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Juneau: Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Combo Tour

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Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell out

1/6

Duration5h

GroupUp to 49

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Whale watching in Alaska’s Inside Passage and walking to Mendenhall Glacier with time for Nugget Falls

You’ll watch humpback whales glide through Alaska’s Inside Passage from a heated boat with wide windows, then ride out to Mendenhall Glacier for walks along icy trails or down to Nugget Falls—all with local guides who know their stuff. Expect real wildlife moments, salty air, and just enough time at each stop to feel you’ve really been there.

Step-by-step itinerary

Meet under aerial gondola cables
Bus to Auke Bay Harbor
Whale watching tour for 2 hours
Bus to Mendenhall Glacier park
Hike and visit visitor center for 1.5 hours

The Experience

The first thing I noticed was the way the dock creaked under my boots—kind of echoed out over Auke Bay while we waited for our whale watching boat. Our guide, Sarah, handed out these bright blue rain jackets (I’d already layered up but took one anyway) and joked that “Alaska weather has a mind of its own.” She wasn’t kidding. The air smelled sharp and salty, and there was this low chatter from the other folks—nervous energy, I guess. When we finally boarded, the cabin was warm enough that my glasses fogged up for a second.

I’d never seen humpback whales before—at least not like this. There was this sudden hush when someone spotted the first spout off port side, and then everyone rushed to the wide windows or out on deck. It’s hard to explain what it feels like seeing something that big move so quietly through water. One of the naturalists pointed out bubble nets and explained how they hunt—she even showed us on a little whiteboard (which made me laugh because it felt like school, but in a good way). We also saw sea lions lounging on some rocks; they barely moved except to bark at each other.

Afterwards, we rode the bus out toward Mendenhall Glacier. The drive itself is kind of a blur—I remember condensation on the windows and someone behind me unwrapping a snack bar that smelled faintly sweet. At the park, Sarah gave us tips: “Don’t feed anything—even if it begs,” she said, grinning at a bold squirrel nearby. We had about an hour and a half there; enough time to walk down to Nugget Falls (the spray is colder than you’d think) and peek inside the visitor center where you can touch this chunk of ancient blue ice in a display case. I tried taking photos but honestly none of them do it justice.

On the way back I kept thinking about that first whale sighting—the quiet before everyone gasped—and how small I felt next to all that space and ice. If you’re wondering if two hours is enough for whale watching near Juneau or if 1.5 hours at Mendenhall Glacier feels rushed… somehow it just works. You don’t really want to leave either place but it’s enough to carry home in your head for a long time.

What’s included

Your day includes meeting under Mt. Roberts Tramway cables in Juneau, round-trip bus transfers between port and Auke Bay Harbor plus onward to Mendenhall Glacier Park, entrance fees covered, two hours of whale watching aboard heated boats with bathrooms (and naturalist guides), water and snacks during your cruise, plus 1.5 hours free time at Mendenhall Glacier before returning downtown.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Juneau Tours