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Guide · From the air
Helicopter tours in Juneau, Alaska, from landing to dog sled
Helicopter tours in Juneau, Alaska take you over the rain forest to land on a glacier of the icefield behind town. Here is what each flight includes, what it costs to start with and how to choose.
Check availabilityfrom $52 · no cancellation fee
Editorial team, juneaucitytour.comUpdated October 16, 20266-minute read3 sources
Quick answer
- 01Glacier landing
- A 2.5-hour tour lands on Herbert Glacier, from $429.
- 02With dog sledding
- Dog sledding by helicopter runs 3 hours from $709.
- 03Small group
- A sled tour with a glacier landing takes at most 6 people.
- 04Cheaper in the air
- A seaplane flight over 5 glaciers runs 40 minutes from $383.
- 05Cancel
- Helicopter tours here allow free cancellation up to 3 days ahead.
Why fly from Juneau
Juneau sits at the edge of a vast ice landscape. The Juneau Icefield behind the town covers 1,500 square miles of steep mountain terrain and feeds the Mendenhall and about 140 other glaciers.12 From the ground you see only the tongues of ice that reach the valleys; from the air you see the frozen plateau they come from.
That is what helicopter tours in Juneau, Alaska offer: a short flight over the rain forest and the ridges, a landing on the ice and time to walk on a glacier with a guide. It is an expensive outing, but it can become the moment you remember from the whole Alaska trip, and it fits into a port day.
Flights depend on the weather. Low cloud grounds helicopters, and Juneau sees a lot of it: even July averages 13 rainy days.3 Book with that in mind, keep an eye on the cancellation terms and have a backup plan for your day in case the flight does not go.
The classic: a glacier landing
The standard helicopter tour is a glacier landing. One such tour runs 2.5 hours in total with pickup included, and the listing marks it as wheelchair accessible. The route leads by van to Juneau International Airport, then by helicopter over the Tongass National Forest to Herbert Glacier and back.
It starts from $429 and is rated 4.90 from 49 reviews, a strong score on a solid number of reviews. The total time includes the transfers, so the flight and the time on the ice make up only part of it. Ask the operator how long you will spend on the glacier itself if that matters to you. Sit by a window if you get the chance, and keep your camera ready for the moment the forest gives way to ice.
Free cancellation runs only up to 3 days ahead, a shorter window than most town tours. What happens if the weather grounds the flight is set by each listing's terms, so read them before you book.
Ratings
How guests rate the flights
rating
Side by side
Flights from Juneau by starting price
| Flight | Lands on ice | Length | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seaplane, 5 glaciers | No | 40 min | from $383 |
| Glacier landing | Yes | 2.5 hrs | from $429 |
| Taku Lodge flight and feast | No | 3 hrs | from $532 |
| Dog sledding by helicopter | Yes | 3 hrs | from $709 |
| Dog sled and glacier landing | Yes | 3.5 hrs | from $839 |
| Private glacier landing | Yes | 2.5 hrs | from $3,140 |
Starting prices for one adult on GetYourGuide; total length includes transfers.
Three flights
Landing, sledding or seaplane
Classic
Unforgettable
Lower priceDecision helper
Which flight should you book?
Pick by budget and wish
Glacier landing
2.5 hours to Herbert Glacier.
Dog sledding tour
3 hours with a sled camp.
Sled and landing tour
At most 6 people.
Seaplane flight
40 minutes over 5 glaciers.
Taku Lodge flight
3 hours with a feast.
The icefield covers 1,500 square miles in steep mountainous terrain.
Dog sledding on the ice
Some helicopter tours add a summer dog sled camp on the glacier. The Juneau Dog Sledding and Helicopter Tour runs 3 hours from $709, rated 4.65 from 17 reviews. It flies via Juneau International Airport to Herbert Glacier, and free cancellation runs up to 3 days ahead.
A smaller version adds a glacier landing to the sled camp: 3.5 hours, at most 6 guests, priced from $839. Its 5.00 comes from just 7 reviews, too few to compare fairly with the larger tours, but the small group size is a real plus on the ice.
Dog sledding on a glacier in summer is unusual, and it is the kind of experience that stays with you for years. It also costs far more than a simple landing, so decide whether the dogs or the ice are the main draw. If it is the ice, the standard landing gives you most of the view for less.
Checklist
Before you fly
01
Bring
- Warm layers and gloves
- Sunglasses for the glare off the snow
- A camera with a strap
02
Check
- Free cancellation up to 3 days ahead
- Total time including transfers
- What happens if weather grounds the flight
Cost calculator
Flights for your group
Enter your group size and compare the totals.
People
Total from$766
per traveler from $383
Check availabilityfree cancellationSums are built from GetYourGuide's entry price for each tour, switched into your currency at the ECB rate; the reservation screen settles the exact cost.
Video
A helicopter flight and glacier walk from Juneau
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A private helicopter flight
If your party wants the helicopter to itself, the private landing tour is the one: 2.5 hours in total, from $3,140, pickup and wheelchair access included in the listing. Its route matches the shared flight, van to the airport, then over the Tongass National Forest to Herbert Glacier. Being new and premium, it has no reviews yet.
A private flight makes sense for a celebration, for a family with specific needs or for photographers who want to choose where to linger. For most travelers, the shared landing tour gives the same glacier and the same view at a fraction of the cost per person. It also means nobody waits for others at the landing site.
As with the shared flights, free cancellation runs up to 3 days ahead. Book early for peak summer dates, and agree the pickup point and timing with the operator well before your ship arrives.
Seaplanes: the other way into the air
If the price of a helicopter is a step too far, a floatplane is the other way to see the icefield. A seaplane flight over 5 glaciers runs 40 minutes from $383 and is rated 4.95 from 19 reviews. It does not land on the ice, but it covers a wide sweep of the glaciers in a short time.
A longer option combines the flight with a meal: the Taku Glacier Lodge flight and feast runs 3 hours from $532 and is rated 4.89 from 9 reviews. It suits travelers who want a full experience with time on the ground, if not on the ice itself.
Seaplanes and helicopters solve different wishes. A helicopter lands you on a glacier; a floatplane shows you more of the icefield from above and often lands on water. If walking on ice is the dream, choose a helicopter; if the wide view is enough, a seaplane can be the better value. Either way, you will see the scale of the icefield in a way no road can show you.
Planning your flight on a port day
Book the flight for the early part of your stay if you can. Weather in Juneau changes through the day, and an early slot leaves room to rebook later if the morning flight is canceled. Check your ship's all-aboard time and leave a generous margin, since the total tour time includes transfers by van. A morning flight also tends to fit more easily around lunch and a walk in town.
Dress for cold on the ice. Even in summer, a glacier is a chilly place, and the wind from the icefield bites. Bring warm layers, gloves and sunglasses: the light off the snow is bright even under cloud. Ask the operator whether glacier boots are provided, and check what is included before you go.
Keep a backup activity in mind. If the flight is grounded, the city sights, the salmon hatchery or a short bus tour still give you a good day. The City Highlights tour, for example, runs 1.5 hours and ends with a view of the Mendenhall Glacier from the valley.
Is a helicopter tour worth the money?
If your budget allows it, a glacier landing is a highlight that is hard to forget. Standing on ancient ice with the icefield spread out around you is hard to match, and the flight itself over the forest and ridges is spectacular. It is a big spend, but it is concentrated into a few unforgettable hours.
It is less worth it on a day of low cloud or for travelers who get anxious in small aircraft. In those cases, a seaplane flight, a boat trip or a visit to the glacier valley by road gives you the ice at a lower cost and with less risk of cancellation.
If you decide to go, compare the starting prices and the cancellation terms side by side, and choose the flight that fits your budget and your wish list. Our table above sets the main options next to each other.
Book your seat
Juneau's highlights, in one relaxed loop.
Hold a seat now, pay later, and keep a free way out until the day before.
You ask,we answer.
How much is a helicopter tour in Juneau?
From about $429. The glacier landing tour starts there; dog sledding and private flights cost more.
Where do the helicopters land?
On Herbert Glacier, on these tours. The landing and dog sled tours fly to Herbert Glacier via the airport.
How long does a helicopter tour take?
About 2.5 to 3.5 hours. The total time includes transfers by van.
Can I cancel?
Up to 3 days ahead. The helicopter tours here allow free cancellation up to 3 days before.
Is there a cheaper way to see the glaciers?
Yes, a seaplane. A seaplane flight over 5 glaciers starts from $383.
What if the weather is bad?
Flights may be canceled. Low cloud grounds helicopters; keep a backup plan for the day.
Is there a wheelchair accessible option?
Some listings say so. The glacier landing and the private flight are marked wheelchair accessible.
Sources
Where the information comes from
- 1University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophysical InstituteStudy says Alaska could lose massive icefield by 2200↩
- 2University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophysical InstituteStudy says Alaska could lose massive icefield by 2200↩
- 3↩
