Why join an Above & Beyond Alaska trip?

Above & Beyond Alaska staff are locals who live and work in Juneau year around. We are professionally trained guides who know the mountain and ocean environments in our area inside and out. We offer high quality, small group trips for those who want to experience the true spirit of Alaska.


Do I need prior experience to go on your guided adventures?

No experience is necessary for our trips, however you need to be physically fit and have an appetite for adventure. Our guides are trained to teach you the basics of glacier trekking, ice climbing and kayaking. We cater towards all ages and abilities. We do ask you meet our physical requirements outlined in our trip descriptions on our website.

What is your minimum age requirement?

Our minimum age requirement on regularly scheduled guided trips is 12. If your kids are younger than 12, then you can still schedule a trip with us if you book a private trip. We charge an additional fee for private trips. For groups of six or more, we will waive the private trip fee. If you are interested in booking a private trip with us, your kids need to be physically fit and need to meet the requirements outlined in our trip descriptions. 

How many people are in a group?

Our maximum group size is 12 clients with two guides. We can customize a private trip if you have a group larger than 12.  


What gear do I need to bring?

We provide all the gear on our trips except for personal clothing and hiking boots. We recommend you dress in warm layers on top, starting with a shorted sleeved shirt, long sleeved shirt, and a fleece pullover or wool sweater. For bottoms, we recommend you wear comfortable hiking pants or pants you would typically work out in at the gym. We also recommend you bring warm hat and gloves.  


Can I purchase gear in Juneau?

You can purchase retail kayak gear and equipment at our kayak shop in Auke Bay harbor. For all other outdoor gear, we recommend you purchase from
Foggy Mountain Shop, Juneau’s premier outdoor clothing/gear supplier located in downtown Juneau.


What is the weather like in Juneau?

Juneau receives around 100 inches of rainfall a year. We are surrounded by the Tongass National Rainforest, one of the largest temperate rainforests in the world. Average temperatures in the summer are in the 50’s and 60’s. April, May, and June are Juneau’s driest months. July, August, and September will often be cooler.

Will we still go if it's raining?

Since we live in a rainforest, we operate rain or shine. We provide quality rain jacket and pants on all our trips. If weather conditions are stormy and unsafe, then we will cancel the trip and give a full refund.  

What if our ship gets delayed or our port call in Juneau gets cancelled?

If your ship gets delayed, we will try to reschedule you on another trip. If your ship is so late where time won't allow you to do a trip with us, then we will give you a full refund. If for some reason your ship can't stop in Juneau as planned, then you will be given a full refund. The chances of your ship not arriving in Juneau is very slim.    

Since we are booking independently, will you get us back to our ship on time?

The majority of our trips are catered to cruise ship travelers and the time frame you have in port. We always get clients back to their ship on time and no one has ever missed their ship.  


Will I see wildlife on the trips?

Humpback whales, porpoises, sea lions, harbor seals, black bears, black-tailed deer, and bald eagles are many of the animals and birds seen on our kayak adventures. On our glacier trips, we typically don't see wildlife as this is a very barren, glaciated landscape. Occassionally we see porcupine on the trail hike to the glacier, beaver in Mendenhall Lake, and mountain goats on the cliff bands above the glacier.


Is the glacier cold?

Average Juneau temperatures during the summer are between 50 and 60 degrees while glacier temperatures are about 10 degrees cooler. Please dress in layers on this trip and wear warm gloves and a hat.  

Is the glacier slippery?

The glacier can get slick after continuous rainy days. The majority of the time, glacier ice is easy to trek on. Crampons and an ice axe are used to go up and down glacial terrain.