Experience New Zealand’s most spectacular glacier touring terrain
Join us for an unforgettable guided ski touring adventure across the dramatic glaciated landscapes of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park and Westland Tai Poutini National Park. This is New Zealand’s most classic and stunning glacier ski touring terrain – a true Southern Alps epic for experienced backcountry skiers and split-boarders.
From the trip description by Alpine Recreation
On-snow support
- Independent: Below this trip's level of support
Ski or ride independently, without trip staff accompanying you on the mountain.
- Hosted: With your guide
Trip hosts ski or ride with the group, help everyone get oriented, and share local knowledge.
- Guided: Included
Professional guides lead the group and select suitable terrain and routes based on conditions and ability. Instruction is not included.
- Coached: Not confirmed
Professional coaches lead the group, select suitable terrain, and provide instruction and personalized feedback to help you improve.
- Backcountry guidingIFMGA / NZMGA certified ski / split-board guide
- 1 guide : 4 guests
Terrain, ability and who it is for
- Endurance: 3 - Challenging
- Technical Mountaineering: 2 - Introductory-intermediate mountaineer
- Technical Ski Ability: 3 - Experienced ski tourer / split-boarder
- Participants should have prior experience backcountry skiing or split-boarding on day tours or multi-day trips. You should be confident linking turns and controlling speed in variable off-piste snow, with some familiarity using touring equipment such as pin-tech bindings, ski crampons, heel lifters, and avalanche transceivers.
- While rope and crampon skills will be taught as required, a solid foundation in backcountry travel — such as skinning with ski crampons, gear management, and adapting to changing snow conditions — is highly beneficial.
- Previous multi-day trips carrying a pack in remote or mountainous areas are recommended. Some basic mountaineering experience is an advantage but is not essential.
- From the moment your ski plane or helicopter touches down on the glacier, you’re immersed in the heart of the Main Divide. Towering peaks, sprawling glacier basins, and remote alpine huts set the stage for high-quality ski touring and ski mountaineering objectives. Depending on conditions and the group’s experience, we may explore the upper Tasman, Murchison, Mannering, or Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, ski off peaks such as Hochstetter Dome, Mt Alymer, Drummond Peak or Von Bulow or make cruisey day missions through Canyon Lands and explore crevassed terrain.
- Sport
- Ski + Snowboard
From the trip description by Alpine Recreation
What the price includes
Included
- Lodging
- Meals
- Transfers · partly
- Avalanche safety and technical ski touring equipment (except ski touring boots)
- IFMGA / NZMGA certified ski / split-board guide
- National Park fees
- Hut accommodation
- Ground transport (Tekapo - Aoraki Mt. Cook return)
- ALL meals (including snacks & energy bars) for the duration of the trip
- ALL avalanche safety and technical ski touring equipment (with the exception of ski touring boots)
Not included
- Ski plane or helicopter flights to and from the hutsCharged per flight and split among guests; example prices NZ$420 to NZ$1,467 per flight on the page.
- Meals and accommodation before / after the trip are NOT included
- Flights are NOT included
Not confirmed by the operator: Lift pass, Lesson.
Day by day
- Step 1: Pre-trip Evening – Gear Check & Trip BriefingThe evening before departure, we meet at Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo, for a full gear check, ensuring everyone is properly outfitted for glacier travel and winter conditions. This is also an opportunity to meet your guide and fellow participants, discuss the trip plan, and review safety protocols, packing tips, and logistics for the days ahead.You need to bring your own alpine touring boots (or split-board setup if you're a boarder), but otherwise we can provide all other equipment. Please see the equipment section for details.
- Step 2: First Day - Flight to hut & on-snow orientationMeet at Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo.Drive one hour to Mount Cook airport. Safety briefings and flight to Kelman, Tasman Saddle or Plateau Hut on the eastern side of the Main Divide, or Centennial or Pioneer Hut on the western side.After settling into the hut, we head out for a half-day orientation tour around the glacier to familiarise ourselves with the terrain, glacial features, and safe movement techniques on skis. The afternoon includes basic skills refreshers and risk awareness for travel in crevassed terrain. An avalanche beacon training session is common practice on the first day.
- Step 3: Subsequent Days – Glacier TouringTrips are typically 5–7 days, with flexibility to match weather and conditions. Your guide will choose the best objectives based on the latest forecasts, snowpack and group ability. Typical day trips include:Touring the Darwin Bowls and returning via Canyon Lands on the Tasman GlacierSki descents of Hochstetter Dome or Mt Alymer (from the Tasman Glacier)Skiing the Darwin and Bonney GlaciersTouring the Murchison, Mannering and Aida GlaciersSki descents of Sydney King or Mt Acland (from the Aida Glacier)Exploring the Franz Josef or Fox Glaciers from Centennial or Pioneer HutsSki mountaineering peaks like Grey Peak, Mt von Bulow, Drummond Peak, or Glacier DomeEach day includes a mix of skinning, glacier travel, optional summit attempts, and thrilling descents.
- Step 4: Last Day – Final Tour & ExitOn the final day, we take the opportunity for a short morning ski tour. After returning to the hut, we pack up and prepare for the aircraft pickup - it may be possible to ski down for a lower pick-up.Fly to Aoraki / Mount Cook Village and drive back to Lake Tekapo, returning around 5pm.
From the trip description by Alpine Recreation
Where you stay
Based high on the glaciers in the heart of Aoraki / Mount Cook and Westland / Tai Poutini National Parks, our Glacier Ski Touring trips are typically based at Kelman, Tasman Saddle or Plateau Huts on the eastern side of the Main Divide, or Centennial or Pioneer Huts on the western side.
Getting There
The evening before departure, we meet at Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo, for a full gear check, ensuring everyone is properly outfitted for glacier travel and winter conditions.
Drive one hour to Mount Cook airport. Safety briefings and flight to Kelman, Tasman Saddle or Plateau Hut on the eastern side of the Main Divide, or Centennial or Pioneer Hut on the western side.
Flights are not included in the price, as costs vary according to the venue, type of aircraft and occupancy. Depending on the venue, it is often possible to be picked up from a lower landing site on the return flight or to combine flights with other groups heading in to and out of the mountains to significantly reduce flight costs.
From the trip description by Alpine Recreation
Pins show the approximate main trip area—not a route, meeting point, or full itinerary. Confirm exact locations in the company's trip details.
Dates and prices
- Oct 7 – Oct 11, 20262026 · 5 days3,110 NZDNZ$3,110 per person, standard price for the 5-day trip, individual bookings (2 - 4 per guide); group discounts listed on the page.LimitedChoose these datesBook on company website
Printed as "7 - 11 Oct 2026 – 4 – girls-only group": the women-only "She’s on Skis" departure, led by female IFMGA guides.
- Oct 12 – Oct 16, 20262026 · 5 days3,110 NZDNZ$3,110 per person, standard price for the 5-day trip, individual bookings (2 - 4 per guide); group discounts listed on the page.LimitedChoose these datesBook on company website
Printed as "12 - 16 Oct 2026 – 4" spaces.
- Oct 25 – Oct 31, 20262026 · 7 days4,220 NZDNZ$4,220 per person, standard price for the 7-day trip, individual bookings (2 - 4 per guide); group discounts listed on the page.LimitedChoose these datesBook on company website
Printed as "25 - 31 Oct 2026 – 4" spaces (26 October 2026 is Labour Day).
Prices, taxes and fees, required extras, inclusions, availability, and booking terms can change. Confirm the current price and trip details on the company website; source last reviewed September 24, 2026.
Good To Know
A minimum number of 2 participants is required to run this trip. If you end up being the only person booked on the trip, you will be offered the choice of: paying an additional fee to run the trip at a reduced guide-to-guest ratio ( NZ$1,950.00 for 5 days, NZ$1,950.00 for 5 days, NZ$2,275.00 for 6 days, NZ$2,675.00 for 7 days ); rescheduling to another trip/date; a full refund.
A maximum number of 4 participants per guide is defined by our safety management plan. For groups larger than this, it is usually possible to allocate additional guides.
A non-refundable per-person deposit is payable to secure a booking: NZ$500.00
The remaining balance of the trip price (including any applicable discounts) is due 60 days prior to departure. If you are booking within 60 days of the trip start, the full amount will be due.
We recommend settling guiding dates well in advance since peak season times are often booked up. Please allow extra time in case you are held up in the mountains due to weather.
Loyalty discount: If you have been on an Alpine Recreation trip before, you will be eligible for $100 off the standard trip price (does not apply to any already discounted prices).
Price per flight (the cost is split equally amongst guests):
Flight Mt. Cook Airport to / from Centennial Hut (Helicopter, 5 spaces, lower pick-up option available): NZ$1,467.00
Flight Mt. Cook Airport to / from Murchison Glacier (Helicopter, 5 spaces, lower pick-up option available): NZ$1,467.00
Flight Mt. Cook Airport to / from Pioneer Hut (Helicopter, 5 spaces, lower pick-up option available): NZ$1,284.00
Flight Mt. Cook Airport to / from Plateau Hut (Helicopter, 5 spaces): NZ$1,101.00
Flight Mt. Cook Airport to / from Tasman Saddle / Kelman Huts (Helicopter, 5 spaces, lower pick-up option available): NZ$1,467.00
Flight Fox / Franz Josef Airports to / from Pioneer / Centennial Huts (H 500 Helicopter, 3 spaces, lower pick-up option available): NZ$770.00
Flight Fox / Franz Josef Airports to / from Pioneer / Centennial Huts (AS 350 Helicopter, 5 spaces, lower pick-up option available): NZ$1,050.00
Flight Fox Airport to / from Chancellor Hut (H 500 Helicopter, 3 spaces): NZ$420.00
Flight Fox Airport to / from Chancellor Hut (AS 350 Helicopter, 5 spaces): NZ$575.00
Please note: Flight prices are given as examples only and are subject to change by aircraft operators at any time. In addition to guests, each aircraft will also transport the guide and gear.
From the trip description by Alpine Recreation
Reviews
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