Franz Josef: Extended Heli-Hike with Lunch (Small Group)

About This Experience

This extended heli-hike from Franz Josef Glacier Guides is a full day of about 8 hours, with up to roughly 5.5 hours on Franz Josef Glacier and a picnic lunch on the ice. Groups are capped at four guests with one guide. At $876 per person it is the most expensive tour with a page on this site, and it has few reviews so far: one, rated 5.0.

You check in at the guiding company's base in Franz Josef township, then sit through a 30-minute safety briefing and gear fitting. A 5-minute walk takes you to the helipad, and a scenic flight of about 7 minutes lands you high on the glacier at around 1,200 m. The return flight takes about 5 minutes, and the walk back to base closes the day. Everything for the ice is supplied, from boots and crampons to a warm hat and gloves.

The itinerary splits the time on the ice into a 3.5-hour stretch and a 1.5-hour stretch, with lunch and drinks served on the glacier in between. With only four people, your guide can set the pace and spend longer on ice formations, crevasses and caves. It suits fit walkers aged 14 or over who found the standard 2.5-hour heli-hike too short for what they wanted.

The tour only runs with four guests. If it does not fill, you can move to the next departure, switch to another trip if one is available, or take a full refund. Weather can stop the departure too, so leave spare days in Franz Josef. Tell the operator in advance about any pre-existing medical condition, and note that anyone over 115 kg cannot join.

Highlights

• Up to roughly 5.5 hours walking on Franz Josef Glacier
• Landing high on the glacier at around 1,200 m
• Four guests and one guide
• Picnic lunch and drinks on the ice
• Scenic flights of about 7 minutes up and 5 minutes down
• More time for ice formations, crevasses and caves

What's Included

• ✓ Scenic helicopter transfer to and from Franz Josef Glacier
• ✓ Guided glacier hike of up to about 5.5 hours on the ice
• ✓ Picnic lunch and drinks served on the glacier
• ✓ Crampons, harness and helmet
• ✓ Waterproof jacket and overtrousers, glacier boots, socks and trekking poles
• ✓ Warm hat and gloves

Not Included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Transport to Franz Josef township

What to Bring

• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Warm base layers and long pants (no jeans)

Good to Know & Caveats

• The tour needs four guests. If it does not fill, you can move to the next departure, take an alternative trip if one is available, or get a full refund.
• Bad weather that stops the departure gets you a full refund or a new date or time. GetYourGuide's free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before.
• Tell the operator about any pre-existing medical condition before the day.
• Not open to children under 14, pregnant women or anyone over 115 kg. Alcohol, drugs and valuables are not allowed on the trip.
• Few reviews so far: one, rated 5.0.

Meeting Point

Check in at the Franz Josef Glacier Guides base in Franz Josef township; the exact address is on your voucher.