Top Juneau Shore Excursions

The Mendenhall Glacier is one of Juneau’s most impressive natural wonders, stretching over 13 miles (21 kilometers). On this half-day tour, enjoy spectacular views of the glacier from the viewing platforms and walkways, and learn more about the mighty glacier at the Visitor Center. Then, set sail on a thrilling whale-watching cruise along the coast and look out for humpback whales, as well as other wildlife such as bald eagles and blue heron.

When your ship anchors in Juneau port, get ready for a shore excursion pumped with adventure and incredible views. First, soar by helicopter over Juneau Icefield, and then land on Herbert Glacier to explore the remote landscape by foot. Learn about the surrounding Alaskan wilderness and capture memorable shots during your icefield walk. Cruise ship passengers please note that the shuttle will pick up one hour before listed flight time.

When your cruise stops at Juneau, see whales in their natural habitat on this whale-watching boat trip, all without the fuss of organizing shore transport. Prebook to secure your place, board a comfortable boat with outdoor decks and heated cabins, and cruise Alaska’s waters to see marine life in the wild. Then, enjoy guaranteed sightings of humpback whales, with a naturalist providing commentary on their behaviors as you cruise.

Pair a helicopter flight over the glaciers of Juneau Icefield with a dogsled ride, and you have the perfect Alaska experience. After flying over breathtaking scenery, land at a remote glacier camp for a ride of a lifetime: you’re pulled by Alaskan huskies across fields blanketed with snow, surrounded by towering mountains. Cruise ship passengers please note that the shuttle will pick up one hour before listed flight time.

Explore the 3,000-year-old Mendenhall Glacier on this 5.5-hour adventure tour from Alaska’s capital city, Juneau. Paddle out on the iceberg-covered Mendenhall Lake for about an hour until you reach Mendenhall Glacier. Then, spend about an hour to an hour and a half trekking on the rocky moraine near the glacier. Afterward, paddle back to your starting point, and warm up with a hot beverage once you reach the shore. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent flooding and glacial ice erosion, this tour no longer provides access to WALK ON GLACIER ICE

While most visitors only see the Mendenhall Glacier from crowded viewpoints, this tour takes adventurous travelers on a canoe trip to the base of the glacier for a completely different perspective of the majestic ice. With canoe lessons and a guide, the tour is open to first-time paddlers and the mellow water means you can take along a camera and capture the arctic cliffs, icebergs, and pristine blue ice.

Discover Alaska’s stunning landscapes by air and land on this 2.5-hour helicopter flight and guided glacier walk tour. Take to the skies and enjoy aerial views of Juneau Icefield’s unruly rock formations and icefalls, with a knowledgeable pilot explaining what you see along the way. Then, land on a glacier for a unique walkabout experience in one of more remote spots in the world. Hotel transport from Juneau available. Please note that the shuttle will pick up one hour before listed flight time.

Whale watching and visiting the Mendenhall Glacier are two of the most popular activities around Juneau. Check them both off your list on this half-day combo tour that includes flexible departure times and round-trip transportation from Mt. Roberts Tramway, making it ideal for a shore excursion or quick trip.

Experience Mendenhall Glacier by land and water on this 6.5-hour combo-adventure tour from Juneau. First, hop into a canoe at Mendenhall Lake and paddle around luminescent blue icebergs and past cliffs and waterfalls toward Mendenhall Glacier. Step onto the glacier and explore the area with trekking poles. No matter what level of paddling or glacial-trekking experience you have, a guide is there to prepare you for each step of the journey. Look for wildlife sightings and expect personalized attention on this small-group tour limited to 14 people.

Experience the majestic Mendenhall Glacier and Lake up close on a kayak tour with a guide who has one of the limited US Forest Service permits for the region. Your 5-hour tour includes a kayak tour on Mendenhall Lake and an all-you-can-eat salmon bake that features wild Alaska-caught salmon. Take a walk along the creek, pan for gold at a historical mine, and get great photo ops on this all-inclusive tour from Juneau.

Hit the Alaskan waters on this 3.5-hour Mendenhall Lake kayak tour in Tongass National Forest. Journey across the lake in a kayak with group members in your same expertise level. Maneuver around glaciers as you take in stunning sights of the lake’s natural beauty, and catch sight of wildlife as you go. Paddle by Nugget Falls and the 3,000-year-old Mendenhall Glacier.

While your ship is docked in Juneau, pan for gold at Gold Creek and Last Chance Basin on a shore excursion. Enjoy a brief city tour of Juneau and then travel to a remote section along Gold Creek. A guide dressed in 19th-century attire gives you insight into the Alaskan Gold Rush. See where thousands journeyed to during the Gold Rush in search of the precious metal. Learn how to pan in the creek or cull through the waters in the demonstration trough. Round-trip port transport included.

Step off your cruise ship and into a river raft on this 3.5-hour shore excursion along Mendenhall Glacier. An experienced guide rows your raft, allowing you to soak up the gorgeous mountain scenery as you float along for six miles around the foot of the glacier. Wind through stretches of Class II and III whitewater rapids and wrap up the outing with a delicious riverside snack. Families, beginners and the more experienced all will enjoy this Mendenhall Glacier float trip. Port transport from Juneau included.

Pair a helicopter flight over the glaciers of Juneau Icefield with a dogsled ride, and you have the perfect Alaska experience. After flying over breathtaking scenery, land at a remote glacier camp for a ride of a lifetime: you’re pulled by Alaskan huskies across fields blanketed with snow, surrounded by towering mountains. Listen to the race stories of struggle and victory from Iditarod mushers, and get in the spirit by dressing up in original Iditarod dogsled gear for memorable photos. Please note that the shuttle will pick up one hour before listed flight time.

While in Alaska, it can be hard to find activities for the whole family to agree on. This sled dog discovery tour in Juneau is the perfect solution—kids and people of all ages are sure to be excited to visit with the husky puppies. You’ll also learn from a musher all about dog sledding in Alaska and ride down a 1-mile track with a team of huskies, too.

Set voyage into Alaska’s Inside Passage on this whale-watching shore excursion from Juneau port. From the comfort of a heated jet boat or catamaran, enjoy views of fjords and snow-drizzled mountains, and delight in a medley of wildlife including orcas, humpbacks, otters, sea lions and bald eagles. After this memorable cruise, warm up with fresh crab at Juneau's Original Tracy's King Crab. This 3.5-hour shore excursion comes with transport to Auke Bay.

While visiting Alaska’s capital city, Juneau, it can be difficult to decide what activities to fit into your busy sightseeing schedule. Take the stress away from your planning with this Juneau shore excursion that combines a helicopter flight, dog sledding, and a glacier walk into one day, so you can get more from your time in the Last Frontier. Cruise ship passengers please note that the shuttle will pick up one hour before listed flight time.

The vibrant Inside Passage is one of the best places for spotting humpback whales in Alaska, and on this two-part adventure you not only travel up the passage on a small boat but also have the opportunity to kayak alongside the massive creatures. While most whale watching tours only include spotting whales from a distance, this intimate tour allows adventurous travelers to experience the whales up close.

Immerse yourself in the Alaskan wilderness on a trek through a vast temperate rainforest that includes views of waterfalls, wildlife, and glaciers. Your private guide takes you to off-the-beaten-path photo spots so you can capture authentic wilderness shots without other tourists getting in the way. Plus, throughout the hike, nature enthusiasts can learn about the unique ecosystem and its inhabitants.

The Alaskan Brewing Company dates back to the early days of the Prohibition Era. Take a behind–the–scenes tour on a popular shore excursion with drop–off at the Juneau cruise port. After learning about the rich history of beer–making from the Gold Rush to the present, enjoy up to six samples, from limited edition brews to smoked porters.

Spend your time in Juneau on an Alaskan wilderness hiking adventure as you get up close to the Mendenhall Glacier! This exhilarating tour will show you a stunning piece of Alaskan nature as you hike through the Tongass Rainforest towards the glacier. Then explore the edge of the glacier on foot where you could see ice caves, dramatic crevasses, and fascinating glacial formations. Due to the dynamic nature of the Mendenhall Glacier features are in constant change. Your guide will assess each available feature prior to accessing to determine if it’s safe to explore. The Mendenhall Glacier is receding on a daily basis and due to this we are seeing significant changes to the surface of the glacier. There are very limited safe areas to access and explore on the ice with crampons. Safety is our number one priority and we can not guarantee every trip will hike on the glacier.

Hold on for an exhilarating river-rafting ride along Mendenhall Glacier. During this half-day adventure, drive through Mendenhall Valley before climbing aboard a raft rowed by an experienced guide. Float along for six miles around the foot of the glacier, through winding stretches of Class II and III whitewater rapids. Soak up gorgeous mountain scenery, and wrap up the day with a delicious snack. Families, beginners and the more experienced are all welcome! Hotel transport from Juneau included.

Spend your time in Juneau on an Alaskan wilderness hiking adventure as you get up close to the Mendenhall Glacier! This exhilarating tour will show you a stunning piece of Alaskan nature as you hike through the Tongass Rainforest towards the glacier. Then explore the edge of the glacier on foot where you could see ice caves, dramatic crevasses, and fascinating glacial formations. Accessing ice caves, moulins, or any other glacial feature is not guaranteed: The Mendenhall Glacier is in constant change. Your guide will assess each available feature prior to accessing to determine if it’s safe to explore. The Mendenhall Glacier is receding on a daily basis and we are seeing significant changes to the surface of the glacier. There are very limited safe areas to access and explore on the ice with crampons. Safety is our number one priority. We can not guarantee every trip will hike on the glacier.

Mendenhall Glacier and Lake is the Juneau area's premiere wilderness destination for its beauty, scale, and ease of access. This 6.5-hour tour takes you right up to the glacier, past Nugget Falls, and over Mendenhall Lake, combining paddling, ice trekking, and hiking for a full-day's worth of wilderness adventure suitable for the whole family. This tour is available as a shore-excursion for cruise passengers.