Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
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.
Additional Info
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
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.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Franz Josef Glacier
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!
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)
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Options
5.5 Extended Hour Heli-Hike
Duration: 8 hours: Total return time will be 8 hours, including 5.5 hour on the glacier.
Lunch included: A picnic lunch is included (dietaries are catered for)
Bespoke Heli Hike option: Enjoy a bespoke Heli Hike, spending 5.5 hours exploring untouched parts of the glacier. Small group option, ratio of 1:4.
Heli-Hike Franz Josef Glacier Walk
Original 2.5 hour Heli Hike: Spend 2.5 hours exploring glacier features with your expert guide on the glacier. 1:11 guide to guest ratio.
Reviews
634 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE ON VANISHING GLACIERS
oz12358,Mar 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Recently did the helicopter ride and hike with Franz Josef Heli Hike. The excursion was well organized and explained with wonderful team leaders. The hike on the glacier was a wonderful experience but a reasonable level of fitness is required...I am 76 and did not have a problem. Sadly the glaciers and melting and reducing in size. An experience you will always remember.
Gus the legend
Trail18923945846,Mar 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Totaly worth the money! Our guide Gus was a legend and gave us interesting information about glaciers. I would have liked for the heli ride to be a little longer to give a proper view of the upper part of the glacier, but still a very nice activity!
Helihike
sonyak477,Mar 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience on the glacier! Highly recommend. We were lucky our trip did not cancel!
Awesome helihike
S1574HValisonc,Mar 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.002 hours of glacier walking flew by , an amazing experience not too be missed . Guri our guide was fabulous and made us feel safe . Don’t just think about it , just do it
Take it or leave it
barrydW5989UF,Mar 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00I have seen several reviews on this site for Franz Josef Glacier Guides, and I can concur that their customer service is poor at best. We wasted 3 days of our one and only holiday trip to NZ with hopes to do the FJ heli-hike. I understand they cannot control the weather, and they must run their operation in a safe manner. BUT, we called the day before our trip and were told there was a 30 percent chance of cloud cover for the following day. When we arrived, still the day before our trip, we went to their office and were told the chances had improved, and we should show up at our 9:45 time. When we got to there, we were told the trip had been cancelled. They said we had the choice of moving to 1pm the next day, or a refund- take it or leave it. Given the high probability of rain the next day, there is no way we would WASTE 2 more days on this. The attitude of the people we dealt with was not even cordial. Did they just decide to cancel the minute we arrived? Why no advance notice? My biggest question is: What percent of the time do these heli-hikes go off as scheduled? How about publishing this data so customers can make an informed decision on spending 3 days on this activity given the low probability of it happening.
Not a great customer experience
Adventure33366826273,Mar 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Not the best experience. Was going to do it for our anniversary Booked on a 12-30 pm slot Arrived the previous night Checked forecast. It seemed nicer early on I wrote a lovely email asking if it was possible to switch to a morning slot but they never bothered responding ( not even 24 hours later ) So I turned up at their offices at 7 am but I got the impression I was more of a hindrance. I asked if they could what’s app me if any cancellations happened but they refused ( said they could only call but loads of people have e-sims now where you can only what’s app ) I was told to come back at 12-15. Weather looked ok. They said no heli hike but we could land on the heli pad for a slightly cheaper price. This seemed like a total rip off so please be aware of this. If you can land on the heli pad then surely they could do the heli hikes. It all seemed quite “ lazy “. New Zealand has been amazing ; this is the only negative review we have had to leave.
HeliHike was amazing! 🤩
David L,Feb 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The weather for our HeliHike was sunny, calm & perfect, and sandwiched between two days of cancellations! It was warm up on the Glacier. Kirk, our guide, only wore a T Shirt on top. The group were all in coats & over trousers. Don’t over do the under layers on a warm day. That said, I had jeans on under the supplied over trousers, but wasn’t over dressed/too hot. The going is a bit tricky in spots, but if you’re fit and able you’ll have no problem. If you get up there, you’ll love it. Such a great experience 🤩
Franz Josef Heli-hike
Jamie R,Feb 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing experience hiking on the glacier! Our guide, Maya, was very knowledgeable and answered questions about the glaciers. She was very attentive to safety and ensuring each person was comfortable! This unique adventure is a must do if you’re in Franz Josef!
Highly recommended.
John H,Feb 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was well organized, fortunately it could continue. Everything went fine, we walked extensively on the glacier and even got some extra time. Very nice experience! Definitely do if you have the opportunity.
Exciting and informative heli-hike trip
Ben M,Feb 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fun and informative trip up to the glacier. What’s not to like about a flight in a chopper, followed up by a gentle hike onto the glacier itself to see how its movement shapes both itself and the landscape underneath. Gus, our guide, was full of enthusiasm and blended a good combination of geological and local cultural information which elevated the trip to 5*
From NZ$815.39
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Operated by Franz Josef Glacier Guides