This was the best excursion of all. All in all, a once in a lifetime experience. Their excitement about the glacier was contagious & really showed how much they love what they do. The guides were also great. I get a huge smile every time I think of it. Mendenhall Glacier, not far from downtown Juneau, is is one of the few Alaskan glaciers with an EZ-pass: Its surrounded by the Tongass National Forest, but you can easily get there by car, by air, by foot, and even by cruise ship. I will never forget the sight of the glacier when we first paddles around the cove, truly breathtaking. Both Ryan and Casey were extremely knowledgeable about animals and vegetation in the area and were able to answer any questions about the glacier and the surrounding area. Mendenhall Glacier, blue ice sheet, 12 miles (19 km) long, southeastern Alaska, U.S. The first was 8 am whale Watching and then the Mendenhall Glacier adventure. Highlights: I love this hike. Unbelievable! The colours, the team that took us all made a perfect Day out - thank you, The Day was great! This tour was definitely a major highlight of our tour of SE Alaska via the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry! Even the recommendation for dinner before getting on the boat was amazing. Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center - US Forest Service We had the best time doing this Excursion . Yes! Thank you girls!! Minimum weight is 90lbs, maximum weight is 240lbs. The bad news is the ice, which has been steadily receding since the time of the Little Ice Age (a global cooling period between the 16th and 19th centuries) continues to shrink as the planet continues to warm. I can't say enough about these two. would do it again. Then strapped on our crampons and onto the ice! They were safety conscious, as is the company, and we had all of the equipment (and yummy snacks) that we needed for our adventure. There are 2 different sizes of canoes that are used. Our guide Z was very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Richard Stokes. Absolutely the best excursion we did, and we booked one at every port. I can't say enough good things about this tour. If youre not yet an expert outdoor adventurer but you still want to experience one of the most remote, rugged landscapes in the world, this is the place to go. The two guides where wonderful full of great information and funny stories. One style holds up to 10guests and the other holds up to 14 guests. Excursion was fantastic. The "Ginga Ninja" and Allison were outstanding. If you have a chance to canoe on this lake and then hike this glacier, do it! I'm so glad that didn't work out and we got to do this instead! The glacier can have a intense Alaskan Blue color on some days it appears more blue than others. Would highly recommend it. 's fault. The guides were helpful and fun. Duration: 5-5.5 hours (Roundtrip from cruise ship terminal. All Rights Reserved, 1330 Eastaugh Way, Suite 2 Magnificent! The sun reflects off the ice, creating refracting patterns of color and light. When I finally arrived by canoe paddling 2 1/2 miles, I couldn't believe I did it. At this point, youll technically be under the glacier, and it might be an unnerving feeling. It was sobering to see the effects of climate change up close and personal, though as both guides relayed how far the glacier had receded just in there time. Guide took the time to learn everyone's name. Hidden within this frozen world are the Mendenhall Glacier ice caves wondrous caverns that reflect ombre hues of blue. Our guides were both extremely professional and showed us amazing sites and info. Mendenhall Glacier (Juneau) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go A must if you are in Juneau! Was a trip highlight! Then to top it off we got to go on top of the glacier and look around at the lake and the waterfall that we just paddled across. We also enjoyed the snacks and warm drinks when we were done!! Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour - Alaska Shore Excursions The shades of blue range from turquoise, to royal blue, to cobalt in almost ombre pattern, and change depending on where youre standing or looking within the ice cave. Alec and Sarah were great, very personalized. And the experience of walking on a glacier that may not be in this location in 10 years was priceless! Our tour guide Elrik and KC were amazing! Child Price:$69.00. Even with the ice caves inaccessible, this was still an amazing excursion! Paddle time: 2 hours. The glacier has also retreated 1.75 miles (2.82 km) since 1929, when Mendenhall Lake was created, and over 2.5 miles (4.0 km) since 1500. The guides were fantastic and very informative. Starting at the beginning of the trail, we would see signs along the route of the glacier's location in different years. While we were on the glacier, a piece of it calved off and we got to canoe past large chunks of ice. The whale watching was 10X more than I expected. I will remember it for the rest of my life .. thanks Paul and Mika! A must do! Very organized operation and nice equipment and snacks and great hot cocoa, coffee, mocha afterwards !! Equipment provides was helpful and adequate. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and our guides were knowledgeable and supportive throughout the excursion. Our guides Grant & (can't remember the other one!) Snacks were provided in a water-proof bag. The tour you are trying to book is within 72-hours. I'd highly recommend it. Our favorite thing we did while in Alaska! Andrew had so much knowledge and energy and took us around the glacier to find a rare ice cave! The tour, the staff, the glacier and the whales everything was outstanding!! The glacier is much bigger when you actually get to stand on it. They were very informative and entertaining. After the tour I could not stop thinking about how lucky I was to get to do something so amazing. By far one of the best things I have done! Our guides Matt and Ali were brilliant! When I first booked, I was excited. This was the best excursion we did on our trip. This excursion was amazing. Your guide will choose from several excellent trails for your Mendenhall Glacier hike, based uponthe days hiking conditions. Must do!! Join our newsletter for exclusive features, tips, giveaways! Mendenhall Glacier - What To Know BEFORE You Go | Viator Our tour guides were friendly, knowledgable, fun, and responsible and created an amazing tour for a group of strangers who found common ground in our appreciation and awe of Alaska's grand, beautiful and important landscape. then we tackled the Mendenhall Glacier, it was spectacular, the views and the information shared by the two leaders will not soon be forgotten. Like one of our guides said - "99% of the people who cruise to Alaska will see the Mendenhall Glacier from the visitors center, miles away. It's not going anywhere that fast but its . We had a fantastic time visiting the glacier and loved the opportunity to go in the ice cave and on top of the glacier! 2020 Gastineau Guiding Company. DO NOT pass this one up! Our guides, Matt and Mo were very knowledgeable. Bryce was enthusiastic and charismatic. We were hesitant to go on this excursion because it set our budget off a bit but we are SO GLAD that we did it! It was originally scheduled as a kayak trip to the glacier but due to rough weather, the group went by kayak. highlight of our trip. Thank you for a lifetime of memories! Only 4 of us in our tour, so the paddle was a little intense and definitely took an hour, but the glacier trek and ice caves MORE than made up for it. View Details Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter Tour & Guided Walk Featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA -- travel back to the Ice Ages with Alaska's original glacier helicopter tour! There were the ice cavesWOW! If you have already received tickets, please call the local tour operator phone number listed on your tickets for tour-specific questions as they will be the best resource to answer unique questions. This tour was the highlight of my Alaskan cruise, for sure! Are there any physical requirements for this tour? Your credit card will only The excursion was incredible and exceeded our expectations. Great tour with informative, enthusiastic, and competent guides. Fuji on the edge of Japan's "Suicide Forest.". How to get to Mendenhall Glacier from Juneau cruise port This gives you more time on the glacier which is amazing. Well worth the expense. It was an amazing experience and we enjoyed our guides, Ryan and Joey who took care of us and made sure we had a fun time! We were surprised and delighted by healthy snacks during & hot beverages after the trip. A check-off our bucket list. You will canoe, hike and have lot of fun enjoying the nature. It was originally named Sitaantaagu ("the Glacier Behind the Town") or Aak'wtaaksit ("the Glacier Behind the Little Lake") by the Tlingit Indians. Cindy. We had an amazing time and saw things we would have never seen if we didn't pick this excursion. From canoing across the lake, to hiking along the glacier, to entering the blue ice cave - my whole family loved it. Josiah and Griffin were excellent guides and made this once in a lifetime experience all the better. This activity is not for the weak. We never felt rushed and the guides Christina and Kelly were fun and looked out for our best interests. Canoeing was probably the most strenuous part of the excursion but very manageable if you're relatively fit. We were so excited for this excursion and it did NOT disappoint. Josiah made us feel like family and was helpful the entire way. It was intimate, challenging but in an exciting way, and truly a unique experience! They were delightful young single adults and were very solicitous of our comfort. Nugget Falls (Juneau) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Thank you for keeping our group safe and showing us something truly unbelievable. great day, weather was fantastic and we had great guides. Casey and Abby were great guidesmade our trip even more enjoyable! Words cannot describe this adventure!!! We even got to look down into an ice cave. 8 Best Mendenhall Glacier Tours - Alaska Shore Excursions On your return you'll hear other cruise guests saying, "We saw people on the glacier" and you'll be able to say "That was us"! Please make sure to take some time to fully recognize both Zee and Christina! Magnificent tour!Joey and Ryan best and funniest guides ever! The guides were very knowledgeable and the gear was very high quality. And be sure to take the Nugget Falls Trail (about 3/4 of a mile) for a better ice view. We absolutely recommend this excursion!!!!!! If you are interested in pictures, they will also happily take them for you. If you are second guessing it, this is your sign to book it. RJ (the owner) picked us up as our timing didn't work out as expected. Micah and Josiah were amazing tour guides, extremely knowledgeable! Got suited up and off we went! Guides Joey and Ryan were fantastic, concerned with both safety and education. What's so special about Mendenhall Glacier? Tongass National Forest - Offices - US Forest Service Our experience was superb and we will be recommending to all our friends. Definitely the best shore excursion ever. It's a little steep, but not slippery. Though disappointed that the ice cave wasn't safe enough to enter, we were thrilled by the experience of walking on a glacier. Simply awesome, an absolute must. Our photos are incredible from our experience. Both Joey and Casey were incredibly personable, knowledgeable, helpful and simply fun to be around. The pace will be brisk, the day unforgettable. Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro? Once in a lifetime RJ and the crew were great and very accommodating. Our guides (Paul and Alison) were fantastic, full of lots of great info and very energetic! Aside from that, it was a really enjoyable day! Three words: ICE CAVE=Awesomeness! When arriving on the Norwegian Blissor Norwegian Jewel, you will be greetedby our tour guidesin front of your cruise ship. From the hike on the mendenhall glacier to the ice caves EVERY second was breathtaking. Loved the ice caves! Our guides were Superb! I felt completely safe with their guidance, and they made it all accessible for this 50+ lady. Will I see any wildlife or bears on this tour? They were so good we raced home in 35 minutes!!!!!! Matt and Mo-our guides were awesome and very helpful through the hike and helped us to accomplish every part of the Glacier. Winner will be selected at random on 08/01/2023. Highly recommend this tour, it was once in a life time to walk these magnificent glaciers. This excursion was definitely worth the time and money. Richard and Mariellen For expert hikers, there are 10 mile hikes that explore the entire glacier, including the ice caves. The canoe ride is rejuvenating. The scenery is so beautiful and just unbelievable. I absolutely would recommend this tour if you can find it in your budget. This was the highlight of our Alaska trip! The young men that did our excursion were knowledgeable and helped me overcome my fears and enjoy the most fabulous experience, Casey and Grant were great. Our guides Mike and Kevin were a lot of fun and took us to some cool sights. Once you find an opening, you can head inside. I liked the little snacks we were given to take with us and the hot drinks at the end were a nice touch. They were really wonderful with my mom, who needed a bit of extra help up the trails and through the caves. I would highly recommend using this company! Loved every minute of this excursion. The temperature really depends on the weather, but expect the temperature near theglacier to be 5-10 degrees cooler. When we got there they provided us with GREAT name brand gear (not the cheap ponchos you normally receive from excursions) then we headed into the canoe and paddled our group to the glacier. The one cheap way to still visit the Mendenhall Glacier is to take the public bus and be dropped about a mile away from the glacier. It was the best experience! But standing on a glacier was simply unbelievable. Definitely a work out but well worth it! The best part of our vacation! On this Mendenhall Glacier shore excursion, put on your hiking boots, fill your lungs with fresh air, and experience a day of world-class hiking. Robert's Tramway building. This tour was the highlight of our trip! It was so beautiful and large and amazing, my brain could not believe it was real. They also had us back in plenty of time for our ship boarding. Whether ascending through the lush, moss-draped old growth rainforest or being awe-struck by glacial rivers of ice flowing down the mountainside, the scenery is always breathtaking and a genuine pleasure to share with others. Shuttle from Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier. Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, AK | Tours, Kayaking & Trails By Travelin' Pam " Exhilarating Falls " Jul 2022 The only area for improvement would be there website vs the ticket you get when you buy the experience. Very well put together excursion that will make a lifetime memory for all ages. They made the canoe ride to and from the glacier a great experience and were able to answer all of our questions. My husband wore ankle socks and the rubber boots took a little skin off his heal. We were very well outfitted and all 4 in our group were really glad we did this excursion. Also the gear provide was all top notch. Since then the price for this bus journey is now $40 round trip - so it has nearly doubled in price. it probably has collapsed by now. On the way back, we got more time in the ice caves.