5-Glacier Seaplane Exploration

The fun begins the moment you leave the Juneau waterfront on this approximately 40-minute long floatplane adventure that will stay you with you forever.

Flying through the Juneau Valley, you will soar over beautiful cascading waterfalls and lush rainforest, en route to the awe-inspiring glaciers of the Juneau Icefield. Prepare to gaze in wonder at the deep blue hue of the receding and advancing glaciers that make up 1,500 square miles of solid ice. This once-in-a-lifetime flight will then take you over the deep crevasses and azure meltwater pools of the Norris, Taku, Hole-in-the-Wall, East and West Twin glaciers.

Everyone in the party will get to enjoy a window seat on this exciting narrated flight, so bring your camera to make sure you capture these incredible magical memories. Your guide will prompt you to keep a lookout for wildlife such as goats, moose, bears and eagles, before concluding this magnificent excursion with a smooth water landing.

Juneau Highlights by Jeep

Embark on a 2.75 hour whale watching and nature cruise, onboard a custom built, eco-touring boat. Designed to maximize your viewing and comfort, this vessel is equipped with huge windows for maximum indoor viewing, silent cabin heaters, and two viewing decks. In addition, a tasty lunch with locally made fudge is provided to enjoy on the excursion. Along the way you may encounter such delightful creatures as: humpback whales, Stellar sea lions, Dall's porpoise, harbor seals, killer whales, bald eagles, and an assortment of shorebirds. So plentiful are these nutrient-rich waters, that a whale sighting is guaranteed or you will receive a refund of $50 from the tour operator.

Your nature cruise takes you from the dock in Juneau to the Tlingit village of Hoonah, located on Chichagof Island. From here, you'll board a motorcoach and begin your bear search. Depending on where the best viewing possibilities are that day, it may lead you to a boardwalk trail, a picturesque salmon-bearing stream or a hillside of blueberry bushes. Your naturalist and specially trained bear guide will lead you through the Tongass National Forest in search of brown bears and Sitka blacktail deer in their natural habitat. In this secluded, forest setting you will appreciate the "real" Alaska and take in the stunning views of the Chichagof Islands.

A brief transport to the Hoonah airport is an opportunity to relax before embarking on the next part of your thrilling adventure. Take to the skies on a 30-minute breathtaking flightseeing tour that brings you back to the capital city. Soaring above the dramatic landscape, your pilot will fly over the Inside Passage and the Juneau Icefield. You'll see the Chichagof Island, Admiralty Island, Point Retreat Lighthouse, Funter Bay, Icy Strait, a host of glaciers including famous Mendenhall Glacier, Auke Bay and possibly even a few mountain goats climbing the rugged terrain. Truly an unforgettable way to appreciate the power and beauty of this unspoiled land.

This Connoisseur experience is limited to a small number of guests to ensure a personal, exclusive experience.

Whales, Bears & Glaciers Adventure

Embark on a 2.75 hour whale watching and nature cruise, onboard a custom built, eco-touring boat. Designed to maximize your viewing and comfort, this vessel is equipped with huge windows for maximum indoor viewing, silent cabin heaters, and two viewing decks. In addition, a tasty lunch with locally made fudge is provided to enjoy on the excursion. Along the way you may encounter such delightful creatures as: humpback whales, Stellar sea lions, Dall's porpoise, harbor seals, killer whales, bald eagles, and an assortment of shorebirds. So plentiful are these nutrient-rich waters, that a whale sighting is guaranteed or you will receive a refund of $50 from the tour operator.

Your nature cruise takes you from the dock in Juneau to the Tlingit village of Hoonah, located on Chichagof Island. From here, you'll board a motorcoach and begin your bear search. Depending on where the best viewing possibilities are that day, it may lead you to a boardwalk trail, a picturesque salmon-bearing stream or a hillside of blueberry bushes. Your naturalist and specially trained bear guide will lead you through the Tongass National Forest in search of brown bears and Sitka blacktail deer in their natural habitat. In this secluded, forest setting you will appreciate the "real" Alaska and take in the stunning views of the Chichagof Islands.

A brief transport to the Hoonah airport is an opportunity to relax before embarking on the next part of your thrilling adventure. Take to the skies on a 30-minute breathtaking flightseeing tour that brings you back to the capital city. Soaring above the dramatic landscape, your pilot will fly over the Inside Passage and the Juneau Icefield. You'll see the Chichagof Island, Admiralty Island, Point Retreat Lighthouse, Funter Bay, Icy Strait, a host of glaciers including famous Mendenhall Glacier, Auke Bay and possibly even a few mountain goats climbing the rugged terrain. Truly an unforgettable way to appreciate the power and beauty of this unspoiled land.

This Connoisseur experience is limited to a small number of guests to ensure a personal, exclusive experience.

Dog Sled Summer Camp

Your small-group experience begins as you embark on a breathtaking motorcoach drive along Gastineau Channel, through the historic AJ Gold Mine site and into the remote and scenic Sheep Creek Valley. Here is the home, and summer training site, of some the state's most famous athletes - the huskies that run in the Iditarod.

As you arrive at the dog camp, you will be greeted by an Iditarod musher and his dog team. He'll then lead you on an educational tour of the camp while sharing real tales from the trail. You'll then visit the replica of an Iditarod Race checkpoint. During the race, the mushers and their teams of typically 16 dogs cover 1,161 miles (1,868 km) in generally fifteen days. You'll go through the steps each musher performs, step by step, as if you're traveling with him along the route. Among the musher's chief concerns is the health and care of his or her dogs. You'll learn that all dogs are examined by veterinarians/nurses before the start of the race, and are identified and tracked by microchip implants and collar tags. On the trails, volunteer veterinarians examine each dog's heart, hydration, appetite, attitude, weight, lungs, and joints at all of the checkpoints to help ensure the dogs' and the musher's welfare and safety.

It will then be your turn to answer the call of the wild. You'll climb aboard a comfortable wheeled sled and relax as your husky team whisks you along the 1.5-mile trail through the beautiful landscape. You'll return to camp for your chance to visit with the dogs, thank them for their service, and as a special treat, pet the puppies and learn what it's like to live amid 120 happy huskies.

Your Iditarod experience concludes as you bid your new canine friends good-bye and return to your ship.

This excursion was chosen last season by Princess passengers for overall tour quality and outstanding customer service and awarded Tour Guide of the Season in Juneau.

Bike & Tram Elevation Sensation

Your day begins with a narrated, scenic drive to Eaglecrest Lodge - in winter the local ski area and in summer the start for your biking journey. Along the way, your guides will provide you with historical information on the founding of Juneau, some of their favorite stories about Juneau, and what you are seeing along the way.

Once you arrive, your expert guides will outfit you in top-of-the-line gear including your helmet, disk-braked bike, water bottles, and rain gear and gloves, if necessary. After a safety briefing, you'll be ready for adventure. You'll cruise along the 5.2-mile downhill route, stopping along the way to learn about the unique flora and fauna of the rainforest including wild blueberries, giant skunk cabbage, and the prickly Devil's Club. You'll get to enjoy spectacular vistas of the surrounding mountains, valleys and glaciers along the way.

As you continue along a 4.3-mile, fairly flat scenic road, you'll get to take in breathtaking views across Fritz Cove, including peeks at the Mendenhall Glacier. It's also a great spot to catch a glimpse of eagles or spawning salmon in season. You'll then ride along the rugged coastline to False Outer Point before stopping to enjoy a quick break and a light snack.

Your adventure continues with a 25-minute van transfer from Douglas Island to the Mount Roberts Tramway. You'll ascend 1,800 feet to the Mountain House Sky Bridge, enjoying the stunning alpine scenery along the way. After a brief introduction to the many available activities, you're free to set out on your own to explore the gift shops, restaurant, bald eagle exhibit, Nature Center, viewing platforms and hiking trails, and movie theater which shows a Tlingit cultural history film every half hour for free! Your tickets allow for unlimited rides throughout the day, so you may return to your ship at your leisure. The pier is just a short walk way.

Mendenhall Glacier Native Canoe Adventure

Your trip begins with a scenic motorcoach ride to the beautiful Mendenhall Lake. There, you'll be treated to an excellent view of the glacier - one-and-a-half miles wide and one hundred and fifty feet high at its face.

Arriving at the lake, it'll be time to gear up, board your authentic Alaskan Native-style canoe and take off on your unforgettable adventure. The small size of your group allows for an intimate family experience.

This journey transports you to a world of stunning beauty and ancient traditions. You'll paddle across the serene waters of the lake, navigating past floating icebergs. You'll marvel at the spectacular views of the glacier and towering peaks as you float past the shoreline. All the while, your expert guide shares natural history and Native lore of the surrounding scenery and wildlife. Birds including arctic terns nest in the towering cliffs, and eagles, goats, salmon and bears are all common sights. You'll then venture within a safe distance of the massive, awe-inspiring face of the living Mendenhall Glacier. Experience the thrill of skirting the base of beautiful and roaring Nugget Falls and go ashore to refuel with an Alaska-style snack.

After this incredible experience, re-board your motor coach for the short ride back to your ship.

Brown Bear & Wildlife Viewing Expedition

This delightful small-group exploration is an exceptional experience allowing up to just twelve guests per tour and two guides, who will be with you every step of the way.

Your incredible, half-day wildlife adventure begins when you meet your Alaskan bush pilot for a breathtakingly scenic flight over southeast Alaska's glorious landscape.

Once your plane has landed, you will immediately find yourself in brown bear territory, where access is limited by permit to ensure preservation of these glorious creatures. Here, your expert local guide will share in-depth knowledge of the area's fascinating natural history, wildlife and of course, the life and habits of brown bears. You will enjoy an educational walk along pretty streams, breathtaking estuaries and coastal areas looking for wildlife and taking photographs.

Nature enthusiasts will marvel at this unique opportunity to discover a remote area of Alaska and its wild inhabitants, before heading back to port, having experienced a truly special day out.

Dog Sledding on the Mendenhall Glacier

Your exciting journey begins with a ride to the heliport. There, you'll don a pair of glacier overboots and board the helicopter for your flight over the Mendenhall Glacier. These are the premier touring helicopters known around the world for their exceptionally smooth ride and excellent viewing opportunities.

During your breathtaking flight, you'll get to see some of nature's most beautiful landscapes in areas that are only accessible by air. You'll marvel at the lush rainforest, deep blue crevasses, alpine ridges and glacier carved peaks as your pilot gives you a spectacular flightseeing tour.

Set down at the picturesque dog sled camp located on the famous Mendenhall Glacier. This is where you'll meet your professional mushers and their dogs to learn their tricks of the trade. You and your fellow amateur mushers will take turns working the dog team or relaxing in the sled, while you experience the unique thrill of zipping across the snow pack of the Mendenhall Glacier behind a team of huskies. You'll be spending about an hour in the dog camp among hundreds of Alaskan Husky sled dogs, so be sure to dress warmly and in layers. You'll need a good jacket, hat, gloves, and sunglasses, too, to go along with your sense of adventure!

Once you've finished your exhilarating sled ride, you will have time to talk with the mushers, take pictures and cuddle with the puppies your helicopter takes you back to base and civilization. Total helicopter flight time is approximately 30 minutes. Then, you'll conclude your adventure with a short, relaxing drive back to your ship while you reflect on your exciting adventure.

Mendenhall Glacier & Whale Quest

Board your motorcoach and take a short scenic drive to view and photograph Mendenhall Glacier. Along the way your guide will entertain you with legends and lore of Juneau's colorful past.

Ahead, Mendenhall Glacier looms dramatically. Formed during the Little Ice Age, which began about 3,000 years ago, the glacier is fed from an icefield high above Juneau. From across an iceberg-dotted lake you will see the magnificent glacier, a dynamic flowing force, carving its way seaward. Sustained by the geography and unique climate of the area, Mendenhall Glacier has been able to survive much longer than other glaciers in North America. Its existence continues to provide us with new insights into past, present, and future climatic conditions.

Built into a cliff above the valley you will find the glacier's visitor's center. Interactive displays and U.S. Forest Service interpreters offer history and insight to this breathtaking, natural phenomenon. Through the center's large picture windows, uninterrupted views of the glacier abound and the surrounding area features a number of picturesque walking trails.

Your adventure continues when you re-board your motorcoach for a picturesque drive to Auke Bay en route to the thrilling Whale Watching & Widlife Quest cruise. A unique opportunity to experience southeast Alaska's natural history and marine animals, this exceptional tour is available rain or shine.

Board a water jet-powered catamaran specially designed for wildlife viewing. The warm, spacious main cabin welcomes you and the panoramic windows offer breathtaking views. Admire the majestic backdrop of snow-capped peaks and glaciers as your experienced captain guides you through the island-studded waters of Stephens Passage.

As you cruise, an onboard naturalist will explain the habits and habitats of the wildlife you may encounter. You'll want to have your binoculars and your camera ready when you spot Steller sea lions, harbor seals, Dall's porpoises, bald eagles, Sitka blacktail deer and, occasionally, bears.

Of course, no whale-watching tour would be complete without seeing whales, and we are so confident in our Alaskan crew's spotting ability that if you don't see one of these magnificent creatures you will receive a $100.00 cash refund when you disembark the tour vessel. But don't anticipate money back, as whales have been spotted on every tour for the past fourteen years!

The Inside Passage waters near Juneau support a very healthy humpback whale population. These magnificent mammals spend the summer months in the nutrient-rich waters before heading to Hawaii to mate and give birth. The whales have a breathing cycle that typically lasts four to six minutes; surfacing several times in quick succession to recharge their oxygen supply, then showing their massive tail flukes before disappearing into the depths to feed on krill and small schooling fish. Once whales are sighted, your captain will maneuver the boat to allow for exceptional viewing and photo opportunities.

During your cruise, complimentary snacks and beverages will be offered and motorcoach transport will be waiting to return you to your ship.

Whale Watching & Wildlife Quest

A unique opportunity to experience southeast Alaska's natural history and marine wildlife, this exceptional, award-winning tour is available rain or shine.

Following a short motorcoach ride to beautiful Auke Bay, board a water jet-powered catamaran specially designed for wildlife viewing. The warm, comfortable and spacious main cabin welcomes you and the panoramic windows offer breathtaking views of the spectacular scenery. Admire the majestic backdrop of snow-capped peaks and glaciers as your experienced captain guides you through the island-studded waters of Stephens Passage.

While you cruise, an onboard naturalist explains the habits and habitats of the creatures you may encounter. Make sure to have your binoculars and camera ready to capture the moment when you spot Steller sea lions, harbor seals, Dall's porpoises, bald eagles, Sitka blacktail deer and, occasionally, bears. Of course the stars of the show are the whales and we are so confident in our Alaskan crew's spotting ability that if you don't see one, you will receive a $100.00 cash refund when you disembark the tour vessel. But don't anticipate a refund as whales have been spotted on every one of our tours for the past fourteen years!

The Inside Passage waters near Juneau support a very healthy humpback whale population. These magnificent mammals spend the summer months in the nutrient-rich waters before heading to Hawaii to mate and give birth. The whales have a breathing cycle that typically last four to six minutes; surfacing several times in quick succession to recharge their oxygen supply, then showing their massive tail flukes before disappearing into the depths to feed on krill and small schooling fish. Once whales are sighted, your captain will maneuver the boat to allow for exceptional viewing and photo opportunities.

During your tour, complimentary snacks and beverages will be offered. And motorcoach transport will be waiting to return you to your ship.

Alaska's Ultimate Zipline & Canopy Expedition

Your small-group tour begins with a short walk to the boat dock where you'll board an expedition craft to cruise across Gastineau Channel to the Treadwell Mine site on Douglas Island. In its heyday, the Treadwelll Mine produced over $66 million in gold over 35 years. Now, it's the site for your spectacular experience.

Once you arrive, your professionally trained guides will outfit you with state-of-the-art safety equipment and give you a detailed safety briefing on your zipline adventure. Then, an off-road vehicle will take you up the rich, densely forested hillside to the first zipline platform. This is just the beginning of nearly a mile of dual high-tension cables linking a network of platforms mounted high in Sitka spruce trees.

Throughout this nature-based eco-adventure, you'll be surrounded by the sights and sounds of Alaska's rainforest. As you progressively ease into the forest canopy, you'll cross aerial suspension bridges that offer breathtaking views of spectacular Bullion Creek, while taking in the unique vistas of Juneau from the treetops. After the last zipline, you'll then experience the thrill of rappelling into base camp. Ready to celebrate your day and recognize your achievement, you'll enjoy a light snack before taking part in a special medal ceremony where you'll receive a custom cast medal in commemorating your triumph.

Your adventure concludes with a short cruise back across the Channel. Gliding across the water, you'll leave historic Douglas Island, but take back a lifetime of memories.

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