Best Alaska Glacier Tours

Visiting a glacier is on many visitors' must-see list. On a glacier tour, you can step back in time to the Ice Age as you explore the millions-of-years-old rivers of ice in Alaska. Whether you want to see glaciers by air, boat, foot, or train, there is a perfect glacier tour for you. You can soar above glaciers on a plane, take in the sweeping views via train tours, walk up to them on a guided land tour, or even try a thrilling dog sledding ride on a snow-covered glacier. Read on for our best Alaska glacier tours:

Best “Bucket List” Glacier Tour - Juneau Glacier Dogsled Extended Tour via Helicopter

Port: Juneau

Points of Interest: Juneau Icefield, Herbert Glacier

Highlights: Helicopter, Glacier, Dog Sledding

Best For: First-Time Alaska Visitors, Families and Multi-Generational Groups, Comfort-First Travelers, Scenic and Photography Focused Travelers, Great for Kids, Active and Adventure Seekers

If you were to pick just one glacier tour to enjoy in Alaska, the Juneau Glacier Dogsled Extended Tour via Helicopter is our #1 recommendation. This tour combines the best of glacier dog sledding with a guided glacier walk. Your tour will begin at the snow-covered musher’s camp, where 200+ sled dogs will greet you with happy barks and wagging tails. You’ll meet your dog team, who will pull you across the snow-covered glacier on a thrilling sled ride. After a quick meet and greet with the camp puppies, you’ll board your helicopter and land at a lower elevation on the glacier, where you will enjoy a guided walk on the glacier ice. With a perfect 5-star rating, there is simply no other glacier helicopter tour like it in Juneau.

Best Glacier Dog Sledding - Juneau Dog Sledding & Glacier Helicopter Tour

Port: Juneau

Tour Type: Dog Sledding Tour, Helicopter Tour

Best For: First-Time Alaska Visitors, Families and Multi-Generational Groups, Comfort-First Travelers, Scenic and Photography Focused Travelers, Great for Kids, Active and Adventure Seekers, Wildlife and Nature Lovers

“Best excursion ever, according to kids and adults,” said one reviewer. 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. It is the most popular glacier dog-sledding helicopter tour in Juneau, with countless reviewers saying it was the highlight of their trip and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Best Glacier Helicopter Walk - Skagway Glacier Helicopter Tour

Port: Skagway

Tour Type: Helicopter Tour, Walking Tour

Best For: First-Time Alaska Visitors, Families and Multi-Generational Groups, Comfort-First Travelers, Scenic and Photography Focused Travelers, Great for Kids, Active and Adventure Seekers

With guided glacier walks available in Juneau, Skagway, Seward, Anchorage, and Denali, travelers have many great options. The Skagway Glacier Helicopter Tour stands out for its convenience, quality, and consistently positive customer reviews. During this tour, you'll have a chance to see jagged peaks towering over the Chilkat Glacier, cascading waterfalls surrounding the Ferebee Glacier, or the spectacular "river of ice" known as the Meade Glacier. Once you land on one of the magnificent glaciers, you'll have plenty of time to walk around, snap photos, learn about its creation, and enjoy its beauty.

Expert Insider Tip: With 40 minutes of glacier flightseeing and a 40-minute guided walk on the glacier, this tour provides more flight time and time on the glacier than similar tours in Juneau.

Best Glacier Views -  Juneau Glacier Flightseeing via Seaplane Tour

Port: Juneau

Tour Type: Seaplane Tour

Best For: First-Time Alaska Visitors, Families and Multi-Generational Groups, Comfort-First Travelers, Easy-Paced/Limited-Mobility Travelers, Scenic and Photography Focused Travelers, Great for Kids

The Juneau Glacier Flightseeing via Seaplane Tour offers one of the most scenic ways to experience Juneau’s glaciers from above. Flying at a higher elevation than helicopters, seaplanes provide a wide-angle view of the massive Juneau Icefield, giving you a true sense of just how large and interconnected Alaska’s glaciers really are. Marvel at the variety of glacial formations you’ll see during this one-hour narrated flight. Each airplane carries up to 10 guests, making it a perfect fit for families and groups. We also recommend the  Taku Glacier Lodge Flight & Feast, which combines the Juneau Glacier Flightseeing with a delicious, hearty salmon bake and a remote historic lodge.

Best Glacier Paddle -  Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour

Port: Juneau

Tour Type: Canoe Tour, Hiking Tour

Best For: First-Time Alaska Visitors, Great for Teens, Active and Adventure Seekers

Enjoy a rewarding, up-close view of the Mighty Mendenhall Glacier on the  Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour. For this small group tour, you’ll paddle an 8-passenger native-style canoe across Mendenhall Lake. After crossing the lake, you’ll pull the canoe ashore while you explore the rocky moraine—land that is recently uncovered by the glacier’s retreat. After your return paddle to camp, you’ll celebrate your success and enjoy a warm drink--The Mendy Mocha is our favorite. This tour has a perfect 5-star rating thanks to its fun and knowledgeable guides, professional-grade equipment, unique canoe-based experience, and amazing glacier views.

Best Glacier Boat Tour -  Seward Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise Tour

Port: Seward

Tour Type: Boat, Tidewater Glaciers, Wildlife, Whales

Best For: First-Time Alaska Visitors, Families and Multi-Generational Groups, Comfort-First Travelers, Easy-Paced/Limited-Mobility Travelers, Scenic and Photography Focused Travelers, Great for Kids, Wildlife and Nature Lovers

Our top glacier tour in Seward is the  Seward Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise Tour, featuring whales, wildlife, seabirds, and glaciers. Your experienced captain narrates the journey, pointing out spectacular sights while providing information on the area’s wildlife, history, and geology. The highlight of the tour is time spent in front of a towering tidewater glacier, watching for calving—when giant chunks of glacial ice break off and crash into the sea. This tour includes a deli lunch. Reviewers consistently praise the professionalism and care of the crew, the boat's comfort, and the wide variety of wildlife seen. 

Best Budget-Friendly Glacier Tour -  Juneau Mendenhall Glacier Express Bus

Port: Juneau

Tour Type: Glacier Tour, Bus Tour

Best For: First-Time Alaska Visitors, Families and Multi-Generational Groups, Comfort-First Travelers, Scenic and Photography Focused Travelers, Great for Kids

The Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center provides an affordable and convenient way to view Alaska’s most well-known glacier. Perfect for those who want to hike to Nugget Falls. This 3-hour tour includes a narrated round-trip drive to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center in a well-appointed motorcoach. While there, you’ll have two hours to explore the trails, views, and exhibits at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center. With multiple departures throughout the day, this is one of our most popular Mendenhall Glacier excursions.

Best ADA Accessible Glacier Tour -  Juneau Icefield Helicopter Tour

Port: Juneau

Tour Type: Helicopter, Glacier

Best For: First-Time Alaska Visitors, Families and Multi-Generational Groups, Limited Mobility & ADA Travelers, Comfort-First Travelers, Scenic and Photography Focused Travelers, Great for Kids, Active and Adventure Seekers

Enjoy majestic views as you ride in a helicopter over the Juneau Icefield, then land upon Herbert Glacier. You’ll enjoy a relaxing 20 to 25 minutes atop the glacier’s surface, checking out crevasses, streams, moulins, and more. This is the only glacier helicopter in Juneau that is ADA accessible. Upon request, this tour includes round-trip transportation in a wheelchair-accessible vehicle and a chairlift to assist guests into the aircraft. When the helicopter lands on the glacier, ADA guests will remain in the aircraft. The pilot will open the helicopter's doors wide to provide the best possible view and point out glacier features.

Best Glaciers by Train -  Train from Anchorage to Whittier via Glacier Discovery Train

Port: Anchorage, Whittier

Tour Type: Train, Transfer

Best for: First-Time Alaska Visitors, Families and Multi-Generational Groups, Comfort-First Travelers, Easy-Paced/Limited-Mobility Travelers, Scenic and Photography Focused Travelers

The Glacier Discovery Train, connecting Anchorage to Whittier, includes a brief stop in the resort town of Girdwood, views of awe-inspiring river valleys, and photo-worthy views of the Bartlett, Trail, and Portage Glaciers. The final stop is Whittier, a town with just 200 residents. Conveniently scheduled around cruise ship arrival and departure times, this is a popular option for cruisers seeking transportation between Whittier and Anchorage.  

FAQ Best Glacier Tours

Where is the best place to see glaciers?

Surrounded by the 1,500 square mile Juneau Icefield, Juneau provides the most varied opportunities to visit glaciers in Alaska. The Mendenhall Glacier is just a 30-minute drive from downtown Juneau and provides glacier views in a park setting, while the Herbert, Norris, and Taku Glaciers are just a short 15-minute helicopter flight away. Skagway, Anchorage, and Seward are also great towns for glacier viewing. When tours in Juneau are sold out, we often have availability in Anchorage or Seward.

Will I see blue glacier ice if I go glacier dog sledding?

Although you will see glacier ice formations during your flight, you will not have an opportunity to walk on the ice. While at the Mushers Camp, you’ll see miles of snow and towering mountain peaks. The Mushers Camp is located at a higher elevation of the glacier, which is covered with snow throughout most of the season. If you would like a glacier tour that includes both dog sledding and walking on glacier ice, we recommend the  Juneau Glacier Dogsled Extended Tour via Helicopter.