Frequently Asked Questions

• Alpine Air Alaska is southcentral Alaska’s longest operating and safest helicopter company, serving guests from around the world continuously since 1991. With more than three decades of safe flying in the Chugach Mountains, we are known for our exceptional safety record, expert local pilots and personalized guest experience that our competitors can’t match.

We’re also proud to be the only tether-free Glacier Dogsledding Operation in the entire state of Alaska giving our sled dogs the freedom to run and socialize naturally while offering our guests a truly unique experience. Happier Dogs = Better Tour!

From Glacier Landings and Dogsledding Adventures to private luxury charters, every flight with Alpine Air Alaska is designed to be safe, spectacular and unforgettable – an authentic experience and the highlight of your Alaskan vacation.

• We offer tours from two locations – Girdwood and Valdez.

Our Girdwood base is located just 40 minutes south of downtown Anchorage in the neighborhood of Girdwood. Fun fact – we are the only Helicopter company that departs from Anchorage. We also offer a convenient shuttle service from Anchorage hotels and B&Bs to our hangar!

Our Valdez base is located in the Valdez airport, a 10-minute drive from the cruise ship dock and the town center. We offer a shuttle service from anywhere in Valdez to the airport.

• Absolutely! We have a large fleet of helicopters and can accommodate nearly any group size! Depending on the size, you may be split into multiple helicopters that will fly and land on the glacier together. This also gives you a chance to take pictures of your friends and family from the air! For large group bookings, give our Office Managers a call at 907-783-2360.

• Yes, we have a shuttle service available from any Anchorage hotel, B&B or the airport to our Girdwood hangar for $75/pp round trip.

• We operate a fleet of Robinson R44 helicopters for our flightseeing tours. Each helicopter seats three passengers, so larger parties will be traveling in groups of three, using multiple aircraft. These helicopters allow for a more intimate and boutique experience, plus every guest gets a window seat in an R44!

• SUMMER TOURS – Wear closed-toe shoes like hiking boots or sneakers and a light jacket, sweater or fleece with a windproof outer layer. We recommend sunglasses, a fully-charged phone or camera for pictures and an empty water bottle for glacier water!
• WINTER TOURS – Wear warm winter layers like fleece or wool along with boots and a winter jacket. We also recommend a hat and gloves, sunglasses and your fully-charged phone or camera for pictures.
• DOGSLED TOURS – Wear closed toe shoes and a light jacket. We will provide glacier overboots and windproof pants and a jacket to keep you warm and dry up on the glacier.

• If you cancel your tour more than 7 days in advance we provide a full refund. Cancellations made within 7 days of your scheduled tour are subject to a 50% cancellation fee. If you cancel within 24 hours of your reservation the tour is nonrefundable.

• Of course! Pictures and videos during the tour are encouraged! Our expert pilots will also take pictures of you with the helicopter on your landings, if desired.

• There is an excellent chance of seeing both black and brown bear, moose, mountain goats and Dall sheep on your flight! If you choose the Prince William Sound tour, you may also get the chance to see sea lions, seals and whales from the helicopter.

• Safety is at the heart of everything we do. Alpine Air Alaska is proud to be both the longest operating and safest helicopter tour company in southcentral Alaska. If you have any questions about our safety record or want to know more about our policies, feel free to contact our Office Managers at 907-783-2360.

• The Glacier Dogsledding Tour combines a short scenic flight with an exhilarating sled ride with real Iditarod racing dogs, and maybe even puppies to cuddle on the glacier! We are proud to be Alaska’s ONLY tether-free glacier dogsledding tour.
• Our Glacier Landing tours gives you the unforgettable chance to land on a glacier and explore the ice up close – try the Glacier Discovery Tour for an additional landing, either on a high alpine ridge or a beach on a remote glacier lake!
• The Prince William Sound Tour is the only one of its kind in the area! With even more flight time you’ll get to witness the majesty of massive tidewater glaciers and have the chance to see sea lions, otters and even whales from the air before landing on a glacier with time to explore on foot.
• Special occasion? If you are celebrating something special or planning to propose – we have options for that! Private tours and Special Occasion packages are available.

• Absolutely – our sled dogs are not only happy but thriving. These incredible canine athletes are part of a kennel managed by the Seavey family – three generations of Iditarod champions who are known across Alaska for their exceptional care and training standards.

Alpine Air Alaska is proud to operate the only tether-free glacier dogsledding tour in the state. This means our dogs are not kept tied to individual posts or short chains when they’re not running. Instead, they live and play in open, social pens where they can run, rest, and interact naturally with their packmates. This setup allows them to express their natural behaviors, form bonds, and enjoy freedom of movement that’s rarely possible in traditional tethered kennels.

Every day, you’ll see just how much they love what they do – tails wagging, jumping with excitement, and howling in anticipation of the run. Our guests consistently describe meeting the dogs as the highlight of their trip, and it’s easy to see why: they’re joyful, healthy, and deeply cared for by mushers who know each dog by name.

We believe that happy dogs make for a better, more ethical, and more authentic Alaskan adventure – and being tether-free is a big part of that philosophy.

• We operate a fleet of R44 helicopters for our flightseeing tours. Each helicopter seats three passengers, so larger parties will be traveling in groups of three, using multiple aircraft. The group will still take off and land together! Safety is our top priority and for proper weight and balance of the helicopter we may occasionally require groups traveling together to be seated with other guests so we do not exceed the maximum weight limit for the aircraft.

• Safety always comes first at Alpine Air Alaska. We fly in a wide range of Alaska weather conditions, but high winds, fog, low clouds or icing conditions may cause delays or cancellations. Our expert pilots monitor the weather constantly and make the final decision before each flight. If we need to cancel due to weather, you’ll have the option to reschedule or receive a full refund. We highly recommend you book your tour at the beginning of your stay so you have the option to reschedule in case of weather issues!

• Most guests don’t experience motion sickness on our flights. Helicopters are very stable and our pilots fly smooth, scenic routes.

If you are sensitive to motion however, please let your pilot know before take off! The pilot can open windows, adjust the heat and avoid sharp turns to help you feel more comfortable in the air.

We accept all major credit cards, as well as cash payments.

In the unlikely event that your tour is cancelled due to weather conditions, we will give you the option to rebook to a later tour time or day, or provide a full refund. We recommend booking your tour early in your trip so that you have time to reschedule in case of weather related issues.

Service animals are not permitted on any of our tours, per FAA regulations. Please contact our Office Managers with any questions about this policy.

• Weapons or firearms of any kind.
• Bear spray
• Drugs
• If you can’t take it on a commercial airline, you can’t take it on our flight. For any questions regarding this policy or if you have a specialized medical device please give our Office Managers a call before your flight.

• Yes we allow drones on our flightseeing tours! Your pilot will have the final say on if it’s safe to fly your drone considering the weather and landing zone.