Juneau Mendenhall Glacier Guided Walk via Helicopter Tour

Photo of SCENIC LANDING ON THE MENDENHALL GLACIER

Photo of HELICOPTER FLYING PAST MENDENHALL TOWERS

Photo of TAKING PHOTOS ON THE MENDENHALL GLACIER

Photo of HELICOPTERS LANDED ON MENDENHALL GLACIER

Photo of UP CLOSE WITH THE MENDENHALL GLACIER

Photo of WALKING ON THE MENDENHALL GLACIER

Soar through the air via helicopter over rainforest, lakes, and ice where no alpine ridge or mountain peak escapes your view. These sights and Alaskan grandeur will pave your journey as you fly over and land directly on the famous Mendenhall Glacier.

From the air, you will be able to see the deep blue crevasses, glacial pools, and streams of the mighty Mendenhall. You will hear how glaciers form and carve the landscape around you. Before the pilot lands on the ice, you will fly past the Mendenhall Towers - the rock sentinels that leave you in awe as they extend over 7,000 feet into the sky.

Once you've landed, you will be greeted by a tour guide who will take you on a short glacier walk. You will have the opportunity to take photos, explore the surface of the ice, and ask your guide questions. You may catch a glimpse some Alaskan wildlife, so make sure to scan the ridges around you! At the end of your guided experience on the glacier, you will take off for your return flight back to the heliport and then return to town. This Juneau Mendenhall Glacier helicopter tour is one you will always remember.

Included: Waterproof Boots

Choosing Departure Time: For the time option, please select which ship you are on. For the Departure Time Range, please select either 'Request Morning Departure (between 8:15am - 11:45am)' or 'Request Afternoon Departure (between 12:15pm - 5:45pm).' Once your order is received, we will contact you via email with all options within your preference to finalize the reservation.

Please note: Guests weighing 250lbs or more, with all clothing and camera, are required to purchase a seat surcharge. Extra space will be reserved on the helicopter. Guests are not able to stay on the helicopter at the glacier. Please dress appropriately for weather and conditions. Children under 2 can ride for free on adult's lap.

Duration: 2.5 hours (Roundtrip from cruise ship terminal. Flight time: 30 minutes. Glacier time: 20-25 minutes.)

Inclusions:

Roundtrip transportation
Traction overboots
Rain jacket if needed
Water and hot beverages are available at the helicopter base

Requirements:

Guests must be comfortable walking short distances on uneven and occasionally icy surfaces
Passenger names and weights are required by the FAA for passenger safety and comfort, as well as weight and balance calculations for flight manifesting. Any passenger whose weight is 250 pounds (113 kilograms) or more fully clothed at the time of departure will have a surcharge fee added to the ticket price at the time of booking.

Duration: 2.5 hours. Tour times below are approximate:

15-20 minutes transportation to heli-base
30 minutes preflight safety briefing and preparation
15 minutes glacier flightseeing via helicopter
20-25 minutes guided walk on glacier with guides
15 minutes helicopter time back to heli-base
15 minutes at base to de-gear and visit gift shop
15-20 minutes transportation back to port area

Meeting Instructions:

This tour meets in front of the Mt. Robert's Tramway building. Fully detailed instructions are included on your finalized ticket vouchers.

ADA Accessibility of Tour:

This tour is limited mobility accessible. Guests who use wheelchairs or scooters must be able to walk approximately 100 feet to and from the helicopters and be able to navigate the 18 inch steps into the helicopter mostly unassisted. The natural surface of the glacier can be uneven and cracked. Please note that the dog sledding camp is covered with snow. Due to liability reasons, our employees cannot lift guests in or out of the helicopter. Staff will be there to lend a helping hand, through ultimately guests are responsible for navigating these steps on their own. There is limited space for collapsible wheelchairs and walkers. There is no storage available for motorized scooters. Please leave a comment during checkout if accommodations for collapsible equipment will be required on tour.

How many passengers ride in the helicopter together?

There is a maximum of 6 passengers per helicopter. If there are more than 6 passengers, multiple helicopters will fly at the same time and land on the glacier together.

What is the seating arrangement in the helicopter?

There are two front seats and four rear seats; FAA safety guidelines require seating positions to be assigned based on weight and balance of all passengers for each helicopter.

What is the temperature on the glacier?

The average temperature is between 15-20°F cooler than on the ground.

Will I see any wildlife or bears on this tour?

Wildlife is abundant in Southeast Alaska and sightings are possible on any tour, however this is not a designated wildlife tour and nothing can be guaranteed.

Are there any age restrictions for children?

There are no age restrictions for this tour.

Can I bring a backpack?

All bags must be stored at the helicopter base. Carry-on bags (including purses, backpacks and camera/video bags), GoPro Extension poles, selfie-sticks, any tablet device (including iPads and iPad minis), Drones and animal of any kind are not permitted on this tour.

Can I bring my DSLR camera?

Yes, you can bring your DSLR camera on this tour.

Can I bring my own food or drink?

Food and drink are not allowed during this tour.

Are food and drink included?

Water and hot beverages are available at the helicopter base, no food or drink is provided while on tour.

Are there child prices?

Adult and child prices are the same for this tour. There is no charge for infants under 2 years old. Infants will be required to ride on a guardian's lap.

Are there any physical requirements for this tour?

Guests must be comfortable walking short distances on uneven and occasionally icy surfaces.

What type of clothing should I wear?

Layered clothing, hats, gloves and sunglasses are strongly recommended.

Are there restrooms available during this tour?

There are restroom facilities at the helicopter base before you depart on your tour, but there are no restrooms available on the glacier.

Not seeing answers to your questions?

Check out other frequently asked questions here!

Want to learn more about our glacier tours?

Check out our blog for more details on all of the glacier tours we offer: Alaska Helicopter Tours!

Customer Reviews

Aug 2019 - Bhikhu P.

Well organised friendly staff good value. Recommended

Aug 2019 - Turabali M.

Excellent trip. Very good staff at port to guide us. Very friendly staff at airport for helicopter flight. Superb pilot, made us feel very easy on the flight. Very good pilot guide on glacier excellent as well explained all very professional and informative re glacier humorous as well. Overall an excellent trip worth recommending to friends

Aug 2019 - Ted L A.

Absolutely beautiful day and one of the top five things I've ever done in my life. Had a wonderful time! Ted Albrecht, Michigan

Aug 2019 - Gerardo L.

Expensive but it was worth the ride, if you are in Alaska a Helicopter ride to the glacier is a must.

Aug 2019 - Rebecca L.

However short the excursion was, it was quite spectacular. The heli pilot was great and very informative. My mom and daughters, who had never been on a helicopter before, had a great time, given the skill of our pilot. We have recommended that excursion to friends who are going to Alaska.

Aug 2019 - Rita C.

Just a little comment from the pilot about what we were seeing would have been nice. We had none, it was just a shuttle to the glacier. The tour guide on the glacier was great though. Overall we enjoyed it.

Jul 2019 - Seonah C.

It was so fun, unique experience.

Jul 2019 - Lisa S.

Beautiful with good information.

Jul 2019 - Yun Chan M.

Amazing experience. Guides on the ice were very helpful.

Jul 2019 - Deborah N.

Unbelievable experience. Great ride.

Jul 2019 - Gary K.

Fantastic! So amazing! I did think it was supposed to be 2-5 hrs and it was only 2! The young man that pick us up was great- pointing out important things, helicopter pilot was great! The girl guide on the glacier did a great job! Loved it all!! Would like to have flown around a little more!!

Jul 2019 - Vipul P.

Good experience.

Jul 2019 - Dori R.

One of the coolest excursions I've ever experienced!! Getting to the glacier via helicopter was awesome, the views were amazing and our pilot and guide were so knowledgeable. Mendenhall Glacier is a must-see if you go to Juneau.

Jul 2019 - Sridevi G.

I wished i could spend more time in glacier. But the tour was great.

Jun 2019 - Julie B.

Outstanding experience! Both our pilot Rasmus and our glacier guide Sal were AWESOME. Trip of a lifetime. The boots for walking on the glacier made the task a snap. No need to worry about traction. Great safety orientation. Lots of phenomenal photos. This is a must-do excursion!

Jun 2019 - Paul C.

This was our highlight tour of the entire Alaska trip. Great people from the pick up at the ship and in between. Great prices also

May 2019 - Yujie T.

It is definitely worth it

May 2019 - Rick M.

Great tour. The glacier was spectacular and we learned much about it. The crew was very professional and kept our safety in mind, yet were fun. Highly recommend.

May 2019 - Shaun G.

What can say? Awesome! The tour operator was fabulous. I was picked up at cruise terminal and taken to the airport. After the safety briefing and over boots, it was up to the Glacier. A "bucket list" for me, ride and land on the glacier. 45 mins safe walk-about with tutorial and then watch the helicopters fly in and pick us up. Outstanding and never to be forgotten. Fellow cruisers, I booked direct and saved loads of cash! -Shaun, Dover UK

May 2019 - GWEN O.

This was a wonderful experience. Dillinger was our guide and was funny and informative. The helicopter portion was scary for me, but thanks to their safety talk and their attention to safety, I was put at ease. Walking on a glacier is a not to be missed experience. Highly recommend!

May 2019 - Dana F.

This was an amazing experience. The helpful tips on the ticket prepared us for the cold and the boots provided made walking on the ice a safer experience. I think the ride to the landing spot could have been a little longer and more scenic with some emphasis on what we were passing over, but overall, I'm glad we did this one. A once in a lifetime experience and worth the cost.

Sep 2018 - Jill B.

Wonderful experience. The staff were great. Very helpful and informative. Appreciate their efforts to preserve the beautiful glaciers.

Sep 2018 - Tamara B.

Wonderful time. Guides were awesome.

Sep 2018 - Roger W.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this excursion

Sep 2018 - Randall P.

Absolutely wonderful experience. right from the pick up near the ship (which included great local historical information from our driver), to the ground crew, the pilot, and staff up on the glacier! If your Alaskan cruise is a bucket lister (as ours was), this is a MUST SEE, and I would recommend this company in a heartbeat!

Sep 2018 - Anthony E.

Beautiful! Just wish it lasted longer. First class pilots and equipment.

Sep 2018 - Robert T.

Once in a lifetime experience. Professional, yet entertaining staff! A+++

Aug 2018 - Nayan T.

Awesome tour and worth every penny! Can't be missed

Aug 2018 - Dudley Edward C.

What an experience. Well done Alaska Shore Excurions. So professional these guys, highly recommend booking only with them. 10/10

Aug 2018 - Leanna W.

Cool Worth the money

Aug 2018 - Dean W.

Excellent excursion. Booked direct not through the cruise ship. Mike was an excellent pilot and guide on the glacier I have been on over 20 cruises and many excursions this by far is one of the best.

Aug 2018 - Alessandra L.

Once in a lifetime experience!

Aug 2018 - Pat E.

Wow. What an exhilerating experience of a lifetime! Highly recommended to anyone looking for a breathtaking helicopter ride that actually lands on a glacier! Staff was very knowledgeable, scenery was beautiful and we even did an "Alaskan push-up" to drink glacial water! Thanks again!!

Aug 2018 - Jeffrey P.

everything was fantastic! the guide on the glacier was very personable as was the van driver. The pilot was quiet and not as outgoing but as long as he flew the helicopter safely I was fine with it. Our first time in a helicopter so we were a little nervous but it was great! Would definitely reccommend this to everyone.

Jul 2018 - Chris K.

Fantastic experience

Jul 2018 - Julie P.

Great company! Smooth ride up to the glacier. Pilots were friendly and informative! Tour guides on glacier were very attentive! Thanks to Ryan who stayed with us and helped us around!!!

Jul 2018 - Joseph B.

Great trip. It is a must do.

Jul 2018 - Jay J.

One of the best excursion we had. I highly recommend this tour. The staff was very friendley and knowledgeable. Me and my family like to Thank the staff for making our trip memorable.

Jul 2018 - Hemanth K.

This was excellent ! Our Pilot Robbie was just awesome. Highly recommend this excursion.

Jun 2018 - Andre P.

This was our favorite excursion by far. What a cool opportunity to go to the top of the glacier and the views from the helicopter are second to none.

Jun 2018 - Molly D.

This is a life changer! A must do if at all possible! Walk on the glaciers while they still exist, take a sip from a glacier stream, feel the sense of awe st being in such a magnificent place! Great tour! Great guides!

Jun 2018 - Loren O.

A very enjoyable trip! A once in a lifetime experience actually stepping foot in a glacier and being taught the history and dynamics of them while there. Tasting the ice cold, fresh water was a treat and the helicopter ride itself was a unique experience. I recommend taking this tour at one of your Alaska stops!

Jun 2018 - Terence W.

We had a great time on this tour, got great pictures and would definitely recommend this to others. We were picked up at the Mt Roberts Tramway station, which was right at the entrance of town from where our cruise ship had docked (Royal Caribbean). We were driven by bus to the airport. Another group got us into our gear (overboots that slipped over our shoes), given instructions and then we got onto the helicopters (5 people per helicopter). We flew over the glacier and then landed on the glacier. There, we had plenty of time to take pictures and hear lots of interesting things about the glacier from our guide. And then it was time to go back. We had a great time on this tour and would definitely recommend it to others.

Jun 2018 - Kathryn R.

We had a wonderful experience!! Everyone was super friendly and knowledgeable!!

Jun 2018 - Jill W.

This was an awesome experience! The helicopter ride was breathtaking. The guides on the glacier were very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful if you needed any assistance. I highly recommend this one!

Jun 2018 - John H.

Great experience. Smooth helicopter ride.

May 2018 - BA B.

Mendenhall glacier tour was fantastic. People were very friendly and helpful. Helicopter ride was out of this world. Guided walk was an amazing experience. A bright and sunny day enhanced the glacier experience. Overall 5 star rating.

Aug 2017 - Rae Ann P.

Excellent experience. From our van driver, to safety-talk lead, to the pilot and tour lead, the staff were amazing. Great value.

Aug 2017 - Paul D.

Amazing doesn't even come close to describing this adventure.

Jul 2017 - Kathy S B.

The tour was great and well organized. Tami was a wonderful driver offering lots of Alaskan information. The scheduling works out perfectly!

Jul 2017 - Joanne R.

This was an excellent experience! The helicopter ride was amazing and walking on the glacier was great! The guides were friendly and informative! We loved it!

Jul 2017 - Kevin J.

Awesome helicopter ride to the glacier. The views are amazing and walking on the glacier was a great experience.

Jul 2017 - Nancy T.

Well organized. Very upbeat, enthusiastic and energetic staff.

Jul 2017 - Jan B.

This trip was awesome! They had several guides at the glacier to answer all you questions. The staff was great.

Jun 2017 - Stephen S.

Great views and plenty to learn from friendly, informative staff. We strongly recommend the trip and the provider.

Jun 2017 - Gregory S.

I found the tour very interesting because I remember studying glaciers in 6-8th grade. I was fascinated about the natural wonders of our environment. The helicopter ride was a thrill. Going up so high over the mountains and descending so quick seemed like a roller coaster ride. I wished the helicopter could have spun a 360 degree over the mountain sheep with kids. This is a natural wildlife sighting that less people will ever experience, than a glacier. My 85 year father-in-law was angry that he didn't see the sheep, and he was seated by the front door. I am 64 and shall remember the tour forever. Oh, it was good to see how the youthful helpers on the ground helped the elderly get ready. I smeared the mud on my face and drank the glacier water. I couldn't have experienced more, in such a short time.

Sep 2016 - Patrick G.

Breathtaking and surreal

Sep 2016 - Margaret A R.

we did have a great time. it was awesome. the glacier was something to see.it was cold and raining but i would do it all over again

Aug 2016 - Barrett E.

Highly recommend this. Seeing the glacier from a distance doesn't do them justice. You do not realize the magnitude of them till you stand on one. The folks were very knowledgeable as the group ask questions.