Tasman Glacier Heli-Hike: Two Flights & 2 Hours on Ice
Land on Tasman Glacier, walk the ice with a mountain guide
You fly onto Tasman Glacier at 1,300 metres, strap on crampons, and spend two hours walking across ice formations with a professional guide who cuts steps and explains the landscape. Two scenic helicopter flights bracket the walk, and all technical gear is provided. The experience is low-fitness but weather-dependent, so you'll need to be ready to depart on schedule or accept an alternative date.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Tasman Glacier Heli-hike Experience
- Fly to remote glacier drop off
- Fit crampons or snowshoes
- Explore ice formations with guide
- Guide cuts steps in glacier
- Scenic flight back to base
What’s included
Your day includes two scenic helicopter flights, professional NZMGA-trained guide, crampons or snowshoes, quality leather boots and woolen socks, harness if required, waterproof jacket and over-trousers, and adjustable walking poles. You bring your own warm layers, sunglasses, sun protection, hat, gloves, and snacks.
- Every day 08:45 10:45
Information
Tasman Glacier heli-hike from Mt Cook with helicopter flights, guide and 2 hours exploring ice formations at 1,300m. Low fitness, weather dependent.
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Traveler reviews
The experience
"You'll be standing on ice that's older than most countries," our guide said as we fitted the crampons, and I realized he wasn't exaggerating. The Tasman Glacier heli-hike in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park starts the way most things here do, with a helicopter. You fly in over the Southern Alps, watching the glacier sprawl beneath you like a frozen river, and then you land on the ice itself. The altitude is 1,300 metres. The silence is complete.
Once you're down, the guide cuts steps into the glacier using techniques passed down from New Zealand's mountain pioneers, and you follow, crampons biting into the ice, learning as you go about the formations around you: seracs, crevasses, the slow movement of the ice. It's not a technical climb. The fitness bar is moderate, not extreme, which is why people in their sixties and families with teenagers do this. You get roughly two hours on the glacier, exploring the ice formations and understanding why this landscape is part of the UNESCO Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area. And then the helicopter comes back and lifts you out again, giving you a second aerial view of the place you've just walked.
The whole thing hinges on weather. If the conditions turn, you get offered another date or a full refund. There's no rescheduling the helicopter slot, so you need to be flexible and ready to go when they say go. Everything else is handled: boots, crampons, snowshoes in winter, harness if you need it, waterproof jacket and trousers, walking poles. You bring warm layers, sunglasses, a hat and gloves, and snacks. The guide is NZMGA trained, which means certified by the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association, so you're not just walking on a glacier. You're walking with someone who knows it.
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (10 to 16 years). Children under 10 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.
How fit do I need to be for the Tasman Glacier heli-hike?
Moderate fitness is required. It's not technical climbing, but you'll be walking on ice at altitude for around two hours, so cardiovascular health and basic fitness matter. The operator does not recommend it for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.
What's included in the heli-hike?
Two scenic flights, professional NZMGA-trained guide, crampons or snowshoes, quality leather boots and woolen socks, harness if needed, waterproof jacket and over-trousers, and adjustable walking poles. You bring your own warm clothing, sunglasses, hat, gloves, and snacks.
How long is the experience?
Approximately two hours on the glacier itself, plus time for the two helicopter flights and gear fitting. Total time from base to return is typically a half-day commitment.
What happens if the weather is bad?
If conditions are unsafe, the experience is canceled and you're offered either an alternative date or a full refund. Helicopter scheduling is strict and departure times cannot be delayed.
What altitude will I be at?
You'll land and walk on the glacier at approximately 1,300 metres elevation.
Can I do this in winter?
Yes. In winter, snowshoes are provided instead of or in addition to crampons, depending on conditions.
What should I bring?
3–4 layers of warm upper-body clothing, warm trousers (not jeans), sunglasses and sun protection, a hat and gloves, and drink and snacks. All technical gear and outerwear are provided.
Is this a good choice if I've never done a glacier walk before?
Yes. The guide cuts steps and teaches as you go, and the fitness level is low-to-moderate, not advanced. First-timers are common on this experience.
Operated by Mt Cook Glacier Guiding. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated yesterday
Tasman Glacier Heli-Hike: Two Flights & 2 Hours on Ice
3h · EN
from NZ$ 1,020.60 per person
≈ US$ 578 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.