WHALE WATCHING AND MENDENHALL GLACIER PHOTO SAFARI
This small-group, photography-themed experience shows you different sides of Alaska’s wilderness over approximately five hours, with a guide helping you capture the best shots possible. You’ll hike around Mendenhall Glacier followed by a cruise through Stephens Passage in the hope of spotting humpback whales.
Excursion details
Explore and photograph two prime examples of Alaska’s natural scenery on this roughly five-hour excursion. After meeting your naturalist photography guide in the port, there’s an approximately 30-minute transfer to Mendenhall Glacier, while your guide shares tips on capturing memorable photos, also supplying stories about the Juneau region.
Upon arrival at the glacier, you’ll have a short comfort break, before following a hiking route named the Trail of Time. The trail aims to demonstrate how vegetation and landscapes around Mendenhall have changed, based on the glacier’s level of ice recession. You’ll spend around an hour on the trail (which is 1.8km long), while enjoying the views and capturing the glacier and surrounding scenery on camera.
Next, join your guide and reboard the bus for the roughly 15-minute journey to a nearby harbour. You’ll then board a boat that’s designed to maximise viewing potential during wildlife cruises, making it ideal for capturing photos. Your captain will then begin sailing out for an exploration of Stephens Passage, a photogenic waterway lined with forests and mountains.
During the approximately two-hour-and-15-minute cruise, you’ll have access to onboard facilities including binoculars and maps, helping you identify local wildlife. Keep a lookout for humpback whales during the journey, as the region is known as a hotspot for these fascinating mammals, as well as other marine wildlife (please note that while common, wildlife sightings are not guaranteed)
Afterwards, your ship will return to the harbour, where you’ll rejoin your vehicle for the drive back to the port, lasting about 30 minutes.
Important information: Guests must be able to independently navigate 3 steps to board the bus and two large steps down into the vessel. Guests must also independently navigate a ramp at the harbor, which steepness changes depending on the tide. There is a walking portion of approximately 1 mile which guests must be able to walk within 1 hour. Guests will not walk on the glacier. Guests will walk on a trail to a lookout point
