Excursion Norris adventure: seaplane, paddle & glacier hike tour at Juneau

Embrace your sense of adventure during this exhilarating, half-day flightseeing, glacier hiking, and packrafting excursion to Juneau’s Norris Glacier.

Juneau, Floatplane Flight-Seeing Tour

Depart the pier for the short drive to the ABAK tour office. Upon arrival, be outfitted for your gear and receive your safety and tour instructions. Afterward, a short transfer brings you to your awaiting floatplane. Board your aircraft, lift-off directly from the water, and begin your incredibly scenic and exhilarating, approximately 30-minute flight-seeing ride to the Norris Glacier.

Taku Inlet & Glacier, Juneau Icefield, Norris Glacier-Hike, Pack-Rafting, Icebergs, Norris Glacier

En route, your panoramic flight heads to the mouth of the Taku Inlet, gateway to the flowing glaciers of the Juneau Icefield. After landing on the Norris Glacier-fed lake, de-board your floatplane and hike over the glacially-carved terrain to Pack Raft Cove. Upon arrival, you are outfitted with single-person pack rafts and

introduced to paddling techniques by your guides. After launching your pack raft into the cool, crystal-clear waters of the lake, paddle past icebergs to the glacier. As you approach the glacier, prepare to beach your raft right on the glacier.

Glacier-Trek, Exquisite Views, Norris & Taku Glaciers, Crevasses, Pools, Pack-Rafting, Return Flight

After trading out paddles for micro-spikes, join your guide for a glacier-trekking tour of the Norris Glacier’s moonscape-like surrounds. Along the way, enjoy spectacular panoramic vistas of the Norris and Taku glaciers, and look for crevasses, glacier pools, moulins, and other exquisite ice features. Upon completion of your glacier hike, slide back into your pack raft and paddle back to shore. Here, disembark your pack raft and re-board your floatplane for the approximately 30-minute ride back to Juneau. Upon arrival, de-board the floatplane and transfer back to the ABAK tour office to de-gear. Your tour concludes with a short ride back to the pier.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Juneau, Floatplane Flight-Seeing, Taku Inlet & Glacier, Juneau Icefield, Norris Glacier-Hike, Glacier Lake-Pack-Rafting, Icebergs, Crevasses, Glacier Pools

Note

Please note: Glaciers are dynamic and unpredictable, and conditions can sometimes make it unsafe to access the ice. As a result, trekking on the glacier ice cannot be guaranteed. Additionally, a specific amount of time on the ice cannot be guaranteed. The amount of time on the glacier is dependent on the group's pace and weather conditions. This tour involves an extensive amount of activity, and an extensive amount of walking and hiking, for approximately 3.2 miles (about 5.1 kilometres), at times over uneven, cobblestone, icy, slippery, and natural surfaces and inclines, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach, board/de-board the floatplane, and embark/disembark the raft. The ride may be rough at times, and guests will experience bumpy, jerking motions. The rafting portion of this tour takes place in lake depths ranging from approximately 100 feet (about 30 metres) to approximately 160 feet (about 50 metres). This tour is recommended for active guests who are in good physical condition and can swim in water too deep to stand. This tour is not suitable for pregnant guests, guests with neck and/or back problems, guests with heart and/or respiratory conditions, guests prone to motion sickness, guests with vertigo and/or balance issues, guests with limited mobility, and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Guests are advised to wear warm, comfortable, non-cotton clothing in layers with flat, sturdy, and closed-toe hiking boots you won’t mind getting wet, and bring sun protection, sunglasses with a safety cord, a warm, weatherproof jacket, towel, plastic bag to keep your wallet, cell phone, camera, and/or photographic equipment dry, bottled water, and US Dollars or credit cards for purchases from the ship; an extra layer of clothing and warm socks are recommended. Guests must be at least 12 years old to participate on this tour; minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over 18 years old. Guests over six feet (about 1.8 metres) in height cannot participate on this tour. Guests weighing more than 250 pounds (about 113 kilograms) cannot participate on this tour. The floatplane seats a maximum of six passengers. The total passenger weight cannot exceed 1200 pounds (about 544 kilograms). Due to weight/balance limitations and FAA requirements, and for your individual safety and comfort, it is imperative that accurate weights for all guests are forwarded 12 hours prior to flight, through the onboard Shore Concierge Team. If the weights differ from what was sent, guests may be asked to stand on scales. Fully clothed guests weighing more than 250 pounds (about 120 kilograms) must pay for an additional seat and will be assessed a weight surcharge of US$ 525.00, to be paid directly to the tour operator just prior to flight departure. Seating is assigned at the pilot's discretion in order to balance the floatplane for safety reasons. A window is not guaranteed. The total flight time is approximately one hour; flight times may vary based on flight conditions. The rafting portion of this tour operates in single-passenger pack rafts. Pack rafts, paddles, helmets, life jackets, rain gear, waterproof boots, and personal flotation devices are provided; there is no shade on the rafts. Micro-spikes are provided for the glacier-trekking portion of this tour. Guests who have consumed alcoholic beverages cannot participate on this tour. A safety vest must be worn at all times whilst rafting. A signed waiver is required to participate on this tour. Operation of this tour is subject to weather conditions and may be cancelled by the pilot on short notice. The tour sequence may vary.