Lunch Included, Small-Group Heli Hike

Franz Josef Glacier Adventure

from NZ$1,549 operator price, per person

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Duration: Up to 8 hours in total
Group: Maximum four guests per booking (listing 1 guide to 4)
Meeting point: Glacier Base, Franz Josef
Cancellation: Free cancellation
Meals: Lunch included
Run by: Franz Josef Glacier Guides

Overview

This is the long version of the classic Franz Josef heli hike. Four guests per guide, a helicopter flight up the valley, and around five and a half hours walking on the glacier itself, with the whole day running to as much as eight hours door to door.

The day starts at the Franz Josef Glacier Guides base on Cron Street in Franz Josef township, where you check in and get kitted out. Boots, socks, waterproofs, crampons, harness, helmet, hat, gloves and trekking poles are all supplied, so the only personal items on the kit list are sunglasses and sunscreen. From there a scenic helicopter flight carries you over the rainforest and ice before landing high on Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere at roughly 1200 metres.

On the ice, the guide sets a personalised pace through crevasses, ice formations and terrain the larger groups do not reach. Halfway through, the group stops for a picnic lunch and drinks served on the glacier. Reviewers who enjoyed it most were those ready for a demanding day: this extended route involves rougher, more uneven ground than the standard hike, a heavy pack, and some abseiling and vertical climbing. It suits confident, fit travellers who want maximum time on the ice rather than a taster.

DurationUp to 8 hours in total

What's Included

Included

Scenic helicopter transfer to and from Franz Josef Glacier
Extended guided glacier hike (up to ~5.5 hours on the ice)
Small group experience (maximum 4 guests per guide)
Picnic lunch and drinks served on the glacier
All glacier hiking equipment including crampons, harness, and helmet
Waterproof jacket and overtrousers
Glacier boots, socks, and trekking poles
Warm hat and gloves
Experienced, professional guide throughout

Run byFranz Josef Glacier Guides

Itinerary

Check in at Glacier BaseMeet at Franz Josef Glacier Guides Te Ao Marama, 63 Cron Street, Franz Josef. Check in and complete your preparation before the flight. Hotel pickup is not included.
Walk to the heliportA short on-foot leg in Franz Josef township to reach the helicopter.
Scenic helicopter flightFly over the glacier valley with alpine, rainforest and ice views, then land high on the glacier at around 1200 metres.
Extended guided glacier hikeUp to about 5.5 hours on the ice with a guide and a maximum of four guests, exploring crevasses, ice caves and formations.
Picnic lunch on the iceMidway through the hike, stop for a picnic lunch and drinks surrounded by alpine views.
Helicopter return flightFly back down the valley to Franz Josef.
Walk back to townA final on-foot leg returns you to Franz Josef township, with the full day lasting up to eight hours in total.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape whether this day works for you.

Small guided group walking in line across crevassed glacier ice in afternoon light

Fitness demands. Reviewers describe this as an advanced version of the classic hike. You carry a roughly 10kg backpack over rougher, more uneven terrain, and the route includes abseiling and vertical climbs. It rewards fit, confident hikers.
What to bring. The listing asks only for sunglasses and sunscreen. Everything else, from glacier boots and waterproofs to helmet, harness and gloves, is provided as part of the tour.
Weather matters. The tour is weather dependent, and reviewers say a clear day makes a big difference to the experience. If weather stops the flight you get a full refund or a chance to reschedule, so it helps to keep some flexibility in your plans.
Group feel. Groups are capped at four guests with one guide, a ratio the listing calls premium. Expect a personalised pace, time for photos, and terrain the bigger groups cannot access.
Food on the ice. A picnic lunch and drinks are served on the glacier midway through the hike. No extra payment is needed for the meal, and alcohol and drugs are not allowed on the tour.
Health disclosure. The listing requires you to tell the operator about any pre-existing medical conditions before the trip. There is also a minimum of four participants, so check the booking page for the next available departure if numbers fall short.

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Common issues. The honest catches: the day is physically harder than the standard heli hike, with a heavy pack, uneven terrain and climbing sections, which some travellers are not expecting. The tour needs a minimum of four people to run, and if that number is not met you may have to move to another departure or take an alternate experience, though a full refund is offered. Weather can cancel flights outright, with a refund or reschedule as the remedy. No hotel pickup is included, so you make your own way to Cron Street.

Common Questions

Is Lunch Included On The Heli Hike?

Yes. A picnic lunch and drinks are served on the glacier midway through the hike, and they are part of the tour price. There is nothing listed as an extra cost for this experience. You cannot bring alcohol, and valuables are best left behind.

Is Hotel Pickup Included?

No. The listing states pickup is not included, so you meet at the Franz Josef Glacier Guides base at 63 Cron Street in Franz Josef. Check in there before the flight.

How Long Is The Tour?

The whole day runs up to eight hours in total, with up to about five and a half hours spent walking on the glacier itself. That compares with a much shorter classic version, and reviewers stress this extended route is significantly harder.

How Fit Do I Need To Be?

Reasonably fit and confident on rough ground. Reviewers report carrying a roughly 10kg backpack across uneven terrain, with some abseiling and vertical climbing. If that sounds like too much, the shorter standard hike may be a better fit.

What Equipment Is Provided?

Crampons, harness and helmet, plus a waterproof jacket and overtrousers, glacier boots, socks, trekking poles, warm hat and gloves. You only need to bring sunglasses and sunscreen.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If bad weather prevents departure, you are guaranteed a full refund or the option to reschedule. If the minimum of four participants is not met, you can move to the next departure, take an alternate experience where available, or get a full refund.