Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike
- 4 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Discover the best of New Zealand’s natural beauty on this small-group 2 hour 30 minute Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike. Travel by helicopter to the Pinnacles area of the glacier with your guide. Navigate your way through the maze of ice on your moderately difficult hike. Learn of the dramatic environmental changes affecting the glacier and gain insight into the geological forces at play. Group size is limited to 11 to ensure a personalized experience.
Inclusions
What's included
- 2-hours 15 minutes (approx.) guided glacier walk
- Commentary of local region, glaciology and Maori stories
- Expert ice-guides
- All hiking equipment (Gore-tex jackets, over trousers, woolen hats and gloves, leather boots, crampons)
- Round-trip helicopter flights to Franz Josef Glacier
- Exclusive access to the Franz Josef Glacier - only we can take you there
- Option for a longer glacier adventure with the Extended hike (select option)
What's not
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Itinerary
Experience one of the most unique glaciers in the world, Franz Josef Glacier. Being the fastest moving glacier in the world, it means that no two trips are the same. Accessible only by helicopter flight, begin your 2. hour experience with a beautiful scenic flight to the glacier, before embarking on a glacier hike like no other!
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.6
- 5524
- 477
- 317
- 218
- 125
Ratings come from 661 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5Bucket list experience
This is truly a bucket list experience. Being on the ice is otherworldly. The colour, sights and sounds are unlike anywhere else. This is something that you will remember for the rest of your life. Must do, and I cannot recommend more highly.
3No hike
Very disappointed, the weather was bad on the first day, so we rebooked. When we went back a few days later they said it was cancelled again because of cloud but we could do a 15 min experience and get dropped off then come back. Our heli hike was 4 hours. We took it and when we got there the sun was shinning no wind couldn't understand why it was cancelled other than they wanted to take more people up and make more money. We had a very small refund, could have hired a whole helicoper for the price they charged. The chopper experience was very good even though it was short. It was the whole reason we went to Franz Josef.
5A once in a lifetime...
A once in a lifetime experience. Sarah was our guide and she was incredibly knowledgeable about the glacier, and made sure to take us on a fun and beautiful adventure across the glacier. The company was very honest about potential weather cancellations, and handled a surprise cloud cover with very practiced calm. Highly recommend doing this tour!
5Never too old
The staff are very accomodating and the wilderness is Awesome. The walk snow and ice was so much more than I had imagined. We fell onto of the world.
5My first time experience...
My first time experience of helicopter . The Glacier is amazing nature. You should visit here when you come to New Zealand.
5Mind-blowing
What an amazing trip! Took a helicopter and completed a tour across the ice. Felt otherworldly. Ruby was our guide. She was so capable and cheerful. It was clear that she really enjoyed her job. The scenery was just amazing. Well worth the price. An incredible experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Check-in 15 minutes prior to your trip time.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 11 travellers
- Operated by
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Minimum age is 10 years old for the 2.5 hour trip and 14 for the 5.5 hour trip
- Minimum weight is 35kg, Maximum weight 115kg
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Glacier walks are moderately difficult, clients need to be fit and able. Refunds will not be available for clients who cannot participate on the day due to inappropriate fitness levels, i.e. it is important you are selecting the right trip for your physical fitness ability. Guides reserve the right to curtail or cancel trips for clients whose fitness is not appropriate
- Operates in most weather conditions, please dress appropriately. Two to four warm upper- body layers of clothing are recommended, quick-drying trousers or shorts (no jeans), a hat and gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen and a camera
How it compares in Franz Josef & Fox Glacier
- Its from-price is 95% above the median of the 59 experiences we list in Franz Josef & Fox Glacier.
- It is longer than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 1 of 59.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Franz Josef & Fox Glacier
Franz Josef and Fox are two glaciers on New Zealand's West Coast that flow from the Southern Alps almost into temperate rainforest.
The Franz Josef and Fox glaciers descend from the Southern Alps through steep valleys into lowland rainforest on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, ending only a few hundred metres above sea level. The two small townships, about twenty-five kilometres apart, sit in Westland Tai Poutini National Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage area. Julius von Haast named Franz Josef in 1865 after the Austrian emperor.
Top-ranked sights in Franz Josef & Fox Glacier: Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glacier, Fox Glacier South Side Walkway.
Similar experiences
![Franz Josef: Twin Glacier Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing]()
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
