Juneau, Alaska Shore Excursions: 7 Independent Operators Compared

Quick picks

Lowest price Juneau Whale Watch $65 per person for Mendenhall Glacier Shuttle Tour
Private trip Harv and Marv's Outback Alaska $1,150 per group for Private Whale Watching Charters in Juneau
Smallest groups Harv and Marv's Outback Alaska Up to 6 guests
Easiest to cancel Juneau Whale Watch Full refund up to 24 hours before departure; no refund within 24 hours.
Back to the ship Wings Airways Back-on-Time Guarantee; tours scheduled with ship schedules in mind

Will it fit your day in Juneau?

Put in your ship's arrival and all-aboard times from your cruise planner. Each tour is checked against the time you have, minus the buffer you choose for getting off the ship and back to the pier.

Juneau Whale Watch: Mendenhall Glacier Shuttle Tour3 hrs
Juneau Whale Watch: Juneau Whale Watching3 hrs (about 2 hrs on the water)
Harv and Marv's Outback Alaska: Premier Catamaran Whale Watch4 hours (about 1 hour round-trip transfer, 3 hours on the water)
Harv and Marv's Outback Alaska: Marv's Signature Whale Watch4 hours (about 1 hour round-trip transfer, about 3 hours whale watching)
Juneau Whale Watch: Juneau Whale Watch & Mendenhall Glacier5 hrs
Above & Beyond Alaska: Mendenhall Glacier Guided Hike6 hours
Harv and Marv's Outback Alaska: Harv's Original Small-Boat Whale Watching Tour4 hours
Above & Beyond Alaska: Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle & Hike5.5 hours
Wings Airways: 5-Glacier Seaplane ExplorationAbout 1 hour 15 minutes check-in to return; 40 minutes flight time
Coastal Helicopters: Juneau Glacier Helicopter Tour | Herbert Glacier Icefield Excursion2 hours 35 minutes total; about 25 minutes flightseeing and 35-40 minutes on the glacier
Above & Beyond Alaska: Paddle with Whales Kayak Adventure6 hours
TEMSCO Helicopters: Mendenhall Glacier and Guided Walk by Helicopter2 hours 15 minutes including transfers; about 30 minutes flying and 20-25 minutes on the glacier
Wings Airways: Taku Lodge Feast & 5-Glacier Seaplane DiscoveryAbout 3.5 hours check-in to return, about 2 hours at the lodge
Coastal Helicopters: Juneau Dog Sledding Tour3 hours
TEMSCO Helicopters: Dog Sledding on Mendenhall Glacier by Helicopter2 hours 45 minutes including transfers; about 30 minutes flying and about 1 hour at camp with 20-25 minutes mushing
Coastal Helicopters: Dog Sled Tour with Additional Glacier Landing3.5 hours
Harv and Marv's Outback Alaska: Private Whale Watching Charters in Juneau4 hours
Alaska Icefield Expeditions: Juneau Glacier Dog Sledding & Helicopter Tour2 hours 45 minutes; about 30 minutes flight time and about 60 minutes on the glacier

Example times are filled in. Your cruise line's daily planner has the real ones, and a tender port needs more buffer.

Every option side by side

Operator	What you get	From	Length	Group	Min age	Back-to-ship	Cancellation	Book
Juneau Whale Watch	Mendenhall Glacier Shuttle TourIncludes Narrated tour, Mendenhall Glacier and Visitor Center stop	$65 per person	3 hrs			Not stated	Full refund up to 24 hours before departure; no refund within 24 hours.	Check dates
Juneau Whale Watch	Juneau Whale WatchingIncludes Coach bus from downtown, Light snack and refreshments, Heated enclosed cabin	$155 per person	3 hrs (about 2 hrs on the water)			Not stated	Full refund up to 24 hours before departure; no refund within 24 hours.	Check dates
Harv and Marv's Outback Alaska	Premier Catamaran Whale WatchIncludes Round-trip transfer, 3 hours whale watching and sightseeing, Mendenhall Glacier stop from the water, Bathroom breaks	$159 per person	4 hours (about 1 hour round-trip transfer, 3 hours on the water)	up to 49 guests	All ages	Not stated		Check dates
Harv and Marv's Outback Alaska	Marv's Signature Whale WatchIncludes Whale watching and sightseeing cruise, Mendenhall Glacier view stop from the water (weather dependent), Bathroom breaks, Courtesy shuttle	$179 per adult	4 hours (about 1 hour round-trip transfer, about 3 hours whale watching)	up to 18 guests	All ages	Not stated		Check dates
Juneau Whale Watch	Juneau Whale Watch & Mendenhall GlacierIncludes Mendenhall Glacier stop, Naturalist aboard, Snacks and water, Binoculars, Onboard bathroom	$199 per person	5 hrs			Not stated	Full refund up to 24 hours before departure; no refund within 24 hours.	Check dates
Above & Beyond Alaska	Mendenhall Glacier Guided HikeIncludes Guides, Round-trip van transport, Forest Service permits, Rain gear and backpack, Snack, Souvenir water bottle, Trekking poles if needed	$209 per person	6 hours			No formal guarantee; they work closely with cruise passengers to ensure timely returns to the ship	Full refund 72+ hours out; non-refundable within 72 hours; full refund if a cruise schedule change prevents rescheduling.	Check dates
Harv and Marv's Outback Alaska	Harv's Original Small-Boat Whale Watching TourIncludes Whale watching on a 6-passenger boat, Glacier view stop from the water	$210 per person	4 hours	up to 6 guests	All ages	Not stated		Check dates
Above & Beyond Alaska	Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle & HikeIncludes Guides, Round-trip van transport, Paddling and glacier gear, Forest Service permits, Rain gear and dry bag, Snacks, Souvenir water bottle, Helmet and trekking poles	$349 per person	5.5 hours	8- or 12-person canoes with 1 or 2 guides		No formal guarantee; they work closely with cruise passengers to ensure timely returns to the ship	Full refund 72+ hours out; non-refundable within 72 hours; full refund if a cruise schedule change prevents rescheduling.	Check dates
Wings Airways	5-Glacier Seaplane ExplorationIncludes Narrated flight over Norris, Taku, Hole-in-the-Wall, East Twin and West Twin glaciers, Guaranteed window seat	$370 per adult	About 1 hour 15 minutes check-in to return; 40 minutes flight time	10-passenger de Havilland Otter, window seat for every guest		Back-on-Time Guarantee; tours scheduled with ship schedules in mind		Check dates
Coastal Helicopters	Juneau Glacier Helicopter Tour \| Herbert Glacier Icefield ExcursionIncludes Round-trip ground transportation from downtown Juneau, Helicopter flightseeing, Landing on Herbert Glacier, Guided glacier walk	$429 per person	2 hours 35 minutes total; about 25 minutes flightseeing and 35-40 minutes on the glacier	up to 6 standard passengers per helicopter	All ages; no lap children	Not stated		Check dates
Above & Beyond Alaska	Paddle with Whales Kayak AdventureIncludes Guides and boat captain, Round-trip van and water taxi, State Marine Park permits, Double kayaks and gear, Rain gear, Snacks, Souvenir water bottle	$449 per person	6 hours	Small group; 6-passenger motorboat	8+ public tours (7+ private); must be able to swim	No formal guarantee; full refund if the ship is delayed or the port call is cancelled		Check dates
TEMSCO Helicopters	Mendenhall Glacier and Guided Walk by HelicopterIncludes Transfer to the heli-base, Glacier boots, Safety briefing, Helicopter flight, Guided glacier walk	$449 per person	2 hours 15 minutes including transfers; about 30 minutes flying and 20-25 minutes on the glacier		All ages	Not stated		Check dates
Wings Airways	Taku Lodge Feast & 5-Glacier Seaplane DiscoveryIncludes Five-glacier flightseeing, Landing at Taku Glacier Lodge, Alderwood-grilled wild salmon meal (chicken alternative), Sides, dessert and non-alcoholic drinks, Forest trails	$510 per adult	About 3.5 hours check-in to return, about 2 hours at the lodge			Back-on-Time Guarantee listed		Check dates
Coastal Helicopters	Juneau Dog Sledding TourIncludes Helicopter flight to the glacier dog camp, Dog sledding	$709 per person	3 hours		All ages	Not stated		Check dates
TEMSCO Helicopters	Dog Sledding on Mendenhall Glacier by HelicopterIncludes Glacier boots, Safety briefing, Narrated helicopter flight, Dog sled ride (guests take turns steering), Puppy time	$759 per person	2 hours 45 minutes including transfers; about 30 minutes flying and about 1 hour at camp with 20-25 minutes mushing		All ages; 12 and under with a parent or guardian; 13-17 need consent form	Not stated		Check dates
Coastal Helicopters	Dog Sled Tour with Additional Glacier LandingIncludes Dog camp experience, Walk on the lower Herbert Glacier	$839 per person	3.5 hours		All ages	Not stated		Check dates
Harv and Marv's Outback Alaska	Private Whale Watching Charters in JuneauIncludes Transportation, Whale watching, Mendenhall Glacier stop from the water	$1,150 per group	4 hours	1 to 49 guests	All ages	Not stated		Check dates
Alaska Icefield Expeditions	Juneau Glacier Dog Sledding & Helicopter TourIncludes Roundtrip transportation, Traction overboots, Restrooms at the helicopter base	Not listed	2 hours 45 minutes; about 30 minutes flight time and about 60 minutes on the glacier		Under 12 must fly with a parent or guardian	Not stated	Weather dependent at the operator's sole discretion; refund terms not stated.	Check dates

From each operator's own website, checked October 22, 2026. How we compare.

Downtown docks, the seawalk and the C Sign

Large ships berth at four downtown docks, which Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska's 2026 schedule and berth codes name as the A.J. Dock, Franklin Street Dock, Alaska Steam Dock and Cruise Ship Terminal. The borough's Docks and Harbors department owns two of them, sized for one ship up to 1,000 feet and one up to 1,100 feet, and the other two are private. Small cruise ships and yachts use the 800-foot Intermediate Vessel Float. On some days a ship anchors and tenders passengers in, which the schedule codes as anchored off the Cruise Ship Terminal.

The seawalk follows the docks into downtown and on to a life-size whale statue in Overstreet Park, according to Travel Juneau. The A.J. Dock is the long walk: Above & Beyond Alaska puts it about 20 minutes on foot from the C Sign, the downtown meeting spot between the Mount Roberts Tramway and the green Taku Smokeries building. That operator collects A.J. Dock guests at the dock itself when the ship arrives 30 minutes or less before the trip leaves.

Three operators gather guests at the foot of the tramway: Above & Beyond at the C Sign, Juneau Whale Watch at 492 S. Franklin Street, and Coastal Helicopters at the Goldbelt Tram Building, 490 S. Franklin. Wings Airways flies from the downtown seaplane base at Merchants Wharf, 2 Marine Way, which it describes as steps from the major docks. Alaska Icefield Expeditions picks up at the main cruise ship terminal, and TEMSCO gives its downtown meeting point in the booking confirmation.

Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau — Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

Afternoon calls, the 16,000 cap and Alaska time

Scheduled calls in 2026 ran from 6.5 hours to about 17, according to the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska schedule. Norwegian Bliss was listed from 7:00 am to 1:30 pm on June 2. Koningsdam and Voyager of the Seas had 9-hour afternoon calls in May, arriving at 1:30 pm and 1:00 pm and sailing at 10:30 pm and 10:00 pm. Eurodam opened the season on April 27, and the last call on the schedule was Norwegian Encore on October 6.

The 2026 season was the first under a daily passenger limit, 16,000 on most days and 12,000 on Saturdays, KTOO reported; the busiest days had seen up to 21,000. The borough and the cruise lines' trade group agreed the limit in June 2024 as a voluntary memorandum, the Juneau Empire reported. It counts lower-berth passengers, the borough's tourism director can approve exceptions, and both sides review it each year. A separate industry pact has limited Juneau to five ships a day since 2024.

Juneau keeps Alaska time, one hour behind Pacific time, and Travel Juneau's ship calendar runs on it. Operators pad both ends of the day. Above & Beyond Alaska wants guests back aboard at least 30 minutes before scheduled departure and sets pickups 30 minutes after docking, while Alaska Icefield Expeditions departs at least 50 minutes after a ship arrives. Coastal Helicopters cancels and fully refunds a booking that would run past all-aboard. If weather strands guests on the glacier after the ship sails, it says it will help them reach the next port.

Auke Bay boats, Herbert Glacier and Taku Lodge

Whale-watching boats leave from Auke Bay, a coach ride from downtown, so transfers eat into the time. Juneau Whale Watch's 3-hour trip costs $155 and spends about 2 hours on the water. Harv and Marv's 4-hour trips include about an hour on the road. Its prices follow boat size: $159 on a catamaran for up to 49, $179 for up to 18 and $210 on a six-passenger boat. Adding Mendenhall Glacier makes a longer day, such as Juneau Whale Watch's 5-hour combination at $199.

Flights cost more and take less time. Wings Airways' floatplane trip over five glaciers is $370 for a 40-minute flight, about 1 hour 15 minutes from check-in to return, and $510 with a salmon meal at Taku Glacier Lodge (about 3.5 hours). Helicopter landings with a guided glacier walk start at $429 with Coastal Helicopters, which spends 35 to 40 minutes on Herbert Glacier, and $449 with TEMSCO on the Mendenhall. Dog sledding at a glacier camp costs $709 to $839 with Coastal and $759 with TEMSCO.

Above & Beyond Alaska works the Mendenhall on foot and by water. Its 6-hour guided hike is $209 and its 5.5-hour canoe paddle and hike $349, with a 250-pound limit. The 6-hour Paddle with Whales kayak trip costs $449 for ages 8 and up. The lowest glacier price listed here is Juneau Whale Watch's 3-hour narrated shuttle tour at $65, with a stop at the visitor center. KTOO reported that the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center opened May 1 in 2026, 9 am to 6 pm daily.

Back-on-Time Guarantee, AJ Dock pickups and refunds

Wings Airways advertises a Back-on-Time Guarantee on its floatplane tours but does not spell out the terms. Above & Beyond Alaska offers no formal guarantee, though it says no client has ever missed a ship, and it refunds in full if a delay rules out the trip or the ship skips Juneau. Coastal Helicopters also refunds in full when the cruise line cancels, misses the port or arrives too late to rebook. Allen Marine's whale and glacier tour carries a guaranteed return but is sold only through cruise lines.

At Harv and Marv's, a seat on the six-passenger boat costs $51 more than one on the 49-seat catamaran. It also offers a money-back whale guarantee from May 15 to September 15. Coastal Helicopters sets fares by declared weight, from $429 to $858, with up to six standard passengers per helicopter. Above & Beyond's canoes hold 8 or 12 with one or two guides, and its guide gratuity is extra. TEMSCO's optional extra-space surcharge starts at 250 pounds, and it refunds the charge if the scale at the base shows less.

Cancellation windows run from one day to three. Juneau Whale Watch takes full payment at booking and refunds in full up to 24 hours before departure, with nothing back after that. Above & Beyond Alaska refunds in full 72 hours or more ahead, and also when a cruise schedule change leaves no way to rebook. Alaska Icefield Expeditions publishes neither prices nor refund terms and sends a quote after an availability request.

Watching from shore

Juneau seawalk to Overstreet Park. The seawalk runs beside the cruise docks into downtown and continues to a life-size whale statue in Overstreet Park, Travel Juneau says.

Before you book

Plan on rain. Above & Beyond Alaska hands out rain jackets, pants and boots, asks guests to skip cotton and denim, and suggests a warm hat and gloves near the glacier, where it can feel 15 degrees colder.
Helicopter fares depend on weight. Coastal Helicopters sets the fare tier from your weight fully clothed and checks it again when you arrive at its base.
Alaska Icefield Expeditions allows no bags on its aircraft and stores them at the heliport, so carry only what you can leave behind.
Downtown has public Wi-Fi during the cruise season, paid for out of the borough's marine passenger fees.

The operators

Juneau Whale Watch

from $65 per person

Mendenhall Glacier Shuttle Tour and 2 more options

Length: 3 hrs

No back-to-ship policy stated

Season April to September

Check dates All details

Harv and Marv's Outback Alaska

from $159 per person

Premier Catamaran Whale Watch and 3 more options

Length: 4 hours (about 1 hour round-trip transfer, 3 hours on the water)
Group: up to 49 guests
Age: All ages

No back-to-ship policy stated

Whale watching in Juneau since 2005

Check dates All details

Above & Beyond Alaska

from $209 per person

Mendenhall Glacier Guided Hike and 2 more options

Length: 6 hours

Back to ship: No formal guarantee; they work closely with cruise passengers to ensure timely returns to the ship

Also runs Pack Creek and Waterfall Creek brown bear viewing trips

Check dates All details

Wings Airways

from $370 per adult

5-Glacier Seaplane Exploration and 1 more option

Length: About 1 hour 15 minutes check-in to return; 40 minutes flight time
Group: 10-passenger de Havilland Otter, window seat for every guest

Back to ship: Back-on-Time Guarantee; tours scheduled with ship schedules in mind

Departs from the historic downtown seaplane base

Check dates All details

Coastal Helicopters

from $429 per person

Juneau Glacier Helicopter Tour | Herbert Glacier Icefield Excursion and 2 more options

Length: 2 hours 35 minutes total; about 25 minutes flightseeing and 35-40 minutes on the glacier
Group: up to 6 standard passengers per helicopter
Age: All ages; no lap children

No back-to-ship policy stated

Glacier tours run April 27 to October 1, 2026 (end date weather dependent)

Check dates All details

TEMSCO Helicopters

from $449 per person

Mendenhall Glacier and Guided Walk by Helicopter and 1 more option

Length: 2 hours 15 minutes including transfers; about 30 minutes flying and 20-25 minutes on the glacier
Age: All ages

No back-to-ship policy stated

Also operates in Skagway

Check dates All details

Alaska Icefield Expeditions

Price on request

Juneau Glacier Dog Sledding & Helicopter Tour

Length: 2 hours 45 minutes; about 30 minutes flight time and about 60 minutes on the glacier
Age: Under 12 must fly with a parent or guardian

No back-to-ship policy stated

Also operates from Skagway; sister company Gold Rush Dog Tours

Check dates All details

Head to head

Juneau Whale Watch vs Harv and Marv's Outback Alaska

More shore excursions in Alaska

Ketchikan, Alaska from $79
Skagway, Alaska from $70
Sitka, Alaska from $125
Icy Strait Point (Hoonah), Alaska from $120
Seward, Alaska (embarkation port) from $129
Haines, Alaska from $111
Whittier, Alaska (embarkation port) from $110

Sources

Prices and policies come from each operator's own pages, read on October 22, 2026. Seasons, rules and local details come from the pages below.