Mendenhall Lake Kayak Tour
4.5
Mendenhall Lake Kayak Tour
By Alaska Travel Adventures
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About
Ages 0-99, max of 12 per group
Duration: 3h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More
- Snacks
- Transportation
- Full rain gear included (pants/jacket/boots)
- Worry-free Shore Excursion Guarantee
- Permits
What's not included- Gratuities
- Start:
- Mount Roberts Tramway, 490 S Franklin St, Juneau, AK 99801, USAJUNEAU MEETING PLACE: On the sidewalk, under the cables of the Mt. Roberts Tram. When you arrive at the meeting area, look for the Alaska Travel Adventures tour representative. They will be wearing a red jacket/shirt and a red hat. Look for our distinctive Caribou logo.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5474P36- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Gloves and an extra pair of socks are recommended
- Minimum weight: 40lbs
- Maximum weight: Subject to waist size required to fit in the kayak cockpit. Cockpits are 16.5" X 10"
- Guests taller than 6' 3" will not be able to steer with foot pedals and will have to steer with the oar instead. Guests can still participate, it is just a guideline to take note of.
- Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Children 13 to 17 must have a signed parental consent form to participate without a parent or guardian.
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
- All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5474P36
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- 490 S Franklin St, Juneau, AK 99801, USAJUNEAU MEETING PLACE: On the sidewalk, under the cables of the Mt. Roberts Tram. When you arrive at the meeting area, look for the Alaska Travel Adventures tour representative. They will be wearing a red jacket/shirt and a red hat. Look for our distinctive Caribou logo.
- 1Be one of the lucky few to experience the majestic Mendenhall Glacier up close, as you travel by kayak, under a very limited U.S. Forest Service permit. Upon arrival at Mendenhall Lake, your experienced, friendly guide will help outfit you with life jackets and rain gear before instructing you on proper kayaking techniques. Then, you will board the two-person kayaks with a traveling companion or a new friend and set off on your Alaskan adventure. Journey across Mendenhall Lake in your stable two-person kayak, navigating the iceberg studded pristine water that is truly one of the jewels of the Tongass National Forest. Your knowledgeable guide will explain the breathtaking nature surrounding you, pointing out native wildlife and fascinating you with the history and ecology of the spectacular Mendenhall Glacier. Venture within a safe distance of the massive, awe-inspiring face of the glacier and skirt the base of the beautiful and powerful Nugget Falls. After paddling back across the lake and taking in the last views of this extraordinary glacier, refuel with a snack of Alaskan-style fare and reminisce about the experience that is sure to be a highlight of your Alaska vacation. Never paddled before? Don’t worry; your experienced guide will group you into similar abilities so you can travel at a comfortable pace while ensuring that your adventure is safe and enjoyable. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the Mendenhall Glacier as only a select few lucky adventurers can.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- 366uliaw0 contributionsWaste of moneyIt was HORRIBLE experience! Excursion started 30 min late. Bus driver was talking without microphone about half of the way, We were promised to see a whale but all our time on the water we were chasing a little glimpse of them. Claire., the guide put a lot of excitement out there for nothing and it was HUGE disappointment for me and my family.. They told us that whales are moving to Hawaii during October but nothing like that was mentioned in the description of the tour. We saw nothing like advertised on those pictures. Don’t waste your money with this tour!Written October 7, 2024
- F4203GYjohnc0 contributionsAn experience to rememberWe were sailed by Captain Lee. He is an excellent ship captain, He followed all protocol and made us feel comfortable in his ship. Our tour guide was a very attractive, charismatic woman named Claire who has a BS degree in zoology who educated us about the marine wildlife and glacial mountains. As we approached the whales the sky cleared up and we may have identified a new whale that they did not recognize. We arrived back safely. I would recommend this to anyone who loves nature with a little bit of zest and excitement .Written October 7, 2024
- Trip491420960980 contributionsGreat Trip!Amazing trip! Jackie and Claire were great. Saw a super pod of orcas and plenty of humpbacks. Highly recommend if you’re in Juneau for any stretch.Written October 6, 2024
- jimwdi20000 contributionsAmazing kayaking experience!The kayak to the glacier was amazing, the best thing we did in Alaska! Leann our guide was so much fun and made extra sure that each one of us were safe at all times. The lake had frozen over and we had to crack through ice to get to the glacier which added another layer of fun. The salmon bake afterwards was a great way to end it. I highly recommend this tour.Written October 5, 2024
- I3480ERnicolem0 contributionsCold, wet and a ton of fun!Gentry was an awesome guide! He was funny and his knowledge of the river and surrounding area was great! I highly recommend him and the tour. He made us feel confident in paddling ( let's be real, he had full control lol) and entertained us the whole way.Written October 2, 2024
- X1704NWrossh0 contributionsGreat adventure. Great Value. Ask for TrentWe did this tour as a shore excursion on the Sapphire Princess. Our tour guide, and oarsman, Trent, was fantastic. Very skilled. Great knowledge. Gave us a fantastic float trip. This tour was great fun, great scenery and excellent value. Highly recommend anyone visiting Juneau Alaska seek out this adventure. Definitely five stars.Written October 2, 2024
- C4359VDrachelw0 contributionsMagical Whale SightingGreat time! Claire is charismatic and knowledgeable. Lee is a master navigator and whale identifier. Together they provided a fantastic experience that made our Juneau trip amazing!Written October 1, 2024
- texasbekah0 contributionsWe saw whales!!!Had an incredible time! Definitely recommend! Hannah and Captain Lee were our guides. They found several whales for us to see and take pictures of. We loved the tour. The views are amazing!!Written September 29, 2024
- M5501KZjodyb0 contributionsWhale watchingClaire was a fantastic speaker and very knowledgeable and has great energy! Sid was a fantastic driver! They did their best to ensure we found whales and everyone could see!Written September 29, 2024
- 457meredithc0 contributionsfire excursion, ily clairei’m lowkey in love with claire she was super sweet and knowledgeable. captain syd was cool too was funny and drove the boat good. overall great excursion!!Written September 29, 2024
- N5791WUnicoler0 contributionsBeautiful whale watching experienceThe whale tour guides Claire and Syd did an amazing job of tracking down the whales to make sure we saw them! We also got to see sea lions and seals. Our bus driver Mary was very sweet and shared many cute facts about the town as we drove to our destinations. Also the salmon at the cook out was delicious.Written September 27, 2024
- Global676769060080 contributionsJust do itThanks to Schuyler we had a fantastic afternoon even in the rain! His personality was the sunshine! He worked hard on our trip but made it seem effortless. A great guide!Written September 27, 2024
- AFisher820 contributionsStunningly Beautiful and So Much Fun!Captain Red Beard was the BEST! Seriously, he was excellent. He made sure we understood the possible safety commands he'd use and general safety of being on the raft. During the trip, he'd point out all the beautiful flora and fauna, told us how the crazy flooding changed the river, and did his best to maneuver us to take in the most breathtaking views! You could hear the passion and respect he had for environment and job during his narration...he was in his happy place for sure. I definitely enjoyed him introducing the front row to the "Glacier Facial"...lol Thanks for the core memories!! Oh, the photographers were excellent as was the cool dude who helped us safely get out of the raft at the end...he had such a warm smile and positive vibe! We'd definitely recommend this experience to anyone visiting...thank you!Written September 26, 2024
- 957jillianr0 contributionsYOU HAVE TO DO THIS!Wonderful tour saw so much wildlife! Orca, Humpback, bald eagle and stellar seal! Our guides were Claire and Max, were FANTASTIC!Written September 25, 2024
- alexandreww20240 contributionsWorth itFun! We saw several whales. Captain Sid and our guide Claire did a great job! I came in with no reservations and were quick to hook up a discount and book me. There was some confusion in the beginning but also quickly sorted out. Would recommendWritten September 24, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
34 reviews
Excellent
26
Very good
1
Average
4
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Jennifer R
Nashville, TN51 contributions
Jun 2022
This was a beautiful day on the lake area surrounding the Mendenhall Glacier. Jack and Julia were excellent guides. We paddled past growlers (small icebergs) and a big waterfall on our way to view the glacier up close. They provided us with all the equipment we needed. The water got a little choppy on the way back, so we got a good workout on the way back to the shore.
Written July 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tracy H
Eugene, OR4 contributions
Jul 2021
Our tour was great from start to finish. Kami gave us great recommendations for other great things to do in and around Juneau and Adrian and Isaac guided (and prodded) us to the glacier. For those who may be nervous because of their lack of experience kayaking, I can say that all of the crew here are great teachers and even though there were experienced kayakers in our group, we were able to keep up and made it to the glacier and back. The views are spectacular and the snack at the end was perfect!!
Written July 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
elainejean
berkeley, ca16 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
See the photo above. It was my dream to take my family of 8 kayaking up to the glacier. $1600 down the tubes. We had perfect weather! We never got to the glacier! We had one slow boat and the two leaders insisted that we all stay behind - despite the fact that the slow kayakers begged the leaders to send for the disaster boat, tie the boat to theirs or go to shore so that a change could be made in the seating arrangement. Half way there, the leaders looked at their watch and said we had to turn around. We all fought with the leaders for flexibility and creative solutions since one leader could stay behind and the other could quickly go forward. They clearly were following company rules. This is a large company based in Seattle. There was a few minutes of soft spoken instruction prior. Most didn't hear that the back seat should be a strong rower, so people hopped in with their favorite companion. Big mistake! We could have easily complied. We got back 30 minutes early and there was no one after us. In two other cities, we had local leaders and there was no comparison in flexibility and authentic caring.
Written August 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am so sorry you had a bad experience. Our guides are there for the safety of all Kayakers and it sounds like they had to make a decision based on the entire group which is protocol. We are not based in Seattle. Our home office is in Juneau.
Again, I am sorry you had a bad experience with us.
Dale E Smith
Director of Sales & Marketing
Written August 20, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TEntwistle
Philadelphia, PA83 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
We had a beautiful day for kayaking, and 6 boats in our group. While there were several with no kayaking experience, there were no laggards in our group. We made good time going across the lake and then around the corner to see the glacier. We were probably 300-400 yards from the edge of the glacier and could see it clearly. We probably had 10 to 15 minutes to sit there and take in the views of the glacier. There were a handful of icebergs in the area, but they were not a hindrance to paddling. There had been a lot of rain, so there was a waterfall along the side of the mountain that was roaring. It was beautiful. Clayton and Sequoia were our guides and seemed very knowledgeable about the area. There were a ton of birds, and one mountain goat high up on the cliff that Clayton pointed out.
As noted but some of the other reviewers, the quality of the tour may depend somewhat on the others in your group, and how good they are at getting their boats moving. Their were some large canoes also going out on tours the day we were there, and perhaps that may minimize the dependence upon a few individuals to get to the glacier as even if half of the canoers are paddling, you should make it. However, you then give up the experience of having your own (shared with one other person) boat and of doing it yourself.
Pay attention to the size limits - I am just under 6'3" and had to sit in the kayak with my legs fully extended (with no ability to bend my knees or shift). A shorter person will have the ability to bend at the knees, but taller people will find their knees are completely within the cockpit of the boat thus have limited room to move
If you bring younger children/early teens, be prepared to do most or all of the paddling yourself. While they can put the paddle in the water, it will probably not really be functional help
Snacks at the end were very good. They had warm cider, reindeer sausage and salmon dip among other things
As noted but some of the other reviewers, the quality of the tour may depend somewhat on the others in your group, and how good they are at getting their boats moving. Their were some large canoes also going out on tours the day we were there, and perhaps that may minimize the dependence upon a few individuals to get to the glacier as even if half of the canoers are paddling, you should make it. However, you then give up the experience of having your own (shared with one other person) boat and of doing it yourself.
Pay attention to the size limits - I am just under 6'3" and had to sit in the kayak with my legs fully extended (with no ability to bend my knees or shift). A shorter person will have the ability to bend at the knees, but taller people will find their knees are completely within the cockpit of the boat thus have limited room to move
If you bring younger children/early teens, be prepared to do most or all of the paddling yourself. While they can put the paddle in the water, it will probably not really be functional help
Snacks at the end were very good. They had warm cider, reindeer sausage and salmon dip among other things
Written August 14, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the kind and detailed review. We are so pleased you had a great time!
Dale E Smith
Director of Sales & Marketing
Written August 20, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
gqjustin
Seattle, WA510 contributions
Sep 2019
I booked this tour with a few friends who were visiting Juneau with me. We were not part of a cruise ship, but instead flew into Juneau and stayed at a local hotel.
We decided to do the Mendenhall Kayak Glacier Tour instead of visiting the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. I knew this would give us a more private perspective of the glacier, Nugget Falls, and Mendenhall Lake while doing something adventurous.
The tour is a bit pricey, but that is to be expected with these types of shore excursions.
We followed the instructions in our voucher that was sent to our email. We met the guide outside the Mount Roberts Tramway as requested. The guide was there on-time and ready to greet tour-goers. The guide funneled us into the appropriate group to await our transportation to the lake. The transportation was a passenger van. Nothing luxurious, but it got the job done. Our group (9 adults) loaded up into the van and our driver gave us a few facts about Juneau as we worked our way towards the lake. The lake was about a 20 minute drive.
Once at the lake’s parking area, we were greeted by the Alaska Travel Adventures tour representatives. The reps were nice, friendly, and knew what they were doing. The reps (I think Chris and Megan?) gave us a brief welcome and what to expect before ushering us to a nearby parking lot restroom. After everyone had a chance to use the restrooms, we gathered at the tour company’s truck to fitted in the appropriate gear. The gear included rain-pants, waterproof boots, and a life-jacket. We stowed our personal items in a bin that was placed inside the truck for safe keeping. This was our chance to leave behind wallets, excess jackets, shoes, etc. I brought a waterproof case (buy it in advance on Amazon) for my iPhone, so I took that with me to the kayaks to grab photos.
After we got into our gear, we were taken to the shoreline where the kayaks were waiting. A representative gave us a safety briefing and quick training tutorial. After everyone was prepped, we boarded our kayaks. My friend and I kayaked together. If you are solo, it seemed that one of the guides would offer to kayak with you in a tandem kayak.
We got out on the water and began paddling with the guides keeping us on track while pointing out some of the areas features. We got out around a peninsula and were treated to great views of the glacier. The wind was getting a bit strong near the glacier area, so our guides rerouted our group over to get a closer view of Nugget Falls. Eventually, it was time to head back towards the shoreline.
I was never cold while out on the water, but we had a sunny day with temps in the mid-60’s. I wore some jogging pants, warm socks, gloves, sunglasses, and nike pullover. I was glad I had the gloves because it helped keep my hands protected from the paddling. I took my selfie-stick with me to grab some photos of my friend and I with my phone. That worked quite well. I would recommend brining a water bottle on the kayak with you. I forgot, but there was water provided back at the truck.
After we beached our kayaks, the guides took us back to the truck to remove our gear and to retrieve our belongings. There was plenty of time to ask questions about the area, use the restrooms, etc. There was water provided along with some light snacks.
I tipped our guides with some cash and thanked them. Eventually we found ourselves back in the van headed towards town. We stopped at an area along the way to drop off guests who were continuing to a salmon-bake dinner in the woods. It turned out my friend and I were the only ones in our group not going to the dinner. After we dropped off the rest of the group, the driver said he would take us anywhere in Juneau since there weren’t any other guests left on the van! The driver took us back to our downtown hotel and I tipped him a few dollars.
I enjoyed the adventure, but I honestly think most people might be okay with just going to the visitors center. However, if you sincerely enjoy kayaking and want to get some exercise, this might be the tour for you. The visitor’s center provides excellent views of the waterfall and fair enough views of the glacier. I should note that I am in fairly good shape and have kayaked many times in the past, but I found the kayaking a bit more difficult than I anticipated! The lake is not something to mess with and it’s important to listen to your guides.
We decided to do the Mendenhall Kayak Glacier Tour instead of visiting the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. I knew this would give us a more private perspective of the glacier, Nugget Falls, and Mendenhall Lake while doing something adventurous.
The tour is a bit pricey, but that is to be expected with these types of shore excursions.
We followed the instructions in our voucher that was sent to our email. We met the guide outside the Mount Roberts Tramway as requested. The guide was there on-time and ready to greet tour-goers. The guide funneled us into the appropriate group to await our transportation to the lake. The transportation was a passenger van. Nothing luxurious, but it got the job done. Our group (9 adults) loaded up into the van and our driver gave us a few facts about Juneau as we worked our way towards the lake. The lake was about a 20 minute drive.
Once at the lake’s parking area, we were greeted by the Alaska Travel Adventures tour representatives. The reps were nice, friendly, and knew what they were doing. The reps (I think Chris and Megan?) gave us a brief welcome and what to expect before ushering us to a nearby parking lot restroom. After everyone had a chance to use the restrooms, we gathered at the tour company’s truck to fitted in the appropriate gear. The gear included rain-pants, waterproof boots, and a life-jacket. We stowed our personal items in a bin that was placed inside the truck for safe keeping. This was our chance to leave behind wallets, excess jackets, shoes, etc. I brought a waterproof case (buy it in advance on Amazon) for my iPhone, so I took that with me to the kayaks to grab photos.
After we got into our gear, we were taken to the shoreline where the kayaks were waiting. A representative gave us a safety briefing and quick training tutorial. After everyone was prepped, we boarded our kayaks. My friend and I kayaked together. If you are solo, it seemed that one of the guides would offer to kayak with you in a tandem kayak.
We got out on the water and began paddling with the guides keeping us on track while pointing out some of the areas features. We got out around a peninsula and were treated to great views of the glacier. The wind was getting a bit strong near the glacier area, so our guides rerouted our group over to get a closer view of Nugget Falls. Eventually, it was time to head back towards the shoreline.
I was never cold while out on the water, but we had a sunny day with temps in the mid-60’s. I wore some jogging pants, warm socks, gloves, sunglasses, and nike pullover. I was glad I had the gloves because it helped keep my hands protected from the paddling. I took my selfie-stick with me to grab some photos of my friend and I with my phone. That worked quite well. I would recommend brining a water bottle on the kayak with you. I forgot, but there was water provided back at the truck.
After we beached our kayaks, the guides took us back to the truck to remove our gear and to retrieve our belongings. There was plenty of time to ask questions about the area, use the restrooms, etc. There was water provided along with some light snacks.
I tipped our guides with some cash and thanked them. Eventually we found ourselves back in the van headed towards town. We stopped at an area along the way to drop off guests who were continuing to a salmon-bake dinner in the woods. It turned out my friend and I were the only ones in our group not going to the dinner. After we dropped off the rest of the group, the driver said he would take us anywhere in Juneau since there weren’t any other guests left on the van! The driver took us back to our downtown hotel and I tipped him a few dollars.
I enjoyed the adventure, but I honestly think most people might be okay with just going to the visitors center. However, if you sincerely enjoy kayaking and want to get some exercise, this might be the tour for you. The visitor’s center provides excellent views of the waterfall and fair enough views of the glacier. I should note that I am in fairly good shape and have kayaked many times in the past, but I found the kayaking a bit more difficult than I anticipated! The lake is not something to mess with and it’s important to listen to your guides.
Written September 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MJBuyer
1 contribution
Ariel and Clayton were fun.
For the price we paid, we wish we could’ve gone further in our kayaks. We saw boats with multiple people paddling cover more water than we did, and it’s mostly due to having to wait for inexperienced kayakers in our group. Perhaps we could’ve split up?
Also, we ran out of time at the end. We had an all-you-can-eat salmon bake tied to our excursion, and our group had to quickly eat and run before our ship departed (even the entertainment at the salmon bake was packing up.)
We are pretty sure we were some of the last ones back on our ship that night. The anxiety of getting back on time did not make the experience as enjoyable as it could’ve been.
For the price we paid, we wish we could’ve gone further in our kayaks. We saw boats with multiple people paddling cover more water than we did, and it’s mostly due to having to wait for inexperienced kayakers in our group. Perhaps we could’ve split up?
Also, we ran out of time at the end. We had an all-you-can-eat salmon bake tied to our excursion, and our group had to quickly eat and run before our ship departed (even the entertainment at the salmon bake was packing up.)
We are pretty sure we were some of the last ones back on our ship that night. The anxiety of getting back on time did not make the experience as enjoyable as it could’ve been.
Written August 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I apologize about that, thanks for pointing it out. We will strive to improve on that.
Dale E Smith
Director of Sales & Marketing
Written August 20, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mjswansona
Greenville, SC690 contributions
I will start this review by stating that I am a very experienced kayaker. If you view this trip from a kayaking standpoint you will be sorely disappointed. If you want to see seals, bald eagles a beautiful view of mendenhal glacier and experience a great opportunity to paddle in glacial waters with great photo opportunities then you will enjoy the trip.
The staff were very helpful and the bus driver was particularly entertaining and provided a great overview of the area.
My biggest disappointment was that they put all of us in one group including those who had no paddling experience at all.
The staff were very helpful and the bus driver was particularly entertaining and provided a great overview of the area.
My biggest disappointment was that they put all of us in one group including those who had no paddling experience at all.
Written July 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feedback!
Dale E Smith
Director of Sales & Marketing
Written August 8, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lori B
15 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
We were in a group of 12, 6 kayaks plus the guides. When we got there we had to wait in the van because the guides weren't there yet. Some of the kayakers were really slow so we had to keep waiting for them. You have to stay together as a group. The guides were trying to hurry them up. We didn't get very close to the glacier at all. We got to the main lake, had the guide take a picture of us and then they said it was time to go back. There was an iceberg that I asked if we could go over to and the guide said no we didn't have time. Back at shore they had snacks~ cheese, crackers, sausage etc. But by the time we changed out of our gear they were gone. Maybe if you have a small group and more time it would be better. We definitely didn't have 3.5 hours! Not worth $200/person!
Written July 16, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am sorry we did not meet your expectations on this tour. Thank you for the information, I will pass this along to all who participated and see what kind of changes we can make.
Thank you again,
Dale E Smith
Director of Sales & Marketing
Written July 20, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lisa F
Naples, FL119 contributions
Aug 2019
This was our first excursion as part of a 7 day cruise. We loved this peaceful and beautiful paddle! Our guide Andre (a native of Alaska) was knowledgeable and very helpful, especially with getting in and out of the kayak :) We saw bald eagles in the trees and the glacier in the distance. You can book this tour with confidence.
Written September 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
geniejava
Cupertino, CA79 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
Booked this kayak shore excursion through our cruise, and our group only had 8 people, so our guides only had to keep track of 4 kayaks (two people per kayak). The weather was overcast and cold but not rainy. We first had to don a lot of gear -- rubber boots that they provide (be sure to wear thick socks), a waterproof "skirt" to prevent water splashing into your kayak and getting your pants wet, and a life vest. The life vest doesn't have any pockets, and with the splash skirt, you can't access anything in your pant pockets, so if you want to bring your phone or camera to take photos while kayaking, either wear it around your neck or wear a jacket with a breast pocket so you can access your phone/camera from under your life vest. Wear a waterproof jacket. If your fingers tend to get cold, wear waterproof gloves, but typically people don't wear gloves. Regular (cotton, etc.) gloves are pointless. Your hands and waist area will definitely get wet while kayaking, so a waterproof jacket will be very helpful. Also you can't bring your bags into the kayak, so you have to leave your bags (and your shoes since you'll be wearing their rubber boots) with the employees on the shore, and they will watch your bags for you. It's helpful to bring binoculars (and wear them around your neck) as we spotted some rare migratory birds and other wildlife while on the water.
After donning the protective gear, we hop into our 2-person kayaks and two guides lead us towards Mendenhall Glacier. It doesn't look that far away but it takes about an hour to kayak there, and the water was very calm for us that day too! So things on "shore" are definitely farther away than they appear. Because our group was small, we were able to hear our lead guide (Emily) explain the facts and history about the glacier and wildlife and Juneau while we were all kayaking. By the time we got close to the glacier, the tail guide (David) helped everyone take photos inside our kayaks with the glacier in the background using his phone and sent the photos to us after we got back on land. It was a fun experience but exhausting for someone who doesn't have much upper body strength.
When we kayaked back to shore, we were given some snacks and water before our van took us back to the cruise terminal.
Overall it was a fun experience, and our guides Emily and David were fantastic.
After donning the protective gear, we hop into our 2-person kayaks and two guides lead us towards Mendenhall Glacier. It doesn't look that far away but it takes about an hour to kayak there, and the water was very calm for us that day too! So things on "shore" are definitely farther away than they appear. Because our group was small, we were able to hear our lead guide (Emily) explain the facts and history about the glacier and wildlife and Juneau while we were all kayaking. By the time we got close to the glacier, the tail guide (David) helped everyone take photos inside our kayaks with the glacier in the background using his phone and sent the photos to us after we got back on land. It was a fun experience but exhausting for someone who doesn't have much upper body strength.
When we kayaked back to shore, we were given some snacks and water before our van took us back to the cruise terminal.
Overall it was a fun experience, and our guides Emily and David were fantastic.
Written June 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for taking the time to give a detailed review. Glad you had a great time!
Dale E Smith
Director of Sales & Marketing
Written June 1, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I keep questioning whether I have the endurance and upper body strength to successfully make it to the glacier. I don't regularly work out or do cardio, but I am young and relatively healthy, albeit a little overweight. Thoughts or advice on this subject?
Written May 8, 2019
We are on the Norwegian Pearl are we going to be making it back in time before disembark?
Written April 9, 2018
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