Marathon Helicopters

Marathon Helicopters has been giving visitors an unforgettable aerial perspective on Seward's most dramatic landscapes since 2016, operating from a converted 40-foot shipping container office at Seward Airport. Owner-pilot Mike Culver's passion for showcasing Alaska's wild beauty from above comes through in every flight — whether you're soaring over the vast Harding Icefield, touching down on a remote glacier, or buzzing past towering ice walls that dwarf the helicopter.

The centerpiece of the Marathon experience is glacier landings. Skilled pilots set down on ancient ice fields, letting passengers step out and experience the surreal silence of a world frozen in time. Tours range from shorter scenic loops above Seward's mountains and coastline to hour-long custom adventures that can include wildlife spotting, picnics on the ice, and even engagement shoots or elopement ceremonies in the heart of Alaska's wilderness.

Seward sits in the heart of some of Alaska's most glacier-dense terrain, surrounded by the Chugach National Forest and Kenai Fjords National Park — making it one of the premier launch points for helicopter flightseeing in the state. From just a few hundred feet up, the scale of the ice becomes genuinely staggering: crevasses wide enough to swallow buildings, rivers of blue ice carving paths between peaks, and the occasional calving event where a chunk of glacier crashes into the bay below.

The operation prides itself on personalized experiences. Because Marathon flies small groups with expert guides, every tour can be tailored to your interests — wildlife, geology, photography, or simply the pure exhilaration of hovering over a landscape that few people ever see up close. Groups can book private flights for special occasions, and the rooftop deck at the Seward Airport office is a perfect spot to decompress with a drink after your flight while watching for bald eagles and harbor seals below.

Tours depart year-round weather permitting, with summer providing the longest daylight windows and the best glacier viewing conditions. Booking in advance is strongly recommended during the busy summer season, when cruise ship visitors and independent travelers alike compete for the most popular morning and midday flights.