The Best Juneau Whale Watching Tours: Private Excursions and Mendenhall Glacier Tips
I’ve been lucky enough to visit Alaska on two Holland America cruises, and let me tell you, Juneau is unforgettable. Between the stunning glaciers and epic wildlife, it’s hard to pick favorites, but the private Juneau whale watching tour I took and a visit to Mendenhall Glacier are at the top of my list.
Whale watching tours are among the best excursions to experience Alaska’s natural beauty and wildlife.
In this post, you’ll find everything you need to know about whale watching in Juneau, including everything you need to book the best whale-watching tours.
He Works So I Travel content may contain affiliate links for products I use and love. If you make a purchase after clicking one of these links, I’ll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. For full details, please read my full affiliate disclosure here.
Getting to Juneau
Juneau is the second-largest city in the United States and Alaska’s state capital. It is located in Southeast Alaska in the Tongass National Forest, a temperate rainforest. It is the only capital city that cannot be accessed by car.
Most people arrive via cruise ship, but you can also fly into Juneau if you’re coming from another part of the state or country.
Best Time for a Juneau Whale Watching Tour
Juneau is a great place to visit year-round, but the best time of year to go whale watching is in the summer months.
From April through November, humpback whales migrate along Alaska’s Inside Passage and up and down the Pacific coast.
Juneau is known as one of the best areas for spotting humpbacks because they are often spotted close to shore during their migration.
You may also spot orcas in Juneau, but they are rare, and sightings are not guaranteed.
If you are traveling to Alaska from May through mid-July, you have a great chance of fabulous weather for whale watching and Juneau shore excursions.
However, Alaska weather is as unpredictable as wildlife sightings. Though the temperatures in July are typically in the 60s, the high can reach the 80s.
Because of this, you shouldn’t be too concerned about the weather.
Use my Alaska cruise packing list to prepare and you will have a great time!
How Much is Whale Watching in Juneau, Alaska?
You may have sticker shock when you look at the price of booking a private Juneau whale-watching tour. However, it may not be as expensive as you think, especially if you are traveling with a group and can split the cost.
Whale watching tours are not cheap, but they are totally worth the money.
Tours can range from $150 to $2000.
The price depends on several factors, including the length of the tour, the number of people on the tour, and other included services, such as a land tour or a salmon bake.
Booking your Juneau Whale Watching Tour
My Holland America Alaska cruise offered many excursion opportunities; however, you can book through locally operated tour companies, which oftentimes offer better deals, and they are the exact tours the cruise ships use.
I researched so many Juneau whale watching tour operators in search of my Juneau whale watching tour, and I’ve listed my favorite ones for you below.
I can say, the whale watching excursions are popular, so I recommend you book in advance, especially since many cruise ships are not in the Juneau port for very long.
You don’t want to spend your limited time in port making arrangements.
If your cruise ship docks in Juneau mid-morning, pre-arrange a whale-watching tour for an early afternoon departure.
This will give you plenty of time to walk around downtown Juneau, see some sights, and pick up some Alaska souvenirs.
My Juneau port guide will help you discover some of the city’s other great attractions.
Choosing a Juneau Whale Watching Tour
We opted for a private tour with fewer than ten people and it was worth every penny. With unobstructed views and a guide who knew exactly where to go, we spotted multiple humpbacks and even caught sight of a calf.
Juneau Tour Sizes
When you choose your Juneau whale-watching tour, consider how many people will be on board.
The smaller the tour, the more money you will pay; however, you will have a more personal experience that makes it worth the money.
You will definitely have a front-row seat to an amazing experience.
How Many Hours Should a Juneau Whale Watching Tour Last
Whale watching tours in Juneau, Alaska, typically range from 3 to 5 hours during the summer months. This duration is optimal because it allows enough time for the boat to reach areas where whales are likely to be seen while allowing you to enjoy the scenery and spot various wildlife.
Trust me when I tell you that you will want as much time on the water as possible to maximize your chance of seeing whales.
If you want to see other things in Juneau, definitely check out the tours I’ve shared below.
Whale Watching Tours from Downtown Juneau
The main cruise ship dock is in the town center, making this port very easy to navigate. The alternate cruise ship dock is a ten-minute shuttle ride to this area, and there are marked shuttle signs.
The whale watching tours make it very clear where they will meet you.
Most tour guides will wait at the end of the dock with signs for their tours once you disembark. You can’t miss them. Some will have you meet them at the Juneau Tram, which is easy to see from your cruise ship dock.
Juneau even has a dedicated parking lot for the tour vans to meet the cruise passengers. Just make sure you know the name of the tour you booked and have their phone number in case you need to contact them when you arrive.
What to Expect on a Juneau Whale Watching Trip
Once you meet your whale-watching tour group, you will most likely board a bus or shuttle van to take you to a separate harbor, where you will board your whale-watching boat.
The view as you leave the harbor is breathtaking. The majestic mountains are the backdrop to the floating boats, and it’s amazing.
You will definitely see some of the most spectacular views as you head out on your whale-watching excursion.
Be on the lookout for wildlife sightings.
We saw a harbor seal sunbathing on the dock while another swam in the marina’s water. We were also lucky enough to see two bald eagles perched on the sails of two ships.
Being a Texan, I rarely see these animals, so this trip was extra special from the beginning.
As for which whales you will see, that is unknown.
The Alaskan naturalist onboard our cruise ship said to think of a whale watching tour more as a whale waiting tour. The gist of his humor was to keep your expectations in check on the excursions. You are dealing with animals in the wild who are unpredictable.
You may envision whales breaching the water before your boat, but that is a rare occasion. I was lucky enough to witness hours of that on a Monterey Bay whale-watching tour, so you really never know what might happen, though.
You most likely will see sprays of water, fins, and tail flips.
You undoubtedly will have fun whale spotting with the members of your boat. The hours will fly by as you hopefully see many humpback whales. The whole boat will surely shout excitedly whenever someone sees a water spout.
As long as you have realistic expectations, your whale watching tour will be one of the highlights of your trip.
It’s important to note that whale watching tours must comply with whale watching regulations, which means there are rules they must follow about approaching whales. The respect for these giants’ natural habitat is incredible.
Juneau Whale Watching Tours
Now let’s get to the good stuff. Here are some of the best whale-watching and combination tours in Juneau.
Juneau’s Premier Whale Watching
My sister and brother-in-law chose this tour because they wanted as much time on the water as possible.
They met their guide in a designated spot and were shuttled to Auke Bay, a bay frequented by many named humpback whales.
The tour’s marina is located about twenty minutes away from downtown Juneau. Along the way, your guide tells you about the area and points out the Mendenhall Glacier and other notable parts of town.
A benefit of using this tour is having a naturalist on board, making it a more personalized experience. The tour takes out small groups and spends more time on the water.
With this tour, your time on the water is maximized.
The knowledgeable crew share insights about the whales and their behavior, making this an educational and exciting experience.
Compared to other whale watching tours in Juneau, this one offers excellent value for your money.
Juneau Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier
On one of our cruises, we paired our whale-watching adventure with a visit to Mendenhall Glacier.
Mendenhall Glacier is a giant wall of ice, and it’s just as cool as it sounds.
We paired this with our whale tour, and it was the perfect combo. The short trails are easy to walk, and you get amazing views. Bring a jacket, though—Alaska doesn’t care if it’s July. Standing near the glacier and hearing the ice crack was surreal.
It’s definitely an experience I will never forget.
This tour combines two of Juneau’s most popular attractions: Juneau whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier. The tours are available multiple times daily to accommodate all cruise schedules.
This combination tour means you’ll get to see both whales and a glacier view in one day instead of picking one or the other.
Expect a larger group size on this tour because it takes up to 50 people.
Juneau Tours Whale Watch and Tracy’s Crab Shack Combo
If you’ve heard about Juneau, then you have most likely heard of Tracy’s Crab Shack, home to giant crab legs.
This tour takes you on a 2-hour whale watching tour, which gives you just enough time to watch a few humpbacks feed and take in some amazing views.
Then, the tour takes you to Tracy’s Crab Shack – the best place in Alaska for King Crab Legs!
The size of these crab legs will amaze you.
Lunch includes those, as well as scrumptious crab cakes, breaded and fried and made with fresh crab meat from Alaska.
Finally, a steaming bowl of lobster bisque will top off lunch.
Good thing Tracy’s is a short walk back to the cruise ship!
Juneau Whales Kayak Adventure
This whale-watching adventure tour is for the true adventurist. It combines a one-and-a-half-hour boat trip with a one to two-hour kayak adventure to watch whales in their natural habitat.
The Paddle with Whales kayak experience occurs in the Channel Islands State Marine Park, where humpback whales are known to feed.
Your trip begins with a motorboat ride up the Inside Passage to the park. Along the way, you will see wildlife and enjoy the beautiful Southeast Alaska scenery from both your kayak and the motorboat.
Once you reach Channel Islands State Marine Park, you’ll have time for a snack before embarking on your kayaking expedition through the park’s waters. You’ll paddle around and look out for whales while enjoying views of mountains and islands off in the distance.
This kayak tour uses tandem kayaks and is suitable for all experience levels.
Grab your paddle and sense of adventure, and prepare for an awe-inspiring encounter with nature on the Juneau Paddle with Whales Kayak Adventure.
Get ready to paddle alongside these magnificent creatures as they gracefully navigate the fjords and channels of the Inside Passage.
Juneau Private Charter for Whale Watching
For a true luxury experience in Alaska, book a private whale watching charter with Jayleen’s Alaska like we did.
With a private charter, you can share the cost with others, making this a great tour for a group traveling together.
This is not an inexpensive tour but is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, so it is worth the splurge!
There are so many benefits to booking a private whale watching tour.
First, you will have the sole attention of the crew. This means not having to spend your precious time waiting for other people on the tour and more time on the water.
It also means they can point out wildlife and whales more easily.
The Alaskan guides can tell you the whales’ names based on the whale’s tail markings.
Can you imagine being on a first-name basis with a humpback?
Secondly, the boat is yours to roam. When you see a whale in the water, you won’t have to haggle for space on the rail hoping to get a picture or see a breach.
Finally, your trip is customized to maximize your time with whales.
We saw so many whales on our private charter I lost count.
A private whale watching tour in Juneau is the ultimate Alaskan adventure.
You will be in awe the first time you see and hear a whale spout or a tail flip. If you are lucky enough, you will have a whale breach in front of your boat.
It will be an experience you will talk about for years to come.
A Surprise Moment
You never know what might happen on a whale-watching trip. One exciting moment during the trip surprised us all.
As our guide took us to one of the many sites to spot more whales, hundreds of giant salmon suddenly began jumping around the boat. It was astonishing!
My video doesn’t do the experience justice. You can hear the excitement of everyone on board, though. Our guide said she had never before seen anything like it. Check out the video to see this amazing event.
Wildlife Photography
I am definitely not a wildlife photographer, although I would love to be.
It is difficult to capture the beauty of whales through a lens. You have to be quick to get a picture.
I finally decided to relax and enjoy the Alaskan beauty, the Juneau whale watching, and the wildlife viewing experience.
Although I didn’t get great photos, I didn’t miss a thing because I had my binoculars. You will want a pair of whale watching binoculars in Alaska.
Choose the Best Whale Watching in Juneau
After two cruises to Alaska and countless excursions, whale watching in Juneau still tops my list.
Whether you go for a private charter or a combo tour with Mendenhall Glacier, you’re in for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Don’t wait to book. These tours fill fast, especially during cruise season.
But why stop there? Alaska has so much more to offer. Consider exploring other Alaska cruise port destinations like Ketchikan for cultural experiences, Sitka for wildlife, and Victoria, BC for historical sites. Each port has something unique to offer, and together, they create an unforgettable Alaskan cruise experience.
No matter how you explore Alaska, you will have an amazing time in Juneau. You are in Alaska, after all!
Juneau Whale Watching FAQs
Estimated reading time: 16 minutes
Estimated reading time: 16 minutes
