Whistler Helicopter Tour: Glaciers and Black Tusk

About This Experience

Blackcomb Helicopters' 25-minute scenic flight covers the big sights around Whistler without a landing. You start over Whistler Blackcomb, where you look down on the village and the ski or bike runs depending on the season, with the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola strung between the two mountains. Your pilot handles the route while you watch the valley drop away beneath the helicopter.

From there the pilot heads into Garibaldi Provincial Park. You fly close to the Cheakamus Glacier, where blue crevasses and broken ice show up clearly from the air, then pass the turquoise water of Garibaldi Lake and the dark volcanic spire of Black Tusk, one of the most recognizable peaks along the Sea-to-Sky Highway. Hikers spend a long day on foot to reach Garibaldi Lake; from the helicopter it is part of a single loop.

There is no landing on this tour, which keeps the total time to about 40 minutes including check-in and the mandatory safety briefing. It is a good fit if you want the glaciers and Garibaldi Lake on a tighter schedule or budget than the landing flights, and it leaves the rest of the day free for the village or the slopes.

Public flights need at least 2 passengers, and single bookings depend on others joining. All flights depend on the weather and can also be affected by maintenance. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring ID for everyone flying, children included. The tour holds a 4.9 rating from 21 reviews, and you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Highlights

• See Whistler Blackcomb and the village from above
• Spot the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola stretching between Whistler and Blackcomb
• Fly close to the blue crevasses of the Cheakamus Glacier
• Pass the turquoise water of Garibaldi Lake
• Catch a view of Black Tusk, the volcanic pinnacle in Garibaldi Provincial Park
• About 40 minutes from check-in to touchdown

What's Included

• ✓ 25-minute scenic helicopter tour
• ✓ Views of Whistler Blackcomb and the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola
• ✓ Views of the Cheakamus Glacier
• ✓ Views of Garibaldi Lake and Black Tusk
• ✓ Check-in and the mandatory safety briefing before boarding

Not Included

• A landing (this is a flight-only tour)
• A PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola ticket (you see it from the air)
• Hotel pickup is not listed as included

What to Bring

• Passport or ID card
• Passport or ID card for children
• Closed-toe shoes (open-toed shoes are not allowed)
• Sunglasses
• A phone or camera

Good to Know & Caveats

• Allow about 40 minutes in total, including check-in and the briefing; the flight itself is about 25 minutes.
• All flights are weather dependent.
• Flights can be affected by civil emergencies and aircraft maintenance.
• Public tours need at least 2 passengers to operate. Single bookings are accepted but depend on others booking the same flight.
• Alcohol and drugs are not allowed on board.
• The route changes with the season; a guest flying in May noted some lakes were not flown over early in the season.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Meeting Point

Flights leave from Blackcomb Helicopters' base at the Whistler Heliport, on Heliport Road north of Whistler Village; exact details come with your booking. Hotel pickup is not listed as included.