Franz Josef Glacier Hike: A Detailed Review + Heli Transfer
Okay, so you’re thinking of doing the Franz Josef Glacier hike with a helicopter transfer, that incredible experience in New Zealand, alright? It’s definitely something you’ll never forget, a special opportunity to stand on an enormous river of ice, surrounded by huge peaks. I thought I’d share what the whole adventure is truly like, giving you what I think are really handy insights and even my own suggestions. You should know I’m just trying to give you some honest, down-to-earth opinions, based on my personal visit.
Booking and Preparation
Alright, the very first step, before you’re even dreaming of ice axes and helicopters, actually, is to book the tour, more or less. These hikes are very popular, particularly during peak season, which could be over the summer, so you need to make sure you book well beforehand. Very, very simple. The most popular options tend to get fully booked weeks or sometimes even months in advance, which may mean missing out.
When you actually book, think about what the available choices are, in a way. Some excursions, of course, are slightly different from each other depending on the tour company. Some are longer and some might be designed for those wanting even more challenges, you see. Double-check what’s actually included in your booking; usually, it involves your hiking gear, like those nifty boots, crampons, and a coat, in some respects, anyway. Look into how long the actual time on the ice is, in addition to whether lunch or perhaps just snacks are included, as it makes a bit of a difference if you have particular needs.
Before you travel, check out what the weather conditions may be. The Franz Josef location can get various weather at almost any point in the year, so knowing in advance enables you to get ready in the right way. Bring clothes in layers: that’s some waterproof outer clothing, warm fleeces, and some thermal underwear, if you have them, of course. Also, remember things such as hats, gloves, and sunscreen to protect you from that glacier environment. It might look chilly out, but that sun can reflect fiercely off the ice; is that true, or is that true?
The Helicopter Ride
Let me tell you, the helicopter flight there really is an experience. It’s just a very short trip, something like, maybe five to ten minutes, but the scenic view? Absolutely outstanding, clearly. When you ascend, you are suddenly surrounded by tall, sharp mountains. As you’re soaring above, take a peek below at the stunning landscape: huge rivers winding across wide valleys, lush rainforest climbing steeply up the mountains, and then you see the glacier from high up. Now, that is incredible.
Actually, that chopper ride serves a totally functional purpose too; basically, it drops you far up onto the glacier, further than you can reach simply by trekking from the bottom. This provides you with extended exploration time up on that very beautiful blue ice, arguably.
For a few individuals, it is definitely their first experience riding in a helicopter, and I can tell you they think it’s fantastic, even with the short ride. The pilots normally provide some running commentary on what you’re seeing, explaining a few geological facts of note and possibly a little bit of background information concerning the area’s natural and human story; basically, that could be great too.
On the Glacier: The Hiking Experience
When you’re there, as a matter of fact, stepping from the helicopter to that glacier ice honestly feels a bit surreal. It’s also unbelievably great and somewhat thrilling, I must say. You’ll be fitted for your crampons at once; these are like metal spikes that you attach to your boots and will prevent you from slipping as you’re walking across the ice. It may take a few minutes getting used to walking with these on, but don’t worry, soon you will feel like a pro, or so you will hope.
The guides take charge of carving out pathways through the ice and leading you safely along. These folks definitely know the glacier in and out, very. You will see many sights on your excursion, for instance, striking blue ice caves and tunnels, deep crevasses (those huge cracks), and very amazing ice formations. It’s pretty exciting to see the varying shapes and colors of the glacier ice, running from deep blue through to that really clear crystal color.
Throughout that trek, the guides reveal some awesome background stories and explanations. Learn regarding the glacier’s evolution, the geology of the area, and, of course, regarding the impacts of the weather. Usually, I always discover such details very fascinating. They’ll point out geological features as you trek, that is what they do. Be sure to ask lots of questions. Very likely, you will have all sorts of queries relating to what exactly you are seeing and I would say the guides really love getting questions from folks.
Safety Considerations
Glacier trekking will naturally involve some inherent hazards; regardless, the tour companies put so much emphasis on your safety, you understand, don’t you? Pay close attention during that safety rundown right before that trek actually commences. Make certain you understand how you can use the gear and always listen carefully to your guides’ guidance.
Stay together with your tour group to ensure that you don’t wander away alone onto dangerous areas. The paths are planned out very carefully by the guides, so just make sure you stay on that set course. Considering that glacial conditions may change rapidly, it’s seriously vital that everyone pay very close attention to directions. The guides always carefully monitor everything to ensure everybody stays out of danger.
Be aware of what conditions you could encounter: for instance, you will see that glacier ice could be slippery. You’ll also be up in elevated terrain where, I would argue, weather is something you must think of. When it gets rather cold, just make sure you dress suitably, keep hydrated, and protect yourself against that fierce sun.
Photo Opportunities and Capturing Memories
This glacier landscape, that exists nowhere else but there, makes this experience very ideal for taking memorable shots, in fact. With its amazing backdrop of ice formations, towering peaks and vivid-blue ice, you’re simply surrounded with numerous options for some outstanding photographs. Remember, safety is certainly the key point here, though. When capturing those shots, make certain that you stand somewhere steady and not in dangerous zones. Additionally, please think of those around you so that anyone can benefit from these scenic view areas as well, too.
If your cell phone is losing power fairly fast, then I believe carrying a rechargeable power source for it is just the responsible thing to do. Alternatively, be sure to take your cell phone to capture photographs. Make certain your mobile is shielded against some of the conditions. Nothing will make a camera useless quicker than just getting moist!
Once back, go through each of the photographs soon, it’s almost therapeutic! Discuss those moments with family members. Potentially create either an album or possibly a photobook of that trip to assist in preserving this great once-in-lifetime adventure, arguably.
What to Bring: A Checklist
Make sure that you take this helpful things-to-bring along listing just before you head out the doorway; you really need it to be perfect and not to miss something vital. What you take or even just do not take may influence that experience substantially. This checklist will help be sure you’ve got nearly everything you need. It is made up of things for the outside as well as practical aspects of having fun safely. The very main ones are described more comprehensively.
- Waterproof Outerwear: Get yourself an awesome rain coat or possibly coat to ensure you stay drier when you see unexpected sprays.
- Warm Layers: Warm clothing that is fleece-made assists you to easily adjust to changing weather situations, which makes everything incredibly relaxing!
- Gloves and Hat: Keep up those extremities warmed; taking gloves and hats ensures you stay cozy, in addition to shielding from sunburn simultaneously, actually.
- Sunscreen and Sunglasses: Bright rays could reflect through icy areas incredibly. By using glasses including sunblock it shields those eyeballs plus epidermal surfaces to reduce potential problems in subsequent timeframes of your travels.
- Camera or Phone: Snap such beautiful experiences and perhaps make sure there exists enough area and electric ability present if you find your pictures can actually keep running continuously to the place.
- Snacks: Possess things to enjoy when you would like some fuel if the travels do happen with timeframes anywhere in there. A touch of foodstuff allows for vigor degrees continuing up.
- Small Backpack: When moving gear or perhaps stuff this small bag is what gives that practical area regarding small devices or perhaps a mobile!
After the Hike: Relaxation and Reflection
Oh, after coming back from the glacier, plan to just chill a little bit, maybe just spend your evenings enjoying all of the relaxing possibilities close to Franz Josef. Seriously treat yourself to the spa time which aids soothing pains once they take place at spas plus treatment centers situated down from those regions around glaciers which can also supply beautiful perspectives also, is that right? Very wonderful. You have seriously completed enough through the early afternoon.
Simply just visit any regional bistro. I promise every solitary neighborhood will have these! They will savor delicious classic drinks coupled next any other tasty culinary delicacies unique specifically over where each restaurant really will reside at the particular destination during a few days that include meals that occur that way too also which allow memories being really unique within someone for all moment as folks discover diverse culinary offerings coupled during environments or perhaps situations with other like experiences over at dinner time sometime again. Take something with that kind as what will you think? When does an end appear! Oh well anyway!
Taking everything to remember something over that adventure while really providing consideration that takes care including reviewing everything during everything allows experiences to have total memories for times always whenever anything happens that truly happens through what occurred then within things themselves during our period too coupled along anything new happening again when things feel perfect and make certain whatever anyone had envisioned did end wonderfully really good but truly okay! Oh and yeah and sure go!
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
The Franz Josef Glacier tour featuring this awesome helicopter really does live totally up its anticipation while simply just delivering all aspects regarding anything that are generally there around really truly creating incredible sensations along during great activities or even unique ideas as well for any whom has the intention upon becoming right over to that awesome glacier adventure as there really happens lots over this too or what that entails which simply should allow someone be confident by taking through these specific actions which ought guarantee every possible individual seems completely calm regarding that full glacier adventured expedition entirely while it appears here fully around for everything when everyone are becoming perfectly delighted upon just traveling here which makes any glacier trek genuinely ideal upon others.
- Book Ahead: To be secure due lack spots specially when vacations transpire or months do.
- Layer Clothing: So always become okay inside every scenarios where environment occurs due all.
- Follow Guidelines: Hear guides’ courses with greatest secure activities whenever walking during that frost during treks during the glaciers.
- Capture Memories: Benefit which you find beautiful scenes everywhere as snapshots. Safeguard phones although from humidity while performing so!.
- Enjoy Post-Hike: Whenever it reaches end, that does mean getting chill within spots also near around. Relax when there will exist relaxation at some places nearby and some resorts tend.