top of page

Alaska Helicopter Tours FAQs

  • How can I pay for my tour?
    We accept all major credit cards and debit cards: Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
  • Do you have a shuttle service to Anchorage?
    Yes! All of our tour times have transfers available from select Anchorage locations for $69 per person round trip We cannot pick up from other hotels, B&B’s or Air B&B’s, but you should never be more than a few minutes away from any of our available pickup locations. Please don’t hesitate to ask us if you need help. Transfer Service is offered for 2024 Summer season for all departure times. Winter Season 10:15am and 2:30pm departure times OR call 907-272-7777 for alternate times.
  • Is the weather usually nice?
    The Knik Valley is sheltered from most low pressure fronts by the Chugach Mountains. So we have more sunshine and less rain than other popular flightseeing areas. The precipitation in the valley is actually less than in most area’s in Arizona and we are considered a sub-arctic dessert. Unfortunately we do have bad weather days too and there is no way to tell far ahead of time when that is going to be. We do have weather-cams pointed towards most of our landing spots so we can see what the weather is up there. We also check the forecast and the radar continuously to make sure we only fly when the conditions are safe. You can improve your chances of a great trip by being flexible. If we have to cancel a flight because of weather we will gladly reschedule you to another day / time. If your schedule does not allow that we will refund 100% of your trip.
  • Do you offer daily departures?
    Yes, we are open 7 days a week, year round.
  • What is your cancelation policy?
    If you need to cancel you will receive a full refund on tours cancelled 72 hours or more prior to departure date. Bookings cancelled 72 hours or less are non-refundable but you have the option to reschedule for any future date for a $200 reschedule fee. If you do not show up or are late for your tour without notifying us 24 hours prior to departure you will forfeit any payments. If we need to cancel due to weather or other safety related matters we will refund you 100%
  • Can I get airsick?
    It can happen but it’s very uncommon. Most people that are sensitive to motion sickness do just fine in a helicopter. If you have experienced motion sickness in planes, boats or vehicles, you could consider taking Dramamine or a similar motion sickness prevention medicine at least one hour before your departure.
  • Are service animals permitted?
    There are no service animals permitted on any helicopter flights. Title 14 of The Code of Federal Regulations, Part 382.117, states that animals cannot fly if “the animal obstructs an aisle or other area that must remain unobstructed to facilitate an emergency evacuation.” Every exit and aisle on a helicopter is an emergency exit. Additionally, as no one can be certain of how an animal will react when highly stressed or traumatized, their access to the flight controls is a major safety concern to all aboard the helicopter, especially in the event of an emergency. Smaller service animal can be permitted if they are in a secure closed kennel on the lap of their owner.
  • Why should I choose Alaska Helicopter Tours?
    For a number of reasons! Convenience. Just one phone call or email takes care of it all just sit back and relax, we’ll make sure you have a wonderful trip. We offer complete packages including transfers, helicopter tours, glacier dogsledding and lots of other adventures. Great value-for-money. Because we are so close to the glaciers you don’t need to pay for a lot of airtime to get to your destination. Location. We are the only tour option with glacier landings and dogsledding right out of the Anchorage area. Our proximity to Anchorage means you have more time to explore the rest of our beautiful state. Experience. Our pilots have flown in the area for a long time, they know every little hill and valley and can share some great stories with you. Best Safety Record! We have the best safety record for helicopter tours operations in Alaska!.
  • Are your helicopter pilots safe to fly with?
    Yes, we fly in them ourselves and trust our lives to the pilots and helicopters daily. In all the years of flying we have never had a single accident. Our parent company Alpha Aviation is meticulous about maintenance and safety. All helicopters are FAA inspected, certified and fully insured. So yes, flying with us is very safe.
  • Where is the departure location?
    We operate from the Alaska Glacier Lodge 45 min North of Anchorage. If you need transportation, this can be purchased for select departure times.
  • Do you have age or physical ability limits?
    No we don’t. Climbing in and out of the helicopter requires some agility, but if you can walk up a short flight of stairs you should be ok. Children have to be supervised at all times. Most tours are not physically challenging though the glacier landing involves glacier walking. While we will equip you with crampons you need a decent balance to enjoy this activity, but if you prefer you can stay around the helicopter. Call us for wheelchair or limited mobility access: we especially enjoy taking people out that think they can't do anything like this. There are several great options including the dogsled tours and glacier tours and we'll go the extra mile to get you out there!
  • What type of weather will prevent my flight?
    We have a saying in our company that we are not flying rescue missions, we are flying enjoyable tours. We highly advise always booking any air tours at the beginning of your vacation so if weather is an issue you have other dates to rebook to. We will not fly in the following conditions: Icing Conditions: Temperatures hovering around freezing with percipitation and clouds. Turbulant Wind: 15kts+ gust spread / winds over 30kts / excessive wind shear Visibility: Our pilots are trained, qualified and legal to fly down to .5 miles of visibility HOWEVER it is important that you are able to see the beauty of the mountains and glaciers, if visibility is low we always give you the option to rescedule.
  • What is the Photo/GoPro Package? Can I take pictures during the flight?
    Yes, you can take great pictures from the helicopter! We also offer the GoPro rental package. The GoPro rental package includes an accessory pack that includes chest harness, mini trip and much more. This package must be pre purchased and is available in Summer months only.
  • What is not allowed on the Helicopter?
    The following items are strictly prohibited on any of our helicopter flights unless approved prior to departure: Drones Bags/Backpacks Weapons of any type Lithium Batteries Bear Spray/Aerosol Spray of any kind Gender Reveal items that shoot glitter/colored powder/confetti Smoking items of any kind including lighters & vapes
  • What should I wear? What gear should I bring?
    SUMMER: Layered clothing is the key to comfort. Wear a long sleeved shirt and bring a sweater. Make sure you wear sturdy shoes that offer some protection like sneakers or hiking shoes. Please, no high-heeled shoes or sandals. WINTER: Snow Boots, Warm winter overcoat and snow pants, warm glves and hat. We will outfit you with overboots for the dogsled tours. We supply crampons for the tours where you land on the ice. Bring gloves, a hat (to protect you from the sometimes intense sunlight), waterproof jacket/pants and sunglasses. Don’t forget a camera that is ready for lots of pictures!
  • Should I choose the morning or afternoon tour?
    It’s really your preference that matters most here. Typically the mornings have a slightly less wind. During the afternoon tours the temperatures tend to be a bit higher. During the winter we only operate during the limited daylight hours, so early morning or late afternoon departures are not available.
  • Who sits where?
    Our ground crew and pilots balance the helicopter based on the weight and number of passengers. We cannot make any promises for specific seat because safety cannot be compromised. If you have a preference ask us and when it’s safe we will try to accommodate you. If you want you can book a private tour to ensure there are no other people in the helicopter – that way you have more control over who sits where.
  • What are the chances of seeing wildlife from the helicopter?
    Excellent! We often see moose, bear, mountain goats and Dall sheep. This is one of the very few areas where mountain goats and Dall sheep can be seen together. It is not uncommon to see dozen of either variety. We have both black and grizzly bears, though the latter are not seen form the air too often. Moose prefer the lower slopes and the river bed where we often see them feeding on dwarf fireweed and new alder leafs. Were we do want everyone to spot animals as we are flying, we will not hover, lower or circle back. We do not want to disturb any wildlife.
  • What type of helicopters do you fly?
    Alaska Helicopter Tours fly both the 3 passenger Robinson 44 Raven II as well as the 6 passenger Astar AS350 B2/B3. Due to weight and balance for safe flying, we can never guarantee what type of helicopter you will be flying in or if you will be flying privately unless you purchase a private tour. Some groups may be split between 2 helicopters.
  • What if my tour is canceled due to weather?
    We check the weather all the time to make sure we only fly when the conditions are safe. If we think it’s not safe we don’t fly. In that case we can try to change the departure time if the weather improves during the day so it’s good to be flexible in your plans. If we cannot wait or reschedule and have to cancel a flight because of weather we will gladly refund 100% of your trip. If you have booked through a travel agent we will refund the agent who will in turn refund you.
Denali with AHT Heli.jpg

Not sure where to start?

Talk to one of our experienced Alaska travel experts to help book your next Heli Tour!

Inquiries

Call our local number at (907) 272-7777, or call us toll-free at (800) 469-0177, or you can email us.

Operating Schedule

Our winter office hours are 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily. From May 1st through September 15th, we are available from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily. We look forward to speaking with you soon!

Alaska Glacier Lodge

29979 E Knik River Rd

Palmer, AK 99645

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
bottom of page