Top Juneau Shore Excursions

Visiting Juneau, Alaska, on a cruise is a mesmerizing journey into the heart of the Last Frontier. Alaska's capital city welcomes travelers with a unique blend of rugged wilderness and vibrant culture. Cruisers visiting the destination will be immersed in a world of adventure where opportunities for exploration abound. To help you plan your day in port, we’ve rounded up our picks of the top Juneau shore excursions. 

Following are eight of the most popular cruise excursions in Juneau. We’ve included highlights of each activity or tour and details of where you can book from Cruiseline.com’s trusted third-party partners at a great price. 

1. Whale Watching

Whale Watching is one of the most popular cruise excursions for visitors coming to Juneau. May to September is typically the best time to see whales in Alaska, with the peak months being June and July. Humpbacks, orcas, and other marine creatures migrate to the nutrient-rich waters of the Inside Passage to feed during the summer. This abundance of food attracts many whales, providing excellent opportunities for sightings during whale-watching excursions. 

Most whale-watching tours include an expert naturalist to guide the trip so guests can gain valuable insights into the behavior and biology of these magnificent creatures. Every sighting is a thrilling moment—have your camera ready! 

Following is a selection of whale-watching tours to check out:

• This 2-hour tour on a heated mammal-friendly jet boat is a fantastic option if you want to get up close to the action. This excursion is on a small 40-passenger boat, allowing for quick maneuverability and safe viewing of the wildlife. 
• If you are looking for a private whale-watching experience, the whale and island exploration tour is for you. This excursion is a private boat tour for up to 10 guests. During this 3-hour journey, you'll explore the islands and waterways around Juneau to spot the wildlife and take in the surrounding scenery. 
• Are you looking to see the wildlife from a larger boat? On this 3-hour whale-watching cruise, enjoy sightings of whales in their natural habitat as you sail in comfort on a larger custom-built heated boat with snacks and drinks.

2. Mendenhall Glacier 

Visiting the Mendenhall Glacier is an unforgettable experience that immerses cruisers in the breathtaking natural beauty of Alaska's wilderness. The glacier is known for its striking blue ice and dramatic ice caves, which form as the ice melts and reshapes over time. It is a popular tourist destination, with hiking, wildlife viewing, and exploration opportunities. Whether admiring the glacier from afar or venturing to get up close and personal, visiting the Mendenhall Glacier should be a must-do in Juneau. 

There are a variety of ways to check out the Mendenhall Glacier. You can opt for a tour of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to see the glacier, take pictures, and enjoy a short hike around the park. If you want to get even closer to the glacier, several hiking and kayaking tours should be considered. Here are some of our top picks for these glacier adventures: 

• Get up close and personal with the incredible Mendenhall Glacier from a kayak. This adventure on Mendenhall Lake will have you navigating through iceberg-studded waters with an expert guide. The tour journeys to the face of the glacier and explores beautiful Nugget Falls. No kayak experience is required. 
• Experience the beauty of Mendenhall Glacier on a thrilling raft float trip. This guided adventure will have you paddle across Mendenhall Lake and through short stretches of class-three rapids. 
• Want to hike on the glacier? You can with these carefully crafted glacier treks based on hiking ability. This tour helicopters guests from the Juneau Airfield, where you will first go on a 30-minute helicopter tour, land on the glacier, then embark on a 1-hour guided hike. Explore tours for Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 hiking ability. 

3. City Tour 

A guided tour of Juneau is a great way to see the city and learn about its history in a short amount of time. Most tours take visitors through Juneau's historic downtown and visit landmarks like the Alaska State Capitol, St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, and the Mount Roberts Tramway. 

This three-and-a-half-hour Juneau Highlights tour visits the Alaska State Museum, Douglas Island, the Macaulay Hatchery, and the Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure botanical garden. It caps the day off with local rock-fish tacos at Deckhand Dave's. 

4. Dog Sledding Adventures 

Dog sledding in Juneau - Photo by Canva

Dog sled adventures in Juneau offer an exhilarating glimpse into the tradition of mushing through Alaska's pristine wilderness. Many of these excursions include a helicopter tour where you will fly over the Icefield to reach the dog camp. When you arrive, a team of enthusiastic sled dogs eagerly greet cruisers. Get ready to be whisked away on a thrilling journey across snow-covered trails. 

Following is an excellent selection of dog sledding and helicopter adventures to consider: 

• This Helicopter, Glacier, and Dogsled Tour features a scenic helicopter tour over the Tongass National Forest and Juneau Icefield en route to the dog sled camp. Once you arrive, you will be greeted by your guide, a professional musher with years of experience in dog sledding in Alaska, who will lead you on a two-mile mush. Afterward, enjoy a full hour exploring the glacier before the helicopter returns for your flight back to base. 
• If you want a little less adventurous (but equally adorable) dog sledding experience, check out the Juneau Sled Dog Adventure. It includes a transfer from the cruise pier to a dog sled camp where you can greet the dogs and enjoy a mush on a one-mile trail. 

5. Salmon Bake 

Salmon bake excursions in Juneau are a delectable celebration of Alaska's culinary heritage and the bounty of the region’s pristine waters. The show's star is the wild-caught Alaskan salmon, seasoned with local flavors and cooked to perfection over an open flame. Salmon Bake excursions are perfect for culinary enthusiasts to sample the regional fare. 

The Gold Creek Salmon Bake at Salmon Creek Falls is a tasty option to check out. Enjoy Alaskan-caught wild salmon grilled over an open alder wood fire accompanied by folk music. If you want to add some sightseeing with your salmon, check out the Whale Watching and Salmon Bake Combo Tour, which combines a whale-watching boat tour with an all-you-can-eat salmon bake. 

6. Gold Panning and Mining 

Gold panning and mining tours in Juneau offer a fascinating journey into the heart of Alaska's gold rush history, allowing visitors to relive the excitement of the Klondike era. Guided by experts, participants learn the art of gold panning, sifting through riverbeds in search of precious nuggets just as prospectors did over a century ago.

Strike it big with this Juneau Historic Gold Panning and Mining Tour. This excursion explores the history of the Alaska-Juneau Mine and lessons on how to pan for gold. Another tour option is the Gold Panning and Gold Creek Salmon Bake, a 3-hour excursion that visits the Last Chance Basin to learn about the Gold Rush and then brings guests to Gold Creek Salmon Bake for a feast. 

7. Flightseeing Tour 

Flightseeing tours in Juneau offer a thrilling bird's-eye perspective of Alaska's breathtaking landscapes. These tours typically take place on a small aircraft or helicopter. Fly above the glaciers, fjords, and snow-capped peaks and enjoy the panoramic views of the Juneau Icefield and the Tongass National Forest. 

Following are some top flightseeing tours in Juneau to consider:

• This Helicopter Icefield Excursion tours the Juneau Icefield as it heads toward the Herbert, Taku, Lemon, or Norris Glacier. Depending on weather conditions, the pilot will choose the best glacier to touch down on so you can walk around and explore. 
• On the Five Glacier Flightseeing Adventure, you will spend 40 minutes aboard a seaplane to view the five majestic glaciers that make up the 1,500-square-mile Juneau Icefield.
• Those looking for the ultimate flightseeing day should check out the Taku Glacier Lodge Flight and Feast. This excursion includes a seaplane tour over the glaciers en route to the Taku Glacier Lodge. See the glacier up close and enjoy a Fresh, Wild Alaska Salmon feast. 

8. Goldbelt Tram 

The Goldbelt Tram is a great way to get a view from above of Juneau from Mount Roberts. The Tram access point is located south of downtown Juneau, just steps off the cruise ship dock. Enjoy a six-minute ascent on the tram up Mount Roberts for views at 1,800 feet above the sea. The top of the tram offers a gift shop, theatre, and restaurant. 

Learn more about the Goldbelt Tram here. 

Have a Whale of a Time! 

Whatever adventure you choose to do during your stop in Juneau, you can’t go wrong. The port offers something for travelers of all types, whether you want to sightsee or take part in extreme adventures. We hope you enjoy your visit! 

Explore All Juneau Shore Excursions

Want to plan a cruise to Juneau, Alaska? Explore All Cruises

Read Related:

Best Alaska Balcony Cruise Deals

Read Reviews of Juneau

See Member Photos of Juneau

Best Cruise Deals to Alaska

Are you looking to plan your next cruise? Use our Find a Cruise tool to search for voyages worldwide from various cruise lines. Want to keep an eye on the price of a particular cruise? Our FREE price alert will notify you when the price changes. You can also stay up-to-date on more cruise deals and special offers when you sign up for our Deals Email.