Booking choice: The Franz Josef heli hike, from $528 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Both heli hikes fly you onto the ice in a few minutes, put you in crampons with a guide, and bring you back in about four hours. Neither glacier can be walked onto from the valley any more.
The choice usually comes down to where you are staying, the ages in your group, and which one has a clear weather window.
The quick answer
Book the one on your route. Franz Josef ($528, rated 4.6 from 660 reviews) gives up to 2.5 hours on a steep, fast-moving glacier and takes ages 10 and over. Fox ($498, rated 4.9 from 602 reviews) offers up to 3 hours on the ice and takes children from age 9. Book the one that fits your route, and keep the other as a backup.
How do the two heli hikes compare side by side?
Same idea, different glacier: Fox is a little cheaper, takes children a year younger and offers a little more time on the ice; Franz Josef is the faster moving glacier.
| Franz Josef | Fox Glacier | |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | Franz Josef Glacier Guides | Fox Glacier Guiding |
| Check-in | Glacier Base, 63 Cron Street | 44 Main Road, Fox Glacier |
| From (Viator) | $528 | $498 |
| Rating | 4.6 (660) | 4.9 (602) |
| Time on the ice | Up to 2.5 hours | Up to 3 hours |
| Minimum age | 10 | 9 |
| Weight limit | 35 to 115 kg | 116 kg |
| Group size | Up to 11 per guide | Up to 11 travellers |
| Weather call | Close to departure | 10 minutes before check-in |
Staying in Franz Josef? Check your date for the heli hike from Glacier Base.
Check dates for the Franz Josef heli hikeAre they really different glaciers?
Yes. Fox Glacier township is about 25 km south of Franz Josef, roughly a 30-minute drive on State Highway 6, and each glacier has its own guiding company.
Franz Josef Glacier Guides hold exclusive guiding access on Franz Josef; Fox Glacier Guiding runs the trips on Fox. You cannot book a hike on one glacier through the other company.
Which is cheaper?
Fox, slightly: $498 against $528 on Viator, with no child discount on either.
Both include the helicopter both ways, boots, socks, crampons and waterproofs. Neither includes hotel pickup or food. Both ask you to bring warm upper layers, sunglasses and sun protection, and not to wear jeans. For the full breakdown see the Franz Josef price guide.
Which gives you more time on the ice?
Fox, on paper: its operator says up to 3 hours on the ice, against up to 2.5 hours at Franz Josef.
Guests at Fox report flights of about four minutes each way and around three hours on a sunny day, covering about 1.3 km of up, down and sideways. At Franz Josef, the Viator listing gives the guided walk as about 2 hours 15 minutes, and one guest on a busy day felt they walked only a few hundred metres. Both trips stop often for the guide to cut steps and explain the ice.
What is the ice like on each glacier?
Franz Josef is steep and fast: its main ice fall has been measured moving up to 5 metres a day, which keeps the ice features changing.
Guides scout a new route each morning, and blue ice, crevasses and pinnacles are common but never guaranteed. The Fox listing promises the same kind of deep, icy terrain. On either glacier, what you see depends on the day's conditions more than on the name.
Fancy Fox instead? Two helicopter transfers, a guide and all the gear, with children welcome from age 9.
Explore the Fox Glacier heli hikeWhich is better for families?
Fox, if your youngest is 9: Fox takes children from 9, Franz Josef from 10, and both need an adult with them.
Franz Josef also sets a minimum weight of 35 kg and height of 137 cm. For younger children, a scenic flight with a snow landing takes them from age 4. See heli hike vs scenic flight.
Which is better for the weather?
Neither: they share the same weather, so the real advantage is having both within half an hour.
Book the glacier you are staying near, on your first day in the area. If your trip is cancelled, check the other one: a gap can open at one and not the other, though often both are grounded together. Read weather and cancellations before you plan.
Keep Fox as your backup: its heli hike cancels free up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the Fox Glacier heli hikeWhich one should you book?
Pick by base, ages and time on the ice; both are worth it on a clear day.
- Staying in Franz Josef: the Franz Josef heli hike.
- Staying in Fox Glacier: the Fox heli hike.
- Travelling with a 9-year-old: Fox.
- Want the longest time on the ice: Fox, or the full-day Glacier Adventure at Franz Josef.
- Want both glaciers but no hike: the two-glacier flight with a snow landing.
Made up your mind? Check your date for the Franz Josef heli hike.
Check dates for the Franz Josef heli hikeFrequently asked questions
Can you do both the Franz Josef and Fox heli hikes?
Yes, on different days or different slots, since they are about 30 minutes apart, though one is enough for most trips.
Is the Fox Glacier heli hike easier?
Both are moderate and need you to walk two to three hours on uneven ice. One Fox guest called the hike easy; Franz Josef lists it as moderately challenging.
Do both heli hikes include gear?
Yes. Both supply boots, socks, crampons and waterproofs. Bring warm layers, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Which heli hike has the better rating?
On Viator, Fox rates 4.9 from 602 reviews and Franz Josef 4.6 from 660.
Ready to book
Choose your trip
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hike
- Return helicopter transfers, about 5 minutes each way
- Up to 2.5 hours guided on the ice, up to 11 guests per guide
- Boots, socks, crampons, waterproof jacket and over-trousers, hat and gloves
Fox Glacier Heli Hike
- Two helicopter transfers onto Fox Glacier
- Professional glacier guide, up to 11 travellers
- Leather boots, socks, crampons and walking poles
Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers with Snow Landing
Both glaciers from the air, plus a snow landing
