Skim across Resurrection Bay to Bear Glacier, land on a rocky fjord beach and walk among iceberg-strewn water. This 80-minute helicopter tour in Kenai Fjords gives a compact, high-impact view of Alaska’s glacial edge — ideal for photographers and first-time flyers.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You lift off from the small Seward airstrip and Resurrection Bay slides away beneath you: a strip of slate water braided with sunlight, cliffs that seem to lean into the sky. The helicopter skirts fiord shoulders, and ahead the blue-white face of Bear Glacier opens like a creased ribbon, its broken ice calving into a lagoon dotted with icebergs. On final approach the rotor wash pushes spray and pebbles along a stony beach; you step onto the shore with boulders underfoot and shards of ancient ice rolling gently in the swell.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
1–1.5 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most fitness levels; requires only short, flat beach walking and stable footing for photos.
Wildlife
History
Seward developed as the Kenai Peninsula gateway after the Alaska Railroad reached the town in 1923; the fjords have long been seasonal grounds for Dena'ina harvesting.
Conservation
Kenai Fjords is managed to protect glacial and marine ecosystems—stay on shore, pack out all waste, and avoid disturbing wildlife to minimize impact.
Reserve your spot on the Bear Glacier Helicopter Tour and Beach Landing in Seward today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Check the weight limit
Operators restrict passengers to under 300 lb — report accurate weights when booking to avoid last-minute denial of boarding.
Dress in windproof layers
Rotor wash and coastal wind make a warm, windproof jacket and hat essential even on mild days.
Protect camera gear
Use wrist straps or a neck strap and bring a weatherproof cover — salt spray and sand are common on landing beaches.
Plan for weather delays
Tours can reroute or cancel in poor visibility; book with a buffer day in your itinerary and confirm shuttle needs 24 hours ahead.
Windproof jacket
Blocks rotor chill and coastal wind during flight and onshore.
Sturdy, waterproof shoes
Protects feet against wet rocks and pebbly beaches during the landing stop.
Camera with zoom lens
A 70–200mm or similar helps capture distant icebergs and wildlife from the air.
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Glare off ice and water increases UV exposure even on cool days.
summer