Visiting Alaska and thinking of doing the Mt Denali flightseeing tour from Talkeetna? Wondering what to expect and if it’s worth it? In this guide, I share the best Mt Denali flight tour options, how they differ, photos, and my experience-based tips to help you decide which tour is best for you and plan a truly unforgettable adventure. Find out!
No trip to Alaska would be complete without seeing the majestic Denali (previously also known as Mount McKinley), North America’s tallest peak. A flightseeing tour over Mt Denali is by far the best way to get close to the mountain and truly appreciate the rugged beauty of the Alaska Range.
From sweeping mountain views to glacial landscapes that stretch for miles, the scenery around Mt Denali will leave you in awe. In addition, you can also opt for a tour that includes landing on a glacier. It’s one of the most breathtaking experiences ever! No wonder that Mt Denali flight tours are constantly rated as the #1 tours in Alaska.
I recently did the Mount Denali scenic flight tour from Talkeetna called ‘Mountain Voyager’, including a glacier landing, and it was epic! My Alaska trip was filled with bucket list experiences and wow moments, but the Denali flightseeing tour stood out as one of the absolute highlights, alongside the Grand Knik Glacier helicopter tour. Truly, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Good to know: The best place to do the Mt Denali flight tour is starting from Talkeetna. Known as the gateway to Denali, Talkeetna is an easy 2-hour drive from Anchorage, making it simple to add this experience to any Alaska itinerary. I did this tour on my way to Denali National Park, but if you are short on time, it’s also possible to do it on a day trip from Anchorage.
READ ALSO: Alaska Itinerary for 2 Weeks
Complete Guide to Denali Flightseeing Tours:
Denali Flight Tours – Different Options Explained
There are three main tour options for scenic Denali flights, ranging from 1-hour southside flights to 1.5-hour full-circle tours around Mt. Denali, so you can choose a tour that best matches your time and budget.
In addition, each tour also offers a glacier landing upgrade which I highly recommend.
Two aviation companies operate Denali flight tours from Talkeetna (see the most popular options here). While the names of their tours are a bit different, the itinerary and prices for the same duration tours are pretty much the same. All tours have great customer reviews and you really can’t go wrong with either – the rest is more a matter of having luck with the weather than anything else.
To save you time and research, here are the three best options for Denali flightseeing tours (the indicated duration is for the flight only; add 30 minutes extra if you opt for the glacier landing):
- South Side Explorer (1h): This tour is good if you have a lower budget and don’t want to miss this unique experience. It gives you a view of the south face of Denali and a taste of the incredible Alaska Range. However, it’s limited to the southern perspective, so I highly recommend choosing one of the longer tours instead.
- Mountain Voyager (1h15): This option gives you a more immersive experience, circling around the south, east, and west sides of Mount Denali. You’ll get breathtaking views of Denali and its neighboring giants, Mt Foraker and Mt Hunter. This is the tour I did (I chose it because it was the longest tour available for the starting time that fit my itinerary). I found that it had the ideal balance of flight time and incredible scenery, giving me plenty of time to take in the vastness of the Alaska Range. That said, next time, I would try to book well in advance and go for the grand tour. After all, it’s a bucket list experience that you will likely only do once in your life…
- Grand Denali (1h30): For the ultimate Denali experience, the Grand Denali tour is your best choice. This is the only tour that flies all the way around the mountain, including views of the remote and rugged north face, including the nearly 14,000 ft Wickersham Wall, the world’s greatest continual vertical relief.
The scenery on all these tours is unforgettable, and if you opt for a glacier landing, you’ll have plenty of time to explore, play in the snow, and take photos.
Winter tours: If you are visiting Alaska in the winter season (October-April), you can still do a flightseeing tour of Denali. However, there is little demand so only this southside tour is available in the low season and there is normally just one departure scheduled per day.
Why Book Denali Flight Tour from Talkeetna
Talkeetna’s location at the foot of Alaska Range makes it the perfect spot for a scenic flight to Denali.
Just 58 miles from Denali’s summit, Talkeetna sits closer to Mt Denali than any other access point, so you spend more time flying above the most impressive scenery. Within minutes of take-off, you’re already soaring over massive glaciers and the rugged peaks of the Alaska Range.
Good to know: Flights from Anchorage or the Denali National Park entrance spend a lot more time flying over flatlands before they reach the most impressive scenery.
There are many tour options starting from Talkeetna, with multiple departure times throughout the day during the entire summer season. Some flight tours are even available in the winter. This is truly the best place to be for Mt Denali flights. Furthermore, the scenery around Talkeetna itself is stunning – see below for photos and more information on what to expect.
What to Expect on the Denali Flightseeing Tour
A Denali flightseeing tour offers a truly unique perspective on the Alaska Range bringing you super close to Mt Denali, massive mountain peaks, and endless glaciers. You will be able to enjoy phenomenal views from a small plane designed for excellent visibility. Here, everyone gets a window seat!
What you’ll see depends a bit on the season, the weather, and the tour you choose, but it will be epic either way!
Your journey starts with sweeping views over the glacial river systems across the Susitna Valley and toward the Alaska Range, culminating with the breathtaking sight of Denali and surrounding peaks. In just a few minutes, the scenery changes from green, lush forests to snow-capped mountains and eternal glaciers.
Glacier Landing
With an optional glacier landing, you get to step out onto a remote glacier, surrounded by towering mountains and pristine snow – an experience you won’t quickly forget.
The feeling of vastness is unlike anything else I have ever experienced. It’s truly like stepping into another world. The magical world of snow, ice, and total silence.
We had plenty of time on the glacier to walk around, soak in the incredible landscape, and take photos.
I added lots of photos of this tour throughout this article. But no words or pictures can ever portray how unique this experience is. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that you will remember for years to come!
The flightseeing tour is incredible on its own, but the glacier landing takes it to a whole new level. If you’re already booking the tour, go for the upgrade – you won’t regret it!
Know Before You Go: Info & Tips
- Best time to fly. Just like most outdoor experiences in Alaska, the best time for Denali flightseeing is in the summer season – May through September. That said, weather-permitting, tours are available year-round, so if you want to do it, just go for it.
- Book in advance! Being Alaska’s #1 tours, Denali flights fill up quickly, especially during peak season. Make sure to book in advance to secure your preferred time and tour option. Check availability and secure your spot today. Most tours offer free cancelation up to 24 hours in advance, so you can cancel or modify your booking if your plans change.
- Worried about the weather? If the tour gets canceled because of the weather, you’ll get a full refund or an option to reschedule if your travel plans permit. If the weather looks questionable on the day of your visit and you are driving to Talkeetna just for this tour, don’t hesitate to call them and ask what the situation is like.
- National Park Pass. If you choose a flight with a glacier landing, you’ll need a National Park Pass. Some tours include it in the price, while others (like those listed above) don’t, which may explain small price differences. If you’re planning to visit Denali National Park separately, you can book a tour without the pass and simply buy it online to avoid paying twice. And if you have an America the Beautiful Pass, that’s valid here too.
- Where to sit on the plane. This might depend on the type of the plane. On the aircraft used for the tour I did, I found that the back seats had a better view (see the pictures below). When you sit in the front row just behind the cockpit, you are right under the wing. The co-pilot seat might look tempting, but you have to be really tall to enjoy the views in front of you; sideways is ok. Left or right – it doesn’t matter that much since pilots do their best to make sure that everyone can enjoy magnificent scenery. Plus, they may not always know in advance in which direction they will circle around Mt Denali as that is weather-dependent. You can always ask the pilot what he recommends and be quick because the seats are not assigned.
What to Wear & What to Pack
- Clothing. Dress for the winter and layer up so you can fully enjoy your time on the glacier without feeling the cold. It can get quite chilly on the plane too. You will be flying at such a high elevation that the windows will start to freeze (they provide cleaning cloths to keep your window clean for the pictures!).
- Footwear. You need to wear closed shoes, ieally, hiking boots or sporty sneakers. On glacier landing tours, they provide waterproof glacier boots to put over your shoes – that way, your feet remain dry even if you walk in deep snow.
- What to pack. Weight is important, so don’t take anything with you that you don’t really need during the flight. Don’t forget sunglasses, a camera, and be sure to charge all the batteries in advance!
- Motion sickness: If you’re sensitive to motion, consider bringing ginger chews. The pilots do a great job keeping the flight smooth, but a little preparation helps. I am quite prone to motion sickness, so I took some ginger before the flight and I was fine.
Is It Worth It?
I think you already know my answer – YES, the Mt Denali flightseeing tour is absolutely worth it! It’s one of the most unforgettable experiences you can have in Alaska.
While it’s definitely a splurge, tours in Alaska are pricey across the board, especially flights and with glacier landings. If the Grand Denali tour isn’t in your budget, the shorter options are just as incredible. Either way, don’t miss the chance to see Denali up close!
Each Denali flight offers a unique perspective on one of Alaska’s most iconic mountains, and whichever tour you choose, it’s bound to be a highlight of your trip.
I opted for the Mountain Voyager tour and I’d jump at the chance to do it again! Out of all the tours I did in Alaska, this was one of the highlights.
So, that wraps up my guide to Denali flightseeing tours. No matter which option you pick, it’s a truly magical experience that will make your Alaska trip even more special and unforgettable.
Have a great trip!
More Travel Inspiration for Alaska:
- Alaska Road Trip Itinerary
- Seward Itinerary for 2-3 Days
- Best Things to Do in Homer
- Grand Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour (another must-do in Alaska!)
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