Helicopter tours of Alaskan glaciers include visits to Godman Glacier, Colony Glacier, Lake George Glacier and other well-known glaciers. Whether you're interested in learning about environmental aspects of the glaciers, or participating in a walking tour on the glaciers, most companies provide helicopter tours that cater to a variety of interests. Some companies offer daily tours and include complimentary pick-up service from designated areas.
Godwin Glacier Dog Sled Tours, located in Seward, Alaska, offers the 30-minute Flightsee and Glacier Landing Tour. This tour takes you over the Kenai Mountain Range for up-close views of the mountains, ice spires and ice fields. From there, the helicopter lands on Godman Glacier, where you take a dog sled ride on the Iditarod Sled Dog Trail. You also visit the Kenai Fjords National Park to walk on ice dating back 10,000 years. Godwin offers pick-up and drop-off service at three designated locations, but you must provide advanced notice. Tours run continuously throughout the day from the beginning of June to the beginning of September. Tours can be canceled due to bad weather.
Operating since 1991, Alpine Air Alaska offers helicopter tours of Whiteout Glacier, Lake George Glacier, Colony Glacier and Lake George Valley. The one-hour Helicopter Glacier Landing Tour includes a landing on Colony Glacier. For a longer tour, Alpine Air offers the three-hour Columbia Glacier Tour, which travels to Prince William Sound and Columbia Glacier. This tour includes views of glacier pools and ice fields. Many of the helicopter tours require a two-person minimum. The company recommends making reservations at least one week in advance during the summer months and up until the day before during the winter months. Alpine Air Alaska is located in Girwood, Alaska; complimentary pick-up service within the Girwood area is available.
TEMSCO (Timber, Exploration, Mining, Survery, Cargo Operations) was previously a company that specialized in search and rescue missions for injured and lost hikers, hunters and fisherman. Today, TEMSCO offers helicopter tours of the Alaskan glaciers from Juneau, Petersburg and Skagway. The Mendenhall Glacier by Helicopter and Guided Walk Tour departs from Juneau. This tour includes views of the 7,000-foot Mendenhall Towers and the glacier's meltwater pools. The helicopter lands on Mendenhall Glacier for a 20-minute walking tour, led by a professional guide. Total flight time during this tour is 30 minutes. The 80-minute Pilot's Choice Tour in Juneau travels to either Glacier King, Mendenhall Towers, Wonderland or Devil’s Paw. This tour includes information on the geological process of glaciers and features a guided 30-minute walking tour on select glaciers. You should wear warm clothing and bring binoculars and cameras for wildlife viewing.
