Best Alaska Helicopter Tours for Cruise Travelers
A Bird’s-Eye View of The Last Frontier
By Hayley Simpson | Published on October 24, 2025
While you'll pass by many beautiful glaciers on your cruise through Alaska, nothing compares with how they look from above. Alaska helicopter tours will take you where you've never been before, giving you an unparalleled bird's-eye view of grand glaciers, deep fjords, rugged wilderness and more.
Read on for all you need to know as you plan your ice-infused cruise, including ports with the best Alaskan helicopter tours.
Key Takeaways: Top Glacier Helicopter Tours From Alaskan Cruise Ports
- ● Anchorage: The Knik Glacier is a 400-foot wall of ice spanning over 28 miles in the Chugach Mountains.
- ● Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier is a 13.5-mile-long block of ice within the Juneau Icefield’s 40+ large valley glaciers.
- ● Skagway: There are several helicopter tours in Skagway, Alaska. Meade Glacier is famed for its breathtaking “river of ice,” while nearby Denver Glacier is a top dog sledding location.
- ● Denali National Park: Helicopter tours here sweep over the vast Yanert Icefield and Glacier, with Kenai Fjords National Park nearby.
- ● Explore our cruises from Alaska to experience a birds-eye-view of Alaska’s stunning icescapes.
All You Need To Know About Helicopter Tours in Alaska
How Long Does a Helicopter Ride in Alaska Last?
Depending on your itinerary, the helicopter excursion could last anywhere between 30 minutes and 2.5 hours. For thrill seekers looking to maximize adventure time during a short stop at an Alaskan port, a glacier helicopter tour is the perfect quick excursion to include in your cruise planning.
How Long Does a Helicopter Ride in Alaska Last?
Yes, an Alaskan Helicopter tour is definitely worth it — especially if you’re visiting Alaska by cruise. There's nothing quite as exhilarating or as fun as a helicopter tour over Alaska's crystalline landscapes. In this setting, it's easier to comprehend the sheer magnitude of Alaska's impressive glaciers, and seeing a bird's-eye view of the expansive frozen rivers is guaranteed to take your breath away.
How Many People Can Join a Helicopter Excursion in Alaska?
Most Alaskan helicopter tours accommodate a maximum of six passengers, making them a fun cruise port adventure suitable for the whole family. Everyone will get an unobstructed view of these stunning glaciers as the pilot regales you with stories, history and insights behind the dramatic scenery you're flying over. Plus, helicopters are much more comfortable than airplanes. If you usually experience motion sickness, don't worry, as motion sickness in helicopters is relatively uncommon.
When Are the Best Times of Year for a Helicopter Tour in Alaska?
The best time of year for an Alaskan helicopter tour is during the summer months, typically between May and September. The weather is more favorable from both land and sea, with calmer winds resulting in smoother flights and increased accessibility. You’ll have up to 20 hours of daylight at the peak of summer, offering more schedule flexibility — plus it’s more likely that you’ll spot wildlife, which is more active during warmer months.
How To Plan for Your Helicopter Tour
Before you embark on your sky-high cruise tour, it's essential to be prepared. Leave your luggage in your stateroom, and only bring what you absolutely need, such as a pair of binoculars and warm clothes. You'll want to dress appropriately in closed-toe shoes, layered clothing and sunglasses. Typically, most tours prohibit the use of iPads, GoPro sticks and drones, so leave your devices behind and soak it all up.
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All You Need To Know About Helicopter Tours in Alaska
Anchorage Helicopter Tours
Luckily, you can depart on your helicopter tour from several Royal Caribbean glacial cruise ports. If you're near Anchorage, check out the Knik Glacier — a 400-foot wall of ice spanning over 28 miles in the Chugach Mountains. It's known for its expansive and otherworldly bright blue lake, formed from melting glacial water.
Helicopter Tours in Juneau
If you've stopped in Juneau, you can visit the Juneau Icefield, which consists of over 40 large valley glaciers and more than 100 smaller ones. Mendenhall Glacier is easily the most recognizable in the area. Located just 12 miles from downtown Juneau in Tongass National Forest, it's roughly 13.5 miles in length and offers up some of the most menacing blocks of ice imaginable.
Helicopter Tours in Skagway
For a more remote destination, helicopter tours in Skagway, Alaska can connect you with some of Alaska's most untouched glaciers, such as the Chilkat, Meade, Denver and Ferebee Glaciers. Meade Glacier is renowned for its breathtaking "river of ice," which looks even more spectacular from above.
Don't miss the Denver Glacier — it’s covered in snow, making it one of the top dog sledding spots in the world. Combine two once-in-a-lifetime Alaska activities in one and get dropped off at the top of the glacier by a helicopter to go dog sledding.
Denali Helicopter Tours
From Denali National Park, you can fly through the deep Alaska Range and see the sweeping Yanert Icefield and Glacier. In Kenai Fjords National Park, you'll find several glaciers, including:
- ● Exit Glacier with its blinding blue ice.
- ● Holgate Glacier that calves frequently into its river of ice.
- ● Aialik Glacier, one of the park's largest tidewater glaciers.
Don't miss checking out perhaps the most famous in the area, the Hubbard Glacier helicopter tours. As the largest tidewater glacier in North America, this breathtaking beauty is as tall as a 30-story building.
Can You Adventure Travel to Stunning Alaskan Landscapes?
Yes, you can absolutely adventure travel to Alaskan landscapes. Gigantic glaciers, with their crevasses, ice rivers and mind-blowing vibrant colors, are definitely not the only picturesque landscapes you'll see on these helicopter excursions in Alaska, either.
If you're looking for even more of a thrill, Royal Caribbean offers glacier landing helicopter tours in Juneau, Alaska. The experienced tour crew will provide you with crampons and all necessary safety equipment to hike these ancient glaciers. Surrounded by mountains and with thick snow and ice under your feet, this may be your best chance to witness firsthand what the Ice Age was like. Keep your eyes peeled, because you're bound to see plenty of Alaskan wildlife, such as moose grazing by river beds, grizzly and black bears, mountain goats and Dall sheep.
There are other types of glacier helicopter tours available in Alaska, including dog sledding, heli-hikes, glacier and swim hikes and summit flights. If you want to book one of these tours, you can book a private tour during your days at the port. While it’s possible to hike year-round in Alaska, winter is recommended for the more experienced hikers!
From the Sea to the Ice: Experience the Best of Alaska by Cruise
When you cruise to Alaska, you can sit back and relax as you get up close to unreachable places and landscapes. Some of these cascading waterfalls, vibrant blue hidden mountain lakes, rugged forests, unending mountains and jagged peaks simply cannot be accessed by land — but you can get to them by helicopter when you cruise to these icy Alaskan ports.
