Best of Icy Strait and Juneau Two Port Package

2 Port Package

4.8 / 5 | 489 Reviews

This package includes: Exclusive Wildlife and Bear Search, and Whales and Mendenhall Glacier

Price: $498.00 Sale Price: $473.00 Save: $25.00

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Exclusive Wildlife and Bear Search

Shore Excursion Size

Small

Shore Excursion Type Eco, Nature

Shore Excursion Duration 4 Hours

Activity Level

Easy

Shore Excursion Leaves From

An approximate 15 to 40-minute walk, or an approximate 3-minute gondola ride is required to reach your departure location depending on where your ship is docked. Full details will be provided in your electronic ticket upon confirmation.

Food/Beverage Provided Not Included

Recommended Dress For all tours in Alaska, we recommend wearing layers with the top layer being waterproof. Sensible waterproof walking or hiking shoes are suggested.

Restrictions Guests must be able to walk over paved, gravel, and packed dirt surfaces, some of which are at an incline. A collapsible wheelchair can be accommodated with advanced notice at the time of booking. Due to the remote environment, the bathroom facilities are limited and there is one restroom break provided in the middle of the tour for guests. Please take this into consideration when booking this tour.

Exclusive Wildlife and Bear Search

Discover the wild beauty of Chichagof Island, often called "Bear Island" by National Geographic for having one of the highest concentrations of brown bears in the world. This small-group wildlife adventure offers a more personal, flexible, and comfortable way to experience Alaska's wilderness.

Your journey begins in Hoonah, where you'll meet your local guide, someone who knows the land, wildlife patterns, and hidden corners of the island firsthand. Traveling in a comfortable van with a small group, you'll enjoy a relaxed pace, better visibility, and access to quieter areas that larger vehicles cannot reach. Unlike fixed-itinerary tours, your guide will adjust the route throughout the experience based on real-time bear activity, feeding patterns, and conditions, giving you the best possible opportunity to encounter brown bears in their natural habitat.

What truly sets this experience apart is your guide's local knowledge and storytelling. Along the way, you'll hear insights about the island's wildlife, the surrounding landscape, and the traditions of the Tlingit people, adding depth and meaning to each stop while keeping the experience engaging and easy to follow.

As you explore, you'll travel through old-growth forests, open muskegs, and scenic coastal areas, with opportunities to step out, take photos, and enjoy the surroundings without feeling rushed. In addition to brown bears, keep an eye out for bald eagles, Sitka black-tailed deer, otters, mink, marten, beavers, and seabirds.

This experience is perfect for those looking for a well-paced, guided introduction to Alaska's wildlife, offering a balance of comfort, exploration, and meaningful local insight in a smaller group setting.

Please note: Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed. However, this tour can re-position quickly, and there is a much higher chance of sightings than with the slow-moving, large tour groups. Due to the remote environment, the bathroom facilities are limited, and there is one restroom break provided in the middle of the tour for guests. Please consider this when booking this tour.

Whales and Mendenhall Glacier

Shore Excursion Size

Standard

Shore Excursion Type Eco, Nature

Shore Excursion Duration 4 Hours

Activity Level

Moderate

Shore Excursion Leaves From

An approximately 5 to 25 minute walk, or an approximately 5 minute shuttle ride (not included, approximately $5 US per person) is required to reach your departure location.

Food/Beverage Provided A local snack and coffee are included.

Recommended Dress For all tours in Alaska, we recommend dressing in layers with the top layer being waterproof. Participants should dress in warm layers appropriate for changing weather conditions and temperatures, and comfortable waterproofed walking shoes.

Restrictions Guests must be able to navigate a ramp that leads to a floating dock to access the boat. Due to dramatic tidal changes, this ramp may be steep. Folding wheelchairs are permitted on this tour, but must be stored at the office while on the boat. Walking at the visitors center includes some steps and inclines. Guests 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult of 18 or older.

Juneau Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour

Spectacular whales and the Mendenhall Glacier; All in a half-day Juneau excursion on a boat holding a maximum of only 40 guests. Whale viewing is guaranteed.

Your Juneau excursion adventure begins with a short drive to a scenic harbor. Here, you will board a mammal-friendly jet boat equipped with water jet drives to ensure a quiet underwater operation without dangerous propellers that may frighten or harm the animals. The boats have an enclosed and heated cabin, complete with indoor plumbing. In addition, the boat only holds a maximum of 40 guests. There are large viewing windows and an outdoor viewing deck, providing an up-close and personal experience while you observe and photograph the animals in their natural surroundings.

On this Juneau excursion, you will be on the boat for approximately two hours in an area that the whales frequent every summer.

Returning to land, you will travel further into the valley to see the only "drive up" glacier in Southeast Alaska. Once you arrive at the Visitor's Center (entrance included), you will have approximately 45 minutes to explore on your own. Enjoy an elevated view of the glacier across the Mendenhall Lake, see the exhibits, or watch a short film about the Juneau Ice Fields. For those guests feeling more adventurous during this Juneau excursion, there are several hiking paths around the lake area, including Photo Point Trail, which winds along Mendenhall Lake to an unobstructed view of the glacier face. At the appointed time, meet your guide for the trip back to town.