Best of Juneau

Auke Bay Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier Tour with Salmon Bake in Juneau

4.7 / 5 | 146 Reviews Review This Tour

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Summary

Shore Excursion Size

Standard

Shore Excursion Type Water, Cuisine, Scenic

Shore Excursion Duration 6 Hours 15 Minutes

Activity Level

Easy

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 An authentic Alaskan salmon bake and buffet are included.

Recommended Dress For all Alaska tours, we recommend layers of clothing, with the top layer being water-proof. We also suggest comfortable walking shoes that may get wet.

Restrictions This tour is suitable for all ages. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Children ages 13 to 17 must have a signed parental consent form, if traveling without a parent or guardian. Although this tour is wheelchair accessible, guest will still have to take a few steps to board the bus and the boat.

Whale Watching, Salmon Bake and Mendenhall Glacier Tour

Come face to face with a glacier, marvel at a huge humpback whale leaping out of the water, and top this excitement off with a scrumptious meal featuring wild Alaskan salmon grilled over an alder wood fire on this Juneau excursion. You'll call this combination amazing. We call it the Best of Juneau.

Enjoy a narrated transfer to the spectacular ice wall of the Mendenhall Glacier and its adjacent Visitors Center in Juneau. Tour the grounds, snap photos, take in the interactive exhibits, and turn to a ranger who can satisfy your curiosity about the natural wonders of the Mendenhall.

From Mendenhall Glacier, you'll be transported to Auke Bay. There your captain and onboard naturalist will welcome you aboard our state of the art 48-passenger jet boat custom designed for Juneau whale watching with large windows, an outside viewing deck, and an amplified hydrophone system for listening to whales communicate underwater.

Juneau has a healthy humpback whale population, with some 65 whales returning each season to feed in the nutrient-rich waters, and your captain is well-versed in locating them. In fact, whale sightings are guaranteed! During this Juneau, Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier excursion, your captain will let you know when whales are spotted, but it's more likely you'll first be alerted by the collective chorus of "Oohhs!" and "Ahhhs!" from your fellow adventurers as they witness a giant humpback suddenly breach.

Binoculars are available for your use onboard throughout the Juneau excursion. Venture out on the deck to enjoy a panoramic view of your surroundings or to take a photo. Or, settle into your warm and comfortable interior to enjoy the scenery and wildlife sightings through the over-sized windows.

Following your cruise, you're off to the Gold Creek Salmon Bake. In a beautiful setting nestled in the rainforest, you'll be welcomed by the aroma of wild Alaskan salmon grilling over an open alder wood fire. The sumptuous spread has something for everyone, with a variety of Alaskan entrees, sides, and blueberry cake for dessert!

After your meal, roast marshmallows over a crackling campfire, visit the Salmon Creek Trading Post and stroll to the beautiful Salmon Creek waterfall. Take your time! The food, entertainment, activities, and ambiance make Gold Creek Salmon Bake an Alaskan experience that is much more than a meal. With frequent courtesy bus service, you can return at your leisure.

Please Note: The sequence of tour features may vary.

4.7 / 5 | 146 ReviewsReview This Tour

Whale watching and salmon bake

September 27, 2022

We went in early September and saw lots of whales from our boat. The salmon bake was delicious, all the food was good! Nice relaxing place to eat when we went it was not overcrowded. I would recommend!

Reviewer: Rhonda Drexler

Whales, Glacier and Salmon Bake

August 28, 2022

Our family experienced a truly enjoyable day on this excursion. The guides were knowledgeable and engaging, pointing out wildlife and Juneau facts along the way. The bright yellow school bus (which at first site had me concerned) was part of the great experience!

Reviewer: Penny Moore

Best of Juneau

July 17, 2022

The excursion was worth the cost of admission. We were picked up at the pier for whale watching. The captain and the nature guide were outstanding in their knowledge and appreciation of the whales and the water on which we were traveling. We saw many whales, and at one point in time, the captain needed to move away, as the whales were too close. A little later, he had to completely shut off the engine, as we were surrounded by humpbacks. The next stop was the Mendenhall Glacier. Most of the group went to the Park headquarters, and watched the video and viewed the exhibits. Some of us did the short walk to the waterfall at the base of the glacier. The last stop was the salmon bake, which was awesome. The salmon was cooked over an open fire, and served with a variety of sides. Beer was available for purchase, and there was a woman quietly playing her guitar and singing, adding to the beautiful evening. When we were done, the tour took us back to the ship in plenty of time.

Reviewer: Scott Jensen

Best Of Juneau

July 12, 2022

Absolutely loved our tour. My daughter and I were on a cruise and booked this early on. Tour guides were great on the boat and saw whales! We thought the salmon bake at the end was delicious and so much to eat.

Reviewer: Candace (Candy) Gesemyer

What a whale of a show!!

June 15, 2022

We saw 5 - 6 whales blow and dive getting pics of their tails as they went into a dive. Then a humpback whale threw up his entire back and tail, flapping at us 5 times before diving. Guides said they had never seen such a thing!!! Awesome!!!

Reviewer: Sharon Stokes

This was a great day!

June 09, 2022

The glacier visit was great, with plenty of time to explore and see everything before the whale tour. The tour we took was with Marina as the captain, and she was excellent! The crew was friendly, and made sure we got to see multiple whale sightings, and even a bear! The only disappointment of the day was the salmon bake. We were late getting there due to a delay with the whales, and they were almost closing up. However, they did cook fresh salmon on the outdoor grill, which was good, and the food was good. I think it would have been more enjoyable had it been earlier. All in all a great trip and I really enjoyed it.

Reviewer: Bobbie Turnbeaugh

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