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Franz Josef Glacier: Small-Group Heli-Hike Adventure
4.6
602 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 - Discover the extraordinary Franz Josef Glacier, renowned as one of the world’s most unique glaciers. As the fastest moving glacier globally, each visit offers a distinct experience. Accessible exclusively by helicopter, start your 2-hour adventure with a stunning scenic flight to the glacier, followed by an unparalleled glacier hike!
- Franz Josef Glacier - Discover the extraordinary Franz Josef Glacier, renowned as one of the world’s most unique glaciers. As the fastest moving glacier globally, each visit offers a distinct experience. Accessible exclusively by helicopter, start your 2-hour adventure with a stunning scenic flight to the glacier, followed by an unparalleled glacier hike!
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
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information
Explore the stunning natural wonders of New Zealand on a small-group 2-hour and 30-minute Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike. Accompanied by a guide, take a helicopter ride to the Pinnacles area of the glacier. Embark on a moderately challenging hike through the intricate ice formations. Discover the significant environmental changes impacting the glacier…
Explore the stunning natural wonders of New Zealand on a small-group 2-hour and 30-minute Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike. Accompanied by a guide, take a helicopter ride to the Pinnacles area of the glacier. Embark on a moderately challenging hike through the intricate ice formations. Discover the significant environmental changes impacting the glacier and understand the geological forces involved. With a maximum group size of 11, enjoy a personalized adventure.
- 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
- 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
Check-in 15 minutes prior to your trip time.
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
(602 Ratings)
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Jaspal_g
Nov 26, 2025
Franz Josef Heli Hike - Great experience on a glorious day, was a bit worried of doing it as in our mid 60s but although a little challenging at times enjoyed every minute it was incredible. Abby our guide was brilliant, friendly, informative and professional as was our heli pilot Bob and ground staff. Was provuded with all the outwear inc boots too.
Review provided by Viator
Sharono829
Nov 25, 2025
The highlight of our trip! - This was an amazing experience right from the start. Our guides were Karsyn and Miya. They were professional and took care of the whole group so well. The hike was not as strenuous as I expected but I think they probably adapt to the needs of the group. The terrain was breathtaking. I would definitely recommend this trip and would love to go again if we ever come back.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Franss23
Nov 25, 2025
A once-in-a-lifetime heli hike I will never forget! - What a fantastic experience! From the moment we got in the helicopter to the last view over the glacier everything was perfectly organized. The pilot and guides were friendly, knowledgeable and made everyone feel safe and at ease. The walk on the ice was breathtaking – deep blue crevices, ice formations and views you don’t see anywhere else. Occasionally also climbing or crawling through an ice tunnel.
Everything went smoothly, the material was top notch and the atmosphere super relaxed. This is highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
524freyaw
Nov 24, 2025
Loved every moment :) - The most surreal experience, loved it from start to finish!! We had Zoe and Yula as our guides and they were just amazing, really helpful and super friendly! Had so much fun, worth every penny!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Luke_b
Nov 23, 2025
Amazing day out - What a great day out. Amazing scenery and guide. A special mention to Andy the helicopter pilot. What a cracking bloke
Review provided by Viator
679selwynf
Nov 23, 2025
exceptional experience from a professional team - A professional organisation providing exceptional value, security, safety and a mind blowing experience for each passenger. They take incredible care of you from head to toe and provide all safety and security briefings required to fly and place you on the glacier. Logistically, we realised just how much is involved by the guides and those maintenance staff, clearing a safe path on the glacier for our safe walk. As the weather closed in, the guides were extremely engaging and comforting, they had tents, food, warmth, toilets, had it been impossible to leave on the day. As it cleared, the choppers were through the gap to fly us back to base camp. Each mission can be hostage to the weather which the team fully discloses.
thank you Franz Joseph Glacier Guides, what an amazing adventure from a professional and organised team. Every team member from reception, guides, maintenance crew, helicopter guides and pilots were so engaging, comforting and professional
I Highly Recommend this Adventure through Franz Joseph Glacier Guides!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
259lysanneb
Nov 22, 2025
Holy wow! - Had an amazing time on the heli + hike tour today! Tom & Tom (yes, both of them!) were fantastic guides with great stories and so much passion for what they do. We were lucky with perfect weather, and the whole experience was a 10/10. Absolutely loved it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paul_d
Nov 20, 2025
Viator good company to deal with - We have been told that the chances of going up are maybe 1 in 3 but that is the beauty of alpine regions.
We didn’t get to go up to the Glacier but Viator refunded us in less than 24hrs which gives us the chance to book something else. Thanks Viator
Review provided by Viator
Kerri_h
Nov 5, 2025
A must-do breathtaking experience! - This is a must-do experience if traveling to South Island/Franz Josef! We luckily stayed for two nights so when our first flight was cancelled due to weather, we were rebooked the next morning and it was such a beautiful hike and experience! The guide and pilots are all awesome, friendly and knowledgeable. They give you everything you need so no need to travel with heavy snow pants or jackets. They just require thermal layers to wear underneath but I ended up taking mine off because we were quite warm in the sun on the glacier. The hike is not very strenuous although you should be fit to do this activity. But the guides takes lots of stops/breaks so you’re never out of breath. The helicopter ride was amazing and added to the whole experience. They provide you with socks, boots, gloves, hat, jacket, pants, bag to put items in and trekking pole. Keep in mind everything must go in their bag so you can’t bring too much stuff. A small water bottle, sunglasses and snack are really all you need. Would also put on lots of sunscreen! The guides make the hike fun with their stories and the snow slides we went down. Overall one of the best experiences we’ve ever had!
Review provided by Viator
Goplaces286190
Oct 31, 2025
Didn’t do the hike due to weather - We didn’t get to go. It was canceled due to weather . We got it rescheduled 3 times and even switched to encounter experience but was also canceled
Review provided by Tripadvisor
