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Best whale watching tours in Juneau, compared
Big jet boat or a small group, whales only or whales plus the glacier: here is how the best whale watching tours in Juneau differ, and which one fits your day in port.
Check availabilityfrom $108 · free to cancel
Editorial team, juneauwhalewatchingtours.comUpdated October 16, 20268 minutes to read7 sources
Quick answer
- 01Most reviewed
- This site's tour, rated 4.79 from 579 reviews, from $108.
- 02Smallest group
- A small-group trip limited to 9 participants, from $189.
- 03Whales and glacier
- Combo tours add Mendenhall Glacier, from $152.
- 04Sighting promise
- One combo offers a full refund if you see no whale.
- 05Booking terms
- Every listed tour allows free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
What makes a whale tour in Juneau worth booking
Picking among the best whale watching tours in Juneau is less about finding the one boat that sees more whales and more about matching the trip to your day. Every tour on this page heads out into the same sheltered channels north of town, and the whales do not care which logo is on the hull. What changes from one listing to the next is how long you spend on the water, how many people share the deck, how you get to the harbor and whether a glacier stop is folded into the same booking.
NOAA names Alaska, and Southeast Alaska in particular, among the places in the United States where humpback whales are the main draw for the whale watching trade.1 That matters when you compare tours, because it means the core experience is reliable across companies: a naturalist or captain who knows the water, a boat built for these channels and the chance to watch humpbacks surface, dive and feed. The differences are in the details around that core.
Use the comparison below to narrow the field, then read the sections on group size, combo tours and timing. If you only have a cruise day, look at total trip length first, since a tour that fits neatly into your port hours is worth more than any small upgrade. If you have a free day in Juneau, the decision is mostly about comfort and how close to the water you want to sit.
The tours compared on price, time and ratings
The tour sold on this site is the most reviewed whale trip in the set. It is rated 4.79 from 579 reviews, takes 3 hours in total and starts from $108 per person. Guests score the guide at 4.9, the transportation at 4.9 and value for money at 4.7. The day runs as a short bus ride to Auke Bay, about 2 hours on a small enclosed boat and the ride back to town, with water, a snack bag and binoculars included.
The small-group trip runs for 3.5 hours, is limited to 9 participants and starts from $189. It carries a perfect 5.00 rating, but from only 14 reviews, so treat that score as an early signal rather than a long track record. If a quieter deck and more space at the rail matter most to you, it is the obvious candidate, and the higher price reflects the smaller group.
Three combos pair whales with Mendenhall Glacier. The shortest runs 4 hours from $152 and is rated 4.71. A waterfall version runs 5 hours from $199 and is rated 4.72 from 276 reviews. The longest day trip runs 4.5 hours, starts from $230 and scores 4.76, with guides rated 4.9. All of them are whale tours first, with the glacier added on land before or after the boat.
Ratings
How guests rate the Juneau whale tours
points
Comparison
Whale tours from Juneau at a glance
| Tour | Duration | Group | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This site's tour | 3 hrs | Enclosed boat | 4.79 | from $108 |
| Small-group whale tour | 3.5 hrs | Max 9 | 5.00 | from $189 |
| Whales and glacier | 4 hrs | Bus and boat | 4.71 | from $152 |
| Glacier, waterfall and whales | 5 hrs | Bus and boat | 4.72 | from $199 |
| Whales and glacier day trip | 4.5 hrs | Bus and boat | 4.76 | from $230 |
From-prices and ratings as listed on GetYourGuide; prices move with date and demand.
Three ways to go
Pick by the kind of day you want
Best all-round
Quietest deck
Two sightsDecision helper
Which Juneau whale tour suits you?
Tap what matters most to you
This site's tour
From $108, 3 hours in total, rated 4.79.
Small-group tour
Limited to 9 participants, 3.5 hours.
Whales and glacier combo
From $152, 4 hours with a glacier stop.
Waterfall and whales
A full refund is offered if you see no whale.
Whales and glacier day trip
Guides rated 4.9, 4.5 hours in total.
There are several areas within the United States where humpback whales are the central attraction for the whale watching industry, including... Alaska (particularly southeast Alaska), and the Hawaiian Islands.
Small boats or bigger vessels
Group size shapes a whale watch more than most people expect. On a smaller boat you spend less time waiting for a gap at the rail, the guide can answer questions one to one, and the captain can turn the boat without a crowd shifting from side to side. On a larger vessel you gain a steadier ride, more indoor seating and usually a lower price per seat. Neither is better in itself; it depends on whether you want an intimate morning or an easy, comfortable outing.
If small-boat whale watching tours in Juneau are your priority, the clearest choice in this comparison is the trip capped at 9 participants. Some Juneau companies also run very small boats outside the GetYourGuide listings shown here: one of them describes vessels for 6 guests alongside larger boats for 18 to 40 guests.2 Those are worth knowing about if you want a private feel, though their booking terms differ from the listings on this page.
The tour on this site uses small, enclosed, climate-controlled boats, which suits Juneau well. Summer days on the water are often cool and damp even when the town feels mild, and an enclosed cabin means you can step inside between sightings, warm up and still watch through the windows. When a whale surfaces nearby, the crew calls it out and you head back on deck.
Checklist
Before you book a whale tour
01
Check on the listing
- Total trip length against your port hours
- Group size or boat type
- Free cancellation window
- Where the tour meets in town
02
Pack for the boat
- Rain jacket
- Warm layers for the water
- Camera with zoom and a spare battery
- Shoes with grip for the ramp
Cost calculator
What a whale tour costs your group
Set the tour and your party size; the calculator adds up the from-price for everyone.
People
Total from$216
per participant from $108
Check availabilityfree cancellationThe calculator multiplies each listing's lowest GetYourGuide price by your party size, converting with the ECB rate where needed; the booking step has the binding figure.
Video
Whale Watching in Juneau Alaska / Juneau Tours and Whale Watch Juneau / Alaska Cruise Excursions
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Combo tours with Mendenhall Glacier
A combo makes sense if you have one free day and want to see both of the sights most visitors come to Juneau for without arranging two separate trips. The shorter combo runs 4 hours and includes a self-guided stop at the glacier recreation area before the boat. The waterfall version adds more time on land, runs 5 hours and comes with a full refund if you do not see a whale.
The trade-off is time on the water. A combo fits the glacier and the whales into one transfer loop, so each part is shorter than it would be on its own. If whales are the reason you came, a whale-only trip gives you the full stretch at sea. If you mostly want a good overview of Juneau in one go, the combo is efficient and saves you a second set of transfers.
For the glacier itself, its trails and how to get there on your own, the sister guide to the Mendenhall Glacier trolley tour covers it in depth. This page stays on the water: which boat, which group and which booking terms. Both combo listings meet in downtown Juneau and run the transfers for you, so you do not need a car or a taxi for either half of the day.
Rules on the water and how good crews behave
Every boat in Alaska waters works under the same federal rule: it is unlawful to approach a humpback whale within 100 yards (91.4 m), with some exceptions.3 Boats must also run at a slow, safe speed when near humpbacks.4 In practice this means the best crews position the boat, cut the engine and let the whales choose how close they come. If a humpback surfaces right beside a drifting boat, that is the whale's decision, not a chase.
Juneau has its own voluntary program on top of the law. Whale SENSE Alaska has run since 2015 for the Juneau area whale watch community.5 It was built together with the industry and recognizes companies that commit to responsible practices.6 When you compare companies, it is fair to ask whether a crew takes part, and a good operator will be glad to explain how it handles a busy sighting with several boats nearby.
These rules shape what you see. You will rarely be on top of a whale, and you should not expect to be. What you get instead is a patient view of whales behaving naturally, with time to watch a blow, a fluke and a slow dive rather than a rushed glimpse. Binoculars help a great deal, which is why the tour on this site includes them.
Morning or afternoon, and what to bring
Travel Juneau notes that morning tours often have calmer water, while afternoon trips enjoy the warmer part of the day.7 If you get seasick easily, a morning departure is the sensible choice. If you want softer light for photos and a warmer deck, an afternoon slot may suit you better. On a cruise day, your ship's schedule will usually decide this for you.
Dress as if the weather will change, because it often does. Rain gear and warm layers make the difference between enjoying the deck and hiding in the cabin, and the listing for this tour says the same: plan for rain and expect it to be cooler on the water. Boarding involves a ramp that can be steep at certain tides, so wear shoes with grip and keep your hands free.
Pack a long lens, or a phone whose telephoto setting you trust, plus a second battery and a dry bag for it. Whales give you seconds, not minutes, so set your camera before you reach the feeding area. Then put it down now and then and simply watch, which is what most people remember long after the trip.
Which tour should you book?
For most visitors the tour on this site is the safest choice: the most reviews in the comparison, a 3-hour total that fits a port day, and a price from $108. It covers the essentials well, with transfers, an enclosed boat, snacks and binoculars, and it gives you a solid first look at Juneau's humpbacks without eating your whole day.
Choose the small-group trip if you value space and conversation and do not mind paying more: it is limited to 9 participants and starts from $189. Choose a glacier combo if you want both headline sights in one booking, keeping in mind that the boat part is shorter than on a whale-only tour.
Whatever you book, keep your expectations in line with nature. Whales are wild animals, and no tour can promise a breach or a bubble-net feeding on a given day. What you can control is the choice of a sensible length, a crew that respects the rules and clothes that keep you warm. Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead also lets you hold a seat now and adjust if your plans change.
Book your seat
The humpbacks are feeding off Auke Bay.
Claim a place now, settle up nearer the date, and change your mind at no charge until the day before sailing.
You ask,we answer.
Which Juneau whale tour has the most reviews?
This site's tour. It is rated 4.79 from 579 reviews and takes 3 hours in total.
Is there a small-group option?
Yes, for up to 9 people. The small-group trip is limited to 9 participants and runs 3.5 hours.
Can I combine whales and the glacier?
Yes, with a combo tour. Combos run 4 to 5 hours and add a stop at Mendenhall Glacier.
Does any tour refund me if I see no whales?
One combo does. The waterfall and whale tour offers a full refund if you do not see a whale.
How close do boats get to the whales?
Not closer than the law allows. Boats may not approach a humpback within 100 yards (91.4 m), with some exceptions.3
Is morning or afternoon better?
Mornings are often calmer. Travel Juneau says morning tours often have calmer water and afternoons are warmer.7
Is hotel pickup included?
No, you meet in town. This tour meets outside the Mt. Roberts Tramway building and does not include hotel pickup.
Sources
Evidence for this guide
- 1NOAA FisheriesHumpback Whale↩
- 2Harv and Marv's Outback AlaskaJuneau Whale Watching Tours↩
- 3NOAA FisheriesAlaska Humpback Whale Approach Regulations↩
- 4NOAA FisheriesAlaska Marine Mammal Viewing Guidelines and Regulations↩
- 5NOAA FisheriesAlaska Marine Mammal Viewing Guidelines and Regulations↩
- 6NOAA FisheriesAlaska Marine Mammal Viewing Guidelines and Regulations↩
- 7Travel JuneauDiscover Whale Watching in Juneau, Alaska↩
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