JUNEAU TOURS & WHALE WATCH Representatives are standing under the cables of the Goldbelt Tramway wearing bright blue hats and holding signs that say "Juneau Tours and Whale Watch."
Description
Your 3 hour whale watching adventure begins when you board a coach bus that departs downtown Juneau from the Mt. Roberts Tram parking lot. A 25 minute journey through the picturesque landscape of Southeast Alaska will take you to Auke Bay Harbor. “All aboard!” and you’re off for Alaska waters and the ultimate whale watching experience. The star of the tour is the humpback whale, but we are always looking out for sea lions, bald eagles, or the playful orca. The whales are here to feed in our abundant Alaskan waters. Our naturalist guides you on a 2 hour whale watching tour. With our experienced captains and Juneau being one of the best ports for whale watching in Alaska, this tour will be an unforgettable experience. A light snack and refreshments will be provided.
Out at sunset: the 3:30 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:42 PM in the coming weeks.
In demand: 180 of the next 180 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 6.
Tour Options
9:30am Check-in
2 hours on the water on one of our custom whale watching boats.
10:30am Check-in
2 hours on the water on one of our custom whale watching boats.
3:30pm check-in
3:30pm check-in : 2 hours on the water on one of our custom whale watching boats.
8:30am Check-in
2 hours on the water on one of our custom whale watching boats.
2:30 pm Check-In
2 hours on the water on one of our custom whale watching boats.
1:30pm Check-In
2 hours on the water on one of our custom whale watching boats.
What's included
Included
A photo stop on the water of the Mendenhall Glacier (weather dependent)
Informative professional driver guide during transfers
Heated cabin with wide viewing windows, spacious decks for whale watching, and bathrooms on board
Multiple tour times for flexibility
Filtered water and trail mix bars available aboard the whale boat
Round-trip transportation between port and boat harbor
Naturalist on whale tour
3 hour tour time, 2 hours on the water on a custom 24-passenger jet boat or 49-passenger catamaran
Not included
Gratuities (greatly appreciated)
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
1,205 reviews
5
1,112
4
54
3
24
2
7
1
8
How it compares in Juneau
No. 6 by number of reviews among 92 tours in Juneau
Starting price $156 is close to the typical $145 for tours of similar length in Juneau
Excurgo comparison of 92 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tour time is a check-in time; departure is within 10 to 15 minutes.
The meeting place is under the cables in front of the Mt. Roberts Tramway.
All ports or docks are within 10 minutes walking distances, except one - the A Dock - which provides a “Downtown” shuttle to the Mt. Roberts Tramway.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
At time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the name of their ship.
Tour operates in all weather conditions, so please dress appropriately in layers and for the likely chance of rain. It is recommended that you wear warm layered clothing, a waterproof jacket and comfortable slip-proof shoes.
THIS TOUR IS OPERATED BY JUNEAU TOURS & WHALE WATCH
Whale sightings are guaranteed between May 15th-September 15th.
We cannot accommodate any kind of electric scooter or electric wheelchair, even very small ones.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Ultimate Juneau Whale Watch take?
Ultimate Juneau Whale Watch lasts about 3 hours.
How much does Ultimate Juneau Whale Watch cost?
Prices start at $156 per person for this Juneau experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 6 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Ultimate Juneau Whale Watch run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:30 PM.
How much does Ultimate Juneau Whale Watch cost for children?
Children aged 3–12 pay from $111, adults from $156. Infants go free.
Does Ultimate Juneau Whale Watch sell out?
It can: 180 of the next 180 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Ultimate Juneau Whale Watch for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is JUNEAU TOURS & WHALE WATCH Representatives are standing under the cables of the Goldbelt Tramway wearing bright blue hats and holding signs that say "Juneau Tours and Whale Watch.". Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Ultimate Juneau Whale Watch offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 49 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
We cannot accommodate any kind of electric scooter or electric wheelchair, even very small ones.
Reviews(1,205)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
A
Andy_P
September 28, 2026 · via Viator
A memorable experience, but not quite for the reasons I had hoped
I had been incredibly excited about this whale-watching trip and had high expectations, particularly for the opportunity to see these magnificent animals in their natural environment.
We were lucky with the weather, our guide was excellent, and we did get to see whales, which was undoubtedly a fantastic experience. However, I came away feeling quite conflicted about what I had witnessed.
The biggest disappointment for me was the sheer number of boats gathered around the whales. At times, there seemed to be boats coming from several directions, following the same animals and repositioning as they moved. Watching it unfold, I couldn’t help feeling that the whales were being stalked rather than simply observed.
I completely understand that whale watching is a popular excursion and that operators have regulations and guidelines they are expected to follow. But standing there watching multiple boats tracking the whales left me questioning whether the experience was really as respectful of the wildlife as I had imagined.
Perhaps I had built it up too much in my mind, but I had envisaged something much more peaceful — quietly encountering whales in the wild and giving them space. Instead, at times it felt more like a queue of boats chasing a sighting.
So, while I’m grateful that we were fortunate enough to see whales and I have no criticism of our guide, the overall experience left me with mixed emotions. Seeing the whales was special; seeing so many boats pursuing them was not.
It certainly made me think differently about whale-watching tourism and whether the experience we provide for ourselves is worth the potential disturbance to the animals we have gone there to admire.
P
Patti_E
September 28, 2026 · via Viator
Great Excursion!
This really was the ultimate whale-watching excursion! We saw lots of whales and had such informative guides! It was an incredible day of seeing orcas and humpbacks! I absolutely recommend this excursion!!!!!
M
Marisa_V
September 27, 2026 · via Viator
Amazing whale watching
Let me just begin with the fact that we had the perfect weather, our tour guide was wonderful. We saw orcas and humpback whales. Not one or two, but a few of them. However, the most amazing part was the whale breaching. Loved it every minute of it. Marine life at its best!
T
Tracey_E
September 25, 2026 · via Viator
Best whale tour!!
This tour was amazing, seen many whales, and sea life, Our tour guides were amazing. Jade is so knowledgeable and our captain of our tour had the best personality. Highly recommend this tour. You won’t regret it!!!
R
Rachel_I
September 24, 2026 · via Viator
Easy to find, friendly...
Easy to find, friendly crew, knowledgeable. Know that there is no guarantee that you will see whales. We did because the ship captains were speaking to one another and we were in the right position on the boat, but some did not based on their boat location.
C
Crystal_Y
September 24, 2026 · via Viator
Humpbacks!!
All the women were great and went out of their way to make sure we all were able to see whales!! XOXO
C
Christina_T
September 22, 2026 · via Viator
Whatta whale-watching adventure!
Incredible excursion, FULL of information & detail! THE BEST captain and assistant-very friendly, professional and SO knowledgeable! Great day for seeing many whales, otters, seals, birds. The additional drone feature is superb-SO many videos of all the whales for a lasting souvenir/reminder of this amazing day on the waters of Icy Strait, Alaska! DON’T miss this wonderful excursion! THANK YOU!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
E
eleanah2014
September 22, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Perfect day
We had an amazing day! We were lucky enough to see both orcas and whales, which made the experience truly unforgettable. The staff was fantastic, very friendly and professional, and the excursion was fun, interactive, and enjoyable from start to finish. We had a wonderful time and would definitely recommend it!
E
Eleana_H
September 22, 2026 · via Viator
Perfect tour
Perfect ! We saw whales, killer whales 🫶🏻
Boat was new, staff was Nice , we really enjoyed our day
K
Katherine_H
September 22, 2026 · via Viator
What a fun experience!...
What a fun experience! Our captain had all the connections- we saw humpback whales and Orca in our excursion. The crew was friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely bring warm clothes, and a rain jacket or poncho.
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