MENDENHALL GLACIER and GUIDED WALK BY HELICOPTER
This approximately two-hour excursion combines a helicopter “flightseeing” tour with a guided walk on the Mendenhall Glacier, one of Southeast Alaska’s most accessible glaciers. Trained guides will lead this special hike as you observe glacier terrain and learn about ice formations.
Excursion details
Lasting about two hours, this Alaskan adventure takes place both in the skies and on foot. Start with a transfer of about 15 minutes, including check-in and travelling from the port to the heli-base. You’ll then be fitted with glacier boots and receive a safety briefing, followed by aircraft assignment and boarding the helicopter. This preparation stage takes around 25 minutes.
Enjoy narration from the pilot during the approximately 15-minute helicopter flight to the landing site on the vast Mendenhall Glacier. The route passes over forests and glacial valleys, allowing for elevated views across parts of the Juneau Icefield, one of the largest icefields in North America outside the polar regions. Depending on conditions, surface features such as crevasses and ice formations may also be visible from the air.
After landing on the glacier, prepare for a memorable hike as your guides lead an approximately 25-minute walk across the ice. During this time, your guides will explain how glaciers form and move, while pointing out visible features on the ice surface. You will then soar through the skies for one final view of Alaska’s landscapes on your 15 minute return flight. As you leave the glacier behind, you’ll carry with you memories that will last a lifetime.
Following the guided walk, you’ll have around 20 minutes to remove your gear and equipment, as well as enjoying a complimentary coffee or tea and browsing the gift shop. The excursion then concludes with an approximately 15-minute drive back to the ship.
Important information: All participating guests must be able to walk 100 yards on uneven surfaces, ice, and pavement. Guests must be able to climb two 18-inch step in and out of the helicopter unassisted.
Bags are not permitted on this tour and can be locked in a locker prior to boarding the helicopter. It is recommended that guests bring gloves, hats, sunglasses, and cameras, and wear comfortable shoes and warm clothing. Selfie-sticks, or any other extendable items, iPads, or any other type of tablets, drones, food or beverages including water bottles and smoking are not permitted on this tour. Due to weight and balance restrictions, as well as for passenger safety and comfort, guests weighing 250lbs (113kg) or more fully clothed will incur a weight surcharge of $150 that will be added to your onboard account. This tour is not available for guests with limited mobility.
Infants up to 23 months may participate in this tour and must be seated on their parent/guardians’ lap throughout the tour. Children 2 years of age and older are required to have their own seat and are required to have a full price ticket purchased for them. There is a set price per person on this tour. Child rates are not applicable. Per TEMSCO Helicopters’Passenger Mobility Policy, service animals shall not be permitted on Temsco Airbus Astar, Hughes 500 and Airbus H 130 aircraft used by Temsco for flightseeing and tours. Passenger seats in these aircraft are emergency exit accessible; the exit doors represent the only emergency exits. This policy is consistent with the Air Carrier Access Act that prohibits service animals from being located in an exit aisle
