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Franz Josef Glacier: Small-Group Heli-Hike Adventure
4.6
552 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 (min height 137cm)
- 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
- 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
(552 Ratings)
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Chronopossum
Jan 29, 2025
Recommended - Informative with professional guides. Well done! Really enjoyable! Lucked out with good weather; spectacular!
Thanks Amy and Rosa!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Boston59_10
Jan 27, 2025
Excellent experience! Definitely recommend - This was amazing, from the helicopter ride to tramping on the glacier. Our guide, Jale, was excellent; from ensuring our safety to ace picking out the trail thru the ice. Would definitely recommend it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leonie_c
Jan 24, 2025
Disappointing but understandable - Unfortunately the tour was cancelled due to bad weather looked amazing though. Look forward to booking next time we visit.
Review provided by Viator
Mary_p
Jan 17, 2025
Once in a lifetime experience! - Need to be in good shape for this walk, yet the pace is slow, so it's rather easy to keep up. The glacier is stunning on a blue-sky day as we had. The flight up is amazing. I only wish we could have kept flying even longer. Friendly, informative heli pilot. Our hiking guide was also excellent! He kept us safe and made sure our way was relatively easy. He chopped steps, made sure ropes were secure, and told us much about the glacier. Thank you Henry!!
Review provided by Viator
Hendrik_m
Jan 6, 2025
A must do - Everything was incredibly well managed. Safety of all participants was an obvious top priority. Our guide Sarah was working hard throughout the walk to make it as easy as possible for all, while being a joy to be around. The views of and from the glazier were breathtaking.
Review provided by Viator
Stephanie_a
Dec 24, 2024
Amazing experience but must be in shape - It was an amazing experience. My husband and I traveled with our two sons who are in their early 20’s. Alex, our guide, was incredible, very knowledgeable and friendly. Absolutely recommend this experience but you must be in good shape. We went through very very narrow ice walls and if you have a large stomach you will have a tough time climbing or getting through. In some areas you must go sideways to pass through the crevices. Again, an unforgettable and awesome experience for those who seek adventure!
Review provided by Viator
Simon_r
Dec 20, 2024
Adventure of a lifetime. - A decent level of fitness is definitely needed, be aware can be cancelled up to the last minute if weather changes, they do however offer a full refund or change day. Staff are amazing and extremely well trained. We had Sarah as our guide who was superb.
Review provided by Viator
Leigh_h
Nov 15, 2024
Must-have experience in Franz Josef!! - The Franz Josef Heli-hike was an amazing experience! I absolutely recommend this experience to anyone visiting the area. Our first scheduled trip was canceled due to weather, but the company was really great about providing an alternate option, offering full refunds, and allowing to reschedule if possible. We rescheduled, and it was really worth it! The staff was friendly, helpful, and incredibly informative. Once we checked in we got fitted for all of our gear and got a safety briefing. The helicopter ride was quick but beautiful, and our pilot was great! We met our guide Maya on the glacier, and she was fantastic! She did a great job making the hike educational, fun, and safe. She also told great stories and engaged all of us so we learned a little bit about each other and had fun as an adventuring team. Of course the glacier and scenery were gorgeous too!
Review provided by Viator
Nicolebt55kq
Dec 27, 2024
Booking Cancelled Day Of - Unfortunately this was cancelled due to the weather. The team was great about trying to reschedule however, my time there did not align with any available options as the weather was not good for a few days. Will try again in the future.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Garethsheppard
Jan 8, 2025
Wait for a perfect weather window or save your money. - Was meant to be on the Heli hike.
Got cancelled when we arrived at the check in desk.
Offered a heli experience up to the glacier instead.
Underwhelming for the cost.
You only get to stand in one spot on the glacier and aren’t able to move around.
Couldn’t even fly up for the view at the top of glacier.
Admittedly because the weather came in and safety has to come first, but for the cost of the trip, my advice would be to wait until you get a perfect weather window or cancel and get a refund.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
