Top 6 Shore Excursions for Alaska Cruises — From Heli-Hiking to Whale Watching

Some cruise destinations, like Barcelona or Venice, don't require booking shore excursions. You can simply disembark and explore the major sights on your own.

However, the ports in Alaska are quite different from that.

To fully experience an Alaska cruise, it's essential to book a tour at most, if not all, of the stops on your itinerary. And not just any tour — you'll want the best shore excursions that take you into the stunning Alaskan wilderness.

Alaska’s main attractions, such as awe-inspiring mountain vistas, glaciers, fjords, breaching whales, and feeding bears, are all connected to its majestic natural environment. Therefore, the best shore excursions often take you beyond the towns where cruise ships dock. Simply staying in the towns means you'll miss out on the heart of what Alaska has to offer.

Choosing the Best Shore Excursions for Your Alaska Cruise

For those who know me well, it's no secret that I’m passionate about Alaska's port towns. This passion comes not only from my years of writing about Alaska and other cruise destinations for major newspapers, but also from my long-time role as co-author of Frommer's "Alaska Cruises & Ports of Call" guide. Over the years, I've researched multiple editions of this book, spending countless days exploring Alaska's major cruise ports. I’ve had the chance to try numerous shore excursions in places like Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, and I’ve explored these towns extensively on my own as well.

I also have some key recommendations for those looking to get the most out of their Alaska shore excursions:

• Take to the skies. It’s not cheap — expect to pay $250 or more per person — but nothing compares to the breathtaking views of Alaska from a helicopter or floatplane. The Juneau Icefield, covering over 1,500 square miles, is especially spectacular. Some flightseeing tours even offer landings on the ice itself.
• Don’t miss the whales. Even if you're not a wildlife enthusiast, Alaska’s humpback whales are awe-inspiring. These giant creatures can reach up to 52 feet in length, longer than a Greyhound bus. Boat tours offer up-close encounters, with Juneau and Icy Strait Point being prime whale-watching spots.
• Splurge on a Misty Fjords National Monument tour. This stunning wilderness, not far from Ketchikan, showcases Alaska’s iconic landscapes: glacial valleys, icy blue lakes, waterfalls, and snow-covered peaks. The only way to reach this remote area is by boat or floatplane, and tours typically start at $200 per person.

As you can see, many of the most incredible shore excursions in Alaska's ports come with a hefty price tag. However, Alaska is a destination that deserves a little extra investment. It's the kind of place where it might be worth budgeting as much for your shore excursions as you would for your cabin.

That said, you don’t have to splurge on every excursion. For instance, in Juneau, you can enjoy the outdoors with a more affordable visit to the Mendenhall Glacier, which is only 12 miles from the cruise docks. You can reach it by bus or taxi. The bus ride costs about $45 per person round-trip — which I find a bit overpriced (but, alas, it is what it is). If you’re traveling with a few people, a taxi, which costs about $35 each way, might be a better option. For a small group, it’s not too expensive.

Regardless of your choice of transport, Mendenhall Glacier offers scenic hiking trails and a visitor center. There's also a creek where you might spot salmon running, and on occasion, you might even see a bear. But be warned: Bears are one of those things you think you’d like to see in Alaska, but when you actually come face-to-face with one, you’ll be hoping you don’t become its next meal.

That being said, the towns themselves are not without their charm. While I highly recommend venturing into Alaska's wild landscapes, there are plenty of attractions worth visiting in the main port towns as well.

Food tours are a big hit in Juneau these days, with highlights like King crab bisque and fresh Alaska salmon. The Alaska State Museum is another must-see, offering a lovely experience. Skagway feels like stepping onto the set of a Gold Rush-era film, and you definitely need to take a walk down its historic main street (Broadway), with its classic wooden-board sidewalks. If you’re into craft beers, I highly recommend trying the Spruce Tip Blonde Ale at the Skagway Brewing Company, brewed with Sitka spruce tips picked locally in the spring.

In Ketchikan, don’t miss a stroll along Creek Street, perched over Ketchikan Creek, where you might catch sight of salmon running. It’s a perfect spot for an iconic Alaska selfie.

How to find the best Alaska shore excursions

The easiest way to book a shore excursion in Alaska is through your cruise line. Simply select your tours online before your voyage or while you’re on board, and they’ll take care of the rest. Your ticket will be delivered to your room, and a guide will be waiting to greet you when you disembark.

Alternatively, you can book directly with a local tour operator in one of the Alaskan ports. However, keep in mind that many of the tour operators you'll find at the ports are the same ones running the cruise line-sponsored excursions. In many cases, the tours offered by these operators are identical to those sold by the cruise line, at the same price. So, shopping around may not offer much benefit.

In some instances, cruise lines even have ownership stakes in the tour operators in Alaska's ports, or at the very least a partial interest. For example, the parent company of Princess Cruises and Holland America co-owns the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, a popular attraction in Skagway.

It’s worth noting that you may sometimes find discounts by booking directly with a tour operator. While I’ve had some success with this approach in the past, it’s a bit hit-or-miss.

Top 6 Alaska Shore Excursions

Here are six of my all-time favorite shore excursions in Alaska, all of which you’ll find available with major cruise lines operating in the region. While each cruise line may have its own variations of these tours — sometimes even under different names and at different price points — they’re consistently offered across the board.

For the prices and names listed below, I’ve referenced the current tour options available from Princess Cruises, which, along with its sister brand Holland America, is one of the largest cruise operators in Alaska.

Helicopter dog-sledding and glacier exploration

Price: $849.95 per person

Available at the port: Juneau

For those with a generous budget, this could be the pinnacle of Alaska shore excursions. It combines a thrilling helicopter ride over the expansive Juneau Icefield with a glacier landing where you can experience dog sledding, offering two of the most iconic Alaskan adventures in one unforgettable excursion.

This excursion can be eye-wateringly expensive, as I discovered firsthand. I once took my family of five on this adventure, and we spent over $2,000 (this was when the price was actually half of what it is now). It’s a significant amount of money for a three-hour outing.

But here’s the thing: I have zero regrets about it. The views of the Juneau Icefield as you fly to and from the dog-sledding camp are absolutely breathtaking — assuming the weather is on your side. But the real highlight was watching my three young daughters connect with the teams of Alaskan huskies at the camp.

Once you land at the camp, you'll get to meet the huskies and their mushers, see the dogs' living quarters, receive a quick introduction to mushing, and then take a thrilling ride around the camp on a dog-pulled sled.

Whale watching and wildlife tour

Price: $204.95

Available at port: Juneau

If you're eager to see Alaska’s iconic humpback whales, booking a whale-watching tour is a must. Juneau's waters are especially known for their abundance of humpbacks, to the point that the tour operator even guarantees a whale sighting.

Leaving from Juneau's harbor, you'll embark on a whale-watching boat and cruise to nearby waters, where you can expect to see not only humpback whales but also harbor seals, sea lions, and potentially even killer whales or porpoises.

The boat used for the tour has both indoor and outdoor viewing spaces. The trip lasts about four hours, including the transfer time from your cruise ship to the whale-watching boat.

If you're traveling with a larger group, it can sometimes be more cost-effective to arrange a private whale-watching boat out of Juneau. Many cruise lines offer private boat charters for whale-watching, or you can book one directly with a local tour operator.

Klondike rock climbing and rappelling

Price: $119.95 per person

Available at port: Skagway

If you're anything like me, the thought of scaling a rock face might feel a little intimidating. But don't let that hold you back from this thrilling 3.25-hour adventure — it's a blast!

You'll meet experienced climbing instructors at your ship, who will then drive you along the Klondike Highway to a beautiful granite cliffside. It's the perfect spot for both beginners and more experienced climbers. Once there, the guides will equip you with all necessary gear — including climbing shoes, helmets, and harnesses — to safely tackle a 70-foot rock wall. You'll receive plenty of guidance, along with a snack of trail mix and hot chocolate to keep your energy up.

Even if you're new to rock climbing, don't worry — I had zero experience when I first tried it, and neither did my young daughters, who absolutely loved the experience. The cliffs have different routes, some of which are beginner-friendly. After you make it to the top, the next thrill is rappelling back down.

White Pass & Yukon Route Railway ride

Price: $254.95 per person

Available at the port: Skagway

This is the quintessential Skagway experience. The narrow-gauge train ride up into the mountains is a must-do for visitors to this Gold Rush town-turned-tourist spot. And it’s no wonder why: it's one of the easiest and most scenic ways to immerse yourself in the vast wilderness of Alaska.

Personally, I tend to prefer more hands-on adventures. But if hiking, biking, horseback riding, or rafting through Skagway's wilderness isn’t for you (though there are plenty of tours for those activities), the White Pass & Yukon Railway offers a fantastic way to soak in the natural beauty of the area.

From the comfort of a vintage train car, you’ll be treated to breathtaking vistas of towering mountains, dramatic gorges, glacial rivers, and cascading waterfalls as the train climbs nearly 3,000 feet to the top of White Pass — the source of the legendary Yukon River. This 20-mile route, recognized as an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, is a marvel in itself, with steep grades, soaring wooden trestles, and thrilling, cliff-hanging turns.

Helicopter hiking and rail journey

Price: $399.95

Available at port: Skagway

While this adventure comes with a hefty price tag, I personally think it’s worth every penny. It's definitely one of my top Alaska shore excursions to date.

This five-hour excursion from Skagway begins with a transfer from your ship to a nearby helicopter launch pad, where you'll board a chopper to soar into the majestic Sawtooth Mountain Range.

During the brief flight, you'll be treated to breathtaking views of the mountains and Goat Lake before landing at Glacier Station, a remote mountain helipad nestled next to the White Pass & Yukon Railway tracks. From there, embark on a guided wilderness hike along the Skagway River — ranging from two to six miles — with the highlight being an awe-inspiring view of Laughton Glacier.

After your hike, head back to Glacier Station for a scenic ride on the White Pass & Yukon Railway, which will make a special stop to pick you up and take you back to Skagway.

Misty Fjords National Monument by floatplane

Price: $329.95

Port of departure: Ketchikan

Nothing captures the essence of Alaska quite like a floatplane ride, and Ketchikan is the perfect place to experience it. A fleet of floatplanes is ready to take you on an unforgettable journey to the nearby Misty Fjords National Monument.

Misty Fjords is a quintessential Alaskan destination so stunning that it might bring a tear to your eye — if the fog isn't too thick to see it. The monument earned its name because it’s often enveloped in mist and drizzle. Ketchikan holds the title of one of the rainiest cities in North America, receiving over 13 feet of rain annually, so be sure to pack a rain jacket.

Despite the mist, you'll be treated to breathtaking views of glacier-carved fjords, towering cliffs, and rock faces rising sharply from the ocean. The area is covered in temperate rainforests and features massive waterfalls — all thanks to the heavy rainfall. It's truly a spectacle worth seeing.

There are typically two versions of this tour: one that lasts around two hours and offers a flightseeing experience, and a longer option that includes a water landing within Misty Fjords National Monument.