Heli Hike Fox Glacier: Helicopter Access to Ice Caves

Fly onto the glacier where ice forces work hardest, then walk through formations that shift constantly.

A heli hike on Fox Glacier combines helicopter flights with up to three hours of guided walking on the ice, using boots, crampons and poles provided. You fly in to access terrain where the glacier's movement creates ice caves and arches, following steps your guide cuts as you move. The trip runs four hours total and depends on weather. A call comes ten minutes before departure to confirm conditions. Children from age nine are welcome with an adult, and the operator has guided this glacier for over fifty years.

The experience

You arrive at the helipad and get fitted with leather boots, crampons and a wet-weather jacket if needed. The helicopter lifts you onto the glacier itself, not the base, but the working ice where the terrain shifts and cracks constantly. From there, the day is walking. Your guide cuts steps into the ice as you move, and you follow them through formations that exist only because of how the glacier moves. Ice caves, arches, crevasses: none of them are guaranteed on any given day, and that is the point. The glacier rewrites itself, so each trip finds different ground.

The hike runs up to three hours on the ice, with the helicopter flights bookending it. Because you fly in instead of hiking up from below, you reach parts of the glacier most visitors never see. The zones where the ice is actively working and where the biggest formations tend to form. Your guide has spent decades on this ice and knows how to read it. They carry the walking poles and cut the steps, so you move at their pace through terrain that would be impassable without them. The whole experience, from check-in to landing back at base, takes four hours.

Weather decides whether the trip runs. A call comes ten minutes before your scheduled departure time, so you need flexibility in your day. If conditions are poor, the flight does not go and you reschedule. The operator runs more days than other glacier companies in the area because their lower flight altitude means they can launch when others cannot, but some days the weather still wins. Bring layers of warm clothing, sunglasses and sun protection. The ice reflects light intensely and the altitude means the cold cuts through.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English.
• helicopter transfers to and from the glacier.
• leather boots and socks.
• crampons and walking poles.
• wet-weather jacket and over-trousers if needed.

Options for this experience

2 options

8:50am DepartureGuide in English · 08:50Combining the thrill of helicopter flights with the excitement of walking on the Fox Glacier, this heli hike runs up to four hours with fly-in and fly-out, spending up to 3 hours on the ice.

11:50am DepartureGuide in English · 11:50Combining the thrill of helicopter flights with the excitement of walking on the Fox Glacier, this heli hike runs up to four hours with fly-in and fly-out, spending up to 3 hours on the ice.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:50 and 11:50

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Child (9 to 16 years) · Under 9: can't be booked

GroupUp to 11

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Fox Glacier Guiding - Glacier Tours & Adventures

Is this one for you?Land directly on active glacier ice where formations shift daily. Skip the uphill trek and let your guide navigate terrain that's constantly evolving.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (9 to 16 years). Children under 9 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I do a heli hike on Fox Glacier if I have never hiked before?

Yes. The hike is suitable for all fitness levels, and your guide cuts the steps and sets the pace on the ice. You are not climbing a mountain. You are walking on a guided path on the glacier itself, with crampons on your boots for grip. Children from age nine can go with an adult.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my heli hike?

A weather call is made ten minutes before your scheduled departure time. If conditions are not safe for flying, the trip does not run and you reschedule for another day. The operator's lower flight altitude means they can launch on more days than other glacier operators, but some weather still stops flights.

Will I definitely see ice caves and arches on the Fox Glacier hike?

No. The glacier is a natural, constantly changing environment, and ice features shift and collapse regularly. Your guide explores unique terrain daily, but which formations exist on your day depends on recent movement and weather. The operator cannot guarantee specific features.

How long is the actual walking on the glacier during the heli hike?

You spend up to three hours hiking on the ice. The full experience, including helicopter transfers and check-in, takes four hours total. Your guide cuts steps and sets the pace as you move through the ice formations.

What do I need to bring for the Fox Glacier heli hike besides the provided gear?

Bring three to four layers of warm upper-body clothing, sunglasses and sun protection: the ice reflects light intensely. Wear cotton pants or trackpants rather than jeans. The operator provides boots, crampons, a wet-weather jacket and walking poles.

Is there a weight limit for the helicopter on the Fox Glacier hike?

Yes. Individual passengers must weigh 116 kg or less due to the aircraft's weight and balance calculations.