We also recommend you bringa camera, a charged battery, and a memory card or extra film. Will I see Denali's summit on my tour? K2 also does summit flights. Do I need a reservation, or do you take walk-ins? It'll be yours, too. Talkeetna Air Taxi The Glacier Landing Company . Thanks so much! Catching a ride on a Twin Otter aircraft from Talkeetna, Alaska, to Denali Base Camp on the Kahiltna Glacier. Angels exist. From the moment you make your reservation to the time you step off your flight, you will find the people of K2 to be professional, experienced, safety minded, and service oriented. Our aircraft are not pressurized. The glaciers in Denali National Park are like no others in the world. This flight encompasses the south, east & west faces of Denali, winding through the three major peaks: Denali, Foraker, and Hunter and the climber base camp. He brought our attention to many sites below, identifying main highways, the railway, glaciers, mountains rivers, structures and shared interesting facts about each. We look forward to seeing you in Talkeetna. You MUST have 4 people to use the Northern Lights coupon for Talkeetna Air Taxi. 2022 Anchorage Daily News. The best of the best in my opinion, having done all that is listed above- probably 10-12 McKinley flights over close to 10 years. Our glacier landing was as smooth as silk. What are the approximate costs for 2 adults for a typical flight seeing trip to view Mt McKinley? Talkeetna is only 58 miles from the summit and within ten minutes of take-off you are over the immense glaciers and infinite peaks of the Alaska Range. From mid September to April a heavy jacket, hat, boots and gloves are recommended. 907-733-2291 I heard from a tour operator that the summit flights are longer and the distance up can be troubling if you have ear pressure problems because the planes aren't pressurized. We are privileged to share with you the incredible landscape and timeless beauty of Denali National Park. K2 Aviation also offers snowshoes and sleds on a rental basis. Pilot Craig Layson, of Michigan, and four Polish visitorsdied in the crash. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Give us a call - we can help you get there. I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone coming to Talkeetna! The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center got an alert from the plane's emergency locator transmitter at 5:53 p.m., NTSB learned. Also, since you can cancel 24 hours in advance free of charge, there is no risk to you in making a reservation. When a pilot tells you to cancelyou cancel. The company was very professional, on time, safety/COVID conscious, and provided good value for your money. Denali creates its own weather environment, and it can change from flight to flight. Many guests request the co-pilot seat;the pilot places passengers in particular seats to balance the airplane, and it is their decision. In order to arrive 30 minutes before flight time, you should plan on taking a shuttle departing 1 hour and 30 minutes before your scheduled flight time. Do either have coupons for the 2012 books? Locally known as The Glacier Landing Company, TAT has been flying climbers and sightseers to the Alaska Range and Denali since 1947. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Seems like Talkeetna Air Taxi uses mostly larger 10 seater planes whereas K2 has a range of plane types with most of them being smaller. If youre interested, we are glad to let yourpilot knowyour preference. The plane came to rest in a crevasse at almost 11,000 feet altitude, high on a knife-edge ridge of Thunder Mountain about 14 miles from Denali's summit. Chris suggested that we kill a few hours in town, cross our fingers, and pray that the weather gods cleared things up enough by early evening to give it a shot. We are open 9-4 daily in the winter months, 800-764-2291. Before boarding the flight, I asked if I could sit up front and the pilot said yes saying "its kind of a 'whoever asks first' can sit in the front". Do I need a reservation, or do you take walk-ins? Our airplane ride into Denali National Park was nothing short of amazing! The McKinley Princess Lodge is approximately 50 minutes away form Talkeetna. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. The ski plane flys low, and you just do not get any idea of the depth and hights of McKinley that you get from flying over it. This is a professional scenic tour, not a thrill ride. Twice before, four people have died in plane crashes near America's tallest peak. As far as I know, there is no helicopter flightseeing over the Alaska range to Mt. 3 scarlet_sage 4 yr. ago I second the replies that praise flightseeing at Denali. Flight operators will determine if conditions are safe for flying, and if not, they will try and reschedule. Maybe BQ can correct me if I'm wrong. She covers breaking news, the Mat-Su region, aviation and general assignments. The flight was amazing, pilot Phillip was so nice and informative. We look forward to seeing you in Talkeetna. A finding of probable cause for the crash will be released within two months of the report. I ended up with 4 rebookings with them in 2005, over 3 different days and only the orginal being the 7pm timeframe. This one-hour tour was amazing! United States. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. ~Stephanie. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. On the hour: The Talkeetna Alaska Lodge Shuttle departs every hour for Talkeetna from the main lobby. I hope this answers your question and hope to see you this summer. It is then your decision whether to fly or not to fly. K2 tried several times after that to contact Layson without success, Williams said. We take a look out the back deck of the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge at 7:45am. Our exceptional service is a proven fact:The Anchorage Daily News has awarded K2 the Air Taxi Gold Award for the last three years in a row. The veteran pilot was excellent and personable, and let us know the plane manuevers ahead of time so you weren't anxious. Choose to modify, reschedule, or get a 100% refund. Talkeetna Air Taxi features acustom-designed fleet of planes, adedicated customer service team, and avariety of tours for every budget. If the weather is not flyable, it is very difficult to arrange a last minute van transport from Talkeetna to Kantishna. The entire experience from the drive to/from Talkeetna to the flight and views were outstanding. In 1944, a military transport crashed into a mountain some 16 miles east of Denali, killing all 19 people on board. more. Over the past decade, at least 14 and probably 15 people have lost their lives in flightseeing crashes in Alaska, and seven more have been seriously injured. We stayed right in Talkeetna so we just simply walked to K2 aviation and essentially walks on the plane. And, of course, to my guardan angel at the Talkeetna Alaskan concierge desk. I dont usually write reviews but K2 has sent me several emails asking for one and I searched for this info before our trip and didnt really find anything. Does anybody have an opinion concerning these two flightseeing companies. what is that option ? We often hear guest say that the glacier landing was the highlight of their Alaska vacation! Unless you know that what you want to do is in this (or any other discount program) book . McKinley) your are landing in Denali National Park, and therefore will need a park pass. ), Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National Park Driving Map, Denali National Park Campgrounds & RV Parks, Denali (McKinley) Flightseeing Tours: Anchorage vs Talkeetna vs Denali National Park. Our pilots are not only skilled in aviation, they make fantastic tour guides with decades of experience exploring their own back yard of the Alaska Range! How to Earn Airline Miles While Sheltering in Place, We Called and Asked: These European & Middle East Airlines Are Retaining Status, By logging into your account, you agree to our. Helicopter servicesClimbing expedition supportMedia & Commercial filming projectsUtility Charters (fuel deliver, building supplies)Iditarod Chase the Race and day trip chartersBack-country rafting & hiking transportAerial Photography & Survey. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. All rights reserved. Our pilot (sorry i forgot your name! K2 Aviation will be on your right-hand side. 2 hours, 15 minutes from Anchorage to Talkeetna. Mountainous terrain, inclement weather conditions, both of those combined together make it much more challenging in Alaska.. It provides glacier landing and air taxi options. K2Aviation i. You are on vacation and we want to make it easy! :). That is a great question. the problem with using a float (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Flew the Denali flyer (N122KT) with friends. Is there any advantage of one over the other? Hats off, and sincere thanks to the crews at both K2 AND TAT. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. I do solemnly swear that I shall willingly fall upon my sword for this woman should the need ever arise.Mike at K2 took us up in a 5-seat Cessna for the ride of our lives on their Denali Grand Tour. Car, train, or group tour. Even on airline flights, I sometimes keep the POC at 2 liters. Foraker tower above the other Free cancellation Recommended by 98% of travelers from $367.00 per adult Reserve Denali Grand Flightseeing Tour from Talkeetna 185 By K2 Aviation Air Tours 2-3 hours Our flights to view Denali can range from $220 - $345 per person, depending on which one you choose. My preference is for the summit flights. As for seeing "base camp", a low priority for me, since it is only good when they are climbing. If you are only interested because of coupon books I can't help you. **You can bring your child on our lower altitude flights, but not on the Summit Tour due to high altitudes** Stired has been on the Grand Denali with Glacier Landing and NancyIL is going to be doing the Base Camp Tour. I would recommend them easily for a wonderful flightseeing tour. The winter season (October April) office hours daily from 9:00 am 3:00 pm. Not counting the five people who are confirmed or presumed dead from this weekends plane crash on a sharp, tall ridge in Denali National Park, 10 of the sightseeing victims died in foggy Southeast Alaska, according to records provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. East 2nd Street, 14052 Foraker tower above the other , See Denali from all sides during your flight - North, South, East & West. But I never felt scared. I was planning on taking the 7pm flightseeing then driving to Anchorage afterward but our flight got canceled due to weather. I've been to the Mendenhall Glacier. The Grand Denali with Glacier Landing tour goes all the way around Denali so that you can see both the south and north sides of the mountain, as well as the Wickersham wallone of the highest vertical rises on the planet. K2 Aviation, Talkeetna Air Taxi or Talkeeta Aero Service K2 Aviation, Talkeetna Air Taxi or Talkeeta Aero Service for McKinley air tour. I definitely want to see the base camp where the climbers begin their ascent, but it's not a high priority to spend the extra time and money to see the north face of Mt. What happens to my deposit if my tour is cancelled due to weather? If you made it to the 49th state, one thing you must set aside is time to see Denali from the air! I have oxygen saturation problems, using a portable oxygen concentrator. Longer is always better in my opinion. Can't speak to K2, although I know they have a good reputation. K2 Aviation does not provide standard tours out of Denali National Park. You are on vacation and we want to make it easy! Give us an hour, we'll give you the world! On the other hand, Talkeetna Aero Service has a two-for-one coupon. Anything big enough to create its own weather system ain't arranging its day around YOUR schedule. Sensing our desperation to go up anyway, Chris explained that he'd be happy to fly us around the lower part of the Ruth Glacier on a less extensive tour, but strongly urged us to call it a day since we were likely to be unhappy with the view. the lodge has motor coaches that come to Talkeetna about every hour and the ride is about 45 minutes. Flight times run approximately Summer season 2021 (May 1st to Sept 1st)8:30 am (first flight of the day)11:00 am1:30pm4:00 pm (last flight of the day), Flight times run approximately Shoulder season: Part I (till Sept 15th)9:00 am (first flight of the day)11:30 am2:00 pm 4:00 pm (last flight of the day), Flight times run approximately Shoulder season: Part II (Sept 16th to Sept 30th)10:00 am (first flight of the day)12:30 pm3:00 pm (last flight of the day), Flight times run approximately Shoulder season: Part III (Oct 1st to Oct 31st)12:00 pm (first flight of the day)3:00 pm (last flight of the day). I would recommend them easily for a wonderful flightseeing tour. In a written response to Channel 2's questions sent by a public relations firm, K2 Aviation owner Todd Rust said that safety and experienced pilots have been top priorities for the company, with no passengers injured in the past 22 years. Fax: 907-733-1221, 1-800-764-2291 Fax: 907-733-1221, K2 Cares! Planning on climbing in the Alaska Range? Here are some records, Man charged in 1994 sexual abuse cold case, Fairview neighborhood to receive $537K in federal grant to reconnect community. "No further information was received before the connection was once again lost.". We're out of luck and about out of time.It's a horrible sight to see a grown man cry. He even took some amazing photos of us in front of the plane. By I would not take your child on this flight it is an adult experience. The K2 Aviation staff is committed to ensuring that you have the best possible experience on your flightseeing tour. The total trip time is 1 hour and 45 minutes. In a non-tourist flight, wolf biologist Gordon Haber was killed tracking a pack of wolves when his chartered airplane crashed in the park in 2009. Is the mountain called McKinley or Denali? During the colder seasons (September 16 May 15) we encourage you to layer your clothing. The airport is home to at least seven air taxi operations and is very busy during the tourist season because of its proximity to Denali. We explained that we had only that afternoon available since we were scheduled to leave Talkeetna 11am the following morning. By Car: Heading into town on Talkeetna Spur Road, look for signs to the Talkeetna State Airport. East 2nd Street, 14052 Our picks for the best tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise. Our pilot was friendly and explained everything to us clearly. I have gone with Talkeetna Aero the most. Rescheduling does not work for travelers who have tight vacation schedules, so we recommend keeping the date you wish to take a flightseeing tour flexible. Check out the deals on our tours! The maps on their web sites look similar. "People are discovering it's a cool little. Laysonin the second call told K2 "he was trapped in the wreckage and there were possibly two fatalities," the report stated. Trust me. The Beauty here is unbelievable. It was the #1 highlight of our entire trip! K2 Aviation. One federal official called the latest disaster the worst in history for civilian aviation in Denali National Park. All that is required to secure a reservation is a 50% deposit per person, fully refundable with 48 hour notice or inclement weather. During the winter, we are open seven days a week from 9:00 am 3:00 pm. Not sure? K2 also does summit flights. We are open all year, seven days a week, except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. The pilot did a great job of stay below the clouds so that we could see the sharp cliffs and massive glaciers. http://www.flightseeingtours.com/denali.asp There are helicopter flightseeing of Denali Park available with ERA, but not out of Talkeetna. The flyguys of Talkeetna are a cooperative and close-knit band of brothers who are constantly in radio contact with each other about flying conditions in the area. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. (Photo provided by NPS). Now I know not to trust a forecast until you get close to the date and Denali is a big place and had different weather throughout. I have nothing against float planes and enjoy flying in them. K2 made our experience super relaxing and stress free. Our tour train arrived in Talkeetna about noon and we were scheduled to fly with them at 3pm. CC Help Jenn K2 Aviation is a National Park Service approved concessionaire with an excellent safety record. From $459 Per Person Summit Tour This high-elevation expedition soars above Denali to view the summit at over 20,000 ft. and is a one-of-a-kind tour for adventurous travelers that explores the Alaska Range from a unique, towering perspective. glacier landing flight, Denali or Talkeetna? While we require you to pay the full amount upon reservation, you can book with confidence knowing that you can get a 100% refund of your payment for any reason. (That's the only substitution? Talkeetna Air Taxi 2018-2023 All right reserved |. I know people have recommended doing the summit only. The plane left Talkeetna's airport just after 5 p.m. Aug. 4 and crashed an hour later, authorities said. Hello! Everybody at k2 was so friendly and the flight was great, Cant say enough. Id like to thank Chris and K2 Aviation for one of the most memorable lifetime experiences and would highly recommend this for anyones bucket list! Investigators are still in the early stages and will need to conduct further interviews with K2 Aviation and other pilots in the area. We told Chris we'd try him again early the next morning if the weather cleared, and TAT refunded our deposit no questions asked. I would do a flight at the first possible chance, so you have time to reschedule in case it gets canceled (it is often canceled due to weather). We do provide free van service transfers throughout downtown Talkeetna and to and from the Talkeetna Alaska Lodge for anyone flying with us. Mike gave us the 4-1-1 on the geologic environs as we flew around Denali, Foraker, Hunter, the Ruth Glacier and the Talkeetna Mountain range. This is what the e-mail from the company said: "You must have 4 people to receive the 25% discount and the flight times are 8:30am to 1pm and 6pm to 7pm blackout is from 1pm to 5pm. Reschedule, or do you take walk-ins member and not of Tripadvisor LLC its own system... Weather is not flyable, it is their decision New Years Day features acustom-designed fleet of planes, customer... On time, safety/COVID conscious, and New Years Day and sincere thanks to the 49th state, one you! 45 minutes approximate costs for 2 adults for a typical flight seeing trip view! 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An excellent safety record since 1947 coaches that come to Talkeetna your money staff committed... Let yourpilot knowyour preference absolutely recommend this tour to anyone coming to.... Northern Lights coupon for Talkeetna from the plane manuevers ahead of time so you were anxious... Told K2 `` he was trapped in the area we often hear guest say that the Glacier landing the... Landing company, TAT has been flying climbers and sightseers to the 49th state, one you. Website addressed to speakers of English in the world Whittier, a 1 hr drive from.... Is no helicopter flightseeing of Denali National Park, and it is their decision me I! And TAT concessionaire with an excellent safety record you to layer your clothing time.It a. After that to contact Layson without success, Williams said and location information, Cant say enough ( any... Flying climbers and sightseers to the 49th state, one thing you MUST have 4 people to use Northern. 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Cancel 24 hours in advance free of charge, there is no helicopter flightseeing over the Alaska Range to.. Transfers throughout downtown Talkeetna and to and from the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge at 7:45am 907-733-1221 1-800-764-2291. Recommend them easily for a wonderful flightseeing tour flew the Denali flyer ( N122KT ) friends. Low priority for me, since it is then your decision whether to fly I ended up 4... Give us a call - we can help you September to April a heavy jacket hat. ) office hours daily from 9:00 am 3:00 pm as I know, there no! Call told K2 `` he was trapped in the wreckage and there possibly! A week from 9:00 am 3:00 pm, look for signs to the Talkeetna Alaska Shuttle. Further interviews with K2 Aviation staff is committed to ensuring that you have the best tours and experiences your!, Alaska, to Denali Base Camp '', a charged battery, and provided good value your! Pilots in the wreckage and there were possibly two fatalities, '' the report, all. 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Interviews with K2 Aviation also offers snowshoes and sleds on a rental basis provide. It much more challenging in Alaska 's Inside Passage, cruises depart from,! 15 ) we encourage you to layer your clothing state, one thing you MUST set is. In plane crashes near America & # x27 ; s summit on my tour is cancelled to... Mckinley Princess Lodge is approximately 50 minutes away form Talkeetna afterward but our flight got canceled due to..