Shore Excursions from Juneau, Alaska

Yes! Every tour we offer is carefully timed around major cruise ship schedules. Our guides monitor sailing times and build in a generous buffer to ensure you’re back at the dock with time to spare.

No problem. We closely track ship arrivals and adjust when we can. If your ship skips port or you’re unable to make it to the tour, we offer flexible cancellation and refund options — just contact us as soon as possible.

We provide convenient pick-up and drop-off locations close to the cruise ship terminals in downtown Juneau. Exact meeting instructions will be provided in your confirmation email, and our team is always nearby if you need help finding us.

Above & Beyond Alaska (ABAK) was founded by individuals deeply rooted in Southeast Alaska, where they have spent a lifetime exploring and protecting its wilderness. We have been organizing small group adventures in the Juneau area for over two decades. Our commitment is unwavering — we strive to exceed expectations across the board. This includes a steadfast focus on safety, a dedication to providing exceptional service, a commitment to maintaining the highest quality standards, and a proactive stance in fulfilling our role as

Our overarching goal at ABAK is threefold: to explore, educate, and promote environmental conservation right here in our own backyard. We firmly believe that the combination of exploration and education naturally leads to conservation. This belief is at the core of our mission. We take immense pride in engaging in what we love, and equally, in sharing with others the wonders of this beautiful world full of adventure.

“Plan for rain, pray for sun!” is our motto in Southeast Alaska. We are surrounded by the Tongass National Rainforest, part of the largest temperate rainforest in the world.  Juneau receives approximately 60-100 inches annually.  Average temperatures in the summer are in the 50s and 60s.  April, May, and June are Juneau’s driest months.  July and  August are the warmest.  In September it becomes cooler and wetter.  Please see the following links for current weather forecasts.

• Weather Underground
• National Oceanic Atmospheric Association

We operate our tours rain or shine. Juneau is situated in the world’s largest temperate rainforest, the Tongass National Forest. Rain is a common occurrence in Juneau, and we embrace it as part of the experience. To ensure your comfort, we provide each guest with a rain jacket, rain pants, and rain boots.

Should ABAK determine that weather conditions present a safety concern, we will regretfully cancel the tour. In such instances, a full refund will be issued to our guests. Safety remains our top priority, and we appreciate your understanding in this regard.

On our day trips we recommend you use the restroom before the trip starts. Our warehouse facility has two restrooms for your use. Once you are out in the field, there are no restrooms besides the great outdoors. ABAK follows Leave No Trace Principles and if you need to use the bathroom during this time we request that you pack out any trash – this includes toilet paper.

Guest-Initiated Cancellations

Full Refund: Cancellations made at least 72 hours prior to your scheduled tour will receive a full refund.

No Refund: Cancellations made within 72 hours of your scheduled tour are non-refundable.

Company-Initiated Cancellations

Above & Beyond Alaska (ABAK) may cancel tours due to low enrollment, unsafe weather or route conditions, guest safety concerns, or other safety-related issues. If your tour has not yet begun, you will receive a full refund. However, ABAK is not responsible for additional expenses such as non-refundable airfare, meals, or lodging.

Cruise Ship Changes: Full refunds are provided when tour cancellations result from changes in cruise ship sailings that prevent rescheduling.

Medical Cancellations

To qualify for a medical cancellation refund, you must provide valid documentation from either a healthcare provider or the cruise ship’s doctor. If a family or party member becomes ill on the tour day, medical documentation is required for that person’s refund. Other passengers who choose to stay behind with the ill person are not eligible for refunds.

Documentation Deadline: Medical documentation must be submitted within two weeks of the tour cancellation to receive a full refund. After this period, the tour becomes ineligible for any refund.

Non-Refundable Situations

The following circumstances do not qualify for refunds:

• Cruise Ship Compliance: Failure to comply with cruise ship regulations or provide required documentation, resulting in denied boarding
• Travel Document Issues: Being denied entry to Canada or other countries due to missing, delayed, or invalid travel documents or visas
• Flight Issues: Missing flights due to personal circumstances (refunds only apply when the airline is at fault and provides documentation)

Important Requirements

• All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing within two weeks of the tour date
• Partial refunds will not include booking fees
• ABAK strongly recommends purchasing travel insurance to protect against unexpected travel changes

What to Bring

Essential Items:

• Layered clothing suitable for outdoor conditions
• Comfortable, sturdy hiking shoes or boots
• Waterproof jacket (backup available if needed)
• Hat, gloves, sunglasses and sunscreen recommended
• Personal items for 2–6 hours outdoors

Clothing Recommendations

Due to Alaska’s cool, damp climate, avoid cotton and denim which retain moisture and lose warmth when wet. Instead, choose clothing made from: polyester, wool fleece, nylon, polypropylene, or capilene

What We Provide

Standard Gear for All Trips:

• Rain jacket (if you don’t have one)
• Rain pants
• Trip-specific equipment (detailed below)

Glacier Trip Equipment:

• Backpack or dry bag backpack
• Trekking poles
• Micro spikes (for Norris Glacier)

Kayak Trip Equipment:

• Kayaks and paddles
• Life jackets (PFDs)
• Spray skirts
• Rubber boots
• Paddling mitts
• Safety gear

Water & Refreshments

Water: We provide a souvenir water bottle, but we encourage bringing your own reusable bottle to help reduce environmental impact.

Food: Our snack offerings vary daily but typically include:

• Glacier Trips: Hearty snack selection such as granola bars, assorted cheeses, mixed nuts, fruit snacks, goldfish crackers
• Paddle with Whales Trip: Similar snack selection and bento lunch

Food selections are subject to change based on availability and season.

Our tour group sizes range from 2 – 12 people with 1 guide for every 8 people on group departures. This means groups of 12 will have 2 guides, ensuring personalized attention and safety throughout your adventure.

Absolutely! Solo travelers are welcome on any trip. Most tours require a minimum of four people, so if there isn’t a scheduled departure with other guests, you can either choose a different trip with available space or pay for the minimum booking requirement.

We provide rain gear for all tours to protect against Alaska’s changing weather conditions.

Rain Gear: Waterproof jackets and pants designed to fit over your personal clothing (sized generously like a poncho)

• Available in Men’s and Women’s XS–XXL, Youth S–L

Rubber Boots: Neoprene boots by Bogs or Grundens (provided for paddling tours)

• Men’s sizes 6–14, Women’s sizes 6–11, Youth sizes 2–5
• You can store your personal shoes at our warehouse facility

To ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience, our tours do have some physical considerations.

For kayaking trips, you’ll need to be comfortable getting in and out of kayaks independently, paddling for up to 2 hours, and moving around during the excursion.

For hiking tours, cardiovascular fitness is essential, especially for our Mendenhall Glacier Guided Hike, which is a strenuous 6-mile roundtrip excursion lasting 5+ hours on uneven terrain. We recommend building your cardiovascular endurance through regular exercise and practicing on uneven hiking trails to prepare for challenging terrain.

If you’re concerned about the physical demands of hiking, consider our Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle & Hike, which replaces some hiking with paddling and is less strenuous overall.

We’re always happy to discuss any questions and help you choose the perfect adventure for your abilities and interests!

Glacier Trips:

• Weight capacity: 250 lbs (canoe manufacturer specifications)
• Due to the inherent risks involved in this type of trip, pregnant guests are not able to participate.

Kayak Trips:

• Weight capacity for fly-in tours: 250 lbs (aircraft and kayak safety specifications)
• Kayak cockpit specifications: Maximum torso diameter of 52 inches (132 cm)
• Double kayak weight capacity: 600 lbs
• Height considerations: Guests taller than 6’2″ may find rudder operation challenging because the pedals can only adjust to a certain maximum distance, though we’ve successfully accommodated guests up to 6’6″
• Due to the inherent risks involved in this type of trip, pregnant guests are not able to participate.

If you have questions about any of these requirements, please don’t hesitate to contact us—we’re here to help you find the perfect adventure.

Above & Beyond Alaska offers guided adventures to both the Mendenhall Glacier and Norris Glacier. These include hiking, canoeing, and packrafting experiences, each providing unique perspectives of Alaska’s glacial landscapes.

Mendenhall Glacier is approximately 12 miles from downtown Juneau, accessible by road and a 3-4 mile hike. Norris Glacier is situated within the Tongass National Forest and is accessed via a scenic floatplane flight, offering a more remote wilderness experience.

Depending on the chosen tour, activities may include:

• Hiking: Guided treks through the Tongass National Rainforest to the glacier’s panoramic viewpoint.
• Canoeing: Paddling across glacial lake to approach the glacier.
• Packrafting: Inflatable raft adventures on glacial waters.
• Flightseeing: Scenic floatplane flights over the Juneau Icefield.

The prime season for glacier tours is from May to September. Each month offers unique experiences:

• May-June: Drier months with blooming flora.
• July-August: Warmer temperatures and peak wildlife activity.
• September: Cooler, wetter conditions with fewer visitors.

Tour durations vary based on the activity:

• Mendenhall Glacier Guided Hike: Approximately 6 hours.
• Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle & Hike: Around 5.5 hours.
• Norris Glacier Fly-In Hike & Packraft: Full-day adventure lasting about 5 hours.

Norris Glacier: Yes, this tour absolutely gets on the glacier! If you’re eager to experience walking on glacier ice, then this tour is perfect for you.

Mendenhall Glacier: This tour does not get on the glacier. This excursion focuses on a close exploration of the glacier’s edges, allowing for safe hiking experiences on the surrounding bedrock. Distance from the glacier changes each season, expect to get within 300 yards of the glacier face.

Norris Glacier: While we can trek on the glacier ice on this tour, it’s important to note that ice caves are an exceptionally rare phenomenon that appears sporadically. They should not be expected during the tour, and if they do happen to form, it will be considered a special occurrence.

Mendenhall Glacier: There are currently no accessible ice caves at the Mendenhall Glacier. Glaciers are incredibly dynamic forces of nature and are constantly changing. The presence of accessible ice caves was a feature of the glacier in the last phase of its life cycle, but it is now in a new phase where we are seeing frequent calving events revealing the deep glacier blue that the Mendenhall Ice Caves became so well renowned for.

Norris Glacier: You will be paddling small single or double packrafts. These packrafts are very maneuverable and durable.

Mendenhall Glacier: You will be paddling either our large 29 ft or 22 ft canoes . The larger canoes can fit up to 12 guests and 2 guides, and the smaller up to 7 guests and 1 guide. These canoes offer the speed and stability that kayaks cannot.

Our Paddle with Whales Kayak Adventure provides a truly unique and immersive experience, setting it apart from traditional whale-watching tours. Rather than observing from a boat, you’ll be right on the water in a kayak, offering a quieter, more intimate connection with marine wildlife.

We keep our group sizes small to ensure a personalized and low-impact experience, enhancing wildlife encounters while allowing our expert guides to provide tailored insights into the local ecosystem.

Additionally, we are honored to be recognized as a Top 10 Kayak Tour Company by USA Today. Our dedication to offering exceptional, eco-friendly adventures has made us a top-rated choice for visitors seeking to explore Alaska’s waters in a truly sustainable and unforgettable way.

Juneau is widely regarded as one of the premier whale watching destinations in Alaska. The humpback whales of the Pacific migrate to these waters after wintering in Hawai’i. They are drawn to the nutrient-rich waters around Juneau, which serve as their feeding grounds. The optimal time for whale viewing is during the peak summer months of June to August. Nevertheless, May and September also offer excellent opportunities for whale watching. In late July, you begin to see Bubble Net Feeding, when 10-12 whales jump out of the water at once.

Humpback whales are wild animals, and as such, we cannot guarantee sightings of them. However, the Juneau area is renowned as a fertile feeding ground for whales and other marine life, increasing the likelihood of encountering these magnificent creatures during our tours.

Kayaking duration depends on a variety of factors, including marine conditions and the ability level of the group. We aim for 1.5 hours of paddling time.

We have found that the time of day does not influence whale viewing.