Franz Josef Glacier: 25-Min Helicopter Flight & Snow Landing

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Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell out

1/6

Duration25m

GroupUp to 6

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Land on Franz Josef Glacier in a Helicopter

You board a modern helicopter in Franz Josef, rise to the Southern Alps in twenty-five minutes, land on the glacier itself for photos and alpine air, then return to town. The flight includes a professional pilot, photo opportunities throughout, and the rare chance to actually stand on Franz Josef Glacier rather than view it from below. Bring warm clothes, sturdy footwear, and a camera — but leave drones, tablets, and selfie sticks behind.

25m

Step-by-step itinerary

Helicopter flight and snow landing

Fly above Franz Josef Glacier
Explore ice falls from helicopter
Land on snow at glacier
Breathe alpine air on snow
Return flight to Franz Josef township

The Experience

The helicopter sits on the tarmac smaller than you'd expect, and your pilot is already running through the safety briefing before you've finished buckling in. Then the rotors spin up, and suddenly the ground drops away — you're rising fast over the Franz Josef township, the forest floor shrinking into a patchwork of green and brown. Within minutes, the Southern Alps fill the windscreen, and the glacier itself comes into view: a massive river of white and blue ice, fractured and folded, stretching down from the peaks like something that shouldn't exist at this latitude. Your pilot banks the helicopter to show you the ice falls and crevasses from angles you can't see from the ground, pointing out features as you circle.

Then comes the landing. The helicopter touches down on pristine snow near the glacier's upper reaches, and when the rotors wind down, the silence is almost shocking — just wind, ice, and the sound of your own breathing in the thin alpine air. You have time to step out, feel the cold bite through your layers, take photos with the peaks towering around you, and actually stand on the Franz Josef Glacier instead of just looking at it from a distance. It's brief, maybe ten or fifteen minutes on the snow, but it's the part that stays with you. The ice beneath your feet is real. The view is unobstructed. Your camera gets the shot you came for.

The descent is the reverse — the helicopter lifts off, the glacier shrinks below you, and within twenty-five minutes total flight time you're back in Franz Josef township, boots still cold, adrenaline still running. The whole experience moves fast, which is exactly the point: you're not spending a full day on logistics or hiking to a viewpoint. You're in the air, on the ice, and back down before the moment fades. Weather permitting flights run year-round, though the company operates a shorter schedule on Christmas (9am to noon only), so plan accordingly if you're traveling that week.

What’s included

Your experience includes the scenic helicopter flight from Franz Josef township, a snow landing on the glacier with time to step out and take photos, a professional pilot guiding the flight, and photo opportunities throughout. You do not need to arrange your own transport to the helipad or purchase separate glacier access — everything is included in the booking.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Glacier Helicopters

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to see Franz Josef Glacier up close without a full-day hike or ice-climbing commitment. The flight is quick — twenty-five minutes total — which suits visitors on a tight schedule, though it also means the snow landing is brief, so come ready to move and shoot photos fast.