Best Alaska Helicopter Tours

Helicopter tours in Alaska are popular shore excursions. Though a helicopter trip is an investment, most agree they're worth it—a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the whole family. Scenic helicopter rides let you see glaciers, mountain lakes, forests, and more.

Read on to find our picks for the best helicopter tours in Alaska:

1. Juneau Icefield Helicopter Tour

Port: Juneau

Points of Interest: Juneau Icefield, Herbert Glacier

Highlights: Helicopter, Glacier

Best for: First-Time Alaska Explorers, Families and Multi-Generational Groups, Adventure Seekers, Great for Kids, Limited-Mobility Travelers, Scenic and Photography Focused Travlers

Enjoy majestic views as you ride in a helicopter over the Juneau Icefield, then land on the Herbert Glacier. You’ll take a relaxing stroll along the glacier’s surface with this Juneau helicopter tour. This is our only helicopter glacier tour that is ADA accessable. 

2. Skagway Glacier Helicopter Tour

Port: Skagway

Points of Interest: May include Chilkat Glacier, Ferebee Glacier, or Meade Glacier (route is weather-dependent)

Highlights: Helicopter, Glacier Walk

Best for: First-Time Alaska Explorers, Families and Multi-Generational Groups, Adventure Seekers, Great for Kids, Scenic and Photography Focused Travlers

3. Anchoarge Grand Knik Glacier Tour

Port: Anchorage

Points of Interest: Knik Glacier, Lake Gorge, Colony Glacier

Highlights: Three Helicopter Landings, Glacier

Best for: First-Time Alaska Explorers, Couples, Adventure Seekers, Scenic and Photography Focused Travlers

This once in a life time helicopter tour includes three landing locations providing an oprtunity to view Lake George, one of the largest glacier-dammed lakes in North America followed by a second stop at an alpine medow to view the Knik, Colony and Cataract Glaciers from a distance. The final stop is landing in the middle of the Knik Glacier where you'll see towering glacier formations and iconic glacier blue ice. 

4. Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter Tour

Port: Juneau

Points of Interest: Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau Icefield, Herbert Glacier

Highlights: Mendenhall Glacier

Best for: First-Time Alaska Explorers, Families and Multi-Generational Groups, Adventure Seekers, Great for Kids, Scenic and Photography Focused Travlers

5. Taku Glacier Helicopter & Airboat Exploration

Port: Juneau

Points of Interest: Taku Glacier, Juneau Icefield, Taku River

Highlights: Helicopter, Guided Glacier Walk, Airboat

Best for: First-Time Alaska Explorers, Families, Adventure Seekers, Great for Kids, Scenic and Photography Focused Travlers

6. Juneau Dog Sledding & Glacier Helicopter Tour

Port: Juneau

Points of Interest: Juneau Icefield, Mendenhall Glacier

Highlights: Helicopter, Glacier, Dog Sledding

Best for: First-Time Alaska Explorers, Families and Multi-Generational Groups, Adventure Seekers, Great for Kids, Limited-Mobility Travelers, Scenic and Photography Focused Travlers, Animal Lovers

Soar by helicopter over lush rainforest, alpine peaks, and icy landscapes before landing directly on the breathtaking Mendenhall Glacier. After touching down, enjoy a guided walk on the ice to explore its striking features, snap photos, and take in unforgettable views before returning to Juneau.

7. Juneau Helicopter Trek

Port: Juneau

Points of Interest: Juneau Icefield, Mendnehall Glacier, Norris Glacier

Highlights: Helicopter, Glacier

Best for: Adventure Seekers, Couples, Scenic and Photography Focused Travlers

Enjoy a 2-hour glacier trek with expert guides, exploring by air and foot. Capture the glacier’s brilliant blue in stunning photos!

8. Denali Glacier Landing Expedition via Helicopter

Port: Denali

Points of Interest: Alaska Range, Denali National Park, Yanert Glacier, Mt. Deborah

Highlights: Helicopter, Glacier

Best for: First-Time Alaska Explorers, Families and Multi-Generational Groups, Adventure Seekers, Great for Kids, Scenic and Photography Focused Travlers

Experience the Denali helicopter tour by flying deep into the Alaska Range and landing on the ancient Yanert Glacier, where you’ll have opportunities to spot wildlife such as caribou, bears, and Dall sheep.

9. Juneau Helicopter Glacier Ice Climbing Tour

Port: Juneau

Points of Interest: Juneau Icefield

Highlights: Helicopter, Ice Climbing

Best for: Adventure Seekers, Couples, Scenic and Photography Focused Travlers

An unforgettable two-hour adventure on the Juneau Icefield. Experienced guides tailor the experience to your skill level, and you'll climb towering ice features. A perfect adventure for an active traveler.

10. Seward Dog Sledding on Glacier & Helicopter Tour

Port: Seward

Points of Interest: Godwin Glacier, Resurrection Bay

Highlights: Helicopter, Dog Sledding

Best for: First-Time Alaska Explorers, Couples, Adventure Seekers, Great for Kids, Scenic and Photography Focused Travlers, Animal Lovers

Experience the thrill of dog sledding on the Godwin Glacier. This tour includes a 2-mile dog sled ride, the opportunity to help mush the dog team, and time to meet the camp puppies.

What to Expect on Your Helicopter Tour

After a safety briefing from the helicopter crew, you'll gear up with waterproof overboots for traction. After boarding, you'll take off to view some of Alaska’s most majestic glaciers. The aerial perspective on these vast rivers of ice is both humbling and awe-inspiring. While glaciers look impressive from the ground, their true scale is best appreciated from above.

Everyone gets a headset at the beginning of the flight, and the pilot talks through the sights as you fly over them, sharing stories and insights about the picturesque landscape.

Then, in what is many people's favorite part of the trip, the helicopter lands on a glacier, allowing passengers to step onto the icy ground and experience what the Ice Age was like, surrounded by mountains and thick snow underfoot for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Travelers have time to walk around and explore the glacier, ask the pilot questions, before boarding the helicopter again and returning to port.

Ready for more tours? Check out the 10 best tours in Alaska or consider tours on land or by train.