Heli Flightseeing Frequently Asked Questions

Because we are the best! No, seriously! This is our backyard and we are so excited to share it with you! There is no comparison to the experience you will have with us at Outbound, we can guarantee it. You are not just a number in an assembly line of tourists to us, you are a valued guest and visitor to our home and you will be treated as such by all the members of the Outbound Team. We value the relationships we create with each and every one of our guests and tailor each flight to the experience YOU want to have. No regimented flight routes or landing locations.

That all depends on what you are hoping to experience on your adventure!

Want to see wildlife? Alaska’s moose, bears, Dall sheep and goats tend to be more active during certain hours of the day (early in the day and later in the evening).

Planning an elopement, proposal, or a styled photo shoot? Photographers tend to prefer softer lighting and will choose a time of day based on that, and it varies depending on the time of year.

Time of year affects lighting. During the winter months, daylight hours are very limited, and we are allowed to fly only during those hours. In the summer, the opposite is true. Although we have what seems to be never- ending daylight, we operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, which means our sunset flights are only possible in the winter.

Our home base is 45 minutes north of Anchorage in beautiful Palmer, and all of our departures leave from there. You can arrange a custom pick up via helicopter from Merrill Field in Anchorage at our charter rate (inquire for current hourly rate).

We share property with Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours. 

Our address is:

3901 S Lindsey Cir #F, Palmer, AK 99645

There is so much to do and see here in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley area and the community of Palmer! We highly recommend turning your trip into an overnight adventure, or at least a long day trip. 

Some of our favorite activities: 

Add a full or half day ATV tour with Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours to your trip (10% off for flying with us)!

Visit the Reindeer Farm 

Drive through Hatcher Pass and visit Independence Mine State Historical Park

Have brunch at Feather & Flour

Hike the Butte, a short, steep scramble near the Reindeer Farm

Visit an area brewery! (Bleeding Heart, Arkose, BearPaw, or Matanuska, among others)

We offer several discounts! Including Alaska Resident discount, MIlitary and Veteran discounts, as well as discounts we offer through our preferred lodging partners (see our list on our website). We also offer promotional/ holiday discounts throughout the year…call to see if any pertain to you and your adventure! (907) 351-6736

We can! Ice caves are the outlet for running water at or near the edges of the glacier. The water flowing through these outlets eventually form holes and then caves. In the colder months, the water freezes and the cave walls stabilize allowing for exploration! We typically offer caving experiences in lieu of landing on the surface of the glacier in our late fall and winter months. Summer months do not typically allow for a cave experience, as the sun and warmth cause caves to collapse and the water to start flowing under them.

No, we do not currently offer dog sledding on a glacier. You can add a glacier landing to your dog sledding adventure, ask us about it at booking!

Our home base is 45 minutes north of Anchorage in beautiful Palmer and all of our departures leave from there. You can arrange a custom pick up via helicopter from Merrill Field in Anchorage at our charter rate (inquire for current hourly rate).

We share property with Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours. Our address is:

3901 S Lindsey Cir #F, Palmer, AK 99645

There is so much to do & see here in the Matsu Valley! We highly recommend making it an overnight or at least a long day trip. 

Some other things to do while in Palmer: 

Add a full or half day ATV tour with Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours to your trip (10% off for flying with us)!

Visit the Reindeer Farm 

Drive through Hatcher Pass & visit Independence Mine

Have Brunch at Feather & Flour

Hike the Butte 

Visit one of our breweries! (Bleeding Heart, Arkose, BearPaw, Matanuska, to name a few)

We do! 

Yes, you can easily add transportation to your reservation when booking. The cost is $90 per person round trip. We will pick up/drop off anywhere in Anchorage. You can enter your pickup location in your reservation when booking.

Our flightseeing tours are great for all ages and abilities! Sure, climbing in and out of the helicopter requires some agility but if you can walk up a short flight of stairs you’ll be okay! Children must be supervised at all times.

During your glacier landing we equip you with crampons and you’ll have the opportunity to walk around on the glacier. If you prefer to stay closer to the helicopter you’ll still enjoy beautiful views & have an amazing experience.

Our guided helicopter adventures such as paddleboarding, ice climbing, rafting and trekking do have minimum ages & mobility requirements to stay safe out there.

Please call us for wheelchair or limited mobility access. We’re always happy to go the extra mile to enable you to enjoy this amazing experience.

Outbound Heli provides any technical equipment required for trips. On glacier landings, this includes microspikes that fit over your shoes to safely navigate the icy terrain. On paddleboard, packraft, or ice climbing adventures, we provide all necessary gear. Each trip description has a list of all items you should wear, or bring, so be sure to read carefully. 

Summers: 

Layers! Layers is the key to comfort in Alaska when the weather can change so rapidly. Wear long sleeves and bring a sweater. We always recommend a waterproof layer that also doubles as a wind breaker even if there is no precipitation. Make sure you wear sturdy shoes that offer some protection like sneakers or hiking shoes. Please, no high-heeled shoes or sandals.

Winters: 

Layers are still key but in winter we also recommend snow boots and a warm winter overcoat. Snow pants will keep your legs warm. A warm hat and gloves are an absolute must to keep your experience enjoyable. 

Sunglasses to protect your eyes from sometimes intense sunlight, a reusable water bottle to fill with glacier water and a camera with an extra battery and memory card are highly recommended.

We cannot make any promises for specific seat assignments because safety is priority. Our ground crew and pilots balance the helicopter based on the weight and number of passengers. Visibility from every seat is excellent and we can promise you beautiful views!

Online booking is easy, or call us and we’ll be happy to make your reservation over the phone. Either have an option of paying just a deposit at time of booking: (907) 351-6736

We accept all major credit and debit cards: Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

Here at Outbound we have a fleet of 3 passenger Robinson R44’s and the larger 4 passenger Robinson R66’s
Our aircraft are impeccably maintained. Your comfort and safety are of utmost importance, we encourage you to read more about our safety policy here.

Your chances are excellent! Moose are often spotted while flying to and from the glacier they love the lower slopes, bogs and river beds where there is plenty of vegetation for them to munch on. Black bear are often spotted out on alpine slopes, especially during berry season. Grizzlies are less often seen from the helicopter but occasionally a lucky guest will spot one.

Mountain goats and Dall sheep are frequently spotted – It’s not uncommon to see groups of them together.

We highly recommend making a reservation as soon as you know the dates you will be in our area, since it is more likely you will get your first choice of available days that best fit within your travel plans.

You can book with confidence knowing that you can get a 100% refund of your payment for any reason as long as you cancel within seven days of your scheduled tour.  

While we can’t always accommodate walk-ins or last minute bookings, you’re welcome to call to see if we have availability the day of your tour.

  • Proper footwear (close-toe, sturdy shoes)
  • Camera
  • Waterbottle
  • Sunglasses 
  • Snacks
  • Extra layers
  • Waterproof jacket

Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your departure time. We will provide a safety briefing and any instructions you may need for an enjoyable time on your tour.

It can happen but it’s very uncommon. People who experience motion sickness in an airplane or boat are usually fine in a helicopter because of the smooth ride and great visibility. 

If you’re extremely prone to getting motion sick, consider taking a motion sickness prevention medicine at least one hour before your flight.

  • Weapons of any type
  • Lithium batteries
  • Bear spray/aerosol spray of any kind
  • Gender reveal items that shoot glitter/colored powder/confetti
  • Smoking items of any kind, including lighters & vapes

Customers will receive a full refund with seven days notice of cancellation. Within 72 hours of your designated tour time, 50% of the booking fees will be refunded.

Need a more flexible option? We offer trip protection that allows you to cancel for any reason up to 24 hours prior to departure and receive a full refund minus the cost of trip protection. Add this to your booking easily at check out!

Please note, customers will receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation for medical illness/ family emergency .

Unfortunately we can not honor a refund for guests who do not show up at their scheduled time without calling.

If we cancel due to weather or any other safety related matter, we will give you a full refund on your tour cost.

We are open year round, and offer tours seven days a week!

Most of our flight tours include one or two landings where the pilot lands the helicopter and you get a chance to get out and explore.

Our most popular, Knik Glacier Explorer, includes one landing where we set down on the beautiful Knik Glacier, with ample time to investigate the icy surface with your pilot.

There is so much to do and see in Alaska’s wilderness areas, so if you’d like to add an additional landing, some popular locations include: high alpine or mountain top locations, a second glacier landing, by a waterfall, or in front of a giant ice wall.

For all elopement packages, cancellations made 24 hours after booking and up to 7 days prior to departure will incur a $500 cancellation fee. If cancelled between 7 days and 72 hours prior to your departure, you will receive a 50% refund. Cancellations made after the 72 hour period will not be refunded. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation for medical illness/family emergency .

Unfortunately, we cannot honor a refund for guests who do not show up at their scheduled time without calling.