Pilot’s Choice: 2 Glaciers & Snow Landing – 35min
Overview
1 hour 20 minutes
Mobile ticket
Glacier Country Helicopters is a local, family owned and operated company based in Franz Josef, on the West Coast of New Zealand. Husband and wife team Gus and Poppy started the company in January 2014 and you'll generally find one of them out flying most days.
On our Pilots Choice flight you'll see two of the three "big" glaciers. You'll fly over the Franz Josef Glacier then over either the Fox Glacier or Tasman Glacier and fly into the Southern Alps to enjoy the included 10 minute snow landing for photos. Total experience time approx. 35 minutes.
If you wish to book a Comfort Seat or request a Front Seat / Executive Helicopter Upgrade, please contact us at least 24hours in advance of your flight.
Please allow an extra 45minutes on top of your flight time to allow for checking in, transport to helicopter, loading, unloading and to return to our office.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please let us know if you have limited mobility e.g. injury, arthritis or recent surgery? There are two high ladder style steps into the helicopter. This information could effect what helicopter we fly you in.
Comfort Seats: Our helicopter seats are 40cm wide, an empty seat can be reserved next to you if you prefer extra space (passengers 120KG & over when weighed at check in will be required to purchase a Comfort Seat - these are half the RRP of your flight).
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Franz Josef Glacier
The Pilot's Choice flight includes stunning views of the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers or Franz Josef and Tasman Glaciers.
Fox Glacier
The Pilot's Choice flight includes stunning views of the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers or Franz Josef and Tasman Glaciers.
What‘s Included
35-minute scenic helicopter flight
Snow landing (approx. 10 minutes) for photos
Safety briefing and equipment (if required)
Professional and experienced pilot
All fees, GST, and taxes
Comfort Seat (compulsory for passengers 120kg / 265lbs & over, or optional for extra space)
Front Seat / Executive Upgrade (subject to availability, request in advance)
Hotel pickup and drop-off (check-in is at 10 Main Road, Franz Josef)
Food and drinks
Options
Pilot's Choice - 2 Glaciers with Snow Landing - 35mins
Reviews
342 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Brilliant tour organised by a friendly team. Lifetime memories made 😎
Mark F,,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Simply stunning !! Great team and excellent communication to ensure we got the right weather window. Snow landing is stunning and the pilot (Edie) was knowledgable and great. Ground crew with Oliver were very friendly and well organised. The blue helicopters went as a pair and it was amazing seeing all the glaciers and mountain peaks. The is a great company - absolutely recommend them!
Snowball fight on the glacier
87181,,Feb 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very smooth competent pilot who took us to a virgin snowfield for our landing. Views were extraordinary and the snow ball fight was good fun. Highly recommend this operator for safety and customer service.
The glaciers are frozen but GCH is cool...
Rick B,,Feb 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a birthday gift to remember! I found GCH to be a very professional and customer-focussed company. From the friendly and generous desk crew and host, to the expert and knowledgeable pilot, my 10-year old son and I had the ride of our lives. After several days of poor weather, we were also very fortunate to have arrived on a day where the weather was clear, the sun was shining and the mountains were putting on their best performance. Tim was an excellent host. The instructions we were given were clear and concise. Our aircraft was excellent; Mike is an excellent pilot, and very knowledgeable about the Glacier region. I cannot rate this experience highly enough. Get up there and give it a go!
Best fight ever
X8548GXbriann,,Jan 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00They were the best. Mike did a great job and was very personal and informative
Glacial paradise
Gurpreet s,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing experience Great pilot and stunning location Beautiful sunny day Walking on the glacier was an experience of a lifetime Highly recommend
Absolute must-do experience
Neena M,,Jan 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had an absolutely amazing time on our glacier trip. I would highly recommend it as it was a highlight of my vacation.
Highly recommend, must do, so stunning, one to remember!
Jacqueline H,,Jan 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Highly recommend this tour, our pilot was excellent & so informative. We had an amazing time, so stunning, landing on the snow, the scenery, wow! Thank you for a great trip!
Excellent experience!
Denise S,,Jan 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This scenic helicopter ride was 100% worth it. We had amazing weather so we were able to do a snow landing as well. Our pilot was so kind and informative.
Amazing experience!...
Michele C,,Jan 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing experience! Awesome views. Flight was smooth and landing on the snow was such a lot of fun! Aaron was a great pilot and provided a good overview of the history and landmarks. I would definitely recommend doing it!!
Extremely Disappointing – Avoid Glacier Country Helicopters
Sachintha P,,Jan 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00I had a very poor experience with Glacier Country Helicopters and strongly advise potential customers to avoid them. I booked the “Pilot’s Choice, 2-Glacier Tour.” Just before the flight, I was informed that a landing could not be guaranteed due to low cloud ceiling. I was offered the options to reschedule, cancel with a full refund, or continue without guaranteed landing, with a $100 NZD refund if the landing didn’t happen. I completely understood the safety concerns due to rapidly changing alpine weather. They stated the flight time without landing would be 16–20 minutes, displayed on the screen. However, the company strongly pushed us to take the flight without landing, boasting about the views we would get. During the flight, I timed the journey myself — from takeoff to landing — and it lasted only 13 minutes, well below the promised 16–20 minutes. There was no landing. The pilot, Mike, was rude and yelled at a fellow passenger for holding her phone against the window to take photos. This rule was never mentioned in the pre-flight briefing, and the way she was holding the phone would not have scratched the window. They did process the $100 refund, but the overall experience was not worth the money. From my perspective, the company seems focused on maximizing profits by shortening flights and avoiding landings while boasting about being a “family-owned business.” When I questioned the flight duration, they cited onboard trackers, but I cannot trust those times as I personally clocked it. Their customer representatives were also rude, dismissive, and had a poor attitude. One even implied that my unhappy experience didn’t matter because other customers were satisfied the same day — which is unacceptable. Later, I flew with HeliServices.nz, and the experience was excellent, including a proper landing. At the time of my Glacier Country flight (~8:30 AM), weather was good and other operators were performing landings. I cannot fully blame them for weather variations at landing sites, but given my experience and past reviews, I strongly suspect they intentionally avoid landings to shorten trips and increase the number of flights they perform. In short: avoid Glacier Country Helicopters. There are cheaper and far more professional operators in the area who deliver the experience they promise.
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