"From the safety brief, the amazing Heli ride to the engaging guide on the glacier, it was perfection and a trip of a lifetime"
Meet in Franz Josef township · helicopter transfer onto the ice · up to 2.5 hours guided hiking · all glacier gear included · from about $505
Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers: the Tours Compared
You cannot walk onto Franz Josef or Fox Glacier from the valley; a helicopter is the way onto the ice. Here is how the heli-hikes, the scenic flights, the guided valley walks and the Lake Mapourika cruise differ, and Franz Josef Glacier Guides' heli-hike rated 4.7 from 403 reviews.
From
$505
per person
Free cancellation
- 4.7 / 5 403 reviews
- 2.5 hours Guided Hiking on the Franz Josef Ice
- 65 tours West Coast Glaciers on the Booking Platform, Oct 2026
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Franz Josef Heli-Hike Includes
In Franz Josef Glacier Guides' own words: the helicopter transfers, the guide, the gear and the safety briefing. Food, drinks and hotel pickup are not included.
In the Operator's Own Words
- Land on Franz Josef Glacier via scenic helicopter transfer
- Explore blue ice caves, crevasses, and ice formations on foot
- Enjoy up to 2.5 hours of guided glacier hiking
- Experience one of the world’s fastest‑changing glaciers
- Small group departures with a perfect balance of adventure and scenic discovery
What's Included
- Scenic helicopter transfer to and from the glacier
- Guided glacier hike with professional guide
- All glacier equipment (crampons, boots, poles, waterproof gear, helmets, gloves)
- Safety briefings
Good to know: A reasonable level of fitness and agility is required as the glacier terrain is variable and reasonably challenging · Please check-in 15 mins prior to your trip time. Check-in closes 15 minutes prior to your tour departure · All trips are subject to favorable weather conditions. It is recommended to book for your first available day in Franz Josef so that you have maximum flexibility · The helicopter transfers between the valley and the glacier are around 4 minutes each way · Children must be least 10 years old, weight at least 35 kg, and be at least 137 cm tall to participate in this tour · For your safety, participation is not permitted for those over the weight of 115 kg or pregnant women · Guests can choose a full refund if the trip does not go ahead on the scheduled departure · Not suitable for: Children under 10 years, Pregnant women, People with back problems, People over 254 lbs (115 kg) · Not Included: Food and drinks, Hotel pickup and drop-off
How the Heli-Hike Works
Four steps, from check-in on Cron Street to the flight back down the valley.
Check In at the Glacier Base Building
Meet at the Glacier Base Building, 63 Cron Street, Franz Josef, 15 minutes before your time; check-in closes 15 minutes before departure. You are fitted with crampons, boots, poles, waterproof gear, a helmet and gloves, and given a safety briefing. Hotel pickup is not included.
Walk to the Helipad and Fly Up
A short walk takes you to the helipad. The helicopter transfer between the valley and the glacier takes around 4 minutes each way, over rainforest and the glacier valley, and lands high on Franz Josef Glacier.
Up to 2.5 Hours on the Ice
Your guide leads the hike in crampons through ice formations, crevasses and, the listing says, blue ice caves, with the route depending on conditions. A reasonable level of fitness and agility is needed, as the terrain is variable and reasonably challenging. Food and drinks are not included.
Fly Back, or Rebook for Weather
The helicopter brings you back to the valley; the whole trip is listed at 4 to 8 hours. Every trip depends on the weather, so the operator suggests booking your first available day in Franz Josef, and you can choose a full refund if it does not go ahead.
Photo Gallery
The Franz Josef Heli-Hike in Photos
Photos from Franz Josef Glacier Guides' own listing on the booking platform.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. The listing's terms: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
On the Ice, or Below It: Three Glacier Trips
The two heli-hikes and the guided Franz Josef lookout walk compared from each operator's listing: how you reach the glacier, how long you spend there, what gear is included and who can go.
| Feature | OUR PICK Franz Josef Heli-Hike (Franz Josef Glacier Guides) | Fox Glacier Heli-Hike (Fox Glacier Guiding) | Franz Josef Lookout Walk (Glacier Valley Eco Tours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| What You Pay | From about $505 per person | From about $477 per person | From about $65 per person |
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 from 403 reviews | 4.9 / 5 from 370 reviews | 4.8 / 5 from 172 reviews |
| Length | 4 to 8 hours in all | 4 hours in all | 3 hours, including a 20-minute return drive to the start of the walk |
| Meeting Point | Glacier Base Building, 63 Cron Street, Franz Josef; check in 15 minutes before | 44 Main Road, Fox Glacier, then a 30-minute safety briefing | The office shared with The Helicopter Line, next to Glacier Motors petrol station, Franz Josef |
| How You Reach the Glacier | Helicopter transfer, around 4 minutes each way | Two helicopter flights, 5 minutes each way, plus a short bus ride | On foot through rainforest to the public viewpoint; no closer to the glacier |
| Time on the Ice | Up to 2.5 hours of guided hiking | Up to 3 hours of guided hiking | None: walking on and touching the glacier are excluded |
| Gear Included | Crampons, boots, poles, waterproof gear, helmets and gloves | Leather boots and socks, crampons, walking poles, wet-weather jacket and overtrousers | Walking poles, raincoats, over-trousers, umbrellas and hiking boots if required, plus morning or afternoon tea |
| Who Can Go | From age 10, at least 35 kg and 137 cm; not over 115 kg or pregnant; reasonable fitness needed | From age 9; not over 115 kg; reasonable fitness needed; no jeans | All ages; a baby carrier for under-3s is available; not for wheelchair users |
| Weather | Weather dependent; book your first available day in Franz Josef; full refund if it does not go ahead | Weather dependent; book your first available day in Fox Glacier; no refunds for your own changes within 24 hours | Runs in all weather; full refund if the operator cancels for weather, a road closure or a DOC closure |
| Best For | Standing on Franz Josef Glacier with the most included gear | The longest time on the ice and the highest rating of the three | Seeing the glacier valley with a naturalist guide at a fraction of the price |
| Check Availability | See the Fox Heli-Hike | See the Guided Walk |
Six More Glacier Country Trips
Other Ways to See the Glaciers
A Fox Glacier heli-hike, two scenic flights with snow landings, two guided valley walks and a lake cruise. Titles are the operators' own; prices are the booking platform's.
25 MIN, SNOW OR ALPINE LANDINGFranz Josef Glacier: Helicopter Flight & Alpine Landing
A 25-minute helicopter flight from 10 Main Road, Franz Josef, up the Franz Josef Glacier valley with pilot commentary and a 10-minute snow landing, or an alpine landing in summer.
FOX GLACIER: UP TO 3 H ON ICEFox Glacier: Up to 3 Hours Hike with Helicopter Transfer
A heli-hike from 44 Main Road, Fox Glacier: two short helicopter flights and up to 3 hours of guided hiking on the ice, with boots, crampons, poles and wet-weather gear.
GUIDED WALK TO THE LOOKOUTFranz Josef: Franz Josef Glacier Lookout Guided Walk
A guided 3-hour walk from the Glacier Valley Eco Tours desk in Franz Josef through rainforest to the glacier lookout, with transport, rain gear if needed, tea and DOC parking fees.
FOX VALLEY NATURE WALKFox Glacier: Half Day Walking & Nature Tour with Local Guide
A guided half-day nature walk at Fox Glacier, leaving Franz Josef or with pickup in Fox Glacier, through rainforest to views of the glacier and Mt Tasman, with hot drinks and rain gear.
LAKE CRUISE, RAIN OR SHINEFranz Josef Glacier: 2-Hour Scenic Lake Mapourika Cruise
A 2-hour cruise on Lake Mapourika from 30 Main Road, Franz Josef, with transfers to the lake, tea and coffee, national park fees, and a skipper's stories along the rainforest shore.
BOTH GLACIERS + SNOW LANDINGFranz Josef & Fox Glaciers Helicopter Flight & Snow Landing
A 30-minute helicopter flight from the Franz Josef helicopter base over the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, with a snow landing and commentary from the pilot.
Choosing a Glacier Trip
Which Glacier Trip Is Yours?
What the glaciers are like now, how far you can walk, how the seven trips differ, the weather, and who each one suits.
Franz Josef and Fox are two glaciers on the South Island’s West Coast, each with a small township on State Highway 6, and the only way onto either one today is by helicopter. The region has far more tours than Glenorchy or Stewart Island but still a fraction of the busiest spots: in GetYourGuide’s catalogue in October 2026 the West Coast glaciers (Franz Josef, Fox Glacier, Okarito and Hokitika) had 65 tours and 5,161 reviews, against 336 tours and 40,459 reviews for Queenstown. Our pick is Franz Josef Glacier Guides’ heli-hike, from $505 and rated 4.7 from 403 reviews: a helicopter transfer onto the ice and up to 2.5 hours of guided hiking, with all the gear included.
See dates for the Franz Josef heli-hike →
What the glaciers are like now
Both glaciers have pulled back up their valleys, and walking access has changed with them. At Franz Josef, the Department of Conservation (DOC) says the Waiho River has cut off access up the valley, so from the end of the public walk you cannot go further on foot. DOC calls helicopters “the only safe way to get people onto the glacier for guided walks”. At Fox Glacier, the old road up the valley is no longer the way in; check DOC’s current access before you go. Its South Side Walkway reaches a first glacier viewpoint after about 40 minutes, and DOC notes that the viewpoints are “hundreds of metres from the face of the glacier”.
So there are two kinds of trip here. A heli-hike or a flight with a snow landing puts you on ice or snow. A guided walk or the lake cruise shows you the glacier country from below, and the walk listings say so plainly: neither includes walking on the glacier or getting close to it.
Getting there
DOC says the only road access to Westland Tai Poutini National Park is State Highway 6, about an hour and a half from Hokitika in the north or two hours from Haast in the south; the nearest commercial airport is Hokitika. Franz Josef/Waiau and Fox Glacier/Weheka both have accommodation, fuel and groceries. Glacier Valley Eco Tours puts the drive between the two at 30 minutes each way. All the trips here start in one of the two townships, and none lists hotel pickup except the Fox nature walk, which collects you in Fox Glacier.
The tours compared
| Tour | From | Rating (reviews) | Length | What’s included | Start point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franz Josef heli-hike (Franz Josef Glacier Guides) | $505 | 4.7 (403) | 4 to 8 h | Helicopter transfer both ways, up to 2.5 h guided hike, all glacier gear | Glacier Base Building, 63 Cron St, Franz Josef |
| Fox heli-hike (Fox Glacier Guiding) | $477 | 4.9 (370) | 4 h | Two helicopter flights, guide, boots, crampons, poles, wet-weather gear | 44 Main Rd, Fox Glacier |
| Franz Josef flight and alpine landing (Glacier Country Helicopters) | $222 | 4.8 (696) | 25 min | Flight with commentary and a 10-minute snow or alpine landing | 10 Main Rd, Franz Josef |
| Both glaciers flight and snow landing (Glacier Helicopters) | $278 | 4.7 (408) | 35 min | 30-minute flight, snow landing, pilot commentary | Helicopter base, Main South Rd SH6, Franz Josef |
| Franz Josef Glacier lookout walk (Glacier Valley Eco Tours) | $65 | 4.8 (172) | 3 h | Guide, transport, rain gear and boots if needed, tea, DOC parking fees | Office next to Glacier Motors, Franz Josef |
| Fox Glacier nature walk (Glacier Valley Eco Tours) | $65 | 4.7 (188) | 3.5 h | Guide, pickup in Fox Glacier, hot drinks, rain gear | Franz Josef office, or pickup in Fox Glacier |
| Lake Mapourika cruise (Franz Josef Wilderness Tours) | $70 | 4.8 (147) | 2 h | Transfers to the lake, tea and coffee, national park fees | 30 Main Rd, Franz Josef |
Prices, ratings and review counts from our October 2026 data check; operators use seasonal pricing, so treat them as the shape of the market, not a quote.
On the ice. The two heli-hikes are the only trips here that walk on a glacier. Franz Josef’s gives up to 2.5 hours on the ice; Fox’s itinerary lists 3 hours of hiking with a 5-minute flight each way. Both have weight limits of about 115 kg, and the minimum age is 10 at Franz Josef and 9 at Fox.
In the air. Glacier Country Helicopters’ 25-minute flight lands for 10 minutes; the operator says the landing may be alpine rather than snow in summer, and that this short flight “has the highest rate of cancellation” because it has one route and one landing site. Glacier Helicopters flies over both glaciers in 30 minutes and lands on snow, with routes at the pilot’s discretion.
On foot. Glacier Valley Eco Tours runs both walks with no more than 10 guests per guide. The Franz Josef walk goes through podocarp rainforest to the public viewpoint; the Fox walk climbs gently through rainforest to views of the upper glacier and Mt Tasman, with what the listing calls “a chance to dip your hand in a geothermal spring”. Both say they go no closer to the glacier than the public viewpoint.
On the water. The Lake Mapourika cruise crosses a lake the operator says the retreating Franz Josef Glacier formed about 14,000 years ago, toward the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary, and asks you to “watch for native birds and rare kōtuku”.
Book by the trip you want:
On the ice
Franz Josef: 2.5 Hour Glacier Hike with Helicopter Transfer
A helicopter transfer onto the glacier, up to 2.5 hours of guided hiking, and every piece of glacier gear included.
Check dates →Flight and snow landing
Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers Helicopter Flight & Snow Landing
A 30-minute flight over both glaciers with a snow landing and pilot commentary, from the Franz Josef base.
See this tour →Guided walk
Franz Josef Glacier Lookout Guided Walk
Three hours through rainforest to the glacier lookout with a guide, rain gear if needed, tea and parking fees.
See this tour →Season and weather
This is a wet coast, and the flying trips depend on it. Both heli-hike operators recommend booking your first available day in town to leave room for a weather cancellation. A guest from the United States on the Franz Josef heli-hike wrote: “Our original booking was cancelled due to rain but we had planned an extra day for such things. The second day dawned bright and clear.” DOC warns that the valley tracks and the Franz Josef access road can close for flooding, rockfall or landslides, and points to the daily glacier access update on the Glacier Country website.
The walks and the cruise go in the rain. Glacier Valley Eco Tours walks “in ALL weather” and lends raincoats, over-trousers and large umbrellas; Franz Josef Wilderness Tours says it often finds Lake Mapourika has “significantly less rainfall than the Franz Josef Glacier township”.
Who it suits
If you want to stand on a glacier, book a heli-hike, and keep a spare day. If your budget or fitness rules that out, a flight with a snow landing still puts you on snow high above the ice in about half an hour. The guided walks and the cruise suit families, birdwatchers and rainy days. The West Coast fits between Arthur’s Pass and Glenorchy on the South Island hidden gems itinerary, and quieter alternatives to Queenstown and Milford Sound compares it with Abel Tasman and Stewart Island.
Guest Reviews
What Guests Say
4.7/5
from 403 verified guests
"This was incredible!! We got very lucky and had a beautiful sunny day. The helicopter was awesome, the pilot was friendly, the guides were fantastic and the glacier itself was spectacular. 10/10 experience!"
"Depending on the day, you can get a small group and you will have more time with the tour guide. It such an amazing experience because you get to see the glaciers. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and passionate with what they do. Also, they provide everything (gloves, boots, coat, socks, etc.)"
"so good! Our guides, Rebecca and Tom were excellent. The helicopter flight up with our pilot James was awesome. The hike itself was really fun, and challenging without being scary or hard. We really loved it and will definitely give glacier hiking another go !"
"We did the helihike in June. Our original booking was cancelled due to rain but we had planned an extra day for such things. The second day dawned bright and clear. You get geared up with Goretex jacket and pants-what you wear under that is all you. We ended up loosing layers while on the glacier. We had 12 in our group so going was not fast paced. The staff had been up early carving out the route that had been destroyed by the rain. It was a wonderful day. A very neat experience to interact with nature in this way b"
"The Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hike was the most adventurous, frightening yet thrilling excursion of my life. Following check-in, we walked for half an hour through a rainforest, arriving at a helipad. A helicopter then transported us to the base of the glacier, marking the beginning of the excitement; 3 hrs of hiking through crevasses, caves, slippery ice, and a steep, winding track that our guide was creating in real-time. Definitely a must do."
"A unique experience, fantastic weather, a beautiful tour, a great team – it couldn't be better 👍😃🍀…."
"We had an unreal time up on the Glacier our Guide Sarah was great and extremely knowledgeable. We’re so grateful to have had the opportunity and experience of taking in this incredible landscape."
Read all 403 verified reviews
See All ReviewsBook the Franz Josef Heli-Hike
A scenic helicopter transfer onto Franz Josef Glacier, up to 2.5 hours of guided hiking on the ice, crampons, boots, poles, waterproof gear, helmets and gloves included, rated 4.7 by 403 guests on the booking platform. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Starting from $505 per person.
Check Availability & BookCan't Make These Dates?
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More tours here from the booking platform. Each listing states its own cancellation terms.
Franz Josef and Fox Glacier FAQ
The questions people ask before booking a glacier trip on the West Coast, answered in the first sentence. Tour details come from each operator's listing; access and road facts from the Department of Conservation (DOC).
No: DOC says the Waiho River has cut off access up the valley, and helicopters are the only safe way onto the glacier for guided walks. The public walk ends at a viewpoint, and DOC asks visitors never to cross the barriers. The guided walks here go no closer than that viewpoint. To stand on the ice, check dates for the Franz Josef heli-hike.
You can walk to a viewpoint, but not to the ice. The old road up the Fox valley is no longer the way in; check DOC's current access before you go. Its South Side Walkway reaches a first viewpoint after about 40 minutes, and DOC notes that the viewpoints are hundreds of metres from the glacier face. The guided Fox Glacier nature walk covers the valley with a local guide.
Fox gives you a little longer on the ice; Franz Josef includes more gear. Fox Glacier Guiding lists up to 3 hours of hiking in a 4-hour trip, from age 9. Franz Josef Glacier Guides lists up to 2.5 hours on the ice, with helmets and gloves among the gear, from age 10. Both have a weight limit of about 115 kg. See the Fox heli-hike.
The operators rebook or refund, and they suggest booking your first available day to leave room. Franz Josef Glacier Guides lets you choose a full refund if the trip does not go ahead; Glacier Country Helicopters offers a reschedule or refund. Cancellation by you is free up to 24 hours before on every trip here. The South Island hidden gems itinerary builds in a spare day.
It is the shorter, cheaper way onto snow, though not onto the glacier itself. Glacier Helicopters flies over both glaciers in 30 minutes and lands on snow; Glacier Country Helicopters lands for 10 minutes, on an alpine site in summer if there is no snow. Neither includes a hike. See the two-glacier flight.
Take a guided walk or the Lake Mapourika cruise: both run in all weather. Glacier Valley Eco Tours lends raincoats, over-trousers and large umbrellas, and Franz Josef Wilderness Tours says it often finds Lake Mapourika has significantly less rainfall than the township. The cruise boat has an enclosed cabin. See the Lake Mapourika cruise.
By State Highway 6, the only road into Westland Tai Poutini National Park. DOC puts it at about an hour and a half from Hokitika in the north or two hours from Haast in the south, with the nearest commercial airport in Hokitika. Glacier Valley Eco Tours gives the drive between the two townships as 30 minutes. Arthur's Pass is on the way from Christchurch.
The walks, the cruise and the flights are; the heli-hikes have a minimum age of 9 or 10. Glacier Valley Eco Tours lends a baby carrier for children under 3. On Glacier Helicopters' flight, children aged 4 to 14 need their own seat and infants sit on an adult's knee. See the guided lookout walk.
Still have questions? Email us at info@southislandhiddengems.com