The Four Types of Alaska Glaciers: Understanding Your Options

Alaska is known for its untamed beauty and abundance of breathtaking glaciers, making glacier tours a top vacation choice. Yet, if you’ve been exploring your Alaska vacation options, you’ve probably realized there’s more than one way to tour a glacier. Our Alaska glacier tour comparison will help you make an informed decision for your perfect itinerary.

Four Types of Glacier Experiences

Weighing your options between the Matanuska Glacier vs. Prince William Sound? The biggest difference is the touring experience itself. Matanuska is an on-foot experience, while Prince William Sound is a coastal experience seen from a boat. Learning more about these four types of glacier experiences, Tidewater Glacier Cruises, Glacier Hiking, Heli-Hiking, and Flightseeing, will help you choose the right fit for your budget and physical goals.

Tidewater Glacier Cruises

Tidewater glacier cruises provide an intimate view of glaciers in a safe and comfortable way. You’ll be able to travel over miles of water to see spectacular tidewater glaciers up close, regardless of your physical fitness level.

  • Sea Conditions: While our portion of Prince William Sound is famous for its remarkably calm waters, many travelers find they are more prone to seasickness on other coastal tours. To give our guests total peace of mind, Phillips Cruise & Tours offers a “No Seasickness Guarantee.” We are so confident in the smoothness of the sheltered waters in the Sound that we ensure a comfortable experience for every guest.
  • Cost: $169 – $450 per person.
  • Physical Requirements: Minimal. Most tours require only the ability to stand for short periods or walk short distances.
  • Accessibility: Most of our boats are ADA-compliant. Three of our four vessels are accessible by ramp, while one has a small edge that guests must be able to travel over.
  • Time Commitment: 3.5 to 10 hours.

Glacier Hiking

Glacier hiking is an on-foot experience that allows guests to walk directly on the ice. On many of these tours, guests are driven to the glacier and then walk onto the ice formations. While beginners are welcome, some physical fitness is required to navigate the ice.

  • Cost: $115 – $400 per person.
  • Physical Requirements: Ability to walk on slippery, uneven terrain. Most of these hikes involve being driven to the glacier and walking onto it, rather than a strenuous trek to reach the ice.
  • Time Commitment: 3 to 10 hours.

Heli-Hiking

A glacier heli-hike combines a helicopter ride with an on-foot glacier hike, giving adventurous guests a bird ’s-eye view of remote Alaska wilderness before landing on the ice.

  • Cost: $500 – $800 per person.
  • Physical Requirements: Must have the ability to walk for around two hours over moderately steep and uneven terrain and be capable of climbing into and out of a helicopter.
  • Time Commitment: 3.5 to 6 hours (Expect 30 minutes of flight time and 2 hours of active time on the glacier).

Flightseeing

See the untamed Alaska wilderness and majestic icefields from the air. While some tours departing from Lake Hood use float planes, the majority of glacier viewing planes in Alaska are fixed-wing aircraft equipped with wheels or skis for glacier landings.

  • Cost: $300 – $600 per person.
  • Physical Requirements: Ability to board a small aircraft. Flights that include a landing may require some hiking ability on the ice.
  • Time Commitment: 1 to 5 hours.

The Value of a Prince William Sound Glacier Cruise

While every adventure offers a unique perspective, a Prince William Sound glacier cruise is often considered the best value tour in Alaska. The Sound is home to over 150 glaciers, many of which are best viewed from the water.

Glacier cruises allow guests of all fitness levels to get close to icebergs and cover vast distances. You’ll get intimate views of calving ice, spot marine wildlife, and witness panoramic views of unparalleled Alaska beauty with minimal physical requirements.

Book Your Alaska Glacier Cruise Today

An Alaska glacier cruise is a unique and exciting way to see grandiose icebergs and pristine landscapes. If you’re ready for an unforgettable journey, book with us at  Phillips Cruise & Tours today. Choose our 26 Glacier Cruise to explore 130 miles of Prince William Sound or our Glacier Quest, featuring 10 glaciers over 45 miles.

Image credit: Ed Rutledge