Home > Juneau > Juneau Shore Excursion: Mendenhall Glacier, Whale Watching and Salmon Bake
USD $209.00
Juneau Shore Excursion: Mendenhall Glacier, Whale Watching and Salmon Bake
Juneau, United States of America
While in port in Juneau, fill your day with the best Juneau has to offer. On this shore excursion, take a narrated tour of the ice wall at Mendenhall Glacier and soak up magnificent mountain views. From Auke Bay, board a boat with a naturalist guide to see humpback whales! Continue to a traditional Alaskan salmon bake for an all-you-can-eat buffet, and then witness a Tlingit Master Carver turn 10-foot-tall totem poles and silver jewelry into beautiful art. Return to port with lasting impressions of Alaska.
As Alaska’s capital city, Juneau has so much to offer. On this half-day shore excursion, your guide will lead you through three activities that will give you the best feel for Juneau: a Mendenhall Glacier viewing, humpback whale-watching experience and a traditional salmon bake buffet.
After pickup from your cruise ship port, take a narrated journey to the ice wall at Mendenhall Glacier with your informative guide. You’re sure to capture many stunning photos of the approximately 12-mile (19-km) long glacier.
Next, head to Auke Bay for your whale-watching tour aboard a 48-passenger sightseeing boat. Auke Bay is known for the dozens of whales that migrate there each year. The boat's extra-large windows, complimentary binoculars and exterior observation deck provide for an excellent whale-watching experience.
Finish your Juneau experience with an all-you-can-eat salmon bake, where you’ll enjoy a delicious meal including grilled salmon, cheechako chicken, Chilkoot baked beans, Tongass wild-rice pilaf, White Pass pasta, salads, beverages and a selection of side dishes. Top it off with delicious blueberry cake for dessert. Beer and wine are available for purchase.
You’ll also have the chance to watch Doug Chilton, a Tlingit Master Carver, and his son, work on two 10-foot-tall (3-meter-tall) cedar totem poles and silver jewelry. Hear about the legends and culture behind their ancestral traditions, and purchase unique works of art from the gift shop.
Then, sit back, relax and enjoy a scenic ride back to your cruise ship.
Worry-free Shore Excursion: We will ensure your timely return to the Juneau port for this activity. In the rare event your ship has departed, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of-call. If your ship is delayed and you are unable to attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See our terms and conditions for full details.
bus to the whale watch had no working p.a. system driver had to talk really loud luckily we did not have a full bus or we would have missed all the commentary. Bus was very old too. Boat for whale watching did his best to get us to the whales. Tourist should be told one rarely sees a whale breach . Did see spouts and rolling whales from afar. Bring binoculars and zoom lenses on your cameras. Boats have to stay away for the safety of the whales and people have to understand that. Not enough time to see movie and exhibits at the mendenhall glacier which is amazing.
Review by: Ricki W, August 2017
The Mendenhall Glacier stop was only an hour. It takes just about that much time to walk to the waterfalls so it that is what you want to do, you may want to consider a different tour that provides more time._br/_ Whale watching was terrific! The boat they use was designed specifically for this purpose and it was excellent. Our captain and naturalist were friendly and knowledgeable. Some of the whales are quite familiar to them and they have been named. Flame's fluke was beautiful. Some of the whales were quite a ways off and some were very close to the boat. The water was calm and the weather was fantastic on the day we cruised._br/_ The salmon bake was good. Being next to the stream where we could watch some of the salmon trying to swim upstream was cool. The cooks and the support staff were all friendly and helpful.
Review by: Charles F, August 2017
This was the highlight of our cruise in Alaska. We saw many humpback whales - even one that breached only about 100 yards from us. The glacier was impressive as well, and we thoroughly enjoyed the salmon bake to end our day!
Review by: Heather T, May 2017
Great whale watching. The boat was nice and the staff were knowledgeable and friendly. We were super lucky to see so many whales. The salmon bake was tasty but we were there at an odd time so we almost had the place to ourselves.
Review by: John S, September 2016
Yes we saw whales as promised but the Salmon bake was not much to write home about.If you missed glaciers on a cruise this is probably worth doing.
Review by: ko24fan, September 2016
Rained all day but didn't dampen the experience. If you want more time at Mendenhall Glacier, this is not your tour. Whale watching with Juneau Tours' Naturalist Tommy and Captain was awesome! They put us in the middle of 6 whales that put on a show. Full body breach 100 yards of the stern was the highlight! Salmon Bake was good.
Review by: ghcook1, September 2016
It was a great time. Well worth the money. Never been on a Duck Boat. Didn't see whale's per say, but crew was great. Salmon bake was out of this world. Wonderful set up plenty to eat. Great fun
Review by: Patrick J, August 2016
Mendenhall glacier and whale watching were awesome. Our driver was so relatable and informative. The salmon bake was just ok - could have skipped it.
Review by: Marvin E, August 2016
Outstanding tour. Our guide who drove us from event to event was informative and friendly. The whale watching was just amazing - we saw numerous whales and the ship and crew were fun and supportive. We had just enough time at the Mendenhall glacier - see it now, as it continues to recede and is considerably smaller than when I saw it 12 years ago. The salmon bake was first-class, and a great way to finish the tour. The food was great and the venue was inventive - they even had a fire for toasting marshmallows. Overall a great experience and I would recommend it to everyone.
Review by: John L, August 2016
What could be more majestic than seeing whales surface and breech. What a thrill! The guides were knowledgeable about the whales, the boat was stable and fast. The captain was sure that both sides of the boat got to see the whales and made an attempt to follow them. Mendenhall Glacier was great, just be aware that this tour will not get you on the glacier, just close to it. The salmon bake was enjoyable. Salmon baked over an open fire, great sides and live music while we were there._br/_ I highly recommend this tour.
Review by: Joy M, December 2015
Perfect day! Full day all three parts of this trip were great. Beautiful tour.
Review by: ruthanneschulte, August 2015
It really is too much to do in one day. When I asked, we had the glacier tour in the middle, but that isn't how it turned out. We went to the Mendenhall glacier first. I literally ran to Nugget falls, took a picture and ran back and the bus driver was angry that we were late. If we had done the whale watch first, we could have stayed longer at the glacier. I wasn't too impressed with the salmon bake. The food was good but it was raining, the tables were wet, and it was very cold. They had some outside heaters, but only one was working and everyone was crowed around that one.
Review by: Brian B, August 2015
This was a Tri-Fecta for our family. The glacier is amazing, the Whale watching was Great, we got very close to the whales, saw several. I ate 5 pieces of salmon at the all you can eat salmon bake, it was Super Amazing. This was a great all in one package, I highly recommend for children, parents and grandparents... We had a memorable experience..
Review by: jenniferthorne, July 2015
Amazing tour! Mendenhall was gorgeous, we saw humpback wales, orcas, bald eagles and sea lions on our whale watching tour, and the salmon bake was absolutely delicious! All of our tour guides were very friendly and knowledgable as well!
Review by: Marilyn B, July 2015
Everything well organized and a fabulous 3 stop tour. Got lucky with great weather and great day.
Review by: Robert D, December 2013
We booked this tour outside of the cruise line offerings, through Viator, and it was the right choice. Not only did it include 3 different activities, but we had our own separate transportation, 5 guests in a 12 passenger van, that gave us more flexibility with scheduling and more room. While my wife and I were a bit skeptical about whale watching, we had a great time! The Captain and his guide did a great job getting us in position to see multiple humpbacks, sea lions, and Orcas up close. We didn't go to the visitors' center at Mendanhall Glacier, but we did have time to walk the trail up to the waterfall and get a closer view of the glacier. While some folks were disappointed with the salmon bake, trying to compare it with the cruise menu, we took it for what it was; a quaint, relaxing, picnic-style atmosphere. The salmon was very good and there was a musician for entertainment. Overall we had a great time and would recommend this tour!
Review by: Marvell R, September 2013
We enjoyed the excursion everything went according to schedule
Review by: Judy T, August 2013
The glacier was fantastic. I wish we could have had a little more time to walk down to the falls area and get closer. The alternative whale watching that you got us on was very good. I was actually glad for the chance to be on it. Of course we don"t know what it would have been like if we had gotten on the boat we were scheduled for. But the girl doing the commentary and the captain were very experienced and showed us a great trip. I would highly recommend them to your tour in the future. Thanks for making the arrangement changes for us. Judy
Review by: kirsten p, July 2013
Our family was taking a cruise and I was a little skeptical booking an excursion not affiliated with the cruise line but wow what a great experience we had with our Juneau excursion and Viator! The whales, glacier, and salmon bake were top notch. If you are considering this excursion sign up now it is an experience you will never forget. Kirsten, Mississippi
Review by: chow, July 2013
GREAT Alaskan experience! However, if you are travelling on a cruise and this is a shore excursion for you, you may want to skip eating before partaking on this tour. The tour starts off with the Salmon Bake. The group does everything possible for the guests to see whales. _br/_
I would also suggest that the tour group do a better job in trying to direct guests that paid for the tour---because once off the ship, it is difficult to find where the tour group meets. The reason for 4 vs 5 stars is because the tour starts with the Bake (and no one tells you that) and it is confusing and difficult to find the tour group once off the ship---kind of nerve wrecking---no signs-lots of people
Review by: Iris S, July 2013
The tour to Mendenhall Glacier gave enough time to view the glacier and the visitor's center. The bus was small enough to be comfortable and not have to wait for lots of people to exit or return. The whale watching boat was comfortable and once again small enough so everyone got a chance to view the whales. The crew was very knowledgeable. We saw many whales, including one that came completely out of the water. This was wonderful. The salmon bake was nice but not my favorite part. Their bus driver was very knowledgeable. The only complaint would be not knowing you have to walk so far to get to the start of the tour. One member of our group had difficulty walking and having to rush to get there was not good. We had to ask multiple people where to meet the tour in the beginning.
Review by: Charlaine M, July 2013
We had a great time. The Salmon Bake was delicious and what a wonderful site. Mendenhall Glacier is a breath taking, we even saw a bear. But the best was the Whale Watching, we saw so may whales. The boat was new and the crew was just
Review by: Charlaine M, July 2013
This was the best excursion. The Salmon Bake was wonderful and the site was beautiful. Mendenhall Glacier Park was unbelievable, we even saw a bear and many birds. But the best was the Whale Watching. We saw many whales and sea life, the boat was new and fast, the crew was great. Would do this again!!!
Review by: Gary L, July 2013
All three activities were excellent. The glacier itself was pretty awesome, and the nearby tourist center explaining what you were looking at (free admission for those on this tour) was fascinating. We saw quite a few whales, although I wasn't able to get a great picture of a tail. This was mostly my fault because I just didn't point the camera in the right place at the right time. Beautiful scenery and lots to see. The salmon bake was unbelievable, both in food and in scenery. It is held in an area with running streams all around. Wonderful tour; recommend it highly.
Review by: Loie, October 2012
We truly enjoyed al aspects of this tour. The guides were exceptional and we did manage to see several whales. The salmon bake was amazing as was seeing the Mendenhall Glacier. I wish the weather had been less dreary but guess one expects that in September in Alaska!!
Review by: Loie, September 2012
We truly enjoyed al aspects of this tour. The guides were exceptional and we did manage to see several whales. The salmon bake was amazing as was seeing the Mendenhall Glacier. I wish the weather had been less dreary but guess one expects that in September in Alaska!!
Review by: Celina T, September 2012
The whale were not as close as we were hoping.
Review by: Wendy, July 2012
Great tour. There was miss communication between the local tour company and the bus company. At one point we had to walk and find the bus.
Review by: Aneesa K, July 2012
My biggest complaint is that we were told that the Salmon Bake was a "dinner buffet" so we made sure to eat lunch prior to the excursion. However, the very first stop was the salmon bake which we didn't really get to enjoy as much as we would have had we come with empty stomachs. The salmon isn't seasoned but they add a sugar glaze to it that can overwhelm the fish if too much is used.
Review by: nardcornish, June 2012
Went on this tour from our cruise ship and it was great to get to see all 3 things in one tour. Salmon bake was tasty, Whale watching was a lot of fun but Mendenhall glacier is the highlight. It really is wonderful
Review by: Patricia M, June 2012
We were very pleased with this "triple tour." Wish we had had more time at the Mendenhall Glacier - there was so much to see! The whale watching was outstanding - saw two pods of Orca whales plus eagles and sea lions. The salmon bake was delicious. All staff involved in each area of the tour were great. We had a wonderful time and highly recommend this tour.
Review by: Aneesa K, June 2012
My biggest complaint is that we were told that the Salmon Bake was a "dinner buffet" so we made sure to eat lunch prior to the excursion. However, the very first stop was the salmon bake which we didn't really get to enjoy as much as we would have had we come with empty stomachs. The salmon isn't seasoned but they add a sugar glaze to it that can overwhelm the fish if too much is used.
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