Taku Glacier Helicopter & Airboat Adventure

This Alaskan adventure tour is a combination of a helicopter flight seeing tour, a river boat tour close to the face of the glacier, and a glacier walkabout. The tour begins when your van driver shuttles you from your ship’s pier, through the city of Juneau, to the helicopter base on Douglas Island. At the helicopter base, you’ll be given a pre-flight safety briefing, be fitted with rain pants and ice boots that fit over your shoes.

Aboard the helicopter, you’ll fly high above Juneau, the Tongass National forest, the Juneau Glaciers, Gastineau Channel, and Taku River. The flight to Taku Point is approximately 15 minutes long. The helicopter lands on a deck on the bank of the Taku River, at Taku Point. You will be greeted at Taku Point where you’ll be given flotation jackets, hearing protection, an airboat safety briefing, as well as plenty of interesting local history. You’ll have a chance to take pictures of the pristine Taku River basin, and the Taku Glacier spread before you.

There are 2 flights of stairs that you’ll descend, and board the waiting airboat. You’ll sit comfortably aboard the covered airboat, with open sides for the best possible views and photo opportunities. The airboat captain will help you board, and shortly your adventure will continue by water. On the river, you’ll cruise the 5-mile terminus of the only advancing glacier of the Juneau Ice Field. You’ll come within arm’s reach of the ice, and you’ll understand the immense size of this glacier as you stare up at it from the river. The Airboat captain will stop the boat in various locations for photos, and to talk about the glacier and the river basin that it has carved over the years.

Back at Taku Point, you’ll leave the airboat to rejoin the helicopter that will take you up, up, up to the top of the Taku Glacier. Step out of the helicopter and set foot on the amazing 4500’ thick ice for a 10-minute glacier landing. You’ll have time for more photos, and your pilot will give you details about the ice field, and facts specific to the Taku Glacier. The helicopter will return you to the Heli Base, and the van will return you to your pier.