Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and Ultimate Whale Watch Combo
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Juneau, USA
- 5 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Whale watching and visiting the Mendenhall Glacier are two of the most popular activities around Juneau — they're essential experiences for any local tourist that you won't want to miss. Check them both off your list on this half-day combo tour that includes flexible departure times and round-trip transportation from Mt. Roberts Tramway, making it ideal for a shore excursion or quick trip.
- Combine two Juneau experiences into one handy booking
- An ideal experience for nature-lovers
- Let someone else handle the driving so you can relax
- Try your luck spotting Humpback whales and other wildlife you won't forget in a hurry
What's Included
- Round-trip transportation between port and boat harbor
- 2-hour whale watching tour on 24-passenger jet boat or 49-passenger catamaran
- Heated cabin with wide viewing windows, spacious decks for whale watching, and bathrooms on board
- Informative professional driver guide during transfers
- Naturalist on whale tour
- Water and a light snack aboard the whale boat
- Bus transportation and entrance fees to park
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Mount Roberts Tramway490 S Franklin St, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
Juneau Tours & Whale Watch - Meeting location is the Mount Roberts Tramway. Our representatives will be wearing bright blue hats that say "Juneau Tours" and holding signs that say "Juneau Tours and Whale Watch."
End point
- 490 S Franklin St, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
This tour ends right where it began, under the cables of the Goldbelt Tram
Itinerary
Make your way to the Mt. Roberts Tramway by your selected check-in time. Meet your guide for an informative ride through Juneau en route to the boat harbor, where you will board a 24- or 49-passenger whale-watching boat, complete with a heated cabin, spacious deck, and wide windows well suited for wildlife watching.
With the help of your guide, spotting whales during your cruise is a breeze. The captain will announce a sighting and slow the boat so you can get that perfect photo from the deck, and an on-board naturalist can provide additional information and answer any of your questions about Alaskan wildlife.
Then, continue to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. Enjoy free time taking photos or walking down the hiking and nature trails, choosing a flexible departure time best suited to your schedule. A shuttle departs from the glacier to the Mt. Roberts Tramway every 30 minutes, making this tour well-suited for tight schedules.
Please note: Afternoon tours are reversed: The first stop is Mendenhall Glacier and includes and appointed pickup time, followed by a whale watching tour.
With the help of your guide, spotting whales during your cruise is a breeze. The captain will announce a sighting and slow the boat so you can get that perfect photo from the deck, and an on-board naturalist can provide additional information and answer any of your questions about Alaskan wildlife.
Then, continue to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. Enjoy free time taking photos or walking down the hiking and nature trails, choosing a flexible departure time best suited to your schedule. A shuttle departs from the glacier to the Mt. Roberts Tramway every 30 minutes, making this tour well-suited for tight schedules.
Please note: Afternoon tours are reversed: The first stop is Mendenhall Glacier and includes and appointed pickup time, followed by a whale watching tour.
1
Goldbelt Tram
2 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
2
Inside Passage
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
3
Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- Tour time is a check-in time; departure is within 15 to 30 minutes.
- The meeting place is under the cables in front of the Mt. Roberts Tramway.
- All ports or docks are within 10 minutes walking distances, except one - the A Dock - which provides a “Downtown” shuttle to the Mt. Roberts Tramway.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- At time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the name of their ship
- A moderate amount of walking is involved.
- No food is allowed at the Mendenhall Glacier.
- Tour operates in all weather conditions, so please dress appropriately in layers and for the likely chance of rain. It is recommended that you wear warm layered clothing, a waterproof jacket and comfortable slip-proof shoes
- Whale sightings are guaranteed between May 15th-September 15th.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 49 travelers
Supplied by
Frequently Asked Question (1)
Q:Is the Premier Whale Watch and Mendenhall Glacier Combo handicap accessible?
A:All guests must be able to board a bus (three steps) as well as the ramp to board the boat. Wheelchairs cannot be accommodated, however, guests with limited mobility can be accommodated.
May 2023
The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Laura_S
Captain Dustin, Nate, & Lauren were fantastic! They were very knowledgeable about whales & excellent at spotting them. We saw a LOT of whales. I highly recommend this tour when in Juneau. The glacier & waterfall were also incredible to see!
Reviews
4.7
based on 774 reviews
Sue_S, Mar 2026
We truly enjoyed the whale watching experience and visit to Mendenhall Glacier.
The weather was wonderful, views fantastic.
We did the whale watch first and then visited Mendenhall.
It was after hours when we arrived, so the visitor center was closed.
It was easy to walk to Nugget Falls and we basically had the entire area to ourselves.
Tracy_B, Mar 2026
Most amazing whale watching tour I have ever taken. We got to see a full breech right in front of our boat.
K_Y, Oct 2025
The guides and drivers themselves were fantastic. Very informative and friendly. The tours themselves - whale watching and visiting the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center was also fine.
However, this tour company oversold by several people and the check in process was sloppy. The line management and instructions were messy so multiple people ended up cutting. This was frustrating for those who had been waiting over 30 min just for people to walk up and cut because the tour employees gave bad instructions.
We also watched a family get kicked off a bus and told tough luck because the company accepted more bookings than they had spots for. This bus debacle caused the first delay by about 20 min.
Once we got to the marina for the whale watching tour, another delay. There was too many people on both boats departing. 15 more minutes. They had to figure out who they had to kick off and send on a bus elsewhere.
We saw no whales, but the guide on board was very informative. We knew chances were lower in October.
We got picked up on another bus and dropped off at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. We arrived just before 6pm, about 30 min from nightfall. We barely had any time in the daylight, which was disappointing.
Overall, if you book with this company, beware of our experience. We still made the best of it, but I would not book with them again based on how they operate.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We are very sorry about the delays. They were indeed our fault, however the tour wasn't oversold. Guests who booked a different tour were erroneously allowed on the whale watch bus (they still got their tour once we got them on the correct bus). Since it was the very end of season and days were so short, we understand it made the already limited daylight hours even precious. We have special boarding passes made so that errors like these wont happen- we have reviewed those procedure with our dock representatives so this won't happen again. If you find your self back in Juneau someday - please feel free to contact us directly so we can make it right by you!
Laura_S, Oct 2025
Captain Dustin, Nate, & Lauren were fantastic! They were very knowledgeable about whales & excellent at spotting them. We saw a LOT of whales. I highly recommend this tour when in Juneau. The glacier & waterfall were also incredible to see!
Vincent_L, Oct 2025
This was an amazing experience! Everyone from the bus drivers to the naturalists and captain were amazing and informative and added to the joy of our experience. Seeing orca made this an encounter of a lifetime!
Sue_E, Oct 2025
The crew on the boat was fun and full of jokes. These guys seemed to love their jobs. Found quote a few whales which was a surprise as it was late in the season. Drivers on the busses were great with lots of stories and information about the area. The hike to the waterfall at the glacier was a good chance to stretch ones legs in spite of the rain. Great trip overall.
Rosemary_T, Sep 2025
I purchased the Whale Watching and Mendenhall Combo Tour. The whale watching was amazing and our crew was awesome. The views at the Glacier were incredible, but there’s not an actual tour or guide. The path to the falls was flooded so honestly could have been less time spent there.
Keith_S, Sep 2025
Very friendly and knowledgeable crew. Saw 10+ whales. And bus driver Mel was also super friendly and hilarious.
Lewis_R, Sep 2025
Really enjoyed this tour. Got to see quite a few whales and spent and adequate amount of time exploring Mendenhall Glacier and the trails around it.
Heather_S, Sep 2025
Crew was great! Had an amazing experience. We saw a few orca whales and a humpback whale that is known to the area named Kelp.
dianaford, Sep 2025
Fantastic trip and great informative staff on boat. Carrie in particular was fab.
Also had Connor and Dustin
Jan_F, Sep 2025
Very organised and friendly staff. We learnt a lot about whales and saw many. The glacier and walk to the falls incredible. Great tips from Will the driver.
Diane_W, Sep 2025
Excellent all the way through ! The drivers were great, boat was clean and easy to spot whales from, and boy did we see whales!!! The glacier experience was breathtaking!
Daryl_T, Sep 2025
Saw several humpbacks and a few seals on a bout. It was fun to see the whales. The glacier tour and nugget falls was exceptional enjoyed. God’s glorious creation was incredible. Highly recommend this tour. 5 stars!
Kendra_D, Sep 2025
Excellent tour. Whale watching and Glacier combo allowed enough time for each activity. This tour offers more time at Meddenhall Glacier than any other company I researched. This allowed for enough time to walk to nugget falls, get pictures, visit the visitor center and make it to the pick up spot with time to spare. Drivers on both tours were organized and friendly. I would recommend this tour.
Michelle_M, Sep 2025
We had great guides on this tour! We saw almost 30 orcas & a 15 yr old humpback. We had beautiful weather! We had about an hour and 15 minutes at Mendehall Glacier. Plenty of time to hike to Nugget Falls at a relaxed pace. Would definitely recommend this trip!
Biplab_k, Aug 2025
It is good. Vety good in terms of seeing whales. Very knowledgable also. Guides are helpful. Pricewise not bad.
Amy_W, Aug 2025
From the bus drivers to the whale guides everyone was excellent! We saw multiple whales and the guides were very knowledgeable and friendly!
Michael_S, Aug 2025
We had a great experience with both the captain Calvin and the naturalist Haylee. We spotted a orca right in the harbor and then about 6-8 additional whales during our 2 hour trip. I was hesitant about the cost but in the end we both said it was the best part of our Alaska trip. The Mendenhall glacier was very impressive including the falls. Recommend it highly.
Francisco_F, Aug 2025
The whole staff bring great joy and life to the tour. Saw several whales. From the meeting point to the drop off, great abd enjoyable experience. No wonder these folks have thousands of 5 stars!
Michelle_M, Aug 2025
The naturalist and the captain were amazing on our trip! We saw two different pods of whales. They worked hard to find the perfect spot for us to view whales.
Jackie_T, Aug 2025
Mary (bus 51), Chelsie, Gracie,Noah, and Captain Chris were all so friendly, knowledgeable, and funny. They helped make the experience fun and memorable. Whale watching was so cool! And the Mendenhall Glacier and nugget falls was a must see!
Randall_C, Aug 2025
What an amazing trip with Captain Dustin, Haylee, and Jimmy! They were so knowledgeable. We saw a pod of Orca whales🐳 (which we were informed is very rare), several other pods of humpback whales🐋, and even a mommy and calf 🤩 The rain held off making our trip even more wonderful. Our bus driver, Will, was also informative and made the journey enjoyable to the boat. We loved the view of Mendenhall Glacier and the hike to Nugget Falls. All in all an amazing excursion. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
AmyBarker, Aug 2025
Whale watching so amazing! The whole family really enjoyed it! Unfortunately, it was a foggy day so the glacier wasn’t super visible. Was still a nice short hike to Nugget Falls and a great short educational video at the visitor center. I would do it again!
Julia_G, Aug 2025
The glacier was spectacular and the trails well maintained. What beautiful country! Our shuttle driver, Mary, left us however. Did not even do a seat count to check if we were on the shuttle home. Thankfully, the touring company was awesome and they got us in a return shuttle within 15min.
Karen_T, Aug 2025
The whale watch is hit or miss, but the boat naturalists were interesting and the captain was competent. Barely saw a couple of tails at a distance. Mendenhall Glacier was great to see and the bus driver Mary was great with constant area commentary.
Jenni_C, Aug 2025
We had an amazing experience With friendly and knowledgeable staff. We were able to see many whales, including a mom and calf very close so that even my daughter, who is legally blind, was able to see them. It was the experience of a lifetime!
Jason_P, Aug 2025
My wife and I and two other couples loved this excursion! Jason was a great driver on the way to the boat (and back) and gave tons of info on the city of Juneau and the glacier. We saw several bald eagles on the drives. The whale watching was great, as we were able to see multiple whales, porpoises, and sea lions. Owen, Brock and Ethan were very knowledgeable and friendly. Great view of the glacier from the boat too! Speaking of the glacier, I would highly recommend the visitor center visit with its spectacular views and the short hike to the waterfall. 10/10 on this overall experience!
Cara_W, Aug 2025
Whales, sea lions, porpoises, salmon, and porcupines. This had them all with breath taking views and a waterfall. 10/10 would do again. Owen, Brock, Ethan and Jason were amazing!!!!
Guangming_X, Aug 2025
It is so amazing to see whales playing and jumping, and we get enough time to hike the trail to see the glacier and Nugget fall up close. Great tour company, highly recommend
From $199.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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