A helicopter flying in the air

Icy Strait Point - Ultimate Helicopter Tour: Wildlife, Wilderness, Tlingit Culture

Your pilot chooses the best route on this helicopter tour that searches for whales, bears and other wildlife.

  • Experience helicopter flightseeing - scan the vast grandeur of Chichagof Island and Icy Strait from an unforgettable vantage point
  • Be shown the best of the area and search for wildlife on the beaches and in the waterways by a seasoned Alaska pilot
  • Make a beach landing, learn traditional Tlingit methods of preserving food and even taste a bite or two

  • Difficulty level

    Level 1: For everyone

  • Duration

    2 hours

  • Minimum number of passengers

    4

  • Booking code

    A-IS18

  • From

    $ 768

  • Notices

    Passengers must be physically fit and able to board and exit the helicopter on their own. Tour includes 25 minutes of total helicopter flight time.

Begin the journey with a drive through the Tlingit village of Hoonah.  Make a stop at the totem poles in town where your local guide will share traditional stories passed down from generation to generation.  Continue on to the heliport for a short safety briefing before you lift off in your helicopter for a unique eagles-eye-view of the Tongass National Forest. 

As you fly over the vast, lush rainforest, keep an eye out for bears and whales below.  In the distance, the towering peaks of Glacier Bay National Park loom above the homeland of the Hoonah Tlingit. The pilot will customise your experience based on weather conditions and recent wildlife sightings to showcase the best that Chichagof Island has to offer.

Then, your helicopter lands at a remote beach where you will explore and learn about local history and culture. Your local guide will teach traditional and current harvesting methods,. Hear about the medicinal benefits of these foods and taste some local favourites.  Learn about local sea life that support the Tlingit subsistence lifestyle.  Also hear about how the local fishing fleet thrive off the area’s abundant seafood and the importance of natural resources to the Tlingit diet. 

After you have fully absorbed this incredible landscape, it will be time to climb back into the helicopter for the equally awe-inspiring flight back to Hoonah. Keep your cameras at the ready, as you never know what wildlife you might spot from your aerial seat.

  • A brown bear standing next to a body of water
  • A group of people standing in front of a building
  • A whale jumping out of the water

Practical information

  • Language: English
  • Included: Snack including smoked salmon, beach asparagus and/or other local samples depending on season and availability
  • Remarks: Minimum age is 5 years.  Tour includes 25 minutes of total helicopter flight time.  Passengers must be physically fit and able to board and exit the helicopter on their own.
  • Tour order may vary. Due to safety reasons guests weighing 250 lbs. (113 kg) or more will be assessed and a weight surcharge ($100) may be implemented to reserve relevant space on board the helicopter. Dress in layres
  • Wheelchair accessible: No