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Franz Josef Glacier: Small-Group Heli-Hike Adventure
4.6
540 Ratings
Franz Josef / Waiau
Explore Franz Josef Glacier by helicopter and hike. Discover stunning ice formations, learn about environmental changes, and enjoy a personalized adventure in a small group.
Explore Franz Josef Glacier by helicopter and hike. Discover stunning ice formations, learn about environmental changes, and enjoy a personalized adventure in a small group.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides - This is the check-in point for the Glacier Tour.
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides - This is the check-in point for the Glacier Tour.
What's Included
- 2-hours 15 minutes (approx.) guided glacier walk
- All hiking equipment (Gore-tex jackets, over trousers, woolen hats and gloves, leather boots, crampons)
- Round-trip helicopter flights to Franz Josef Glacier
- 2-hours 15 minutes (approx.) guided glacier walk
- All hiking equipment (Gore-tex jackets, over trousers, woolen hats and gloves, leather boots, crampons)
- Round-trip helicopter flights to Franz Josef Glacier
What's Not Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Discover the best of New Zealand’s natural beauty on this small-group 2 hour 15 minute (approx) 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…
Discover the best of New Zealand’s natural beauty on this small-group 2 hour 15 minute (approx) 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.
- Minimum age is 10 years old
- Minimum weight is 35kg and height of 137cm
- It is advised that families travelling with younger children to book an afternoon tour when the track is more suitable
- 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
- The Operator reserves the absolute right to cancel or vary any service for any reason including as a result of weather conditions, insufficient reservations or any unforeseen event or circumstance. These trips are weather dependent.
- For Health and Safety reasons, we are unable to guide pregnant women. Please note: We have a weight limit of 115kg per person on the Heli Hike.
Location
Franz Josef Glacier Guides
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(540 Ratings)
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M2698cosamh
Jul 16, 2024
Most amazing experience ever! - This might be the most amazing thing my wife and I have ever done. The flights to/from the glacier were stunning. Walking around the glacier was absolutely mind-blowing. The formations of the ice made it feel like you were on another planet. Everything we saw felt like the coolest thing we had ever seen. The crampons made it so easy to navigate the icy terrain. Our guide, Abbie, was fabulous, confident, and full of knowledge. We were lucky to be in a small group as well so we could move faster as a group, see more, and do more exciting things. From the start, everything the company did put us at ease. There were lots of safety measures in place and we didn’t need any of them. Going early in the winter (we were in the 8:00 group) allowed us to see the glacier in the shade and then change as the sun came up. Highly recommend this trip - we were so incredibly lucky to have done it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jswayne19
Jul 11, 2024
Amazing experience 🥰 - Honestly the best and most surreal experience from my time in New Zealand. The tour guide was super knowledgable and friendly. Had beautiful clear skies up on the glacier and could see all the way down to the coast. Absolutely worth the price paid for it! 🥰
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Companion00402866428
May 27, 2024
Best Life Experience - One of the best experiences I have ever had. Going up in a helicopter and then doing a hike in the ice for about 90 minutes in a group. The views are breathtaking and so unique.
I have never done anything like this in my life and it surpassed expectations. All the staff were also lovely and all clearly love what they do, which makes the experience even better.
Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting NZ!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leslie_z
Apr 4, 2024
Helicopter ride & glacier hike priceless - Incredible experience to walk in Glaciers, helicopter ride provided beautiful view,hike made you feel like you were a true explorer
Review provided by Viator
Rej5175
Mar 31, 2024
Flying high - We did the heli-hike on a superb day with clear blue skies. The entire operation is well organized and focused on the safety and satisfaction of the clients. The short flight up to the glacier does not disappoint; views are stunning. Our guide, James, an experienced outdoorsman, took care to ensure that the entire group felt secure regardless of their experience in the mountains. We moved a bit faster than the normal program prescribes, and so James took us a bit "off piste" (but not too far)--that was fun and rewarding for all of us. A great experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paulo8795wl
Mar 28, 2024
Great Experience - We recently did the Franz Josef Glacier HeliHike tour and had a fantastic guide Amy. I was nervous about being on the ice, but Amy soon put me at ease and was very encouraging and passionate about her job. We had an amazing experience so thank you very much Amy and the rest of the team!
Sonya and Paul
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sparcs07
Mar 22, 2024
Life time experience , views awesome - Franz Josef offers you the opportunity to try a Hellihike . C
Clothes supplied, a helicopter will take you to the Glacier , and with your guide your walk the glacier and climb through some ice caves .
A gentle pace, good instructions and super friendly staff .
Wow the views make it worth it , highly recommended trip .
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Darshnip2024
Mar 10, 2024
A bucket list experience ticked off the list! - An amazing experience! The entire process was so smooth and all the staff, from check in all the way through to guides, were knowledgable and friendly.
We booked last minute approx 2 days before the departure date. The website was initially slow to take payment and remained on the loading screen, but we got there in the end. The team were well responsive via email.
On arrival, there is free parking on the main street and a tap to fill up water bottles. We were allocated into groups of 11, which was split across 2 helicopters. Our guide, Yula, was so fun and patient. As the first group onto the ice, we were able to stop at a sheltered part of the glacier alone and watch the sunrise over the mountain whilst she told us an indigineous origin story about the glacier - magical!
Try to factor in some breathing room into your itinerary. Some flights in the afternoon were cut short due to incoming cloud but the team are very good at communicating this as a possibility throughout. They do everything they can to maximise the experience safely.
I would thoroughly recommend this experience to anyone!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vonida_o
Mar 6, 2024
So lucky to have hiked this beautiful glacier! - I was on my honeymoon, but my husband really doesn’t like the cold. So I did this one solo and was nervous since I’m introverted and shy. Luckily all the other hikers were very welcoming and our guide Sam made it fun and exciting to experience. He provided a lot of facts and reminded us how lucky we are since all later tours were cancelled due to weather. It really felt like a surreal experience and I felt very lucky to see it!
Review provided by Viator
Bontaks
Mar 2, 2024
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience - This adventure was so worth the money and effort to get here and do it. We were very fortunate to have the time to rebook when our first attempt didn’t go ahead due to bad weather. I highly recommend planning a few days in FJ and booking this for the first day so that you have the chance to rebook if things don’t go to plan.
I was so impressed with the safety procedures followed by this company. We knew we were in good hands when at check in they spoke to each individual who had flagged any kind of health condition to ensure that they can cater to your needs and keep you safe – from knee injuries to high blood pressure. And if you are on medication for serious health concerns, take it with you in case the weather changes quickly and you have to spend overnight on the ice (no, I’m not joking).
After our safety briefing and kitting up, we walked to the helipad where our group of 11 was split into a 6 and a 5 to be transferred in two helicopters to the glacier. They delivered us onto the massive ice formation, James Bond style, but safely! Our guide, Jimmy, knew this area intimately, his informed commentary allowing us plenty of time to pause and marvel in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The regular communication between guide team members increased when the cloud began to quickly descend, and soon we received instructions to return to the landing point before the weather prevented the helicopters from transporting us off the ice. No one wanted to spend overnight on the glacier, even though the guides are fully prepared for that possibility – tents and supplies stored in waterproof crates in an ice nook at the ready!
The entire experience was thrilling, one of the most unforgettable of our many travels.
BONTAKS TRAVELS
Review provided by Tripadvisor
