The thing about wildlife watching tours is that wildlife sightings are not guaranteed! At least, the variety that you will see.

Most whale watching tours in Juneau do seem to have a guarantee that you will see at least one whale. Although this doesn’t mean that you are guaranteed to get a GREAT sighting. 🤪

But this is just how it goes with wildlife viewing!

Patience is required.

And that’s also what makes it so exciting when you do see wildlife, whether it’s in the water or on land!

See more about Juneau whale watching excursions

2. juneau icefield seaplane tour with taku lodge salmon bake (taku lodge feast & five-glacier seaplane).

I did a seaplane tour in Juneau that included a landing in what felt like remote Alaska.

It was a landing at the historic Taku Lodge (which currently only does day trips and not overnight stays), and it included a salmon bake Alaskan-style lunch.

There was time both before and after the meal to walk around, which I did.

I thought it was a nice quiet leisurely walk through the forest.

Most people stayed around the lodge. If you do the Taku Lodge excursion, I recommend asking how much time you have before food, and then walking around!

From Taku Lodge, you can see the glacier called Hole-in-the-Wall Glacier.

Flying from Juneau, you will get epic views of Alaska on your way to Taku Lodge and on the way back too!

I saw glaciers and blue ice from above!

The tour is advertised as a Juneau icefield seaplane tour, so you will be flying over and seeing part of the massive Juneau icefield with lots of glaciers.

See more about a Juneau flightseeing excursion

• Princess excursion: Taku Lodge Feast & Five-Glacier Seaplane
• Wings Airways

3. Mendenhall Glacier excursion

The Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most popular things to do in Juneau.

Most people will go to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to get a distant view of the glacier.

This glacier is retreating which means that it continues to get further and further away year after year.

I did a canoe tour across the lake to get a closer look at the glacier.

You can’t actually walk on the glacier (it seems you used to be able to), but I thought this experience was so great.

We paddled the canoe to shore near the Mendenhall Glacier which means that we got closer to the glacier than the vast majority of people do.

We also got to see blue ice.

There was another tour group who was there about an hour earlier than us, and they were able to witness a big chunk of ice fall off the Mendenhall Glacier into the water!

Our tour guide was in touch with another tour guide and showed us the video.

This process of ice falling off a glacier is called calving, and calving is one of the best Alaska glacier experiences you can see!

Your best chance to see calving on a cruise if you’ll be going to Glacier Bay National Park is at Margerie Glacier!

You can do a Mendenhall Lake canoe tour without a shore landing, but I think it’s better if you had the short walkaround!

This was one of my favorite tours that I did during my 2 Alaska cruises.

See more about a Juneau excursion to Mendenhall Glacier

• Mendenhall Glacier lake canoe tour + canoe landing

And those are Juneau tours that you must consider!

I was in Juneau in May of 2023. Your experience may vary!

Juneau on your own:

• Mendenhall Glacier on your own

What I did to give you more ideas for your Alaska cruise:

• Things to do in Skagway
• Things to do in Ketchikan
• Things to do in Sitka

HAPPY TOUR FROM JUNEAU CRUISE PORT!

• cruise luggage tags
• no-surge power strip
• basic binoculars for wildlife watching on glacier sea days
• cocktail dress for formal night
• What is embarkation day like? Sample: Vancouver embarkation day
• What is disembarkation like? Sample: Vancouver disembarkation and Whittier disembarkation
• Dinner food menu on my Alaska cruise

Plan out your day in Juneau!

• Best Juneau excursions
• Things to do in Juneau from a cruise ship
• Flightseeing tours in Alaska
• Whale watching
• Mendenhall Glacier
• Juneau icefield (see it by seaplane!)
• Tracy's King Crab Shack
• Best hikes in Juneau (from a cruise ship)
• Savikko Park
• Tips for first Princess cruise (getting familiar with Princess food + more!)
• Ideas for your first Alaska cruise

17 Best Things to Do in Juneau Alaska Cruise Port – Complete Guide

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If you’re going to Juneau on a cruise, you’re in luck! Besides being the capital city of Alaska, Juneau is a bustling fishing town with magnificent mountain vistas and a stunning variety of wildlife.

Juneau, Alaska also has the unique distinction of being completely landlocked. You can only get to Juneau one of two ways…boat or airplane. There are no roads connecting it to any other city in North America.

If you are lucky enough to port in Juneau during your Alaska Cruise , there are a variety of excursions and activities that will give you a taste of Alaska’s capital city and its captivating history. 

In this post, I’ll share the best things to do in Juneau, including shore excursions and inexpensive or free activities. I’ve also included the information you’ll need to know about visiting the Juneau cruise port for the day and answered some common questions.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click and buy that I may make a commission, at no cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for details.

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Juneau Cruise Port

The cruise port in Juneau places you directly downtown on Egan Drive, making this an extremely walkable port city. Most large cruise ships dock at the South Franklin Street Dock, and it’s not uncommon to have 3 to 4 cruise ships in port on a given day.

Cruise passengers can disembark and explore the city on foot, enjoying the shops, restaurants, and popular attractions that are clustered in the downtown area.

What Cruise Passengers Need to Know About Juneau Cruise Port

Although it is less than 100 miles from the Canadian border, Juneau is located in Alaska (USA). The official currency is the USD (United States Dollar).

Businesses in Juneau accept cash, credit, and debit cards.

The primary language in Juneau is English. However, Sourdoughs (longtime Alaskans) might use some unusual local slang, including “termination dust” (the first snowfall of the year in the mountains) and the “ALCAN” (Alaska/Canada Highway).

Juneau, along with 90% of Alaska, keeps time within the Alaska Standard Time Zone (AKST). Alaska Standard Time Zone is one hour behind Pacific Time and four hours behind the Eastern Time Zone. 

In Juneau, temperatures range from the upper 50s to the low 60s during cruising season. The weather here is comparatively mild compared to other ports in Alaska because of the influence of the Pacific Ocean. However, Juneau is located in a temperate rainforest, so expect rain about half of the days of each month.

Getting Around Juneau

Juneau is the largest U.S. Capital city by land area, but don’t let that scare you. This Alaskan city is 3,255 square miles total, including 704 square miles of water and 928 square miles of ice cap in North America’s fifth largest ice field.

On foot, you can visit many tourist destinations, including the State Capitol and Governor’s Mansion, the Mount Roberts Goldbelt Tramway, the Cultural Arts Park, and the historic Red Dog Saloon.

Public Transit

Capital Transit has a four-stop “ride-free zone” that can get you to the capital building and the downtown transit center, where you can transfer to ride to other locations.

One-way general fare for ages 19+ is $2 (exact change), 18 and under is $1 and children 5 and under can ride Capital Transit for free.

Whether you need a lift ($15 for two) or want a guided tour ($200 for two), Alaska Pedicab Juneau is a relaxing way to get around town.

Video: Alaska Cruise Review with Cruise Ports

• What to Pack for an Alaska Cruise (clothing, gear & essentials)
• What to Wear on an Alaska Cruise (outfit ideas with photos)
• 5 Practical Alaska Whale Watching Tips You Need to Know
• 13 Alaska Cruise Mistakes that Can Ruin Your Cruise
• Juneau Alaska Cruise Port Guide

12 Best Juneau Shore Excursions

Juneau, Alaska, is an excellent place for various activities, including wildlife viewing, learning the history of Alaska Natives, hiking, glacier viewing, and whale watching.

Here are some of the best ways to enjoy the capital of Alaska.

1. Tongass National Forest

A visit to Juneau means you’ll get the chance to see the nation’s largest national forest. The Tongass covers most of Southeast Alaska and offers an opportunity to view glaciers, wildlife, and stunning scenery.

To get to Tongass, you must either book a tour that includes the national park or take a shuttle service. Public transit does not travel to Tongass National Forest.

2. Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center 

13 miles from downtown Juneau, tucked into Tongass National Forest, you’ll find the gorgeous Mendenhall Glacier and an excellent visitor center.

The cost to enter the visitor center is well worth it, with passes priced at $5 per person ages 15 and over. Ages 15 and under are free.

The visitor center has a free educational movie, thoughtful and interesting displays, and panorama windows that showcase the Mendenhall Glacier.

Related: What to Pack for an Alaska Cruise (clothing, gear & essentials)

3. Mendenhall Lake

You can experience the excitement of kayaking on a glacial lake at the Mendenhall Glacier’s terminus. Several tour companies provide round-trip transfers from the cruise ports.

They also provide everything you need for an adventure kayaking in gorgeous Mendenhall Lake. With the backdrop of Mendenhall Glacier, you’ll row past icebergs and check off a major bucket list item.

4. Mount Roberts Tramway

This excursion takes you from sea level to glorious views 1800 feet above Mount Roberts. The tram is pricey ($55 for an all-day pass for adults and $40 for kids ages 3-12). However, the panoramic views of Juneau and the Gastineau Channel are stunning.

After a quick ride up in a tram car, you have several activities to choose from. You can watch an 18-minute award-winning film on the Tlingit people, eat at the Timberline Bar and Grill, visit a nature center, or hike through subalpine forests.

5. Helicopter Tour

Don’t miss the unique opportunity to fly over a million-year-old glacial icefields! Juneau boasts 928 square miles of ice cap in the form of Juneau Icefield, the fifth largest icefield in North America.

This cruise shore excursion will give you a stunning birds-eye view of Juneau’s mountains and icefields. The pilot will then land atop a glacier, where you’ll get a guided walk and the chance to drink the freshest, tastiest ice water you’ll ever have.

Many local companies offer round-trip transportation from the cruise docks. Whether you book your helicopter excursion through the cruise line or with an independent tour company, be sure to book early. This popular activity tends to sell out.

Related: 10 Shore Excursion Mistakes Cruisers Almost Always Regret

6. Whale Watching

The Alaska waters of the Inside Passage have excellent opportunities for whale watching. Several local companies offer transportation from downtown Juneau to the Auke Bay harbor, where you’ll board a boat for a 2.5-hour whale-watching cruise.

You can find several whale watching excursions offered by your cruise line as well.

Chances are good that you’ll see bald eagles, seals, and sea lions. Humpback whales are the real star of the show, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to watch playful Orca whales as they jump and breach.

You can also choose a combo whale-watching cruise/Mendenhall glacier visit. After your whale-watching expedition, you’ll be bussed to Mendenhall, where you can spend 1.5 hours exploring.

7. Sealaska Heritage

A visit to Alaska isn’t complete without learning about the Indigenous tribes that have called Southeast Alaska home for more than ten thousand years.

For $7 per adult and $5 per child over age 7, you can walk through an adzed cedar clan house, view exhibits about Native Alaskans, and see and purchase your artwork or souvenirs in the gift shop.

Sealaska Heritage is in downtown Juneau, just a short walk from the cruise ship dock.

8. Dog Sledding Tour

There are a couple of different locations where you can check dog sledding off of your bucket list in Juneau: glacier or forest.

Forest excursions include a scenic drive to the Tongass National Forest dog camps. You’ll see a professional dog sled camp, interact with husky puppies, and even ride a “summer sled” (with wheels).

Some helicopter excursions include a dog sledding experience on top of Herbert Glacier. A team of 12-14 huskies will be waiting to pull you on a dogsled across the ice.

Dogsledding is a huge part of Juneau’s history, and although the excursions are pricey, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

9. Ladd Macauley Visitor Center/Macaulay Salmon Hatchery 

If you are interested in learning more about salmon and other sea creatures, the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery located in the Ladd Macauley Visitor Center offers a very inexpensive aquarium-like experience.

For a $7 admission price for adults and $5 for children, you’ll get a unique view of how an outdoor fish hatchery operates. The Hatchery also has saltwater aquariums with 150 different species of marine life and a tide pool touch tank filled with sea animals local to Juneau.

The visitor center is 3 miles from downtown Juneau. You can also catch a taxi or schedule a tour that includes the Hatchery

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10. Last Chance Mining Museum

Cruisers interested in Juneau’s mining history will enjoy this museum. Located about a 2-mile walk from the cruise ship docks, the museum has a collection of interesting photos, artifacts, and equipment.

For a $5 (cash only) entry fee, visitors will see the world’s largest air compressor and exhibits detailing Juneau’s history. The walk to the museum is also picturesque and relatively easy.

11. Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure 

Starting at the botanical garden and nursery, Glacier Gardens, a rainforest tour begins by boarding a covered “adventure vehicle” for a one-hour tour in an old-growth rainforest on Thunder Mountain.

After the tour, you can walk through their visitor center and grab a bite to eat at the Rainforest Cafe.

Glacier Gardens is a 7-mile trip from cruise ship docks. You can take a taxi, Lyft, or Uber or take a bus ride that will drop you off 500 feet from the entrance. Reservations are required for groups smaller than 10; the tour costs $30.40 for adults and $19.90 for children ages 6-12. Kids 5 and under can tour for free.

12. Tracy’s Crab Shack

You can’t miss the appealing red exterior of this Juneau Port staple. Bring your appetite to this popular restaurant that promises “The best [crab] legs in town.”

Grab a Large King Bucket, which feeds 2+ with Red King Crab, coleslaw, rolls, and “butta.” There are two locations within walking distance of the cruise port, so you’ll have ample opportunities to get a full belly and buttery hands.

Not only is Tracy’s Crab Shack popular with cruise travellers, but locals love it as well!

Related: 13 Alaska Cruise Mistakes that Can Ruin Your Cruise

5 Free Things to Do in the Juneau Cruise Port

1. Nugget Falls Trail

You’ll need to get to Mendenhall Visitors Center to take this hike, but you don’t have to pay to park or hike the Nuggets Falls trail.

The .8-mile trail takes you past rivers (sometimes filled with spawning salmon) and breathtaking views of Mendenhall Glacier and ends at a lovely waterfall. During the 15 minutes in each direction hike, you may spot wildlife, including moose, bald eagles, and possibly bears.

2. Take a Tour of the Alaska State Capitol Building

Located within a short walk of the cruise ship dock, the Alaska State Capitol Building offers free 30-minute guided tours Tuesday-Friday.

The building has a replica of the Liberty Bell, historic photos, and art and murals honoring the 49th state’s history.

3. Window Shop in downtown Juneau

You can easily spend a few hours wandering through the quaint shops downtown. The shops sell everything from jewelry to furs, Native Alaskan art, t-shirts, and other fun keepsakes.

While downtown, keep an eye out for the historic Red Dog Saloon. A staple of downtown Juneau since mining times, the saloon has been in several locations, including a tent on the ocean’s shore. Today’s Red Dog will give you a peek into the past and what a saloon experience was like for gold rush miners.

4. Visit the Governor’s Mansion

Although they don’t offer tours, if you’re walking around downtown Juneau, a short, mostly uphill walk will give you a view of this beautiful and historic building.

Built in 1913 for $40,000 (the equivalent of $1.2 million today), it is the home of current Alaska governor Mike Dunleavy. A totem pole outside gives the mansion an Alaskan touch, and you’ll catch some gorgeous bay views from the top of the hill

5. Admire the Shrine of St. Therese

30 minutes from downtown Juneau lies a shrine to the Patron Saint of Alaska, St. Therese of the child Jesus and the Holy Face.

You can contemplate quietly while viewing the lovely chapel, which was built in the 1940s. To get to the Shrine, you must rent a car, take a taxi, or book a tour with a company.

Juneau Cruise Port Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time of year to visit juneau .

Warm winds from the Pacific Ocean make Juneau’s summer temperatures mild and enjoyable. The average temperature during Alaska cruise season is in the upper 50s to the low 60s. The best time of year to visit is in June or early July, as precipitation continues to increase throughout the summer months.

Is Juneau a walkable city?

The Juneau cruise port town is incredibly walkable, with cruise ships docking downtown. There are many museums, shops, and attractions that you can walk to within minutes of disembarking your cruise ship.

Related & Popular Posts:

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• 20 Best Things to do in Skagway Alaska Cruise Port
• 17 Cruise Cabin Essentials Every Cruiser Needs
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• 17 Genius Ways to Pack Light for a Longer Cruise

Final Thoughts On Things to do in Juneau Cruise Port

Nestled between Gastineau Passage and Mount Juneau, the picturesque capital city of Juneau will be a memorable stop on your Alaskan Cruise.

Whether you use your time to see wildlife or stunning glaciers, delve into mining history, or admire Indigenous artwork, you’ll treasure the time you spent in Juneau.

Have you been to Juneau, Alaska on a cruise? Please let me know what you enjoyed in the comments below.

Happy Cruising!

If you found this article helpful, please pass it along. Please feel free to share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!

Author Bio:

Stephanie Yrungaray grew up in gorgeous Eagle River, Alaska and now calls Utah her beUtahful home. She enjoys traveling and exploring with her husband and five kids any way she can, from cruising to RV camping and everything in-between! When she’s not out exploring, you’ll find her writing about travel, finances and parenting as well as gift ideas on her website,  www.TheGiftyGirl.com . 

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THE 10 BEST Juneau Shore Excursions

Shore excursions in juneau.

• Ports of Call Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Helicopter Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Segway Tours
• Private Tours
• Shopping Tours
• Walking Tours
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out

• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. 3.5 Hour Crowd-Skipping Whale Tour in Juneau Alaska

2. Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching

3. Juneau Shore Excursion: Helicopter Tour and Guided Icefield Walk

4. Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour

5. Juneau Private 3 Hour Scenic Road Trip

6. Segway Alaska - Coastal Rainforest Trek

7. Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour

8. Juneau Shore Excursions: Juneau Helicopter Tour & Dogsledding Experience

9. Juneau City Tour

10. Sled Dog Discovery in Juneau

11. Mendenhall Lake Canoe Adventure

12. Juneau Shore Excursions: Helicopter Dogsledding Experience and Additional Glacier Landing

13. Rainforest & Waterfalls Trek

14. Mendenhall Glacier Guided Hike

15. Mendenhall Lake Kayak Tour

16. Juneau Shore Excursion: Mendenhall Glacier Guided Hike

17. Private Luxury Whale Watch

18. Juneau Shore Fishing for Alaskan Salmon

19. Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip

20. Juneau Shore Excursion: Mendenhall Glacier Canoe, Paddle and Hike

21. Historic Gold Panning Adventure & Salmon Bake

22. Juneau Whale Watching Adventure

23. Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle and Hike

24. Juneau Shore Excursion: Paddle with Whales! Kayak Adventure

25. Historic Gold Mining and Panning Adventure

26. Fortress of the Bears Pack Creek

27. Mendenhall Lake Kayak and Salmon Bake Adventure

28. Juneau by Land & Sea

29. Juneau Shore Excursion: Fortress of the Bears Pack Creek

30. Paddle with Whales! Kayak Adventure

What travelers are saying.

• Order Status
• Juneau Tours
• Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure
• Mendenhall Lake Canoe
• Dog Sledding
• Juneau Icefield Helicopter Tour
• Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier
• Mendenhall Glacier Dog Sledding
• Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter Tour
• Musher's Camp
• Whale Watching & Salmon Bake
• Taku Lodge Flight & Feast
• Things to Do in Juneau
• Skagway Tours
• White Pass Railroad
• Bennett Scenic Railroad
• Yukon Discovery
• White Pass Summit & Beyond
• Glacier Helicopter Tour
• Chilkoot Horseback
• Glacier Point Wilderness Safari
• Wildlife Safari & Bear Viewing
• Things to Do in Skagway
• Ketchikan Tours
• Deluxe Misty Fjords National Monument
• Mahoney Falls Extended Tour
• Trolley Tour
• George Inlet Lodge Crab Feast
• Bering Sea Crab Fishermen's Tour
• Things to Do in Ketchikan
• Icy Strait Point Tours
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JUNEAU TOURS & SHORE EXCURSIONS

All Tours (39)

Dog Sledding (6)

Glacier (23)

Glacier Hiking (8)

Kayaking and Canoe (9)

Whale Watching (5)

Salmon Bakes (6)

Mendenhall Glacier (13)

Kid-Friendly (16)

Helicopter (10)

Food & Drink (7)

Adventure (32)

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• Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour

$359 / person

Join the ultimate Alaskan adventure that takes you up close and personal with the Mendenhall Glacier. Our extended Alaska glacier tour gives you ample time for pictures and exploration while trekking with your guides next to READ MORE...

• Mendenhall Lake Canoe Tour

$239 / person

Be among the select few to travel by canoe for an unprecedented experience of the majestic Mendenhall Glacier. This tour is limited by permits issued by the National Parks Service so book early for this unique experience! Pad READ MORE...

Juneau Glacier Dog Sledding & Helicopter Tour

From: $661 / person

Experience this exciting dog sledding adventure on the Herbert Glacier. Your tour with start with a helicopter ride up to our beloved dog sled camp situated on a glacier. The flight itself will leave you in awe as you take in READ MORE...

Juneau Glacier Dogsled Extended Tour via Helicopter

From: $787 / person

This tour is the same as our regular Dogsled Excursion via Helicopter but it includes an additional glacier landing! Take in the landscape surrounding Juneau as you travel by helicopter up to the first glacier where you'll ju READ MORE...

Juneau Dog Sled World & Glacier Helicopter Adventure

$689 / person

Experience the life of an Alaskan Dog Musher! During this hands-on interactive tour, you will help prepare your dogsled team for the day of mushing that awaits you. In addition to glacier flightseeing and dogsledding, enjoy e READ MORE...

Mendenhall Glacier Dog Sledding & Helicopter Tour

$659 / person

This tour is the same as our Juneau Dog Sledding & Glacier Helicopter Tour except that it will take you on a thrilling mushing ride across the Mendenhall Glacier. After your transfer to the helicopter base, you'll take off on READ MORE...

From: $395 / person

This breathtaking helicopter flight will take you on an adventure to explore the beauty of Juneau glaciers. Keep your eyes peeled during the flight as you may see some wildlife on the mountain peaks. Once you land on the glac READ MORE...

Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter Tour & Guided Walk

$379 / person

Featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA -- travel back to the Ice Ages with Alaska's original glacier helicopter tour! Board a modern turbine-powered helicopter for a flight to the world-famous Mendenhall Glacier! Soar through the READ MORE...

Juneau Helicopter Glacier Walkabout

$465 / person

The Walkabout offers a personalized experience and the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with glacier's most stunning features. This non-strenuous, hour-long interpretive hike led by our team of professional gui READ MORE...

Juneau Helicopter Glacier Trek

$515 / person

This 2-hour glacier trekking adventure, led by knowledgeable interpretive guides, offers an amazing blend of scientific discovery, ice trekking and exploration, and stunning views of the Juneau Icefield's most breathtaking fe READ MORE...

Taku Glacier Helicopter & Airboat Exploration

$688 / person

This multifaceted tour is a unique and compelling opportunity to see the exquisite beauty of Southeast Alaska from the Taku River! From the air, enjoy breathtaking views of our Nation's largest National Forest. On the water, READ MORE...

Juneau Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour

This combo is the best way to make the most of your day in Juneau! While out on the water, there is no doubt that you'll see humpback whales - this is the time of year they travel to Alaska to feed on thousands of pounds of k READ MORE...

• Juneau Whale Watching Adventure Tour

$169 / person

Come cruise with us in a fully enclosed and heated cabin onboard our mammal friendly boat on your way to the whales' playgrounds. Here you can experience a close encounter with these beautiful marine mammals for the ultimate READ MORE...

• Juneau Dog Sled Summer Camp

$159 / person

Join our team of mushers on an adventure you won't soon forget! Learn about Alaska's official state sport and experience a thrilling ride through the forest. Your excursion begins with a scenic drive along the Gastineau Chann READ MORE...

Juneau Musher's Camp & Sled Dog Discovery

$174 / person

Get ready for a ride you won't soon forget! Hop on as a team of huskies whisks you through the forest on a custom-built sled. You'll pass by gigantic spruce and hemlock trees, many of which are hundreds of years old! At the e READ MORE...

Taku Glacier Lodge Flight & Feast

$475 / person

This tour to the infamous Taku Glacier Lodge is the ultimate Alaskan experience. Your journey begins with a narrated flight in one of our seaplanes to the remote Lodge. Upon arrival, you'll enjoy a delicious Alaskan meal and READ MORE...

Juneau Glacier Flightseeing via Seaplane Tour

$325 / person

The grandeur of Alaska will thrill and delight you beyond expectation on this unforgettable multi-glacier flightseeing tour, where everyone enjoys a window seat. Explore the Juneau Icefield's most stunning glaciers by authent READ MORE...

• Juneau Alpine Zipline Adventure

$245 / person

Soar with us through the trees in the Tongass National Forest on a unique Alaskan adventure! Land in treehouse platforms where you can enjoy the views and take in the scenery. Our knowledgeable guides will be with you every s READ MORE...

Juneau Rainforest eBike Adventure

$160 / person

Discover natural, beautiful Alaska as you set out on an exhilarating 3-hour active adventure for any and all fitness levels. Breathtaking views of the Mendenhall Glacier, old-growth forest, and the world's most northern rain READ MORE...

Norris Glacier Fly In, Hike & Packraft Outing

From: $829 / person

Embark on an exhilarating multi-sport tour to one of Juneau's impressive glaciers. Take flight on a float plane to the Norris Glacier and enjoy a glacier lake landing. Join your guide on a hike over glacially carved terrain READ MORE...

Juneau Segway Coastal Rainforest Adventure

Take an adventure from behind the handlebars of a Segway as you zoom through the surrounding trails of Juneau. You'll start with familiarizing yourself with the Segway with your knowledgeable guide before you take off for a p READ MORE...

Juneau Segway Alpine Wilderness Trail Adventure

$175 / person

Looking for a green way to experience Alaska, join the Alpine Wilderness Trail Adventure for a small group excursion amongst Alaska's natural beauty. Explore by Segway, far from the crowds and surrounded by Alaskan natire an READ MORE...

Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip

$199 / person

Get ready for a true outdoor experience - you're going on an exhilarating river rafting adventure down the beautiful Mendenhall River. There is something for everyone; whether this is your first time or you're experienced! Yo READ MORE...

Auke Bay Paddle and Mendenhall Glacier Trek

From: $209 / person

Adventure along the captivating coast of Auke Bay on a sea kayaking experience with a short hike along Mendenhall Lake. A stopover on the West Glacier Trail allows for distant views of the Mendenhall Glacier, beautiful Nugge READ MORE...

Paddle with Whales Kayak Adventure

From: $459 / person

Voted a top ten tour in the US, this small group whale and kayak tour takes guests to the richest humpback whale feeding ground in Alaska! Your experienced captain and guide will take you to the Channel Islands State Marine P READ MORE...

Mendenhall Lake Kayaking Adventure

$269 / person

If you want to be the lucky few who can face the majestic Mendenhall Glacier under a very limited U.S. Forest Service permit, this is the right tour for you! Your guide will teach you kayaking techniques, then board the two-p READ MORE...

Juneau Glacier View Sea Kayaking

$154 / person

You'll be off to the north side of Douglas Island for panoramic views of the Mendenhall Glacier and Auke Bay, where you'll board a two-person kayak sailing as the Aleut Indians did! As you view the Mendenhall Glacier from the READ MORE...

Juneau Guided Mendenhall Glacier Hike

Just outside of Juneau, take a short drive and begin an invigorating 6-7 mile hike through the Tongass National Forest. Wind your way through the forest where you'll emerge and find panoramic views of the beautiful Mendenhal READ MORE...

Juneau Privately Guided Mendenhall Glacier Trek

From: $265 / person

One of the most popular glaciers in Juneau, the Mendenhall Glacier can be visited on this privately guided tour. Hike through the Tongass National Forest and around the majestic Mendenhall Glacier on foot. Exploring the uniqu READ MORE...

Juneau Whale Watching, Mendenhall Glacier & Salmon Bake

$279 / person

Experience three of Juneau's most popular attractions with this three-in-one excursion! This tour begins with a narrated transfer to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor's Center. You'll have plenty of time to take in the majestic READ MORE...

Juneau Whale Watching Tour & Salmon Bake Combo

Humpback and orca whales are actively feeding while they are in southeast Alaska waters, so chances are you see whales breach, play, and maybe bubble net feed! You will savor wild Alaska salmon amidst amazing scenery at the G READ MORE...

Juneau Mendenhall Lake Kayak & Salmon Bake

$309 / person

Experience tandem kayaking on the pristine glacial waters of the Mendenhall Lake. For two hours, navigate the waters with your professional guide as you take in the natural beauty and learn about the history and ecology of t READ MORE...

Juneau Guided Mindfulness Meditation Tour

$198 / person

Southeast Alaska provides the perfect, tranquil setting for a mindfulness journey. Delight in a scenic drive on your way to a breathtaking spot for meditation amongst the ocean, mountains and forests. End your experience wi READ MORE...

Juneau Eat, Sip & Explore

$345 / person

Come explore Juneau with a local guide on an exclusive Jeep journey through historic Juneau. Be amazed by the wonders of the salmon hatchery and catch a glimpse of the adorable harbor seals. Get away from the crowds to exp READ MORE...

Juneau Food Tasting Tour

$129 / person

Prepare your tastebuds for the ultimate Alaskan tasting experience. We'll visit several local eateries like Tracy's King Crab Shack, Taku Smokeries, Hangar on the Wharf, Crystal Saloon, and a few others to delight your senses READ MORE...

Gold Creek Salmon Bake Tour

$79 / person

The Juneau Salmon Bake has been grilling up perfection since 1978! Enjoy this all-you-can-eat feast, in the majestic setting of the Tongass Rainforest. This mouth-watering Alaskan buffet includes signature Alderwood-grilled w READ MORE...

Juneau Historic Gold Panning Adventure

$99 / person

Pan for real gold and enjoy the thrill that sparked the Gold Rush days! Visit Gold Creek and "Last Chance Basin" to learn how to expertly work the pan with helpful tips and advice from your guide. You will have plenty of time READ MORE...

Juneau Historic Gold Panning & Salmon Bake Tour

$139 / person

Experience the history of Alaska - and try your hand at panning for gold! This tour includes a brief narrated city tour as you make your way to the gold mining site that was made famous by Joe Juneau and Rich Harris. After a READ MORE...

Juneau Extended Helicopter Glacier Trek

$615 / person

**THIS TOUR IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE 2024 SEASON**This is the most in-depth glacier trekking tour includes a hike on the glacier and ice climbing. Expert guides will equip you with state-of-the-art trekking and climbing equip READ MORE...

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About Juneau

Best Juneau Tours & Excursions:

These experiences are our most popular tours in Juneau:

1. Dog Sledding & Glacier Helicopter Tour

2. mendenhall glacier dog sledding & helicopter tour, 3. whale watching & mendenhall glacier tour, 4. whale watching, mendenhall glacier & salmon bake combo, 5. musher's camp & sled dog discovery, 6. whale watching adventure tour, 7. mendenhall glacier guided walk via helicopter tour, 8. historic gold panning & salmon bake tour, 9. whale watching tour & salmon bake combo, 10. icefield helicopter tour, juneau shore excursions by locals.

We are a local Alaska company that aims to bring you the best tours and experiences that Juneau has to offer. When you buy Juneau shore excursions on your own, instead of through a cruise ship, we can offer you wholesale, local Alaska prices. Our goal is to make your Alaskan cruise the trip of a lifetime!

What are the best tours in Juneau?

The best tours in Juneau are:

• Dog Sledding & Glacier Helicopter Tour
• Mendenhall Glacier Dog Sledding & Helicopter Tour
• Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour
• Mendenhall Lake Canoe Adventure

Can I go whale watching in Juneau?

Yes! Whale watching is one of the top things to do in Juneau and you are 100% guaranteed to see whales. Our top whale watching excursions are:

• Juneau Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour
• Whale Watching & Salmon Bake Combo
• Whale Watching, Mendenhall Glacier & Salmon Bake

Which Juneau excursions are best for kids and families?

Juneau is a great destination for children. Here are our top picks for kids and families:

• Juneau Musher’s Camp & Sled Dog Discovery

Is Mendenhall Glacier worth visiting?

The majestic Mendenhall Glacier is one of the top destinations in the Juneau area and is very easily accessible. The top tours are:

• Mendenhall Glacier Guided Walk Helicopter Tour

Visiting Juneau:

Juneau, originally named Harrisburg after one of its co-founders, was the first town established in Alaska after it’s purchase from Russia in 1867. In 1880, the first rush of miners came in search of gold. With the help of Tlingit Chief Kowee, seekers found gold and by the end of 1916, there were three successful mines producing millions of dollars worth of gold. Once word of Juneau’s natural beauty and prospecting triumph’s spread, more visitors began flocking to the town and haven’t stopped since! Nowadays Juneau sees nearly 1 million visitors every year - will you be one of them?

Come visit, check out our list of the best  things to do in Juneau , and take in some of the natural highlights like the Juneau helicopter tours over the ice fields, the arrival of the humpback whales every summer with one of our Juneau whale watching tours, go dog sledding, go ziplining through  Tongass National Forest , or take a flightseeing trip up to the historic Taku Lodge where you’ll fly over the Taku Glacier, the only glacier unaffected by glacial melting!

The most popular Juneau shore excursions are tours involving glaciers or wildlife sightseeing. The Mendenhall Glacier  is the only glacier that can be accessed by land via the road system, whereas many other glaciers can be experienced through helicopter and seaplane sightseeing. Juneau helicopter tours give you an opportunity to land and walk on various glaciers in the area that could otherwise not be seen or visited. As you prepare for your trip, you can check out the current Mendenhall Glacier weather .

Whale Watching is also very popular and among the best Alaska tours, because of the extreme abundance of whales in the area. Humpback whales spend their summers in Alaska to feed before heading back to Mexico or Hawaii to live and give birth to offspring in the winter months. The nutrient-rich waters create the ideal feeding grounds in Juneau for humpback whales including the spectacular bubble-net feeding technique in which whales work together to consume large amounts of krill, their main food source.  If you're feeling hungry, you can pair your  whale watching tour with an outdoor salmon bake .

• Copyright 2024 Alaska Shore Excursions

Accessible only by air or sea, Alaska's capital city entices travelers with its beauty, tranquility and outdoor activities. The Mendenhall Glacier, the jewel of the Juneau Icefield, can be discovered on scenic drives, hikes, boat rides, rafting trips, kayaking excursions and helicopter tours. Thrill-seekers get their adrenaline fix while ziplining above alpine forests, and culture lovers learn about landmarks such as the governor's mansion and St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church during explorations of downtown. A prospector-led panning adventure to Last Chance Basin allows you to strike gold, just as folks did in the late 19th century. Juneau's waters are a hot spot for humpback whales, and daily cruises afford the opportunity to witness these majestic creatures-a truly unforgettable experience. Brush up on local history with a visit to the Alaska State Museum, and cap off the day's adventures with a sampling of freshly caught salmon and locally sourced beer.

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Bike Tour and Beer Tasting on a Juneau Alaska Shore Excursion

Having been to Juneau before, I’d already done the more typical whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier shore excursions. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend a whale watching tour in Juneau ! You seriously get the best sightings here.  

For us, this Juneau bike tour sounded interesting and something new to try. Plus, my husband and I enjoy being active when we can. This Juneau bike tour fit the bill. Throw in the fact that it ended with a beer tasting and my husband was all in.

Juneau Bike and Brew Shore Excursion Review

In This Post...

Our tour met at 1:15 p.m., about 20 minutes after our ship was cleared by Juneau authorities. Though we purchased the excursion through Princess Cruises, it’s operated by a company called Cycle Alaska. (Fun fact: Cycle Alaska is owned by New Zealand Olympic swimmer John McConnochie who moved to Juneau in 1980.)

There were 10 of us altogether, plus our tour guides Chip and Jack. Both are retirees. Jack drove the van, which followed us around to various stops. We could leave anything we didn’t need on the van. This was a nice bonus; I thought I’d have to lug my backpack around with me.  

Jack also had spare bikes, which came in handy when the front tire on my husband’s bike went flat. It took a little time for Jack to get to us, which resulted in less time at the end of the tour at Mendenhall Glacier.  

Chip led the group. Though he had some 20 to 30 years on me, he put most of us to shame!  

Our Bike Tour Begins

A short van ride took us to the start of our bike ride. It was raining so we were outfitted with rain pants and jackets, along with a bike helmet and gloves.

If you’re biking in the rain, don’t pass up their rain gear. Not only does it keep you dry. But the back tires kick up lots of dirt which gets all over your back. The rain jackets keep your clothes clean. We also got a bottle of water.  

Our bikes were hybrid road/trail bikes, which was appropriate as our tour took us on both the highway and a dirt road before ending at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.

However, I found the bikes to be much harder to use than the road bikes I’ve been given on other bike tours. They were also super uncomfortable, though that could have been because my last bike ride was more than two years ago!  

All in all, our bike ride lasted around an hour with three stops. The bulk of the ride was on level ground, with the exception of two smallish hills at the start of the tour.

The first hill wasn’t so bad, but the second gave me some trouble, especially because my bike’s gear shift didn’t work too well – something another person in my party experienced with her bike, as well.

Totem Poles, Local Culture and an Off-Road Path

Our first stop was less than five minutes into the bike tour. Here we stopped to look at two totem poles and Chip gave us a little history into the practice of totem pole carving and what the totems mean to the local Tlingit people.  

Our next stretch of riding was about 20 minutes, after which we stopped just off the main road in front of a trailhead in the Tongass National Forest. Tongass is the largest national forest in the United States, and also one of just a few temperate rainforests in the country.  

RELATED:  Majestic Princess Review on Alaska Cruise

From here we rode for another 20 or so minutes. This stretch included some time on a nice off-road path that wove through the trees and over wooden bridges.

It was picturesque and quiet. But short. The path ended at a small parking lot from which we walked to a viewpoint off of Mendenhall Lake for our first view of the Mendenhall Glacier.  

Next Stop: Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center 

We had about 10 minutes to see the lake and glacier. Just enough time to hear a quick talk about the glacier and take photos. After this short break, it was back through the woods and onto the road for a 30-minute ride to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor’s Center.

We stopped regularly to wait for stragglers (I’ll include myself in the later.) In fact, we stopped more often to wait for stragglers and to cross busy roads than for anything else.  

By the time we got to the Visitor’s Center, we had 30 minutes to look around, not really wasn’t enough time to do anything of significance. Though I had been to Mendenhall Glacier before, three of my traveling party had not. 

It was a shame they didn’t have more time to explore the area. Suggestion to Cycle Alaska: it probably would be better to do a straight bike ride to the Visitor Center without the stop at the lake.  

Time for Beer!

Once our time at the Visitor Center was up, it was back into the van and back to town to The Flight Deck for our beer tasting. Chip walked us over to the bar and eatery where full-bearded Kyle took over. Officially, we had 30 minutes at The Flight Deck to try several different beers, but, as it turned out, we were free to stay as long as we wanted.  

Our tasting was VERY informal. Kyle had a few beers (and a local cider) he wanted us to try, but we were also free to choose a few off the board. Pours were generous.  

Bike & Brew Juneau Shore Excursion Parting Thoughts

We chose this Cycle Alaska Bike and Brew shore excursion for the physical activity and views of Mendenhall Glacier we hoped to get. Because it rained most of the way, we didn’t get much of a view. But it did provide a workout. And, we did get to see the Glacier at the Visitor Center.  

With that said, I would have preferred a longer bike ride (with more downhills). More time at the Visitor Center to take one of the walks would have been nice, too.  

The rain may also have impacted the bikes’ shifting as several of us struggled to get our bikes to catch gears at various times throughout the ride.  

Chip and Jack know a lot about the local area, its history, culture and ecosystem and were eager to ensure everyone was happy. There’s not much they could have done on a cold, rainy day to make it more enjoyable.  

None of the four people in my party regretted doing the excursion. But we all agreed it would have been much more enjoyable on a warmer, sunnier day.  

What to Know Before You Go

Be prepared for all weather. Understand this Juneau bike tour will go rain or shine, so be prepared for both possibilities. Wear something that won’t get too soggy if it gets wet. And, wear shoes that won’t get soaked through and are comfortable for pedaling.

Test your bike before the ride starts. Ride your bike around the parking lot. Make sure the seat is at the right height. It took me two stops to get my seat adjusted higher so that I wasn’t working so hard to pedal. And my husband didn’t notice his flat tire until halfway through the tour.  

If you really want time at the glacier, choose another tour. This shore excursion is more about biking through the Tongass National Forest and catching glimpses of the glacier than it is about proper glacier views.

The entire tour lasts about 3 hours including 30 to 40 minutes at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. After the bike tour there’s 30 minutes for the beer tasting. However, you’re free to extend that last piece as long as you’d like. Just don’t miss your ship!

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Hi Ann, Thank you for reading the article on Juneau. Dori went this past August, in the middle of the month. You just never know what to expect with the weather in SE Alaska.

What month did you go?

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Updated on October 1, 2022 by Sherry Laskin

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Exclusive Whale Watching Cruise

• Get guaranteed sightings of whales in their natural habitat
• Sail in comfort on custom-built boat with snacks and drinks
• Enjoy the company of a knowledgeable local naturalist
• Have chance encounters with seals, sea lions, bald eagles, and maybe bears
• Stop at a glacier for incredible photo ops

Exclusive Juneau Whale Watching Tour

Extend your time with the whales for a full 3 hours on the water! You get a chance to escape the masses on a boat that holds a maximum of 40 guests and have the opportunity to view magnificent marine mammals in the most beautiful part of the country with a professional crew. Whale viewing is guaranteed!

With this Juneau shore excursion, you'll view magnificent marine mammals in the most beautiful part of the country with a professional crew, on board a custom-built whale watching boat. Your vessel features outdoor viewing areas, heated cabin, comfortable seating, bathroom and is considered one of the safest boats in the industry.

While our guests absorb the spectacular atmosphere of whales surfacing, with the scenic background of Southeast Alaska, we will be there to assist with the interpretation with our local naturalist and also offer snacks and beverages. We are committed to making memorable experiences. We take a lot of pride in being able to cater to the smaller group sizes, to make your Juneau whale watching tour more personable.

In addition to viewing whales on this Juneau cruise excursion, we may find a variety of other animals that can include seals, sea lions, bald eagles, porpoise, deer, and even an occasional bear. Our experienced captains know these waters well and have had a 100% viewing success rate over the past 12 years. We guarantee that you will see at least a whale or an orca during the Alaska whale watching excursion or your money will be completely refunded. So, when you travel to Juneau, get the personalized custom tour that you deserve.

Please Note: The glacier photo-stop is weather-dependent.

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Princess Cruises

Take a breathtaking Alaska cruise with Princess Cruises and come back new.  Sail our Voyage of the Glaciers cruise to the Gulf of Alaska or journey through the spectacular Inside Passage.  On either cruise you will view impressive glaciers and abundant wildlife as well as visit a number of bustling Alaska ports. 

To help make the best of your day in each port, Princess Cruises offers our passengers a variety of shore excursion options in the categories of:

• Sightseeing & City Tours
• Nature & Wildlife
• Activities & Adventures
• Special Interests
• Exploring on your own

Each excursion has been hand-picked by the Princess team so you can rest assured that the operator meets our exacting standards of quality, safety & value.  

When you book your shore excursions through Princess, you can have peace of mind knowing that Princess will be closely monitoring tour departures and returns and is able to hold the ship in the event your tour is delayed. 

Consider pre-booking your shore excursions online through the Princess Cruise Personalizer and you will enjoy the convenience of having your confirmed tickets in your stateroom upon arrival.

The 16 Best Alaska Cruise Excursions for 2024

A cruise to Alaska is one of the best ways to visit many parts of the 49th state, including the Inside Passage and the southeastern port towns of Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway. You can also see dozens of glaciers on a cruise, plus remote places reachable only by water, like Glacier National Park & Preserve. Traveling by ship allows you to get closer to one-of-a-kind experiences in Alaska's interior, especially if you extend your vacation with a cruisetour (a package that includes the cruise and a land portion either before or after your voyage).

When it comes to excursions, many cruise lines offer the same experiences ashore for larger ports of call, often with a slight variation in the itinerary. The most popular tours highlight the best activities and attractions, such as the Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour in Juneau, the Misty Fjords National Monument in Ketchikan and the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway in Skagway. You'll also find entertaining offerings from cruise lines that call on smaller, less visited ports, like Icy Strait Point (Hoonah), Sitka, Seward and Haines.

While some tours cost less than $100, don't be surprised to find over-the-top experiences that run about $750 per person – such as heli-flightseeing tours, where you'll land on a glacier and go dog-sledding with a team of Alaskan huskies. If you're comfortable with going it on your own, you might find lower prices on some excursions by booking directly with tour operators. Alaskan outfitters are used to working around cruise ship arrival and departure times, so their tours tend to fit into those schedules.

U.S. News has compiled this list to help you find the best Alaska cruise excursions, from the most popular (and affordable) options to once-in-a-lifetime adventures.

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Even though it's surrounded by water and mountains – and there's no road into town – Juneau is one of the most visited ports in Alaska, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each summer. You'll find plenty to do in Alaska's capital, including whale watching tours, salmon bakes and more.

Mendenhall Glacier

The Mendenhall Glacier is one of the top attractions in Juneau, so many tours include a visit to the Tongass National Forest to view the 12-mile-long sheet of blue ice. Some cruise lines, like Princess Cruises , offer self-guided trekking excursions that include a ride on the Juneau Goldbelt Tram, which affords views of the Chilkat Mountains and other panoramic scenery. You can also opt to see the glacier from the water by boat or kayak, or on a float trip.

However, if you're going to splurge on any one excursion, it's this one: Sign up for a helicopter landing on Mendenhall Glacier, followed by a dog-sledding adventure with a team of Alaskan huskies. During the approximately 30-minute helicopter ride, you'll fly over rainforests and spectacular summits, but the real fun is when you arrive at the camp to go zipping through the snow led by your team of dogs and a professional musher.

The Mendenhall Glacier helicopter excursion is offered on Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, Viking Ocean Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line and Silversea Cruises.

Whale Watching and Wildlife Quest

Whale watching is another top activity when visiting Juneau, and many cruise lines offer several options for tours. Holland America Line has a five-hour, small-group excursion for just 20 guests; you'll search for humpback whales on a safari vessel, then hike on Mendenhall Glacier where you can look for beavers, Arctic terns, porcupines and black bears. If you prefer an even smaller group, Princess Cruises offers a 3.5-hour private whale watching tour for six people. Possible sightings include humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, eagles, harbor seals, lighthouses, glaciers and maybe even a bear along the shoreline.

One of Viking Ocean Cruises ' excursions, the Best of Juneau, lasts more than six hours and takes guests on a naturalist-led whale watching cruise by catamaran. Before heading back to shore, you'll have a lunch of local wild-caught Alaska salmon on remote Colt Island, followed by a scenic drive to Mendenhall Glacier to end the day.

Alaska whale watching and wildlife excursions are offered on Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Viking Ocean Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line.

Taku Lodge Salmon Bake

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a 3.5-hour Taku Glacier Lodge Flight & Feast excursion that will tick several quintessential Alaska adventures off your bucket list. After flying over the Juneau Icefield (the fifth-largest ice field in North America) in a classic De Havilland seaplane, guests will land in the river at the historic Taku Glacier Lodge across from Juneau's largest glacier, the 5-mile-wide Taku Glacier.

A traditional Alaska salmon bake (with all the fixings) and drinks made with glacier ice are another highlight of the day. You might even see a black bear sniffing around for leftovers after your feast. Following lunch, take a walk in the lush Tongass National Forest before heading back from the wilderness.

Salmon bake excursions are offered on Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Viking Ocean Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line.

Ketchikan sits at the southernmost entrance to Alaska's Inside Passage. It is one of the most visited ports in Alaska, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Visitors come to this part of the state for the beautiful scenery, Alaska Native culture and fresh seafood, including Alaska salmon and king crab. And they just might enjoy an entertaining lumberjack show or floatplane ride to kick off their day while in town.

The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show

Watch Alaska's hearty lumberjacks battle British Columbia's tough woodsmen in a head-to-head competition to see who can win the title of "Bull of the Woods." The thrill-a-minute show – a guest favorite – features a 50-foot tree climb, ax throwing, log rolling, buck sawing and springboard chopping, along with plenty of lumberjack lore. Some lines, like Princess Cruises, offer just the show; it lasts a little over an hour, so there will be plenty of time for a self-guided tour of Ketchikan before heading back to the ship. You may also be able to book a combination tour that includes the show and an ax throwing lesson (plus a competition of your own), or a trip to Totem Bright State Park, where you'll learn about the significance of totem poles and the Native Tlingit and Haida cultures.

Holland America Line offers a tour with the lumberjack show and a feast of local Dungeness crabs. For another culinary option, check out the 3.5-hour excursion with Norwegian Cruise Line . It includes a visit to Saxman Native Village, where you'll sample smoked wild game meats, dine on chef-selected dishes prepared with regional ingredients, and taste local wines and beers.

Lumberjack shows are offered on Alaska voyages with Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises , Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea Cruises.

Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour

Embark on the Aleutian Ballard, the Bering Sea fishing boat made famous by the Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" television series. The approximately three-hour excursion gives guests a firsthand experience of what it's like to sail on the vessel as a Bering Sea crab fisherman and catch massive king crabs, octopuses and other marine life with 700-pound crab pots. The boat may also stop at nearby Annette Island, where you'll have the chance to see whales, sea lions, seals and bald eagles soaring overhead (one may even try to snag your catch!). You may also get to watch local fishermen at work.

Some lines that offer the fisherman's tour include Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, Viking Ocean Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea Cruises.

Misty Fjords by Floatplane or Cruise

The more than 2 million-acre Misty Fjords National Monument is one of the top attractions in Alaska . Described by naturalist and author John Muir as "the Yosemite of the North," the awe-inspiring destination is best viewed from above on a floatplane. From the sky, you'll see towering 1,000-foot waterfalls, the volcanic Revillagigedo Island, snowcapped peaks, verdant forests and 3,000-foot walls of granite descending into the fjords. On a floatplane tour, you'll also have the chance to land on the water and take in the spectacular scenery from another viewpoint.

If you're not a fan of small planes, some lines offer the option of taking a cruise from Ketchikan's harbor. You'll sail into Behm Canal surrounded by the scenery of Misty Fjords, and you may even see wildlife or bald eagle nests. You'll also cruise by Eddystone Rock, a massive volcanic spire emerging from the sea, as well as waterfalls and 3,000-foot cliffs sculpted by glaciers.

Cruise lines that offer floatplane or cruisetours of Misty Fjords include Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Viking Ocean Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea Cruises.

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Skagway is another busy and popular cruise port in Alaska. It's one of the most popular towns on the Inside Passage itinerary; its fascinating Klondike Gold Rush history dates back to 1897. Take notice of the historic false-front shops reminiscent of the gold rush days as you explore. Many of these buildings are part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, and you may even see people strolling down the streets dressed in period costumes.

White Pass & Yukon Route

One of the top-rated attractions in Skagway is the White Pass Summit Scenic Railroad journey through Alaska's wilderness. The narrow-gauge railroad is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark – an honor shared by the Panama Canal, the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower. Dating back 125 years, the historic railway features vintage rail cars and climbs to a steep 2,865 feet at the summit over just 20.4 miles. Along the way to the summit – located at the official international border between the U.S. and Canada – you'll listen to the history of the Klondike Gold Rush while passing by Inspiration Point, Dead Horse Gulch and Bridal Veil Falls. After making a loop at the top, the train will head back down the mountain. You might even see snow on the ride if your cruise to Alaska is early in the season .

Excursions on some lines combine the rail journey with other activities, like biking on the Klondike Highway from the summit or visiting Liarsville, a gold rush trail camp. Others include a stop (and a cold beer) at the Skagway Brewing Company. In addition, some cruise providers offer the train ride in a luxury class rail car, which includes complimentary beverages, snacks and a private guide who will explain the history of the railroad as you watch the scenery pass by.

Norwegian Cruise Line's six-hour excursion features a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Route, a salmon bake at Liarsville and an adult beverage with one of the "madames" at the renowned Red Onion Saloon. Meanwhile, Silversea Cruises ' new 5.5-hour tour includes the train ride; a trip to the Yukon Suspension Bridge, which sits 65 feet above the white water rapids of the Tutshi River; and a hearty lunch of bison chili.

Cruise lines that offer the railroad (and combination) tours include Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Musher's Camp and Sled Dog Discovery

If you want to cuddle with Alaskan husky puppies, then this excursion is for you. Norwegian Cruise Line's approximately three-hour excursion takes guests to a professional musher's summer camp in Dyea Valley, where they train sled dogs for the Yukon Quest and Iditarod races. After a thrilling ride into the rainforest on a four-wheel-drive vehicle, you'll head out on a summertime dog sled with 16 Alaskan huskies at the helm. Before puppy play time, you'll learn how the mushers care for the dogs and prepare for the races. Depending on the cruise line, some tours may end with roasting s'mores by the fire.

Some lines that offer this excursion are Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Chilkoot Trail Hike and Float Adventure

The historic Chilkoot Trail was the main route for those in search of untold riches during the famous gold rush years. Today, the trail, located in Gold Rush National Historical Park, is a rainforest full of birds and wildflowers. Excursions to the park include hikes with river floats on the Taiya River (there are no rapids) or bike tours of the trail. There are also wilderness kayaking outings to Chilkoot Lake, which is home to the five species of Pacific salmon, waterfowl, bald eagles and one of the largest brown bear populations in southeast Alaska.

Some cruise lines that offer these excursions include Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Sitka is the only community in the Inside Passage that sits on the Pacific Ocean. The small city – home to just 8,500 residents – was owned by Russia before the U.S. purchased the land in 1867. Today, you'll find remnants of this Russian heritage, like onion-shaped domes and Saint Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral. Sitka also has a strong Tlingit culture. In terms of shore excursions, you'll find plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing surrounded by pristine landscapes.

Sea Otter and Wildlife Quest

Royal Caribbean International's three-hour jet boat cruise on Sitka Sound features panoramic scenery (including snow-capped peaks) and the chance to see abundant wildlife. During the tour, look for playful sea otters, whales and brown bears walking along the coast. The line also offers another tour – Sea Otters, Raptors and Bears Oh My – that features a naturalist-guided catamaran cruise followed by visits to the Alaskan Raptor Center (a rehabilitation center for birds of prey) and the Fortress of the Bear (a rescue operation for orphaned bears).

In comparison, Carnival Cruise Line 's VIP wildlife quest in search of whales, sea otters, coastal brown bears and more concludes with a feast of wild salmon cooked over a wood-fired grill, Alaska crab and prime rib at the Fin Island Lodge. Following a wildlife Zodiac cruise around the archipelago, Holland America Line's version of this excursion also visits the lodge for lunch in partnership with Food & Wine magazine.

You can find this excursion on Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line.

The Best of Sitka

Several cruise lines offer a version of this tour, which features an exploration of the top attractions in Sitka. On this excursion, you'll visit the Fortress of the Bear in Tongass National Park to learn about the facility's work with orphaned bears. There's also a stop at Sitka National Historical Park, where the 1804 "Battle of Alaska" between the Russians and the Tlingits was fought. Here, you'll see handcarved totem poles created by skilled Tlingit artists and get to meet local Native artists to learn more. The excursion also includes a visit to the Alaska Raptor Center.

Lines that offer this excursion include Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Icy Strait Point (Hoonah)

Icy Strait Point in Hoonah may be a much smaller port than others on this list, but it is a jumping-off point for endless outdoor explorations, including whale watching tours and searching for coastal brown bears. Icy Strait Point is Alaska Native-owned and -operated and is home to the largest Native Tlingit village in Alaska. While here, explore the wilderness areas of Chichagoff Islands, visit the 1912 cannery museum, and grab lunch with fresh Alaska king and Dungeness crabs before taking a ride on the world's largest ZipRider. (Or, play it safe and plan to take that ride down the mountain before lunch.)

Whale Watching & Bear Search

The waters surrounding Icy Strait Point host the largest summer population of humpback whales in the state, especially around the Point Adolphus area. If you purchase a tour directly with the Icy Strait Point website, they'll even guarantee you'll see whales – or they'll refund your money. During the tour, look for orcas, Steller sea lions, porpoises and seals. But be sure to also gaze overhead for bald eagles and search along the shore for bears; the Spasski River Valley in the remote wilderness of Chichagof Island has one of the highest densities of coastal brown bears in the world. Some cruise lines offer a variation of this excursion that includes a boiled seafood feast back on shore at Icy Strait Point.

You can find this excursion on voyages with Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Viking Ocean Cruises, Silversea Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Scenic Mountain Ascent & World's Largest ZipRider

Thrill-seekers (who love heights) will jump at the chance to ride the world's largest and longest zip line, which sits more than 1,300 feet above sea level at the top of Icy Strait Point. The ride to the summit on the SkyGlider mountaintop gondola is also a rush, but the real excitement comes as you zoom down 5,330-foot zip lines with five other riders at 60 mph – with views of the forest below and Glacier Bay National Park in the distance. A break-activated landing on the beach brings riders safely back to the ground. The price also includes unlimited rides on the gondola.

Cruise lines that offer this excursion include Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises , Viking Ocean Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line.

A less visited port than some others on this list (according to CLIA), Seward is the ancestral home to the Alutiiq, or Sugpiaq, people. Its breathtaking natural beauty – with mountains on one side and Resurrection Bay on the other – has been shaped by glaciers over thousands of years. Top attractions in Seward include the Alaska SeaLife Center and a charming downtown area. It also offers access to Kenai Fjords National Park.

Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise

During your stop in Seward, take a full-day excursion to see the astounding beauty of Kenai Fjords National Park. The impressive fjords are surrounded by mountains standing more than 6,000 feet tall and an ecosystem rich in wildlife. While there, watch for a variety of whale species, sea otters, porpoises and sea lions, and onshore, you might see bears and mountain goats. There are also 191 documented species of birds in the park and many glaciers. As you get up close to Holgate Glacier, listen as chunks of blue ice calve into the water.

Some cruise lines, such as Viking Ocean Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, offer this as an individual tour, while others like Holland America Line include it as part of a cruisetour. You can also book the excursion directly with a local tour operator if you're embarking or disembarking in Seward.

Haines, a small port about 20 miles north of Skagway, is best known for its Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. The 49,000-acre preserve has the largest natural gathering of eagles during the late salmon runs and boasts pristine forests, marshlands and rivers brimming with wildlife.

Glacier Point Wilderness Safari

Norwegian Cruise Line's five-hour excursion takes guests on an adventure into the wilderness by boat while cruising North America's deepest and longest fjord, the upper Lynn Canal. You might even see breaching whales and playful sea lions en route to Glacier Point, where you'll disembark at the beach upon arrival. After a drive through the forest and a hike in the woods, you'll have unforgettable, up-close views of the Davidson Glacier by canoe.

Lines that offer this excursion include Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line and Silversea Cruises. Holland America Line offers this excursion from Skagway.

Eagle Preserve Rafting Float Adventure

Look for bald eagles soaring overhead as you raft down the gentle Chilkat River through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. The waters are overflowing with salmon that come to spawn, serving as food for as many as 400 bald eagles living in the Chilkat Valley. Don't be surprised to see brown bears or 1,600-pound moose coming to feast along the riverbank during your rafting adventure.

Some lines that offer this excursion include Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Lin e. Holland America Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Viking Ocean Cruises host this excursion from Skagway.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi is a U.S. News & World Report contributor and an avid travel adventurer who fell in love with Alaska on her first visit to the state many years ago. She's returned several times both by land and sea to view wildlife and chase the northern lights in one of the best places on the planet to view them. She's even considered moving to The Great Land as a full-time resident. Pratesi used her deep knowledge of Alaska and the cruise industry to write this article.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Things to Do in Alaska
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• The Best Alaska Cruises for Families
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