Active
The heli hike
Walk on the ice
- Ice timeUp to 2.5 hours
- AgeOver 10
- CancelFree until 24 hours before
Price it for your group
Franz Josef heli hike: the flight, the ice and what it costs
Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike
★ 4.6 · 662 user reviews
Compare 4 side by side
Compare the glacier options for your group
Choose how many are coming and see the from price for each way onto or over the glacier.
- Viator heli-hike4 hours · starts at, per person $530
≈
View - GetYourGuide heli hikeUp to 2.5 hours · starts at, per person $528
≈
View - 25-minute flightWith a landing · starts at, per person $221
≈
View - 35-minute flightTwo glaciers · starts at, per person $276
≈
View
Currency conversion uses the ECB reference rate on GetYourGuide from-prices. The exact price is displayed when you book.
A helicopter lands you on the glacier and a guide walks you across it. Here is how long you are on the ice, who can go, how weather decides the day and which listing to book.
Editorial team, franzjosefquadbiking.com · Updated November 6, 2026 · Read in 6 min
In brief
- Ice timeFranz Josef Glacier Guides allow up to 2.5 hours on the ice and up to 4 hours from check-in to the end.1
- Who can goGuests must be over the age of 10, with a weight of 35kg and a height of 137cm, and a weight range of 35kg to 115kg applies.2,3
- GearBoots, crampons, helmets and trekking poles are provided.4
- WeatherThe operator needs a four-hour window of clear weather, and trips it cancels for weather are refunded.5,6
- PriceListings start from $530 on Viator and $528 on GetYourGuide.
What a heli hike is, and who runs it
A heli hike is a guided walk on a glacier that you reach by helicopter. Franz Josef Glacier Guides describe their version as a short scenic helicopter transfer over the glacier valley, a landing on the ice, a moderate hike with a guide and up to 2.5 hours on the ice, within up to 4 hours from check-in to the end of the trip.1 The helicopter access is provided by Inflite, who work with the guiding company.7
The reason it exists at all is the ground. The Department of Conservation says helicopters are the only safe way to get people onto the glacier for guided walks, and that the river has cut off access up the valley on foot.8,9 A valley walk will take you to a viewing area, but a heli hike is how you stand on the ice.
More than one operator sells a version. The Helicopter Line describes its heli hike as a scenic flight, a glacier landing and a two-hour guided walk with glacier boots and crampons.10 The two listings that this page compares book the Franz Josef Glacier Guides product on Viator and a similar heli hike on GetYourGuide, and each uses its own wording for group size and timing.
Four ways onto the ice
Heli hike options side by side
| Option | Time on the ice | Limits | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viator heli-hike | About 2 hours 15 minutes of walking | Age 10, group of up to 11 | $530 |
| GetYourGuide heli hike | Up to 2.5 hours | 10 years, 35 kg, 137 cm | $528 |
| Helicopter Line heli hike | A two-hour guided walk10 | See the operator's page | See the operator's page |
| Glacier landing | 15 minutes13 | Children from 4 years old14 | See the operator's page |
Prices are from prices taken from the listings, and the final fare depends on date and group.
The day in order
The tour starts with check-in 15 minutes before departure, and Franz Josef Glacier Guides list departures at 7:30am, 10:00am and 12:30pm.11 A GetYourGuide listing shows the whole commitment as 4 to 8 hours, because it lets you check availability for starting times and longer options. Plan for most of a morning or an afternoon, not a quick stop between other things.
The flights are short. The GetYourGuide listing gives the helicopter transfers between the valley and the glacier as around 4 minutes each way, and the Viator listing describes a flight to the Pinnacles area of the glacier. After landing, the guide leads the group for about 2 hours 15 minutes of guided glacier walking according to the Viator listing. Expect the route to change from one day to the next.
The walking is steady, not heroic. Franz Josef Glacier Guides describe moderate fitness: comfortable walking for 2 to 3 hours on uneven terrain, including steps cut into the ice.12 You get frequent stops for the guide to point out features, which suits a first-timer who wants to look as much as walk.
Time on the ice
How long each option keeps you on the glacier
Who can go: age, weight and fitness
Franz Josef Glacier Guides require guests to be over the age of 10, with a weight of 35kg and a height of 137cm.2 The weight range for the heli hike is 35kg to 115kg, with the upper limit set because of the rescue equipment required on the ice.3,15 On the Viator listing the age line is 10 for the shorter 2.5-hour trip, rising to 14 on the 5.5-hour option, and children must be with an adult.
Pregnancy rules differ from the quad ride's gentle advice. The Viator listing says the heli hike is not for pregnant travelers, and the GetYourGuide listing says no one over 115 kg or pregnant can take part. Children must be at least 10 years old, 35 kg and 137 cm on the GetYourGuide page as well.
A family with younger children has a gentler option. The glacier guides say their shorter Glacier Landing welcomes children from 4 years old, with 15 minutes on the ice.14,13 That is a landing, not a hike, so it suits a different day out. If you only want to see the snowfields, the helicopter flights page on this site compares flights with landings. The Department of Conservation notes that to view the massive snowfields of the upper neve you need to take a flight in a helicopter or ski plane.17
A short chooser
Is the heli hike right for you?
Say what matters most and the matching option comes up with the reason.
If I want to walk on the ice
The heli hike
Helicopters are the only safe way onto the glacier for guided walks.8
If A child under 10 is coming
The glacier landing
The landing welcomes children from 4 years old, with 15 minutes on the ice.14,13
If I weigh more than 115 kg
A landing or a flight
The heli hike has a weight limit of 115kg, and the Glacier Landing has none.15
If I only have one day
Book for the first morning
The operator suggests booking your first day because the weather may need a day or two.16
If I want to compare with a flight
A 25-minute flight
The flight from $221 includes a 10-minute landing.
Three ways onto the glacier
Hike, landing or flight: pick your glacier day
Families
The glacier landing
A short stop on the ice
- Ice time15 minutes
- AgeFrom 4 years old
- Weight limitNone
No walking
The scenic flight
Fly over, land briefly
- Flight25 minutes
- Landing10 minutes
- CancelFree until 24 hours before
Weather decides the day
Franz Josef Glacier Guides need a four-hour window of clear weather to operate the heli hike, and they keep checking weather reports and glacier conditions.5 They say heavy rain, high winds and low cloud can prevent helicopter operations in a region that sees 6 to 8 metres of rain a year.21
The refund rules are straightforward. Trips cancelled for weather are refunded, and the operator also offers a reschedule, a refund subject to the booking agent or, where possible, an alternative such as the Glacier Landing.6,22 The Viator listing adds that the operator may cancel for weather, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before for a full refund.
The sensible plan is to give yourself spare days. The operator recommends spending at least two days in the Franz Josef region, and suggests booking for your first day because a day or two may be needed to find a clear window.23,16 A minimum of 4 people is needed for experiences to run.24 The rainy day page on this site covers what to do with the days in between.
The heli hike hour by hour
From check-in to the walk back
15 min before
Check in
Check-in is 15 minutes before departure at 7:30am, 10:00am or 12:30pm.11
At the base
Gear and briefing
Boots, crampons, helmets and trekking poles are handed out.4
Flight
Helicopter to the ice
The transfer takes around 4 minutes each way on the GetYourGuide listing.
On the ice
The guided walk
Up to 2.5 hours on the ice with stops to explore features.1
Flight back
Return to the valley
The helicopter lifts the group off the ice and back to the base.
After
Allow up to 4 hours
The trip lasts up to 4 hours from check-in to the end.1
What to wear and what to leave behind
The operator supplies the technical kit: boots, crampons, helmets and trekking poles.4 The Viator listing adds jackets, over trousers, hats and gloves to the supplied list. What you bring yourself is a short list of warm, breathable base layers, long pants for walking that are not jeans, sunglasses, which the operator calls essential, and a small water bottle and snack.19
The leave-behind list is just as clear. The operator asks guests to leave valuables such as a passport, wallet and car keys, portable chargers, spare camera batteries and camera bags, selfie-sticks, and vapes, cigarettes and lighters.20 Hotel pickup is not included on the Viator listing, so plan how you reach the base.
Dress for a cold surface, and follow the operator's own list, which is built around warm layers. If you have a joint replacement, a heart condition or a blood pressure concern, the operator asks you to say so when booking.18 Lead guides may also restrict participation based on the glacier's conditions on the day.25
Video
A helicopter hike onto the Franz Josef ice
Flying The Nest on YouTube · Nothing is fetched until you hit play.
Helicopters are the only safe way to get people onto the glacier for guided walks, so you will hear them pass overhead.
Before you fly
A heli hike checklist
Check yourself3
Pack3
Which listing to book, and what it costs
The Viator listing is the Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike, from $530, rated 4.6 from 662 ratings, with a group of up to 11 and 4 hours in total. The GetYourGuide listing for a 2.5-hour glacier hike with helicopter transfer starts from $528, rated 4.7 from 391 reviews. Both list free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
This page links to the Viator listing, which carries more ratings. Reading any Franz Josef glacier heli hike review on either listing is easier with that spread in mind. Its breakdown is 525 five-star ratings, 77 four-star, 17 three-star, 18 two-star and 25 one-star. The GetYourGuide listing mentions small groups and a minimum of 4 guests.
Both prices are from prices, so the date and group size move the final figure. Compare the cost with the 25-minute flight at $221 if the walk is not essential to you. A free option sits beside the paid ones: the Franz Josef Glacier valley walk is 1.7 km return and takes 30 minutes, rated easy to intermediate, but it ends at a viewing area because the river has cut off access up the valley.26,9 That walk shows you the valley, and only the helicopter gets you onto the ice.8 If the weather is wet, remember that the quad ride on this site runs from $104 and carries its own rainy day logic.
FAQ
Common questions, answered fast.
How long are you on the ice on a Franz Josef heli hike?
Up to 2.5 hours.
Franz Josef Glacier Guides allow up to 2.5 hours on the ice, and the trip lasts up to 4 hours from check-in.1
What age can do a heli hike at Franz Josef?
Over the age of 10.
The age line is over 10, with a weight of 35kg and a height of 137cm.2
Is there a weight limit on the Franz Josef heli hike?
What if the weather is bad on the day?
How fit do you need to be for the heli hike?
Moderate fitness.
The operator describes walking comfortably for 2 to 3 hours on uneven terrain, including steps cut into the ice.12
Is the Franz Josef heli hike worth it?
It suits those who want to stand on the ice.
Helicopters are the only safe way onto the glacier for guided walks, and the Viator listing is rated 4.6 from 662 ratings.8
What do reviews say about the Franz Josef heli hike?
4.6 on Viator, 4.7 on GetYourGuide.
The Viator listing has 662 ratings and the GetYourGuide listing 391 reviews.
How much does a heli hike cost at Franz Josef?
From $530 on Viator.
The GetYourGuide listing starts from $528, and both prices are from prices.
Sources
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Franz Josef Heli Hike ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Franz Josef Heli Hike ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Franz Josef Heli Hike ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Franz Josef Heli Hike ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Franz Josef Heli Hike ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Franz Josef Heli Hike ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Franz Josef Heli Hike ↩
- Department of Conservation (doc.govt.nz) · Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere Walk ↩
- Department of Conservation (doc.govt.nz) · Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere Walk ↩
- The Helicopter Line (operator official site) · Heli Hike ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Franz Josef Heli Hike ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Franz Josef Glacier Tours ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Department of Conservation (doc.govt.nz) · Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Franz Josef Heli Hike ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Franz Josef Heli Hike ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Franz Josef Heli Hike ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Franz Josef Heli Hike ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Franz Josef Glacier Guides (operator official site) · Franz Josef Heli Hike ↩
- Department of Conservation (doc.govt.nz) · Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere Walk ↩
More to read