Best Juneau shore excursions
The top-rated independent excursion in Juneau is "From Juneau: Whale Watching Cruise with Snacks" (4.8★ from 718 reviews, from $154). The biggest saving against the ship is whale watching: $101 per person less than NCL. Prices and ratings checked November 2026.
Ranked from real traveller ratings: each tour's star rating weighted by how many reviews it has, so a 4.9 with 3,000 reviews beats a 5.0 with 25. Only tours we matched to a tour type in Juneau are included.
Top-rated independent excursions
| # | Tour | From | Rating | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | From Juneau: Whale Watching Cruise with SnacksWhale watching | $154 | 4.8★718 reviews | 5/5 |
| 2 | Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier Waterfall & Whale Watching TourWhale watching | $199 | 4.7★413 reviews | 5/5 |
| 3 | Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Watching TourWhale watching | $185 | 4.7★235 reviews | 5/5 |
| 4 | Juneau: Whale Watching and Wildlife Cruise with Local GuideWhale watching | $177 | 4.7★209 reviews | 5/5 |
| 5 | Juneau: Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier Day TripWhale watching | $230 | 4.8★146 reviews | 5/5 |
| 6 | Juneau: City Highlights Bus Tour with Glacier ViewsNature / waterfall / park | $51 | 4.5★142 reviews | 5/5 |
| 7 | Juneau: Mendenhall Lake Canoe TourKayak / paddle | $251 | 4.9★61 reviews | 5/5 |
| 8 | Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure TourNature / waterfall / park | $377 | 5.0★38 reviews | 5/5 |
| 9 | Juneau: 5-Glacier Seaplane Flightseeing with a Window SeatFlightseeing | $420 | 5.0★32 reviews | 2/5 |
| 10 | Juneau Dog Sledding and Helicopter TourDog sledding | $769 | 4.8★25 reviews | 4/5 |
Best value against the ship
| Tour type | Line | Ship | Independent | Saving for 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whale watching | NCL | $286 | $185 | $404 |
| Whale watching | Carnival | $251 | $185 | $264 |
| Ruins / history | Carnival | $117 | $75 | $170 |
Where the ship is cheaper
- Nature / waterfall / park on NCL: $168 on the ship vs $182 independent.
- Nature / waterfall / park on Carnival: $163 on the ship vs $182 independent.
- Kayak / paddle on NCL: $296 on the ship vs $326 independent.
- City / island tour on NCL: $69 on the ship vs $100 independent.
- Kayak / paddle on Carnival: $166 on the ship vs $326 independent.
- Flightseeing on Carnival: $526 on the ship vs $769 independent.
- Flightseeing on NCL: $483 on the ship vs $769 independent.
Without a tour: near the pier
- Mount Roberts Tramway: ~5 min walk (161 m).
Whale-watching boats leave from Auke Bay about 25 minutes from the docks. Shuttle buses to Mendenhall leave from the pier.
Questions
What is the best excursion in Juneau?
On ratings, "From Juneau: Whale Watching Cruise with Snacks" leads with 4.8 stars from 718 reviews. On value, whale watching saves the most against the ship ($101 per person).
What is the cheapest well-rated excursion in Juneau?
"Juneau: City Highlights Bus Tour with Glacier Views" from $51 per person (4.5★, 142 reviews).
What can you do in Juneau without booking an excursion?
Within about 20 minutes of the pier: Mount Roberts Tramway (~5 min walk).
All Juneau prices and pier guide · Carnival in Juneau · NCL in Juneau