Mendenhall Glacier Trek

Fantastic experience. Our guide Caroline was great. she was well informed on history of glacier, and the surrounding area including the landscape. Without her as our guide it is unlikely that we would have made to lake adjacent to glacier as trail was not marked or obvious. Great day!

This was our favorite shore excursion of the entire trip and we highly recommend it. The outfit was professional. The guide was amazing. In addition to tailoring the pace to our group, she educated us about the flora and fauna and life in Alaska along the way. You also get to see firsthand the glacier changes over the years. It was infinitely more satisfying than the other excursions if you are fit enough for a 7+ mile hike. Our group were ages 58, 60, and 65, but we were very fit and hiked frequently prior to embarking on the cruise.

A unique and challenging experience with guides who were funny, patient, passionate about their work and about teaching us, and who always made safety a priority. I had a wonderful time!

Was really glad to have picked this excursion. Superb guides. Went above and beyond. Really made it special and made me want to tell everyone (though this 9+ mile trip is not for everyone).

Our group of 4 love this trip.

This was an amazing experience! The guides were personable, fun, knowledgeable, and just plain awesome (thanks Jacques!) I was very nervous going on this hike because I am not super active (I work in banking and exercise a few times a week) and am not in the best shape. It was strenuous but doable. The longest hike I’ve ever done was maybe 5 miles so this was longer and tougher but worth it! The pace was pretty quick for my short legs but I was able to keep up. I would recommend bringing bug spray - the hike in the forest is warm and the mosquitoes are huge! Dress in layers! We went in late May and it was quite warm in the forest and chilly on the glacier. Bring extra water - we drank an extra liter between my husband and I. Overall, this was a once in a lifetime experience and I highly recommend it - was it challenging? Yes! Was every second worth it? YES!!

What a great trip! The trek through the forest was an adventure in itself. Lots to see and enjoy but the views of the glacier were magnificent. And finally walking on the “river of ice” was a memory that will last a lifetime! Our two guides, Josh and JC constantly went out of their way to ensure our safety and at the same time made sure we saw all the sites. With all this beauty came a fairly strenuous hike with lots of ups and downs, crossing exposed bedrock. Good boots are a must. As a 72 year old male who is in decent shape, I did struggle at times. The real pain came the day after. I had done a lots of walking prior to the trek but neglected to condition my quads. Yes, there is lots of downhills on the return trip. Going down stairs was a challenge for a few days. Would I do it again, you bet. As the glaciers continue to decline, this was a trip of a lifetime for me.

The hike was nice and I would say not to hard if you used to do a lot of sport. But there where still some people in the group which where a bit slower. But anyways, we had a lot of fun and the pictures you can take on the glacier are amazing!

Excellent Hike, Excellent Guide, Great Value.

Just amazing! The hike is at an aggressive pace, on difficult terrain with steep ups and downs on wet sometimes slippery surfaces, jumping on rocks to cross streams, some rock climbing, and rain is typical. But it is a great workout, and the glacier is spectacular! Despite slipping a couple of times, and having a little difficulty sometimes with foot placement (short legs), I would want to do it again! My pack was a bit large for me and did not have chest straps, so at times it was a bit awkward. Definitely need to have a decent level of fitness, especially if older. For reference, 58 years old, 5'1", run 30-40 miles a week including some groomed trails, a little hiking on groomed trails, yoga with weights couple times a week. Ran a half marathon on Saturday before the Sunday cruise departure and this hike on a Wednesday.

Had been looking forward to this long trek for months and the guides did not let us down. We hiked in the rain all day but had so much fun and enjoyed some breathtaking scenery. The conditions were also ripe for an ice cave jaunt!