15 Glacier Tours in the USA, Compared

1.Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6,236 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $249Our pick

Review of Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier and whale-watching tour, with timing, value, wildlife odds, transport tips, and practical advice.

“Loved Alaska Tours with Kacie, Justin, and Nate aboard the George Mason. Very informative and we saw 2 whales that breeched! So exciting to see Sasha and her baby Chacha! Kacie knows her stuff and you can tell she loves her work! Great time! Highly recommend!”

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2.Wilderness, Wildlife, Glacier Experience from Anchorage

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,004 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $199

Review of Anchorage’s half-day wilderness tour, with wildlife, glaciers, photo stops, Chugach scenery, costs, timing, and cruise advice.

“This tour is perfect to experience some highlights of Anchorage if you don’t have many days to sight see. The Wildlife Conservation stop was amazing enabling us to see many animals such as bears, moose, reindeer, porcupine, lynx, and bison. We stopped at a riverside area where salmon come to spawn and had up close views of sockeye, chum, and pink salmon. We chose to upgrade and went on the boat tour on Portage Lake to see Byron glacier up close. It was phenomenal and worth the extra money! Our tour guide, Aaron, was very knowledgeable about local wildlife and did a fantastic job explaining the history of Anchorage. He…”

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3.Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier & Wildlife Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,756 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $265

Review of Major Marine Tours’ six-hour Seward cruise to Kenai Fjords, with glaciers, wildlife, lunch, costs, tips, and booking advice.

“Guide was extremely knowledgeable and explained in detail about wildlife seen, local geography and glaciers”

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4.Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,285 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $376

Paddle Mendenhall Lake, hike near the glacier, and explore Tongass National Forest on a guided five-hour Juneau adventure.

“Meg and Ben were very knowledgeable and made the adventure exciting! Highly recommend for an up close look!”

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5.Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,269 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $250

Paddle across Mendenhall Lake to the glacier near Juneau with guides, gear, wildlife, hot drinks, and round-trip cruise dock transport.

“We consider this our best excursion experience during our week in Alaska. Mason was so helpful, funny and awesome!”

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6.Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier & Wildlife Tour from Seward

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,036 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $223

Cruise Kenai Fjords from Seward past glaciers, whales, puffins, and seabird rookeries, with lunch, expert narration, and warm indoor seating.

“Best part of our trip! We saw so many animals....mountain goat, whales, puffins, and more. The glaciers were also something to behold. Crew and captain were great.”

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7.Ultimate Juneau Whale Watch and Mendenhall Glacier View

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 915 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $156

Review of Juneau’s 3-hour whale watch with Mendenhall Glacier views, wildlife, heated boats, pricing, timing, and practical booking advice.

“Chris, Nate, and Gracie were FANTASTIC, and boy, did they deliver on the whales. I mean, we had a convo before we departed with Magma, and he was a little cagey on whether or not he'd be able to get his whale friends to perform because they've eaten well this season and they're fat an happy, but perform they did! We weren't even there ten minutes before we heard, "BREACH! BREACH! BREACH!" Trip of a lifetime, and we didn't care that we were soaked through and freezing.”

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8.Prince William Sound Glacier Tour – Whittier

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 838 reviews · from $248

Cruise Prince William Sound from Whittier for glaciers, wildlife, salmon chowder, smooth catamaran comfort, and expert narration.

“Was very good cruise Got to see different wildlife Got up close to glaciers Crew were great and happy to answer any questions”

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9.Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and Ultimate Whale Watch Combo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 771 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $199

Review of Juneau’s whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier combo, with itinerary details, value advice, timing tips, and honest drawbacks.

“Mary (bus 51), Chelsie, Gracie,Noah, and Captain Chris were all so friendly, knowledgeable, and funny. They helped make the experience fun and memorable. Whale watching was so cool! And the Mendenhall Glacier and nugget falls was a must see!”

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10.Alaska Helicopter Tour with Glacier Landing – 60 mins – ANCHORAGE AREA

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 725 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $522

Review of the Anchorage-area Knik Glacier helicopter tour, with glacier landing, wildlife views, winter tips, price advice, and booking details.

“You will receive very personalised treatment. Staff was very professional and exceptionally personable!”

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11.Wildlife and Glaciers with a walk in the Rainforest

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 719 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $149

Review of Anchorage’s wildlife, glacier, and rainforest tour, with practical advice on seasons, guides, stops, comfort, and value.

“It was wonderful tour. Enjoyed very much and I recommend for everyone. Well worth the time and money. We would definitely do it again.”

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12.Mt. Rainier highlights – old forest, falls and glaciers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 564 reviews · 10 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $179

Review of a small-group Mt. Rainier tour from Seattle with glaciers, waterfalls, old-growth forest, snowshoeing, and practical hiking tips.

“This tour was incredible! The whole day was packed with things to do. The hike itself was pretty difficult because of how steep the trails are, but wow was it worth it. The scenery was beautiful. Our guide, Rachel, was amazing. She was friendly, helpful, and brought us to some wonderful locations to take photos and videos. This is the best tour I have been on. If you’re considering doing it, I think it’s absolutely worth it.”

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13.Mendenhall Glacier Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 556 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $79Best value

Review of Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier Trolley Tour, with timing, value, trails, weather tips, cruise-port logistics, and honest drawbacks.

“-I told Viator my ship and tour. I had the wrong date by one day. They sent a reminder 20 hours before so it could not be changed. No transfer of date, no refund, no discount . Poor communication, many reminders of the old tour, plus requests for review. Local tour company was good Viator had poor service.”

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14.Alaska Helicopter and Glacier Dogsled Tour – ANCHORAGE AREA

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 491 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $761

Fly over Knik Glacier, mush champion sled dogs on summer snow, and meet Iditarod dogs on this Anchorage-area Alaska adventure.

“The adventure started with a helicopter ride over a lush hillside where we spotting a bear barreling though the trees below us. We entered a frozen world of glaciers and icebergs that ranged from gray (from silt) to blue to stark white. We flew up the steep face of the glacier, landing at a remote outpost where we were told we stood on 40 feet of snow... and thousands of feet of ancient ice. Waiting for us were a pack of 12 very excited sled dogs, tails wagging, ready to run. After a quick lesson on how to steer and brake, we set off on a thrilling loop across the…”

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15.Glacier Hike on Matanuska Glacier – Best Vacation Value

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 463 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $325

Walk across Matanuska Glacier from Anchorage with expert guides, safety gear, scenic valley views, wildlife chances, and a two-hour ice hike.

“Wow! This tour is a must! Hunter was absolutely incredible. He is beyond knowledgeable, fun, kind, and an all out great tour guide!”

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