GBP#01 Full Day Glacier Bay Tour - Glacier Bay Day Cruise

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Everything Alaska! Join our full day Glacier Bay day tour from Juneau. Glacier Bay was first surveyed in 1794 by a team from the H.M.S. Discovery under Captain George Vancouver. At that time, the survey showed only an indentation in the shoreline. The massive glacier was more than 4,000 feet thick in places, up to 20 miles wide, and extended more than 100 miles to the St. Elias Mountains. In 1879, however, naturalist John Muir discovered that the ice had retreated more than 30 miles and formed an actual bay. Glacier Bay National Park includes numerous tidewater glaciers, some of which actively calve icebergs into the bay. Mount Fairweather rises more than 15,000 feet into the sky, and several peaks reach from sea level to well over 6,500 feet. Home to whales, bears, mountain goats, moose, and a variety of birds, you can experience it all from the high-speed catamaran as you travel back in time to Glacier Bay.

  • Tour Itinerary

  • Glacier Bay National Park FAQ

Day
01

Juneau - Gustavus / Glacier Bay National Park

The catamaran's high speed enables us to explore the entire length of the West Arm of Glacier Bay to the face of Margerie and Grand Pacific glaciers, two of several tidewater glaciers in the park. Along the way, as you watch for wildlife and birds, you'll notice the transition of plant life from the lush, mature evergreen forest near the lodge, to younger alder and willow growth, to the recently uncovered bare rock dotted with primitive lichens and mosses at the faces of the retreating glaciers. Watch for giant towers of ice to "calve" away from the face of a glacier and tumble into the water. Observe the parks wildlife: bears, moose, and mountain goats; a variety of sea birds; three species of whales - humpback, orca and minke; harbor seals and sea lions. The catamaran features open top-deck viewing as well as comfortable interior seating, and large picture windows all around on both enclosed decks so you won't miss a thing. The cruise is planned with plenty of time for wildlife watching. To add information and perspective, a National Park Service ranger accompanies the cruise as narrator/interpreter for the day. The day cruise includes lunch, along with hot cocoa, tea and coffee. After your day of glacier and wildlife viewing, return to Bartlett Cove for you flight back to Juneau. A perfect combination for travelers with a limited amount of time.

05:30 am Flight Departure from Juneau Airport
06:00 am Arrival in Gustavus, Transfer to Bartlett Cove
06:50 am Board the "Baranof Wind” Catamaran
07:15 am Cruise Departure into famous Glacier Bay
12:00 pm Lunch onboard the Vessel
03:30 pm Return to Bartlett Cove
approximate 04:00 pm - 5:30 pm Transfer to Gustavus Airport
approximate 04:30 pm - 7:30 pm Flight Departure from Gustavus
approximate 05:00 pm - 8:00 pm Arrival at Juneau Airport 

 

Glacier Bay Day Tour
Rates in US $  (Season: May 24 - September 03) per Adult per Child
May 24 - June 12 $840.00 $690.00
June 13 - August 19 $815.00 $645.00
August 20 - September 03 $840.00 $690.00

 

Services included
  • Round Trip Flight from Juneau to Gustavus
  • Full Day Narrated Glacier Bay Wildlife & Glacier Cruise
  • Lunch & Non-Alcoholic Beverages
  • Round Trip Airport Transfer in Gustavus   
  • All Taxes & Fees

 

Additional Days - Juneau Hotel Accommodation
Rates in US $ / per Person  (+ tax) Single      Double      Triple      Quad      Child     
May 23 - September 07 - Standard  $ 180.00 $ 95.00 $ 67.00 $ 58.00 $ 10.00
May 23 - September 07 - Superior $ 230.00 $ 115.00 $ 83.00 $ 78.00 $ 10.00
Glacier BayNational Park - FAQ
Glacier Bay National Park was completely covered by ice just 200 years ago. Explorer Captain George Vancouver found Icy Strait choked with ice in 1794. The “Y” shaped body of Glacier Bay includes 16 tidewater glaciers. 12 of them are active and calve icebergs thundering into the bay. On the east and west of the 65 mile long bay the steep mountain summits of the Chilkat and the Fairweather Ranges rise up to provide a dramatic backdrop of glaciated mountain tops. During the summertime hundreds of whales are staying in Glacier Bay to feed in the nutrient rich waters before migrating back to Hawaii.
 
Q:
A:		 How do I get to Glacier Bay?
Glacier Bay National Park is located at the northern end of Southeast Alaska’s panhandle - approximately 50 miles west of Juneau. The only way to get to the Park is by charter or commercial aircraft and by boat. Daily air service to Gustavus is available between June and September from Juneau, Haines and Skagway, (flight time appr. 30 minutes) A high-speed passenger catamaran operates between Juneau’s Auke Bay and Gustavus / Bartlett Cove. There are no roads to and within Glacier Bay National Park and limited Alaska Marine Highway Ferry services. Please Note: You will not see any icebergs from the Bartlett Cove area. The only access to the fjords and bays within the national park is via a tour boat.
Q:
A:		 How can I visit the National Park?
Due to it's vast size and remote nature, the best ways to visit Glacier Bay National Park or Icy Straits is by tour boat, cruise ship or individually/escorted with kayak excursions. We offer a variety of 1-3 day tours, sightseeing and soft adventure programs. Custom itineraries are available upon request.
Q:
A:		 When is the best time to visit the Park?
In May wildlife is easy to spot. Migratory birds are resting on the way to the south.  Spring on the average has less rain than fall and there are fewer visitors in the Bay! In June throughout the area bears are easily spotted on shore and in mid June the whales are returning to Glacier Bay. July and August are the most popular months. The whales are here, breaching, playing and feeding. Flowers are in full bloom.  In September fewer visitors are in park. The bears are fishing for salmon! Great for glaciers! Good time to see the Northern Lights. The birds are migrating north for good bird watching.
Q:
A:		 What will I see in Glacier Bay?
Visitors will encounter icebergs, wildlife, and majestic country unrivaled by any other park in Alaska. The Glacier Bay National Park area includes 16 tidewater glaciers of whom 12 actively “calving” icebergs into the bay. The show can be spectacular. As water undermines the ice fronts, great chunks of ice - up to 200 feet high - break loose and crash into the water. The Johns Hopkins Glacier calves such volumes of ice that it is seldom possible to approach its ice cliffs closer than about 2 miles. Access to the fjords and bays is by tour boat leaving Bartlett Cove daily at 8:00 am / returning 3:30 pm. An onboard lunch is included.
Q:
A:		 Will I see wildlife?
Glacier Bay is home to a variety of wildlife. Humpback Whales, Orcas, Seals, Sea Lions, Sea Otters, Porpoises and numerous species of Sea Birds are just some of the varied marine creatures visitors can witness. In addition to the marine creatures, other commonly seen animals are mammals such as Brown and Black Bears and Moose. More than 200 species of birds found in the park include: Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, Raven, Owl, Sandhill Crane, Loon, Stellar Jay, Murre, Cormorant, Puffin and many others.
Q:
A:		 Are any hotels directly in the Park?
Only a very limited number of remote wilderness lodges are operating within the park area with a government license. Additional accommodation is available in Gustavus – about 6 Miles by road from Bartlett Cove. A government campground is located on the shores of Bartlett Cove. For accommodation details lease refer to our Glacier Bay tour pages.
Q:
A:		 What is the weather like?
Summer daytime temperatures range from 45° to 65° F. Periods of rainy, cool and overcast weather is common in Southeast Alaska. The weather almanac indicated an average 153 rainy days per year with an annual rainfall of 71 inches. A sweater, hat, gloves and rain gear are recommended. Glacier Bay receives 18 1/2 hours of sunlight during the summer solstice.
Q:
A:		 What's about Outdoor Activities?
There are a number of outfitters and soft-adventure companies operating from Juneau and Gustavus. Some of the available activities include: flight-seeing adventures, day and overnight kayak touring, whale watching, sport fishing, photography and hiking. For additional information please refer to our tour pages.