Best Alaska Helicopter Tours

Helicopter tours in Alaska are popular shore excursions. Though a helicopter trip can be an investment, almost everyone agrees that they’re worth every penny and are a once-in-a-lifetime experience that the whole family can enjoy. In Alaska, scenic helicopter tours allow you to fly over 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

Enjoy majestic views as you ride in a helicopter over Juneau Icefield, then land upon Herber Glacier. You’ll take a relaxing stroll along the glacier’s surface with this Juneau helicopter tour.

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

This Skagway helicopter tour allows you to view the amazing glaciers around Skagway and walk atop a the river of ice.

3. Anchoarge Grand Knik Glacier Tour

Port: Anchorage

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

Highlights: Three Helicopter Landings, Glacier

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: Helicopter, Glacier

On this tour, you can take a helicopter ride and land on the mighty Mendenhall Glacier. Once you land, your guide will take you a short glacier walk, where you can take photos and look for wildlife.

5. Taku Glacier Helicopter & Airboat Exploration

Port: Juneau

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

Highlights: Helicopter, Guided Glacier Walk, Airboat

6. Juneau Dog Sledding & Glacier Helicopter Tour

Port: Juneau

Points of Interest: Juneau Icefield, Mendenhall Glacier

Highlights: Helicopter, Glacier, Dog Sledding

On this trip, you can combine a helicopter ride over the glaciers of Juneau Icefield with a once-in-a-lifetime Alaska dog sledding tour.

7. Juneau Helicopter Trek

Port: Juneau

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

Highlights: Helicopter, Glacier

Enjoy a 2 hour glacier trek with experienced guides as you explore by air and foot.  Trek the glacier's brilliant blue and capture mesmerizing 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

On this Denali helicopter tour, you can take a helicopter ride to an ancient glacier, deep in the Alaska Range. You’ll land on the anciet Yanert Glacier and have the chance to see wildlife including caribou, bears, and Dall sheep.

9. Juneau Helicopter Glacier Ice Climbing Tour

Port: Juneau

Points of Interest: Juneau Icefield

Highlights: Helicopter, Ice Climbing

An unforgettable two-hour adventures on the Juneau Icefield. Experinced guides tailor the experience to your skill level, 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

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 saftey briefing by the helicopter crew, you'll gear up with waterproof overboots that provide traction. You'll then board the helicopter and take off to view some of Alaska’s most beautiful and majestic glaciers. The perspective on these vast and expansive rivers of ice is both humbling and awe-inspiring. While glaciers look big and beautiful from the ground, you can better comprehend their beauty and size from the sky.

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

Then, in what is many people’s favorite part of the trip, the helicopter lands on a glacier and passengers can step out onto the icy ground for a first-hand experience of what the Ice Age was like. Surrounded by mountains, with thick snow under your feet, you’ll get a once-in-a-lifetime glacier experience.

Travelers get time to walk around and explore the glacier and to 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.