Whale Watching Adventure in Juneau
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Mobile ticket
Highlights
Although we are the original whale-watching company in Juneau (operating since 1994), we are still small and family-owned and operated! We want you to feel like part of the family, and we pride ourselves on prioritizing local hires in order to give back to our community and give you the best possible tour experience. We want our guides to love Juneau as much as you do! Our fleet consists of only mammal-friendly jet boats, and the small size and intimate setting will make you feel right at home with the whales. We pride ourselves on our quick transfers between vehicles! We don't want you to wait any longer than you absolutely have to!
Inclusions
What's included
- Bottled water
- Binoculars
- Snacks
- Coffee and/or Tea
Itinerary
Go in search of whales with a naturalist guide on a day trip from Juneau. Hop onboard a boat and get binoculars to spot other wildlife such as sea lions, bald eagles, and black bears. Depart from downtown Juneau on a bus driven by a local tour guide through a scenic route to Auke Bay, where you board a comfortable jet boat. Be led by a captain and naturalist on an unforgettable search for whales in Favorite Channel, Stephens Passage, Lynn Canal, or Saginaw Channel. Binoculars are provided so you can see the humpbacks, killer whales, Dall’s porpoises, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, bald eagles, black bears, and towering mountains better. With the growing abundance of whales in the area and their comfort with small boats, you are bound to see many. This tour includes transfers between downtown and Auke Bay and two hours on the water. Included in the price of the tour are onboard refreshments, including bottled water, coffee, hot chocolate, and a small snack.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.8
- 5330
- 410
- 37
- 25
- 110
Ratings come from 362 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5Whales in Juneau
Fantastic Crew! They're as excited as the guests. Very knowledgeable and even better having one who studies them, is a photographer, and has a great deal of local experience.
5Safer for the sea life and Fun for Us!
DOLPHIN JET BOAT TOURS was absolutely amazing. We were there at the end of Sept. It was on and off rainy, but the boat is enclosed & heated, but you still could view wildlife by opening the large window if you wanted to without getting wet or going outdoors. Our naturalist was Savannah and the Captain was Jay. Captain Jay sought out orcas first because they were the furthest point south in Auke Bay. In order to make it back in time, we found the small pod of orcas first and then went back to where they knew humpback whales were still in the waters. A lot of the humpback whales were already gone due to starting their migration. The few that were left- one was identified by naturalist Savannah named "Magma"- was noted as a local celebrity, but also probably one of the last to leave. This whale-friendly jet boat has way less mechanicals in the water as it cruises along compared to traditional propeller driven boats. The possibility of sea life strikes are less impactful or dangerous. If keeping wildlife in the sea is important to you, consider a jet boat-style whale watch like Dolphin. Unfortunately, there are only a few companies that have these boat types. For this reason and the knowledgeable, approachable staff, Dolphin Jet Boat Tours was worth every penny. The boat had a restroom, exterior viewing areas and plenty of seating inside. It was very clean and guests were provided water and a nice snack-bag while on board. It was in the low 40's and intermittently rainy, so the hot coffee and hot chocolate were a classy touch, as was Mother Nature's providing us with a rainbow over the bay. The whale watch tour should definitely be one to take when you are in Juneau. The shuttle ride to and from the tram location in downtown Juneau was expeditious and our driver, "Chuck" & his bus named "Norris" was not only funny but knowledgeable. Thanks again to the staff and boat crew for a memorable time!! We learned a ton and this trip exceeded our expectations. Sarah & Ken, WI.
5A WHALE OF A GOOD TIME!
A lovely experience Captain J and Naturalist J were courteous and very informative. The weather was pleasant and we did see a few whales even though we were out of peek season. The boat was comfortable and we could venture outside. Snacks were enjoyable. Our grandson, age 2 1/2 may not remember this day but we will! Highly recommend and the price of this 3 hour excursion was phenomenal!
5Orca & Humpback together!
The pick up experience was easy off the cruise ship. They give you detailed instructions. You are driven to another harbour- very nice facilities. We were on one of the smaller boats, smaller being about 40 ft! We were lucky to have been a small group. We saw lots of humpbacks and orca with views of the glacier in the distance. No breaches, but whales of both kinds all around us. The naturalist Savannah was very nice and the captain Jay very experienced.
5Exceptional service “whale watching “ tour
Small group “whale watching tour” but big on service with a “guarantee” to see whales! Definitely recommend this company! We saw 8 whales, otters, seals and eagles
5Friendly and highly recommended
The family had a great time. The staff was friendly and very knowledgable about the wildlife. I would recommend and use Dolphin Jet Boat Tours again.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Look for our representative outside the Mt. Roberts Tramway building, directly below the cable lines. They will have a blue sign with yellow letters that says, "Whale watching tour meets here.". Please do not go inside the Tramway building to inquire about this tour.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 100 travellers
- Operated by
- Dolphin Jet Boat Tours
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Juneau
- Its from-price is 30% below the median of the 95 experiences we list in Juneau.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 16 of 95.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Juneau
Juneau is Alaska's capital, a small harbour city beneath steep forested mountains, reachable only by air or sea and close to glaciers.
Juneau sits on the Gastineau Channel in the Alaska Panhandle, squeezed between the water and the steep slopes of Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts, with the Juneau Icefield behind. No road connects it to the rest of North America. The city grew after gold was found in 1880, and the Alaska State Capitol, a columned building of the 1930s, the octagonal Russian Orthodox church of St Nicholas and the old downtown streets recall that past.
Top-ranked sights in Juneau: Mt. Roberts Tramway (Goldbelt Tram), Mendenhall Glacier, Nugget Falls.
