Juneau Whale-Watching Cruise and Salmon Hatchery Tour

See the best of Juneau’s marine life on a combination whale-watching and salmon hatchery tour. You’ll start on the sea, looking for humpback whales and other ocean wildlife from the comfort of a specially designed whale-spotting boat. Learn about the whales from the onboard naturalist, and enjoy samples of Alaskan salmon and chocolate. Then, visit the Ladd Macaulay Salmon Hatchery for a behind-the-scenes tour. See the large raceways filled with king and coho smolt (young salmon), and check out marine creatures like starfish, crabs and sea cucumbers in the touch tanks and aquarium. Salmon tastings are included!

Start at the Mt Roberts Tramway, where you’ll meet up with other guests and head to the docks to board your Juneau whale-watching cruise. Specially designed for whale-spotting tours, the comfortable boat puts you as close to the whales as you can get – you’ll be at the whales’ level from the deck and bow.

Forward-facing seats inside the heated cabin offer good views of the water, and the water-jet drives provide quiet underwater operation without dangerous propellers that may scare or harm the whales. All of this adds up to whales that feel safe around the boat and will come close! Humpback whales actively feed and play in the area from May to September. You may also see other local animals like orcas, seals, sea lions and porpoises.

Learn about the whales’ habits and behaviors from the onboard naturalist, and snack on tastings of Alaskan salmon, Alaskan chocolate and fudge, washed down with soft drinks, hot chocolate and bottled water. You can even hear the whales’ underwater communication – or ‘singing’ – via your boat’s underwater hydrophone.

When your 2-hour whale-watching cruise ends, travel by refurbished military bus to the Ladd Macaulay Salmon Hatchery, part of a non-profit organization that works to sustain Alaska’s important salmon population through research, education and tourism.

During your behind-the-scenes tour of the hatchery, you’ll learn about the lifecycle of salmon – from egg to adult – and see their near-shore marine environment. With a knowledgeable guide, find out what goes on at a salmon hatchery, including the hatchery’s Salmon Smolt and Rearing Facility, where four large raceways hold king and coho smolt (young salmon). Check out the 5,000-gallon (18,900-liter) saltwater aquarium and the touch tank, where you can touch starfish, crab, sea cucumbers and other ocean critters.

Round out your salmon experience with tastings of king salmon dip, salmon jerky, canned smoked salmon and salmon caviar. You'll then return by bus to the Mt Roberts Tramway, where your tour began.

• 2-hour whale-watching tour
• 2-hour tour of the Ladd Macaulay Salmon Hatchery
• Use of binoculars
  
• Tastings of wild Alaskan salmon, Alaskan chocolate and fudge on the cruise, and salmon products at the hatchery
  

• Hotel/port pickup and drop-off