Note that the departure times vary slightly each day. Please indicate if you want an AM or PM departure and the most convenient time will be assigned to you. All departure times will be at least one hour after the ship's arrival time. Space sells out very quickly!
After transferring 30 minutes from your Juneau cruise ship pier downtown to the Mendenhall Valley heliport, you will weigh/check in with the staff before boarding your helicopter. Based on the total weight of the guests, the flightseeing excursion helicopter can hold up to six guests per departure. NOTE that groups may be split into different helicopters depending on weight distribution, party size, and seating. Then it is time to take off. Your experienced helicopter pilot will lift off giving you views back towards Juneau and across the Mendenhall Valley.
In no time at all, you are over the enormous ice-field formations, looking down at deep-blue crevasses and glistening ice rivers while turning your head back and forth for the once-in-a-lifetime views on either side.
Your helicopter excursion pilot will fly over the spectacular rock formations and icefalls of the Juneau Icefield as you head towards your dogsled camp on top of Herbert Glacier.
Upon arriving at the camp, the professional sightseeing and dog sledding shore excursion staff will provide training and instructions on everything you need to know about dog sledding and mushing. There will also be stories about the famous Iditarod race and time to ask questions before it's time to mush. You will break into teams of two (one sitting, one standing) as you take turns feeling the thrill of speeding over the ice under dog-power. Your time on the glacier consists of approximately 30 minutes with the mushers for your orientation and approximately 30 minutes with the dogs and sled, allowing everyone a chance to ride the sled.
Re-board your helicopter and head for your next destination, which is further down the glacier where it takes on a character. Upon reaching your destination, your expert pilot shuts down the helicopter and becomes your knowledgeable glacier sightseeing excursion guide.
They will escort you on an informative, relaxing walk across the glacier, giving you some details on your natural surrounding and the deep history of these immaculate ice formations. The Snowshoes provided will give you an authentic Alaskan experience on the river of ice.
After approximately 20 minutes on the face of the glacier, you will climb aboard the helicopter and head back to the heliport taking in this incredible landscape from above.
The helicopter portion lasts approximately 2 hours from the time it lifts off until it returns to the heliport but will vary depending on which glacier your pilot determines to be the best on the day of your Juneau helicopter and dog sledding excursion, based on weather and glacier conditions. The rest of the excursion duration consists of your transfers to/from the heliport and pre-flight check-in.
PLEASE NOTE:
- Standard Plus Passenger: Those weighing 260-299lbs fully clothed. Must purchase 1 seat + the add-on.
- Premium Passenger: Those weighing 300lb or more fully clothed. Must purchase 2 full seats.
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