Matanuska Glacier Summer Tour
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Anchorage, USA
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Alaska's largest glacier accessible by car is located just outside Anchorage, so don't miss the chance to visit during your stay. You'll head to Matanuska Glacier Park to explore this natural wonder with provided ice cleats and a guide.
- Learn about Matanuska Glacier from a guide
- Gear included to walk on the glacier
- Visit a local eatery for lunch
- Round-trip transportation included from Anchorage
What's Included
- Round Trip Transportation from Anchorage
- Hotel Pick Up
- Services of Professional Local Glacier Guide
- Glacier Travel Equipment-Ice Cleats, Safety Helmets
- Snacks
- Lunch
- Age Minimum is 8 Years Old
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Start time.8:00 am
Itinerary
Palmer (Pass By)
1
Matanuska Valley
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
2
Matanuska Glacier
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
3
Glacier View
4 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- What to Bring:
- Warm Layered Clothing
- Sunglasses
- Camera or Cell Phone Camera
- Warm Hat and Gloves
- We require that participants wear sturdy, stiff-soled footwear while on this tour
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Our minimum age to join the tour is 8 years old. For groups with younger individuals, explore our Private Matanuska Glacier option.
- PLEASE NOTE: Bookings made within 24-hours of the tour date are PENDING confirmation
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 81 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Based on numerous reviews, we elected to take this excursion on Sept 3rd, 2026. The weather was perfect: not too warm, certainly not too cold. We got picked up at our hotel on time. Then, the guide and his trainee picked the two other persons. That was it: 4 customers, 2 persons to guide us on the glacier.
At the glacier site, the guide in charge of the excursion told us ( i.e. 4 customers) to minimize the number of things to carry, underlining the fact that it is not everybody that is familiar walking on ice. This is when things started to derail. The two other customers were from Bahamas, had never seen ice before but in their drinks perhaps, unprepared for the excursions (i.e. no gloves, no head cover, etc...). Rough start... In addition, one of the two lady insisted in bringing her camera tripod and two small Bahamas flags.
We had barely walked 300 ft towards the glacier foot that the younger lady started taking pictures of the scenery...but mostly of herself and her friend (i.e. mother). Then, it just got worse as it was now obvious that this lady could not care less about waking on the glacier...what it was clear is that she was basically taking picture for a future media publication...pictures after pictures of herself, her mother, the two together, the group, her with the lead guide, name it...
What was especially frustrating was that our group was made of 6 persons total (i.e. lead guide , his trainee, and 4 customers). Most of the other groups walking on the glacier that day were made of 10 up to 14 persons including the guide (i.e. solo, no trainee guide). All those groups were happily walking up and down the glacier, some quite far on it, and also were walking nearby the small glacier lake at the glacier foot. Our group only walked about 200 ft total, if that much, on the glacier perse. When my wife asked the guide in charge why one could not also go up on the glacier like all the surrounding groups (i.e. other excursion operators), he replied that it was not worth the effort as the ice above and further away was basically the same as the one we were sitting on at that point in time...the actual reason was that he was running out of time because of the abovementioned lady with her picture saga and he was now concerned about his lunch slot at the nearby lodge restaurant.
In our humble opinion (i.e. from experienced excusrion people of 67 and 72 years old), the lead guide totally mismanaged the situation. Once he realized that the actual experience of 2 customers over the 4 he had that day was totally ruined, he should have acted responsibly and decide to leave the photos ladies take whatever pictures they wanted with the guide trainee, and take us, the 2 interested customers, with him and give us our money worth. He did not, worse he too totally felt in the picture taking activity and left us aside. He should had known how to handle this much better.
We are Canadians and were potentially too polite to speak up at that point in time. However, it was the guide duty to ensure that value is delivered as per the operator advertised promises. This excursion costed us 1052 CAD. We purposely added one day in Anchorage (i.e. prior our Alaska cruise) to take this excursion. This excursion got totally wasted due to the poor guide time management. He had the trainee to help him, even if it was just to sit there with the the 2 ladies and just entertain them...we simply got short changed and this is unacceptable.
So, we request a full refund. The conditions on the glacier were perfect and there was no reason whatsoever for this excursion to get this disorganised. That day the tour operator, Greatland Adventures, through is lead guide, failed to fulfill his promises and should be held responsible. Viator should be instrumental in giving pressure to Greatland Adventures to refund us fully. We have taken excursions with Viator and other similar booking outfits and never actually been that disappointed.
If you want to go on a glacier once in your life, like we did and paid for, pick another tour operator.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your excursion on September 3rd. We appreciate hearing from our guests, as it helps us evaluate our operations and maintain high standards for our Alaskan adventures. We intentionally keep our group sizes small. Capping them at no more than 6 guests per guide so everyone receives a personalized and safe experience, especially compared to the larger groups of 10 to 14 people you noted on the glacier that day.
Additionally, we sometimes have our experienced lead guides bring trainee guides along. This mentorship allows us to thoroughly train the next generation of guides so we can continue sharing Alaska’s unique environment with future guests.
On all our outings, our local guides are trained to make real-time decisions in the field to adapt to current conditions and deliver the best possible experience for everyone in the group. Because of this, our personalized routes often differ from those taken by the larger, standard tour groups.
On shared public tours, varying pace preferences and group dynamics can sometimes create challenging situations. When guests have very specific interests or expectations for their outing, we always recommend our private tour options, which offer a completely tailored itinerary and a dedicated guide focused solely on your party.
We take your feedback regarding guide management and tour execution very seriously, and are sorry that you feel we did not find success on this for your tour. Thank you again for bringing this to our attention, and we wish you the best in your future travels.
An Amazing Matanuska Glacier Adventure with Bill!
Our Matanuska Glacier Summer Tour with Greatland Adventures was truly one of the highlights of our Alaska trip!
We were four women in our 70s, each with different levels of fitness and hiking ability, and our guide, Bill, was absolutely exceptional. He quickly assessed what each of us was comfortable doing and tailored our glacier hike so that everyone could participate, feel safe, and still have a wonderful sense of adventure.
Bill was patient, knowledgeable, encouraging, and incredibly attentive. He never made us feel rushed or that our ages or varying abilities were a limitation. Instead, he gave us the confidence to experience this magnificent glacier at a pace that worked for all four of us.
Walking on the Matanuska Glacier was spectacular, but Bill made the experience even more memorable. His knowledge, personality, and genuine concern for our safety and enjoyment made all the difference.
For anyone in their 60s, 70s or beyond who might be wondering, “Can I really do a glacier tour?” — YES! With a guide like Bill, absolutely!
Thank you, Bill and Greatland Adventures, for giving four adventurous women in their 70s an Alaska memory we will be talking about for years.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for this absolutely beautiful review of our Matanuska Glacier Summer Tour — it truly made our whole team smile! What an incredible adventure for four adventurous women, and we are so proud that Bill was able to make the glacier accessible, safe, and genuinely thrilling for each one of you.
Bill's ability to read each guest's comfort level and tailor the experience accordingly is one of the things that makes him such an exceptional guide. No one should ever feel that age or fitness level stands between them and the magic of Matanuska Glacier, and it sounds like Bill made sure of exactly that — giving each of you the confidence to get out there and experience it fully.
We also love that you've highlighted this for others in their 60s, 70s and beyond who might be wondering if a glacier tour is for them — because it absolutely is, with the right guide! We hope your message encourages others to take that leap.
We will make sure Bill sees every word of this — he will be deeply touched. Thank you for choosing Greatland Adventures, and thank you for giving us the honor of being part of an Alaska memory you'll be talking about for years to come. We'd love to welcome all four of you back someday!
That it is wonderful. They take care of everything. They are punctual and yet flexible.. It is not hurried. The guide was very knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you!
Diego was a great guide. We had a well paced hike and the glacier was amazing. Lunch was in a place with a superior view too.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for the kind review of our Matanuska Glacier Summer Tour! We're so glad you had a great time with Diego and we hope to adventure with you in the future!
Matt was great. He guided us throughout the glacier safely. We had an excellent time during the tour. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for this wonderful review of our Matanuska Glacier Tour! We're so glad Matt made your time out on the glacier such an excellent experience — guiding guests safely across the ice while making sure everyone has a great time is exactly what we strive for.
We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to Matt! Thank you for the recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure with Greatland Adventures soon!
Absolutely amazing. Jay and Tessa are the best! Jay is so knowledgeable and so kind to share so much knowledge with us about Alaska. The glacier is beautiful and incredible. The hike is exceeding expectations, like a real adventure instead of those well established trails. Definitely recommend to anyone who’s visiting Alaska.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for this absolutely wonderful review of our Matanuska Glacier Tour! We're thrilled to hear that Jay and Tessa made such a lasting impression — Jay's passion for Alaska and genuine love of sharing its history and landscapes with guests really does shine through, and Tessa is a fantastic addition to the team as well.
We especially love that the hike felt like a real adventure rather than just another trail — that's exactly the experience we want every guest to have out on the glacier! Matanuska truly is something special, and it means so much to know it exceeded your expectations.
We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to Jay and Tessa! Thank you for recommending Greatland Adventures, and we hope to see you back in Alaska for another unforgettable adventure soon!
This was a great adventure! The guide was super friendly and knowledgeable! Bill was great! 100% recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your review of our Matanuska Glacier Tour! We're so glad you had the best day with Bill! Happy Travels!
Excellent experience exploring the glacier. Lots of time on the ice, crossing crevasses and drinking straight from the meltwater
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad you enjoyed your time exploring the Matanuska Glacier and getting plenty of time out on the ice. Drinking fresh glacier meltwater definitely makes for a unique and unforgettable adventure. We hope to see you again for more Alaskan adventures!
Awesome experience! Picked me up and dropped me off at my hotel. It was a day of breathtaking sites!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for your reveiw of our Matanuska Glacier Summer Tour! Happy Travels
This tour was fantastic! Our guide Diego made it a great trip for us not-so-experienced hikers. Around every corner was another amazing view! Tons of great photos and a delicious lunch capped off a perfect day. We highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much for the kind words! We're thrilled to hear you had a fantastic time on The Matanuska Glacier SUmmer Tour. Diego will be so happy to know he helped make the experience enjoyable for you, especially as newer hikers. It sounds like the views, photos, and lunch all came together for a perfect day — just what we aim for! Thanks again for the recommendation, and we hope to see you on another adventure soon!
Matt was a great guide, had everything we needed for our time on the glacier, knowledgeable about the glacier and glaciers generally, and great at taking photos of us! Also, the lunch was delicious.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Awesome to hear you had a nice out on Matanuska Glacier with guide Matt! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
The tour was spectacular and our guide Sidney she really was the best. A recommended tour and guide.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thanks for joining us on the Matanuska Glacier tour and glad you enjoyed your day with Sydney! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
Our guide was fantastic. My husband was slow due to an injury and our tour guide was so gracious and took the time that was needed for him to enjoy it. It was a fabulous day!
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Glad to hear you had a nice day on the glacier. Thanks for traveling with us!
I loved this trip and would recommend it for anyone with a moderate fitness level. Our Guide Megan was great and kept us very safe. It was breathtaking and beautiful to be on a glacier. Lunch was great and it was really nice to chat in our small group. While I know it is impossible for the guide to be prepared to meet interests of all participants, I would recommend that all of the guides to include discussion of the history of the land and region, PRIOR to colonization and statehood, to better match the perspective of how old the glaciers are and honor and acknowledge the Native people who lived and thrived in the region for thousands of years prior to US colonization--and who still live in the region.
Thank you for a wonderful experience!
This was the highlight of our Alaska trip. The whole experience of hiking a glacier is worth it. Bill was really great. The lunch was included and the place where we had lunch had an awesome view of the glacier. The food was great too. We definitely recommend this to everyone.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Thank you for joining us on our Matanuska Glacier Tour, and so happy to hear you had a great time with Bill!
Walking on the glacier was an unbelievable experience. The guides (Matt & Stephen) were great at ensuring that the tour was fantastic & memorable. Totally recommend this trip!!!
Response from Host, Aug 2022
Thank you for your kind review. We are glad you had such a wonderful time with Matt and Stephen. We love sharing our knowledge and passion for Alaska! Safe travels home and we hope to adventure with you again in the future!
That was lifetime adventure memorable Our guide Mr. Mat was wonderful knowledgeable and driver was very professional I will definitely recommend this trip to my family friends I enjoyed
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Thank you for the kind words. There is no greater compliment than a recommendation to your family and friends! We would love to show them the glacier and any of our other favorite things they may be interested in when visiting Alaska. Northern Lights season starts back up with tours beginning out of Anchorage on August 21st! Our private Northern Lights Tours make an awesome, family oriented, winter trip activity!
Matt is an great lead, knowledgeable and very personable. My family had so much fun. We felt safe the whole time.
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Hey Joe! Thanks so much for taking the time to give us a shout-out. Matt is here right now getting ready to take another group out to the glacier and we have passed along your kind words! Safety is our #1 priority on all of our tours, so it's always really nice to get positive feedback on that specifically!
Surrounded by beautiful blue ice, crevices, drinking from the “fountain of youth” The crampons were very helpful. Matt our guide was excellent, shared lots of informative information. Hotel pickup and a small group atmosphere. He was very friendly and accommodated all our wishes. Lunch with a window view of the glacier was amazing and gave us the perspective of how massive the glacier really is.
Response from Host, Jun 2022
Hello Kelly,
Thank you so much for leaving this kind review, we truly appreciate hearing your feedback for our Matanuska Glacier Tour. We love showing our guests the glacier, It truly is one of our favorite places to visit.
Thank you for visiting Alaska and for touring with Greatland Adventures.
Incredible experience for the adults and children in our family. The guides were very knowledgeable. One of the highlights of our trip!
Response from Host, Jun 2022
Hi Elizabeth,
We are so glad you enjoyed your time out on the Matanuska Glacier! We are honored to be a part of your life-long memories.
Cheers,
Everything about the trip was an absolutely amazing experience .
We would definitely recommend this tour to everyone visiting Alaska !!!
Response from Host, Jun 2022
We greatly appreciate your positive feedback. We are happy you enjoyed your time on the glacier with us!
This is an absolute must, if you are in Anchorage or anywhere close by. This glacier is beautiful and the fact that you can walk on it is amazing! Our guide Christian was perfect. Full of information and facts and just a great positive attitude. I would do this again!!
Response from Host, Aug 2021
Thank you so much for your kind words. I'll be sure to pass this on to Christian. We're so happy you enjoyed the experience. Many thanks for visiting Alaska and for booking with Greatland Adventures! Cheers and a safe journey!
Amber picked us up at our hotel in Downtown Anchorage and drove us the two hour-ish scenic drive to the Matanuska Glacier access area, occasionally stopping for us to take some pictures. She provided helmets, crampons, gloves, walking stick, and if needed, boots, at the glacier. Amber guided and instructed us while on the glacier, for safety and to be sure we were hiking at our comfort and ability levels. We were fortunate to have a beautiful Sept. day, but she told us that even when it's gray/rainy in other areas, typically the glacier is still decent weather. We had an awesome hike experience and the scenery with the fall color, the white glacier and the blue sky was picture perfect. When we arrived at the glacier, it was earlier than other tour groups, so it wasn't very busy until we were leaving. Liked the timing! Also meant we were back to our hotel before 4 pm (but a larger group might take longer to get back to each individual hotel)!Lunch, right outside the glacier hike entrance, had a nice view of the glacier too. All around great experience!
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$409.02
per personWas $430.55(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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