CBS

Four of us are going on an Alaskan cruise in August and want to do a helicoptor trip that lets us walk on a glacier. We are trying to decide which glacier trip to pick so if anyone can recommend a company OR if anyone can recommend whether the flight out of Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier is better or the "four glacier" trip out of Juneau which includes "cascading” Hole-in-the-Wall Glacier, the “advancing” Taku Glacier, the “retreating” Norris glacier, and either the floating Dead Branch glacier or the river-like East Twin Glacier" OR lastly the flight out of Skagway to the "Jagged peaks towering over the Chilkat Glacier, cascading waterfalls surround the Ferebee Glacier, or the “river of ice” known as the Meade Glacier" These trips are so expensive, we will only do one and would like opinions on which is likely to be best. This will probably be our only time that we will get to do this. Many thanks.

BudgetQueen

For me, it makes no difference what glacier you land at. All unique and wonderful. I suggest you go where you have the most time.

skagway65

Does the 'four glacier' trip offer walking on the glacier? The more time you spend flying around, the less time for walking.

I haven't been on any of these trips, but I see the helicopters buzzing overhead all summer. The ones that just do Mendenhall leave from a few miles away and head right up. The ones doing the whole ice field definitely spend more time in the air, but they don't have a great distance to travel for those glaciers.

The Skagway icefields seem further away from the town; someone can feel free to correct me, but I've watched those helicopters take off and head out until they're the size of flies in the air.

My suggestion would be to book the first city you arrive in, because these tours can be canceled because of fog or low clouds. Take the glacier in the hand, and all that. If the first is canceled, you could always book for the next port.

mscarls

We did Skagway, because the alternative excursions there weren't as appealing as the alternative excursions in Juneau (where we did a combo nature boat ride and visit to Mendenhall Glacier).
The glacier walk was great.

dowab

In Skagway, make sure you take the train if its a clear day. Great relaxing views.

Bobmrg

I agree with dowab...helicopter to Mendenhall, train in Skagway.

wannabakiwi

We took a float plane out of Ketchikan to the Misty Fjords National Monument. It was an incredible experience! We also loved kayaking and biking in Sitka. It is a beautiful place. Also, we never book the tours from the ship and have never had trouble any where finding alternatives.

Momof3boys

I suggest the best of them all if possible: Juneau-drive or tour out to Mendenhall glacier; it's awesome when you 1st see it on the drive up, nice visitor's center w/ movie, walkway over stream where you hope to see bears having a meal. Juneau-heliocopter tour of 4 glaciers w/ glacier landing and being able to walk on a glacier. My experience last summer was I couldn't tell 1 glacier from another, but I did enjoy walking on one. Skagway-take the train tour into the mountains which I thought would be dorky, but I loved it - amazing scenery! All of these are weather dependent so pray for clear days. If can't drive to Mendelhall glacier, then opt for Skagway train and heliocopter in Juneau w/ glacier landing.

dcal617

I live in Juneau and if you want to spend time on the Glacier, go with Temsco.

http://www.temscoair.com/tours/juneau_mend.htm