Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter Tour + Glacier Hike, West Coast, New Zealand
Franz Josef Glacier helicopter hiking
Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter + Glacier Hike - 3 Hours
Departing from Franz Josef town, fly over the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers. The helicopter first flies over the town, then ascends along the glacier to reach the upper reaches. Land on the ice at the glacier's summit for a close-up view of the ancient glacier's masterpieces carved beneath your feet. A professional guide will introduce you to the glacier's unique world.
The helicopter glacier hiking route has an excellent safety record, with strict evaluations and the use of high-quality equipment, ensuring complete safety.
Highlights
- The helicopter will take off from Franz Josef Town Airport, fly over the spectacular ancient glaciers, and land on the Franz Josef Glacier.
- Explore the Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand up close with a 2-hour guided hike under the supervision of a professional guide. (Total duration over 3 hours)
- On the return flight, fly over the Southern Alps and pass by the Hochstetter Icefall.
Included
- Round-trip helicopter flight.
- Glacier landing and 2-hour glacier hike (over 3 hours total).
- Professional and experienced guides.
- Equipment - Full set of glacier hiking gear including glacier boots, crampons, snowshoes, etc.
Meeting place
Franz Josef: Depart and return from the helicopter base in Franz Josef, New Zealand.
What you need to know
Departure time and check-in information
- Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure.
- Please call the flight base 24 hours before departure, as per your confirmation letter, to check the weather conditions and confirm that flying is possible.
What to bring
- Warm upper-body clothing (3–4 layers).
- Long pants. (Jeans and ski pants are not recommended)
- Sunglasses and sunscreen.
- A bottle of water and a pack of snacks
- Waterproof jacket (if you don't have one, please let us know in advance).
- We provide professional equipment for glacier hiking.
Weather
- If your helicopter flight is canceled due to bad weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.
- We recommend booking early before your trip to allow flexibility for weather changes and ensure you don't miss this unique flight experience.
- Please call the flight base 24 hours before departure, as per your confirmation letter, to check the weather conditions and confirm that flying is possible.
Additional information
- Payment completed. Please wait for booking confirmation.
- Travelers need moderate physical fitness and hiking ability. For example, you must be able to walk at least 1 km independently and easily climb up or down stairs to participate in this activity.
- Children must be at least 9 years old to participate. They must be able to walk completely independently on uneven terrain and follow instructions. For safety reasons due to glacier/snow conditions and weather, we reserve the right to modify age requirements for children.
- Airlines have a minimum passenger requirement for each flight. If this requirement is not met, the airline reserves the right to cancel the flight and will only refund the activity fee. When possible, the airline will coordinate to operate the flight as scheduled. The maximum allowable weight for travelers in the helicopter's rear seats is 116 kg.
- Our professional guides can only provide verbal and safety instructions in English. If you have hearing impairments, please inform the staff and guide.
- Glaciers are not without danger, so always follow a professional guide when hiking on them. If staff members believe that some unruly travelers participating in the activity may pose safety risks, they reserve the right to stop them from joining the activity.
- For safety reasons, drones, iPads, and selfie sticks are not allowed on the aircraft.
Note: All images used have obtained formal authorization or ownership rights. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.
