Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Photo Safari
Duration
~5 hours
This tour lasts 5 hours, giving you plenty of time to get back to your ship or next destination.
Difficulty
This trip includes a steady one-hour hike on uneven ground to reach the Mendenhall Glacier viewing area.
Best For
- Photographers
- Wildlife enthusiasts
- Glacier seekers
- Curious nature lovers
Group Size
Typical 10 - Max 14
Guarantee
Back-to-ship guarantee included
Tour Details
You’ll get all the details when you book, but here’s a glimpse of what to expect. We recommend being able to walk at a moderate pace on uneven ground. All safety gear is provided.
- Duration~5 hours
- Meeting PointCruise ship dock
- Difficulty / Activity LevelModerate
You’ll get all the details when you book, but here’s a glimpse of what to expect. We recommend being able to walk at a moderate pace on uneven ground. All safety gear is provided.
- Age RequirementsAges 8+
- Group SizeTypical 10 - Max 14
- Wildlife / Sighting ExpectationsHumpback whales are the main event, with other wildlife possible but not guaranteed.
You’ll never forget Southeast Alaska
The moment you first see a whale emerge from the water. The scenes on a hike as you await the Mendenhall Glacier to open up before you. These are moments that will stay with you long after you leave Juneau.
Lucas Young
A sight to behold
You’ll see humpback whales breaching the water and gain knowledge and a deep appreciation as our guides explain their behavior.
Brandon Hauser
Mendenhall’s majesty
Mendenhall Glacier is one of Juneau’s wonders. But the hike to see it is special as well. Don’t be surprised if you want to linger and appreciate the sight before you.
Alaska, as it should be
Both experiences will leave you in awe of Alaska and a sense of how important the land and waters of this place are for all of us.
Cam Byrnes
Book through your cruise
If you’re with a cruise line, you can book through their portal.
Private booking available
If you’re flying or driving into Alaska, you can select a custom tour experience or join tours up to the day before they leave, based on availability.
The sights
Here’s what you can expect to see and capture on your guided tour.
A Day Full of Wonder
Our Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Photo Safari is led by a professional photography guide who will show you the best angles and shots to capture. You can expect to have about two hours of whale watching and one hour hiking, which means you’ll walk away with incredible images.
Let’s Explore
On the dock, at the edge of a temperate rainforest, you’ll feel the thick air that’s laced with the scent of spruce and cedar. This is Juneau. We’ll board the boat at Auke Bay and explore the waters of Alaska’s inside passage, looking for signs of life.
Giants Emerge
We pause when we reach the feeding grounds. The calm quiet is a precursor to what you’ve been waiting for: the explosive rise of a humpback whale.
Book through your cruise
If you’re with a cruise line, you can book through their portal.
Private booking available
If you’re flying or driving into Alaska, you can select a custom tour experience or join tours up to the day before they leave, based on availability.
What other travelers say
Travelers who've been out on the water with us come back with stories. Here's what matters most to them.
See All Trip Advisor Reviews
Over 7,800 4.9 Star Reviews!
#2 of 151 Tours & Activities in Juneau
See All Yelp Reviews
200+ 5 Star Reviews!
"Superb hike around Mendenhall Glacier."
Google Reviews
Almost 300 -- 4.9 average rating
"We had a glorious time watching whales."
We had an excellent tour with Gastineau Guiding! Sam was an excellent tour guide! He was knowledgable, friendly, and fun! Mitch was also a great whale watching boat captain! Thanks for making our Alaskan adventure unforgettable!!
Cruise passenger, Austin Texas
We saw so many whales during our excursion. Kenichi Shay was an incredible guide with so much knowledge of the area, the wildlife and whales. Our Captain was awesome too! We also learned so much during our hike to Mendenhall Glacier. Best excursion offered on our Princess Cruise. Loved being a part of small group tour as well.
Cruise passenger, Sanford, Florida
We had the pleasure of having Emma, and Captain Joe as tour guides. It was such a fun tour. Both Emma’s provided amazing stories and incredible knowledge of Alaska. Captain Joe found us some incredible whales. Would definitely recommend to our family and friends!! 🐋
Sep. 2025
My wife and I did a guided hike up to Mendenhall Galcier. Our tour guide Haylee was amazing. She had a lot and really interesting information about the glacier, the region, wildlife and more. We took a route we would have never found by ourselves.
Would always head out again with Gastineau Guiding and Haylee.
Robin und Sophi
Couple Passengers, Sep. 2025