How Franz Josef glacier tours differ
Three different products get mixed up under "glacier tour". A heli hike flies you onto the ice and lets you walk on it with a guide. A scenic flight with a snow landing puts you down in the snowfield for a short stop, with no long walk. A walk in the valley is free and stays well below the ice. Only the first two get you onto the glacier, and the Department of Conservation (DOC) calls the helicopter the only safe way to reach the ice for guided walks on the Franz Josef Glacier (Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere).
The prices below come from the operators' own pages in 2026. A listed price is not a checkout price for your date, and it does not show free seats. Confirm the rate when you book.
Tour examples compared
One product per row, from a single operator each. These are examples, not a market range.
| Tour | Time | On the ice | Price in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franz Josef heli hike (Franz Josef Glacier Guides) | Up to 4 hours from check-in | Up to 2.5 hours | NZ$899, valid to 30 September 2027 |
| Flying Fox heli hike, Fox Glacier (Fox Glacier Guiding) | Up to 4 hours | Up to 3 hours | NZ$795 on the last list, valid to 30 September 2026; confirm the current rate |
| Névé Discoverer (The Helicopter Line) | 25 minutes, landing included | Snow landing, short stop | Listed at NZ$395 |
| Twin Glacier (The Helicopter Line) | 35 minutes, landing included | Snow landing, short stop | Listed at NZ$495 |
| Mountain Scenic Spectacular (The Helicopter Line) | 40 minutes, landing included | Snow landing, short stop | Listed at NZ$695 |
| Snow landing flights (Glacier Helicopters) | 20, 30 and 40 minutes | Snow landing, short stop | Confirm the current rate |
| Tandem skydive, 13,000 ft (Skydive Franz and Fox) | About 3 hours in all | – | NZ$429 per person; NZ$699 for two (Double Deluxe) |
The scenic flight times include the landing, so they are not minutes in the air only. The Helicopter Line asks you to plan about one hour for check-in, briefing and the flight, and check-in closes 30 minutes before departure.
Our picks: tours compared
A heli-hike from Fox Glacier, a three-glacier flight with a landing and a hike from Franz Josef.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Glacier hike with helicopter transfer
Helicopter flights to the glacier and back, a guided hike, and crampons, boots, poles, rain gear, helmet and gloves. Food, drinks and hotel transfer are not included.
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Fox Glacier hike with two helicopter flights
Two helicopter flights, a guide, ground transport, boots, crampons, poles and rain gear. Hotel transfer, food and drinks are not included.
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45-minute flight over three glaciers with a landing
Landing fees, safety briefing, pilot, commentary and headset are included. A Comfort Seat is extra and required from 120 kg.
Check availability →Franz Josef glacier tours and flights
Heli hikes, snow landings and scenic flights from Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, with live prices and availability.
The tour types in detail
What each one involves and where it falls short.
Franz Josef heli hike
The trip starts at Glacier Base, 63 Cron Street, with check-in 15 minutes before the summer departures at 7:30, 10:00 and 12:30. You get crampons, helmet, harness, waterproof boots, socks, a rain jacket and overtrousers. Specific ice features such as caves are not guaranteed. The minimum is 10 years, 35 kg and 137 cm, and under-18s need a paying parent or guardian.
Heli hike guide →Snow-landing flights
The Névé Discoverer, Twin Glacier and Mountain Scenic Spectacular all include a landing, but none is a hike. The Twin Glacier flies over Franz Josef and Fox. Route and landing depend on the weather and the pilot's decision. The listed price includes concession fees.
Helicopter flights guide →Fox Glacier heli hike
Flying Fox departs at 8:50 and 11:50 all year, with extra departures on demand, and check-in 20 minutes before. The minimum age is 9, and 9 to 16-year-olds go with an adult. A trip needs at least 3 people, and single guests can be paired with others. The weight limit is 116 kg and hand luggage is limited to 3 kg.
Fox Glacier guide →Flights toward Mount Cook
The 40-minute Mountain Scenic Spectacular looks at both West Coast glaciers, Aoraki/Mount Cook and the Tasman Glacier, with a snow landing. It starts and ends in Franz Josef and includes no transfer to Mount Cook village. For flights from the other side of the Alps, see scenic flights at Mount Cook.
Tandem skydive
The jump meets at 63 Cron Street. Freefall lasts about 45 seconds. The regular weight limit is 100 kg, and up to 115 kg is decided case by case by the tandem master and the weather, possibly with a surcharge. A jump is never guaranteed on the day.
The free option: the valley walk
The public valley track takes 30 minutes return and ends at a lookout about 3,000 m from the ice on 20 October 2026. It does not lead onto the glacier.
Valley walk guide →What to check before you book
Weather decides more than the price does.
Book for your first day
Both heli-hike operators advise booking ahead and using your first day in town as the tour day. Then a weather delay leaves room to move the trip. The Franz Josef operator recommends staying at least 2 days.
Why flights get cancelled
Heavy rain, strong wind and low cloud stop helicopter operations, and the final decision comes close to departure. The Franz Josef hike needs a clear window of 4 hours and usually at least 4 guests. A good valley forecast alone does not settle it.
Franz Josef weather →Cancellation terms
For the Franz Josef heli hike, a direct booking can be changed or cancelled free up to 24 hours before check-in. After that the full amount applies. If the operator cancels for weather, you get a new date or a full refund. After the start, a partial refund is possible only if you spent less than 1.5 hours on the ice.
Health and weight limits
Moderate fitness is needed, and you should report relevant conditions in advance. Pregnancy beyond 12 weeks is excluded. For the Franz Josef hike, the operator's pages word the limit near 115 kg differently, so ask before you book if you are close.
Parking and levy
Glacier Base offers free parking at the building. Parking at the valley car park is paid at NZ$2.50 per half hour, to a maximum of NZ$20 a day. The International Visitor Levy of NZ$100 is paid with your visa or NZeTA application, not at the glacier.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pages that help you fit a tour into your days.
The Franz Josef heli hike
Times, limits, kit and cancellation terms.
Helicopter flights
Snow landings and scenic flights compared.
Valley walk and lookouts
The free way to see the glacier from below.
Weather and best time
Why flights are cancelled and how to plan a buffer.
Where to stay
Franz Josef or Fox Glacier as a base.
Continuing across the Southern Alps? Flights and glacier trips around Aoraki are covered at Mount Cook, and boat trips in the fjords at Milford Sound.
Franz Josef glacier tours: frequently asked questions
Can I walk on the Franz Josef Glacier without a helicopter?
No. The public valley track ends at a lookout about 3,000 m from the ice on 20 October 2026, and DOC names the helicopter as the only safe access for guided walks on the glacier.
What is the difference between a heli hike and a snow-landing flight?
A heli hike gives up to 2.5 hours on the ice at Franz Josef or up to 3 hours at Fox, within a trip of up to 4 hours. A snow-landing flight is 20 to 40 minutes in total, with a short stop in the snowfield and no long walk.
How much does a Franz Josef glacier tour cost?
In 2026 the Franz Josef heli hike is listed at NZ$899 per adult or child. The three Helicopter Line flights are listed at NZ$395, NZ$495 and NZ$695. The Fox hike was NZ$795 on its last list, valid to 30 September 2026, so confirm the current rate.
Should I book a tour in advance?
Yes. The operators recommend booking ahead and choosing your first day as the tour day, so a weather delay can be absorbed.
What if the tour is cancelled for weather?
If the operator cancels, the Franz Josef hike is rebooked or fully refunded. The Fox hike and The Helicopter Line flights offer rebooking or a full refund too. Weather calls on the day are made close to departure.