HELICOPTER GLACIER HIKING TOUR

Featuring epic flightseeing, glacier landing and guided hiking, this helicopter glacier hiking tour is the trip of a lifetime!

Your heli glacier hiking tour starts from the magnificent Hotel Alyeska in Girdwood, or the Girdwood Train Depot if coming from Anchorage by the Alaska Railroad. After a safety briefing, we hot-load for a memorable scenic flight of about 10-20 minutes one way. Everyone has a window seat!

Enjoy a Guided Hike on an Alaska Glacier

After landing on glacier ice, your skilled and experienced glacier guide will outfit everyone with helmets and crampons, then provide a safety talk with crampon practice, before exploring the glacier ice itself. We typically have 2 to 3 hours (on average) to discover amazing ice features like: blue ice tubes, crevasses, caves, rushing surface rivers, moulins, blue pools and more! If you are ready for an adventure, this heli glacier day tour from Anchorage or Girdwood provides an unforgettable experience.

THIS DAY TOUR INCLUDES:

Round trip helicopter flight from Girdwood or Portage to Spencer or Lake George Glacier
World-class mountain/glacier guide
Small ratios (max: 5:1)
Real time satellite tracking and communication devices
Deli boxed lunch, water, granola bars/snacks
Crampons, helmets, other glacier gear and rain gear, if needed
Interpretative glaciology, ecology and natural history discussions

From $799/person

MULTI-SPORT DAY ADVENTURE

Season: Summer Ages: 7-99

Location

Departs: Girdwood & Anchorage

Group Size

Min: 2 People, Max: 30 People

Ratio: 5:1

Activity Level

No Experience Necessary

Easy

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Trip Details
Girdwood
Anchorage
FAQ's

TIMES

Girdwood: Customized check in times: 7:30am to 12pm. Total trip duration averages 6 hours. Exact time slots are customized for you by our office based on your desire, group size and helicopter availability. (see tab above for example itineraries)

Anchorage via Train: Check in: 9am – Return: 9:15pm

MILEAGE

20 miles of flying! Ice time averages between 2 to 3 hours!

EXPERIENCE LEVEL

No experience is necessary. This trip should be considered an “easy to moderate activity”. We recommend that you are capable of a few hours of moderate exercise each day.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Trips are weather dependent
Seat weight limit is 290 lbs per passenger, total combined client weight (2 Pax) not to exceed 420 lbs
Boxed Lunch contains: Turkey or Vegetarian sandwich, chips, cookie, fruit and water
All guests are required to fill out our online Adventure Application and Waiver when booking
Custom times might be available
Groups are not guaranteed to fly in the same helicopter
Shoe sizes range from US Men’s 4-14 for crampons
Fuel used by R44 Heli: 1 Gallon per person

AWESOME ADD-ONS

Add on the ice climbing option to learn some vertical skills. Call us to ask about overnight “Glamping” option- Sleep on a Glacier!

EXCLUSIONS

Gratuities for your super cool guide

WHERE TRIPS MEET

Trips start and finish at Tram Loop of the Hotel Alyeska in Girdwood. Look for Ascending Path’s Sprinter Vans.

1000 ARLBERG AVE

Girdwood departures receive a courtesy Sprinter shuttle from the Hotel Alyeska to the Heli Pad and back to the Hotel Alyeska.

*Once the helicopter availability is locked, AP will send a customized email with itinerary details and meeting time.

*EXAMPLE TIMELINES

MORNING SLOT

7:30am – Clients meet AP Sprinter Van in Girdwood at the Tram Loop of The Hotel Alyeska.
Gear prep, heli briefing
8:50am – Skids up from Girdwood Airport or 9:05am Skids Up from Portage
9:10am-12:35pm – Explore the Blue Glacier Ice with your fun Guide!
12:45pm fly to Girdwood or Portage
2pm – Arrive at The Hotel Alyeska

AFTERNOON SLOT

11:15am – Clients meet AP Sprinter Van in Girdwood at the tram loop of The Hotel Alyeska.
Gear prep, heli briefing
12:20pm – Skids up from Girdwood Airport or 12:35pm Skids up from Portage
12:45pm – 4:35pm – Explore the Blue Glacier Ice with your fun Guide!
4:45pm fly to Girdwood Airport/Portage
6pm – Arrive at The Hotel Alyeska

BOARD AT ANCHORAGE TRAIN DEPOT

411 WEST 1ST AVENUE

BEST 12 HR PARKING IS UNDER THE BRIDGE, ACROSS FROM THE ULU FACTORY

TRAIN SECURITY UPON CHECK IN

The Transportation Security Administration requires that any Alaska Railroad passenger 18 years of age or older present a government issued photo ID, or two other forms of ID, one of which must be issued by a government authority. Children ages 2-15 may only travel in the company of an adult 18 years or older.

ENJOY THE RIDE

Guests who board the Glacier Discovery Train in Anchorage: your AP guide will meet you at the Girdwood Stop.

TIMELINE

9:00am – Check-in Anchorage Train Depot for the Glacier Discovery Train (tickets at will-call).
9:45am – Glacier Discovery Train departs from Anchorage Train Depot.
11:00am – The “Disco Train” arrives in Girdwood
Meet your AP guide & shuttle to our Office and meet Girdwood based clients
Gear prep, heli briefing
12:20pm – Skids up from Girdwood Airport or 12:35pm Skids up from Portage
12:45pm – 4:35pm – Explore the Blue Glacier Ice with your fun Guide!
4:45pm – fly to Girdwood Airport/Portage
5:10pm – Arrive in Girdwood
5:30pm – 7:20pm – Self guided time at The Hotel Alyeska.
7:30pm – Guests to catch the Girdwood Shuttle from The Hotel Alyeska to the Girdwood Train Depot.
7:45pm – Glacier Discovery Train Departs Girdwood
9:15pm – Arrive at the Anchorage Train Depot

WHEN SHOULD I BOOK THIS SUPER POPULAR TRIP?

Due to high demand and limited helicopter space available, we recommend reservations be made several months in advance. Call our Office for last minute availability.

RECOMMENDED CLOTHING?

Cotton clothes are not recommended. Wear comfortable warm synthetic clothes dressing in layers (long sleeved shirt, long pants, fleece jacket, rain jacket, rain pants, gloves, wool/fleece hat, sunglasses, ball cap) hiking boots or trail shoes with a rugged sole. Bring a small backpack, camera and binoculars. For specific advice on what to wear, read our Be Prepared Document.

ARE THERE WEIGHT LIMITATIONS FOR THE HELICOPTER?

Seat weight limit is 250lbs per passenger for the R44. If you weigh more than 250lbs please inquire for pricing about alternative types of aircraft, for example, the R66 or A-STAR.

DO YOU MAKE EXCEPTIONS?

On a case-by-case basis we consider exceptions; usually we recommend buying out a trip as a private with your own guide. This is only available with advanced reservations and as space and staffing is available. Please email or call to make your request, we are more than happy to think of solutions- just to make it happen for you.

WHAT IF THE WEATHER IS TERRIBLE?

Its rare for us to cancel for weather. Guides and pilots are weather experts, but Alaska mountain weather is notoriously fickle. We check real-time radar and satellite imagery morning of and do our best to select a location that has reliable weather for the day and interesting features. If your trip is put on weather-hold by the pilot or guide, we will await a window later in the day or reschedule as your time allows. If the trip doesn’t go, and you can’t reschedule, our standard refund is given minus credit card fees. We highly recommend travel insurance for this tour.

IS IT WORTH IT?

Yes… just read our Trip Advisor Reviews! Tours include top of the line glacier gear, world-class glacier guide, round trip helicopter transportation from the Hotel Alyeska, small ratios, and interpretive natural history, ecology and glaciology discussions. A catered deli boxed lunch, snack and water is provided. Guests visiting Spencer Glacier come away with better respect and knowledge about glaciers, icebergs and history of Alaska, not to mention cool photographs!

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THIS TRIP, PLEASE READ OUR ESSENTIAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA ON OUR FAQ’S PAGE, EMAIL OR CALL US AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU AND DETERMINE IF THIS TRIP MATCHES YOUR ABILITIES.

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