Whale Tails and Rainforest Trails

(c) Reinhard Pantke. All rights reserved.

(c) Brian Adams. All rights reserved.

Juneau's Finest Treasures

This tour is sold out for 2024

Your Juneau-based outdoor adventure begins with a hike through Alaska rainforests in Tongass National Forest followed by your own private, naturalist-guided exploration of Mendenhall Glacier.  Continue to Auke Bay to board your exclusive, private whale-watching cruise for some of the best and most reliable whale watching available in Alaska. Don’t forget to bring your camera

Your cruise excursion adventure begins here...

Day 1

Juneau is a spectacular place of diverse, natural habitats from valley glaciers, to temperate forests and natural fjords. This fully guided exploratory journey introduces you to this pristine wilderness in an intimate setting with a Certified Naturalist Guide as your leader. Whale sightings are guaranteed on this small group outing combining a marine exploration with a gentle hike at the Mendenhall Glacier on a rain forest trail.

Your trip begins with your guide sharing stories and perspectives as you travel out to the Mendenhall Glacier. A short hike takes you along a wooded path once completely covered by the massive glacier. Spend an hour exploring amid forested moraines and sweeping glacial landscapes—even track the glacier’s recession over the past 100 years. This small corner of the Tongass National Forest is home to beavers, eagles, salmon, porcupines and black bears.

Following a short drive, you will climb aboard an exploration vessel specifically designed for up-close wildlife viewing. The customized covered watercraft puts you eye-to-eye with the denizens that thrive in these protected waters. Humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, porpoises, seals and sea birds are commonly seen. Keep a camera handy as you travel from place to place or drift quietly to capture the behaviors and antics of these notable marine residents. The small group size of this tour ensures a personal and interactive atmosphere making the most of this authentic Alaska experience.

(c) Reinhard Pantke. All rights reserved.

Amenities, nearby adventures and more...

  • Services of professional naturalist/guide
  • Roundtrip private transportation from cruise ship terminal
  • Approximately 1.25-hour private guided hike
  • Approximately 2.25 hours of whale watching on a private vessel

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Great and very professional organization to work with. Communication went very smoothly; every email we sent and every question we asked was answered right away. Alaska Private Touring provided us with a custom itinerary that included all our requests and preferences (wildlife spotting, glacier viewing, ...). Thanks to Alaska Private Touring we... Read more  

Deborah Custers