K2 Aviation Denali Flyer Tour Review (Glacier Landing): My Alaska Flightseeing Experience
The red plane that started it all — and the moment it became real.
We’re standing on the porch in Talkeetna, Alaska, boots in hand, waiting like the sky is about to decide our fate.
The red plane is right there—close enough to touch—when the pilot says the sentence you don’t want to hear:
There’s a chance we can’t land on the glacier today.
Four people backed out instantly. My friend Ale and I just looked at each other—half uncertainty, half stubborn hope—and we stayed. This was our only window. Our only day. And honestly? Even if the glacier landing didn’t happen… we were already flying into one of the wildest landscapes on Earth.
This was the K2 Aviation Denali Flyer flightseeing tour with a glacier landing near Denali National Park — and it turned into one of the most unforgettable Alaska moments of my life.
TL;DR
I did the K2 Aviation Denali Flyer Tour with Glacier Landing out of Talkeetna.
There were wind concerns and real uncertainty at the start… but we chose to go for it.
We landed, the weather turned beautiful, and it became a more private experience than we expected.
Heads up: wind can cancel landings, and turbulence + altitude can hit harder in a small plane (I felt dizzy and had a headache).
Use code tanyabadillo for 10% off:
Quick takeaway:
✅ Perfect for: adventure lovers, photographers, once-in-a-lifetime travelers
⚠️ Skip if: flying makes you panic, turbulence triggers anxiety, you’re very motion-sensitive
Affiliate disclosure: This post includes affiliate links and a discount code. If you book through my links and use code tanyabadillo, you’ll get 10% off and I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The day it almost didn’t happen (Talkeetna + the wind warning)
We arrived at the K2 Aviation office in Talkeetna after driving up 2 hours from Anchorage, AK. The office itself was beautiful, check-in was smooth, and the people working there were genuinely kind—the kind of energy that immediately calms your nervous system when you’re about to do something big.
They gave us the boots for the glacier landing and had us wait on the porch.
And then: wind issues.
Right as we were about to board, the pilot told us there was a possibility we wouldn’t be able to do the glacier landing for safety reasons. The plane fits around 8–10 people, and the second that was said, four people backed down and rescheduled.
I don’t blame them.
But Ale and I had been hoping for this. It was our only day. So we decided to stick to our plan and let luck guide us.
And suddenly… it turned into a more private tour. Just us, another couple, and Alaska.
Alaska through the window — layered ridgelines, snowfields, and that “is this real?” feeling.
Headset on, seatbelt tight: the flight in
As soon as we boarded, we secured our headsets and seatbelts, and the excitement was running through my veins. We still didn’t know if we were actually going to land—but it didn’t matter, because we were already flying.
There was some turbulence, and the altitude hit me a little as we got closer to the mountains. I felt dizzy at moments, and my head hurt enough that it didn’t let me enjoy every second the way I would have in a helicopter.
And my brain did that thing it does in small planes: it started playing worst-case scenarios like a movie trailer: I couldn’t stop thinking about The Mountain Society movie.
But then I’d look out the window and… forget everything.
Mountains in every direction. Rivers. Lakes. Endless glaciers. Summer was ending, but the green was everywhere, like Alaska was squeezing out the last of it before winter.
I couldn’t stop smiling. My face literally hurt from smiling too much.
The moment the pilot said: “We’re going to land.”
During the flight, the pilot told us we were going to land.
The red wing, the glaciers, the scale that makes you go quiet.
That was a moment of pure bliss — because we took the risk and stuck to the plan, and it turned better than we imagined.
And the wild part? The weather got so beautiful once we were there.
When my feet touched the snow, I felt a rush of relief run through my body. My head stopped hurting. The turbulence was off. I was back on earth, surrounded by mountains, and I couldn’t stop being thankful for every decision that led me to that exact moment.
Glacier landing: where my problems felt insignificant
We had microspikes, and once we were out there we were able to run and twirl in the middle of the mountains — like little kids who couldn’t believe this was allowed.
The sun was shining and the snow was so white I couldn’t stop smiling.
One of the moments I still carry close to my heart is seeing the mountains behind us while other planes took off and got lost on the horizon—disappearing into the sky like tiny red dots.
Being surrounded by peaks and endless glaciers made me feel so small… and my problems felt so insignificant.
Not because life is perfect.
But because Alaska has a way of putting everything back into proportion.
What to know before you book (the real stuff)
Touching down on a glacier feels like stepping into a documentary.
Wind can cancel glacier landings
This is important: the wind can cause glacier landing cancellations. It’s for safety. Build flexibility into your trip so you’re not crushed if you need to reschedule.
Turbulence feels more intense in a small plane
If you’re sensitive to motion, turbulence can feel stronger in a smaller aircraft.
Altitude sickness can happen
I felt dizzy and had a headache at times. The good news: the relief I felt after landing was instant.
What I was glad I had (my actual packing shortlist)
Sunglasses (snow glare is intense)
Gloves
Camera
Phone + phone strap
A colorful jacket (it pops beautifully in photos against the white snow)
Good vibes (yes, seriously)
Photo diary: glacier flying moments:
Infinite highways of glaciers.
Jagged peaks and a quiet kind of awe — the kind you feel in your chest.
Denali close enough to feel unreal — framed by the wing and a layer of cloud.
Mistakes to avoid
Booking with no buffer day in Alaska weather
Underestimating how intense turbulence can feel in a small plane
Forgetting sunglasses (snow glare is no joke)
Not eating/hydrating before (altitude + nerves can hit harder)
Only taking photos and not taking one quiet minute to just be there
Booking links + my discount code
If you want to book the exact experience I did:
My honest CTA:
This was one of those “I can’t believe this is my life” Alaska moments. Denali + glacier landing = worth every second. Use code tanyabadillo for 10% off when you book: https://bit.ly/3HzWpaL
FAQ
How long does the experience take?
About 2.5 hours total (for us), including check-in/waiting + flight + glacier time.
Is the glacier landing guaranteed?
No — wind/weather can affect it. Safety always comes first.
Is this good for photographers?
Yes. Bring your camera, secure your strap, and keep it accessible. The views are unreal.
Who should skip this?
If you’re truly afraid of flying or very sensitive to turbulence, you may want to choose a different experience.
The feeling that stayed with me
I went into this hoping for views. I left with perspective.
Standing on a glacier, watching planes disappear into the horizon, I felt small in the best way—like my brain finally exhaled.
If you book this experience, come back and tell me: did you land? did you cry? did your problems shrink too?
