The Grand Denali with Glacier Landing: The Ultimate Denali Experience

Written By HIAAC

For those looking to experience the grandeur of North America’s tallest peak, the Grand Denali with Glacier Landing is the definitive tour. This remarkable flightseeing adventure covers more of the Alaska Range than any other tour available and showcases the many awe-inspiring faces of Denali. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or visiting Alaska for the first time, this tour promises breathtaking landscapes, unforgettable views, and the rare opportunity to land on a glacier in Denali National Park.

Tour Overview: The Grand Denali Experience

This tour is designed for those seeking the ultimate Denali experience. As you fly over the Alaska Range, Denali and its neighboring peaks will dominate the landscape, revealing a world of towering cliffs, cascading glaciers, and expansive ice fields. No other location on Earth offers the same scale or vertical relief, creating the illusion of an ice age world frozen in time.

Talkeetna Air Taxi (TAT), renowned as "The Glacier Landing Company," conducts more glacier landings than any other company in the world. With a National Park Service concession to land on Denali's glaciers, TAT has the unique privilege of accessing multiple glacier locations throughout the Alaska Range. Your pilot will assess conditions to select the optimal glacier for landing, ensuring you have the best experience possible.

Tour Details:

  • Duration:

    • 2:00 hours with Glacier Landing

    • 1:30 hours without Glacier Landing

  • Price:

    • $613.28 per person with Glacier Landing

    • $475.15 per person without Glacier Landing

  • Offered:

    • May 1st – September 30th

    • From October 1st, the Winter Explorer Tour is available with a two-passenger minimum. Contact us for single-passenger rates and availability after October 1st.

What's Included:

  • Scenic flight over the Alaska Range and Denali National Park

  • Views of the Great Gorge of the Ruth Glacier, home to the deepest canyon in North America

  • The Wickersham Wall, the greatest continual vertical relief on the planet

  • Expansive views of Denali’s arctic alpine tundra and remote interior

  • Opportunity to cross from the south side of the Alaska Range to the north, capturing the full diversity of Denali’s ecosystems

  • Glacier landing (optional) for an unforgettable on-foot experience

Why Choose the Grand Denali Tour?

The Grand Denali tour is unlike any other. Here’s why it stands out from the rest:

1. Unparalleled Coverage of the Alaska Range

  • No other tour covers as much of the Alaska Range as the Grand Denali. You’ll see a diversity of landscapes, including the Southside Explorer’s highlights and the Mountain Voyager’s alpine vistas, all in one comprehensive experience.

2. Views of the Great Gorge

  • The tour takes you over the Ruth Glacier’s Great Gorge, with mile-high granite walls and a river of ice 4,000 feet thick. This is the deepest canyon in North America, and its sheer scale is something you have to see to believe.

3. The Wickersham Wall

  • Witness the famous Wickersham Wall, a 14,000-foot vertical rise of Denali, the greatest continuous vertical relief in the world. This colossal natural feature offers a glimpse of Denali’s raw power and majesty.

4. Glacier Landing in Denali National Park

  • With TAT’s reputation as the most experienced glacier landing company in the world, you’ll have the opportunity to step foot on a remote glacier in the heart of Denali National Park. This glacier landing is a thrilling and serene moment, where the sounds of the wind and your footsteps on the snow are the only sounds around you.

Glacier Landing: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

What sets this tour apart is the optional glacier landing. This unforgettable experience adds an extra 30 minutes to your flight, with 15 minutes spent exploring the glacier on foot and another 15 minutes for landing and takeoff.

What to Expect:

  • After flying through the dramatic terrain of Denali National Park, your pilot will choose the best landing site based on the day’s weather, snow, and lighting conditions.

  • Once you touch down, you’ll step out into a pristine world of ice and snow, surrounded by towering peaks and glistening glaciers. The feeling of standing among the great peaks of Denali is both humbling and exhilarating.

  • You’ll have approximately 15 minutes to explore the glacier on foot, take photos, and soak in the silence and grandeur of the landscape.

What You Need:

To fully enjoy this adventure, you’ll need a jacket, sunglasses, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. TAT provides waterproof over boots that will slip over your shoes, keeping them dry and snow-free as you walk on the glacier. And don’t forget your camera—you’ll want to capture every moment of this spectacular experience.

Pricing for Glacier Landing:

The glacier landing can be added to any flight tour for just $110 per person. Additionally, there’s a $15 per person Denali Park entrance fee for glacier landings unless you have a valid National Park Pass. Children aged 16 and under do not require a pass.

How to Prepare for Your Grand Denali Tour

1. Book in Advance

  • Given the popularity of this tour and the limited summer season, it’s essential to book early. This is especially important for travelers looking to include the glacier landing, as demand is high.

2. Bring the Essentials

  • Camera: Ensure you have plenty of storage space for photos, as the views are endless. A camera with a good zoom lens will help capture the details of the glaciers and rugged terrain.

  • Sunglasses and Sunscreen: The reflection off the snow and ice can be intense, so protect your eyes and skin.

  • Layers: Alaska’s weather is unpredictable, so dress in layers to stay comfortable. A warm jacket, long pants, and closed-toe shoes are necessary for the glacier landing.

3. National Park Pass

  • If you’re planning to join a Denali National Park bus trip within seven days of your flight tour, your entrance fee will already be covered. Alternatively, purchase your pass online ahead of time for convenience.

The Ultimate Denali Adventure Awaits

The Grand Denali with Glacier Landing tour offers an unparalleled look at Alaska’s most iconic landscape. From the soaring heights of the Alaska Range to the serene beauty of a glacier landing, this tour covers every aspect of Denali that makes it one of the most sought-after experiences in the world. Whether you choose the classic tour or upgrade to include the glacier landing, this adventure will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.

Take the plunge into the ice age world of Denali and witness nature at its most magnificent. All you need is a sense of adventure, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Tour Details Summary

  • Price (including all taxes):

    • $613.28 Per Person with Glacier Landing

    • $475.15 Per Person

  • Duration:

    • 2:00 hrs with Glacier Landing

    • 1:30 hr without Glacier Landing

  • Availability:

    • May 1st – September 30th

    • Winter Explorer Tour available starting October 1st (2-passenger minimum)

This is your chance to experience Denali in a way that few ever will. Book your Grand Denali with Glacier Landing tour today and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime!

HIAAC
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