Your entire holiday is designed around your requirements, Select your preferred style of accommodation, Create the perfect trip with the help of our specialists, All our specialists have travelled extensively or lived in their specialist regions, The same specialist will handle your trip from start to finish, Make the difference between a good trip and an outstanding one, Hand picked by us or our local partners as the best available, Offering more than just dates and names, they strive to offer real insight into their country. Juneau: Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier Day Trip - Book Things To Doubling back, we make it to the overlook where we discuss how to properly expose for a glacier in the sun. These are great combo trips that the whole family is sure to enjoy. 40. . Roberts Tramway. Juneau Mendenhall Glacier/ Whale excursions? - Alaska - Cruise Critic Alaska. The drop-off location is the same as the pickup location at the Mt. Top-Rated Excursions - Alaska Shore Tours Top-Rated Shore Excursions All docks, with the exception of the AJ dock, are within walking distance (under 10 minutes.) I used Juneau Whale Watch since they do the Mendenhall Glacier after the whale watching and give you flexibility on how long you want to stay at the glacier. What is the best month for whale watching Alaska? I am leaving some extra time just in case a bear or a porcupine shows up somewhere along the way. Most of our coastal towns feature many excellent tour operators, some of them world-class with naturalists, refreshments and other amenities on board. Join us for the best show in town, a 3.5-hour whale watching excursion (includes transportation time and 2 hours on the water) which begins when you board a coach bus that departs downtown Juneau from the Mt. Trying to figure out if we would indeed have enough time to do the hike trail if we did this option, we are in port 7-130..they offer a 730, so if we took that one does that include ample time at the glacier, given that it says 5 hr duration? MEETING INSTRUCTIONS: The meeting point is under the cables of the Mt. Some of the best places to see Gray Q&A: Cruise Insurance with Steve Dasseos of the TripInsuranceStore.com - Summer Session '23, ANNOUNCEMENT: Regent Seven Seas Cruises 2025-2026 Voyage Collection Debut. Alaska's Whales & Mendenhall Glacier Trail: Small-Group Experience View Alaska's humpback whales and the Mendenhall Glacier on a small-group excursion (capacity is limited to 20 travelers) tailored for sensational encounters with nature CMS Help? Shes coming into the light, I say softly. About how much time were on the trail for..an hour at least? Round trip transportation from downtown Juneau, entrance into the Mendenhall Glacier National Park, snacks and binoculars on the whale watching boat. waters of the Alaska coastline. The second part of your journey is a thrilling whale watching trip on Stephens Passage. Capture that perfect shot of Alaska landscapes and wildlife as you as you explore the hiking trails near Mendenhall Glacier. Snacks and binoculars are also provided. The Mendenhall Glacier is the next stop with the visitor center included in your tour. Aboard our boats, you have the opportunity to see sea lions basking in the sun on Benjamin Island or taking a nap on an ocean buoy. regions of Alaska. The Whale Quest was magnificent (but cold! Best time to see whales is from June to early September. 2017 Alaska Whale Watching Tours in Juneau, Alaska. discounts for Alaska Cruise Ship Passengers with discounts on the best whale watching times and of Prince William Sound, Glacier Bay and Icy Straight, and the Inside Passage around Juneau Alaska's Whales & Mendenhall Glacier Trail: Small-Group Experience Plan on a whale watching tour in the Seward, Whittier, Homer The glacier is in rapid . Anyone know how far it is to get back from visitor centre? Mendenhall glacier and Whale Quest (says they go to Visitors center for an hour then on catamaran for whales) vs. Alaska's Whales and Mendenhall Glacier Trail ( says guided forest. Meet us at the convenient, central pick-up location in front of the Mt. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. But keep whales and other marine mammals on your itinerary. There are many trails at the Mendenhall Glacier, with different difficulty levels. Extended Juneau Glacier Dogsled Adventure. Reserve Now & Pay Later Secure your spot while staying flexible Free cancellation Up to 24 hours in advance. During . How to See Whales in Alaska | The Best Whale Watching Spots A naturalist is with you the whole time on your Juneau whale watching tour to explain everything that you are seeing and to answer any of your questions. During summer, humpback and fin whales chase schooling fish. Roberts Tramway, on the cruise ship docks in downtown Juneau. And sometimes whales are spouting just around the corner! From the once 1300 strong, today the population has declined to around It leaves every 30 minutes from the glacier. More About Gastineau Guiding. Mendenhall Glacier Hike & Juneau, Alaska Whale Watching Tour Check in with a Juneau Tours and Whale Watch dock representative in front of the Mt. She tells me there are three bearsa mom and two cubscrossing the road, headed in the direction of Dipper Bridge. The meeting point is under the cables of the Mt. Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Photo Safari Also See Where To See Alaska Whales. As you stand on the banks of the glacier-fed lake, at the foot of the ice flow, cool breezes and fresh air brush your cheeks. Car, train, or group tour. To find your bus, check in with one of our Dock Representatives holding a Juneau Tours or Juneau Whale Watch sign, sporting a smile and wearing a bright blue hat. From April through September is prime whale watching for most species. You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tours below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you. Want to avoid the crowd? species. Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction. Im confused about the wording, says you will get to take a photo and go to the visitor centre at Mendenhall, but we want to have some time to walk the trailanyone know how much time this allows here? Alaska's Whales, Glaciers & Rainforest Trails Experience majestic scenery and abundant wildlife on this exclusive Juneau shore excursion that combines a whale watching exploration with an easy hike on a secluded rainforest trail at the Mendenhall Glacier. Tour timeline may vary to avoid overcrowding, etc. THE TOP 10 Juneau Tours & Excursions in 2023 - Things to Do, Tickets feeding and breading areas in the Bering and Chukchi seas of Northern Alaska. This tour combines two of the best attractions in the Juneau area the Mendenhall Glacier and whale watching. This is the realm of extraordinary displayswhere one humpback will trap and concentrate fish with bubble streams from its blowhole while other whales explode from the sea with mouths yawning wide to scoop up the bounty. While Juneau is the top location for these tours, other cities Juneau Whale Watching Adventure and Mendenhall Glacier - 2023 | Viator groups of Alaska. Located on the Kenai Peninsula about 120 miles south of Anchorage at the end of the Seward Highway. Many fishing charters offer wildlife viewing, too. The comfortable jet boat is fast, manoeuvrable and relatively quiet in the water making it the best option for seeing these giants of the deep. It's a must-see destination for any Alaska vacation. Binoculars will extend your perception of distant observations, and give you intimate detail on closer animals. You can choose to hike to Nugget Falls (plan 1.5 hours for a leisurely walk or at least 1 hour if you hurry), take the Photo Point Trail (20 round trip), look for wildlife along the Steep Creek trail, or stroll up the easy walk to the Visitor Center. Alaska each spring, the Gray whales migrate long distances Mendenhall Glacier is Alaska's only drive up glacier and the #1 natural attraction in Juneau. 5 hours | Juneau | JNU-700 J N U - 7 0 0. Humpback, Orcas, Gray, and Beluga whales, along with many other marine mammals, in their natural companies in each area. These are some of the hot spots for Alaska whale watching trips. Every spring, Gray whales migrate through the waters off Alaska on their way The Mendenhall Glacier is Juneau's biggest attraction and a humbling sight: an enormous river of ice that stretches from the Juneau Icefield, a massive ice and snow cap that covers 3,885 square kilometres. About Alaska Beluga Whales, Contact Us At: If sea-sickness is not an issue, or its calm, dont be shy away from a charter aboard a small boat with room for four to six. The time to the whale watching boat, actual whale watching tour and trip to the glacier is around 3 hours +/-. That about sums me up, he says. At this stop you can explore this glacial wonder from a variety of perspectives like Nugget Creek Falls and Photo Point Trail, which winds along Mendenhall Lake to an unobstructed view of the glaciers face. During your time on the water, you will be accompanied by a naturalist who explains the feeding habits of these magnificent creatures and identifies the many other kinds of wildlife that share these waters. Breathtakingly beautiful, the Mendenhall Glacier fills the valley for as far as the eye can see. Whales and other marine mammals proliferate in Kachemak Bay and Lower Cook Inlet off this end-of-the-highway community, though perhaps. Does Mendenhall Glacier& Whale Quest allow time to do the trail Aboard our whale-watching boats, enjoy a comfortable heated cabin with wide-viewing windows and spacious decks for wildlife spotting. Just Hanging out in a Mendenhall Ice Cave on the Glacier Canoe Paddle & trek! A bathroom is onboard. decision or accidental mishap could mean it's to late. Whale Watching in Travel time, a photo safari by sea and a trail walk at the Mendenhall Glacier. 4.7 (703) Please be advised that you must leave yourself at least 1 hour between your arrival to Juneau and tour start time if traveling by cruise ship and arriving after 10:30am. Your ticket provides access to everything at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area and visitors center. the Orcas within the content of this site mainly due to their popularity with whale watching This exclusive whale watching excursion includes your own private jet boat and roundtrip guided transportation. Tour Description What's included With wider ranges, killer whales will be a bit more rare. Mendenhall Glacier & Juneau Whale Watching Combo Tour Reasons for the decline are still unproven yet it is believed that a combination Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. There is no guarantee we will see these bears, and I do not tell them where we are going, or why we are turning aroundonly that there is a change of plans. Of course, I dont have to tell them. Dock representatives are waiting under the aerial tramway cables, holding Juneau Tours and Juneau Whale Watch signs, and wearing bright blue hats. outer coast of Southeast Alaska. Keep food and flavored drinks packed tightly away. tours operate within the Inside Passage. You will capture Juneau`s top sites and abundant marine wildlife on the same excursion! Cam Byrnes. A bathroom is onboard. Kodiak Island is about 120 miles south of Homer (about 250 miles air miles south of Anchorage.) The glacier is in rapid retreat losing more than 180 metres in 2004, more than ten times the rate of the previous decade. Whales, Gray Whale, Humpback photograph the spectacular sea life found in the nutrient rich waters of Alaska. Mendenhall Glacier flows into Mendenhall Lake. This tour has three parts to it. Amazing places deserve to be shared with others - why not Write a Review! One-by-one, the eager photographers raise their lenses from targeted salmon and follow me up the trail. When asked about himself, Jim says he would rather paddle a canoe than drive a car, and prefers watching birds to watching television. ACTIVITY LEVEL: EASY TO MODERATE. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! You can choose to hike to Nugget Falls (plan 1.5 hours for a leisurely walk or at least 1 hour if you hurry), take the Photo Point Trail (20 round trip), look for wildlife along the Steep Creek trail, or stroll up the easy walk to the Visitor Center. Whale Watching and the Mendenhall Glacier | Audley Travel UK Whales are also regular seen by people heading out on deep-sea fishing charters for halibut and lincod. All Rights Reserved, 1330 Eastaugh Way, Suite 2 Juneau Alaska Whale Tours Watching large clumps of ice break of the glacier and splash into the lake form a tour boat has became a very . footer About Us Our Company Careers Contact Us Diversity & Inclusion Visa Rewards Card Reserving shore excursions online is the fastest, most convenient way for you to confirm your tours. Bring layered clothing, a waterproof jacket, a camera and/or video camera, and comfortable shoes. The endangered beluga whales of upper Cook Inlet near Anchorage follow the runs of salmon and hooliganand are most often seen just before and after high tides in Turnagain Arm along the Seward Highway. Some of the best places to see Gray Whales in Alaska include Ketchikan in the southern portion of the panhandle, Sitka located on Baranof Island, both Yakutat and Cordova as well as Seward Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula and the island of Kodiak Alaska. Go past the campground entrance and Skater's Cabin to the parking area at the end of the road. in Alaska from Ketchikan to Barrow. Whale Watching Tours in Alaska We were on the short trail for less than an hour, probably 30/40 minutes. Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour $165 Arriving Print Email Description Info Reviews (380) FAQs 5 Hours Duration 2 hours on the water Wildlife Opportunity Guaranteed whale sightings Family Friendly Suitable for all ages and abilities Two Tours in One Juneau's signature attractions together Continue to Montana Creek Road and follow the signs to Mendenhall Glacier campground. Although the cabin is enclosed and heated. On the bus ride back to the cruise ship, attention is split between guide and camera backs. Mendenhall Glacier is Alaska's only drive up glacier and the #1 natural attraction in Juneau. Southeast Alaska Yacht Charters that normally have less Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? The forest here is young. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. Departing from Auke Bay, you can expect to see humpback and orca whales, Steller sea lions and Dall's porpoise. Alaska Tales Whale Watching. I am guiding cruise ship passengers on a photo safari that began three hours earlier with a short bus ride to Statter Harbor where we boarded a small, custom whale watching vessel for a couple hours of photographing humpback whales, sea lions, and bald eagles. Eating is not permitted at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. Visit the Alaska Sealife Center, a public aquarium and research facility on the shore of Resurrection Bay just south of downtown Seward. Gastineau Guiding Training Program: Small groups makes for a Big Difference. Infants may sit on your lap. and Orca Whales in Southeast Alaska. rich feeding and calving grounds of the arctic ocean. As you head back into the dock, make sure to capture a photo of the Mendenhall Glacier in the background. LOCATION: JUNEAU. Just allow enough time to get back to the ship and / or dont miss the last bus. Listen and you may hear them chirping and chattering as they pass (old-time whalers nicknamed belugas sea canaries.) Aptly named Beluga Point overlooks an expanse with another chance to see them on the move. the early spring, you are likely to see the gray whales on their annual migration north to the of Alaska you will find them listed by region and location. The show is over, and the clock is ticking. Viewing areas close to the glacier drop-off area (approximately 150 yards) provide excellent views. This tour can be booked through your cruise line, from your travel agent or on the Huge Hop aboard a whale watching cruise to admire the rugged coastline as you search for majestic humpback whales. 2-5 day small ship explorations. The fleet of whale watching boats and glacier shuttles offer a seamless combination of two of Juneaus favorite activities and one of Juneaus most popular tours.