New Zealand's ultimate trans-alpine backcountry ski tour!
Linking together New Zealand's 4 main glaciers and traversing the Southern Alps from east to west, the "Symphony on Skis" is New Zealand's ultimate multi-day trans-alpine ski tour.
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 mountain guide
- 1 guide : 2 guests
Terrain, ability and who it is for
- A very high level of fitness is required. Participants need to carry a full pack (approximately 20kg including skis) over sometimes rough ground for 6-8 hours each day.
- Participants need to be able to ski very steep terrain and in all snow conditions with a heavy pack. Previous ski touring experience is essential (including some 6+ hour multi-day ski tours).
- Good preparation for this trip is our Mount Cook & Westland Glaciers Ski Touring week.
- Endurance: 5 - Extreme
- Agility: 4.5 - Advanced scrambling agility +
- Technical Mountaineering: 2.5 - Introductory-intermediate mountaineer +
- Technical Ski Ability: 5 - Expert ski tourer / split-boarder
- "The Symphony" starts in the Godley Valley at the head of Lake Tekapo and finishes at Fox Glacier on the West Coast. Covering 47km with 4100m/3800m of vertical ascent/decent this is a challenging adventure through New Zealand's most spectacular ski touring terrain and should be on every experienced ski tourer's bucket list!
- Lake Tekapo - Godley Valley - Liebig Range - Murchison Glacier - Tasman Saddle - Tasman Glacier - Rudolph Glacier - Graham Saddle (crossing the Main Divide) - Franz Josef Glacier - Fox Glacier.
- Sport
- Ski
From the trip description by Alpine Recreation
What the price includes
Included
- Lodging
- Meals
- Avalanche safety and technical ski touring equipment (except ski touring boots)
- IFMGA / NZMGA certified mountain guide
- National Park fees
- Hut accommodation
- Local accommodation for any nights required during the trip
- 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
- FlightsFlights are NOT included; flying out from Chancellor Hut is recommended.
- Meals and accommodation before / after the trip are NOT included
- Flights are NOT included
- Ground transport to / from West Coast venues is NOT included
Not confirmed by the operator: Lift pass, Lesson, Transfers.
Day by day
- Step 1: First DayMeet the evening before the trip for a gear check at Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo. Drive up the western side of Lake Tekapo to the Rankin Hut site.
- Step 2: Days 2-6We leave Rankin Hut site and head up the Godley Valley by torchlight. By the time the sun hits, we are skinning up Rutherford Stream to our first pass: Armadillo Saddle. It feels good to be skiing down after our long ascent. We head down to the Murchison Glacier then up around the corner to Murchison Hut for a well earned rest.Day break sees us heading up the Murchison Headwall to Tasman Saddle. We can now look forward to one of New Zealand's longest ski runs - the Tasman Glacier. We turn right at De La Beche corner and begin our journey up the Rudolf Glacier to Graham Saddle, the highest point of the Symphony. A downhill run then a traverse across the Chamberlin Snowfield to Centennial Hut.The following day we cross the Davis Snowfield to West Hoe Pass and then enjoy a long ski descent down Fox Glacier to Chancellor Hut. Fly or walk out from Chancellor Hut to Fox Glacier township. It is recommended to fly from Chancellor Hut, as the route is often exposed to rock fall.2 days reserved for weather contingency, and/or the option of staying at Tasman Saddle Hut to split the longest (middle) day.
- Step 3: Last DayReturn to Lake Tekapo from Fox Glacier, either by bus or by plane, arriving about 6pm.
From the trip description by Alpine Recreation
Where you stay
Hut accommodation
Getting There
Meet the evening before the trip for a gear check at Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo. Drive up the western side of Lake Tekapo to the Rankin Hut site.
Return to Lake Tekapo from Fox Glacier, either by bus or by plane, arriving about 6pm.
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 12 – Oct 18, 20262026 · 7 days5,150 NZDNZ$5,150 per person, standard price for the 7-day trip, individual bookings (2 per guide).Sold OutChoose these datesBook on company website
Printed as "12 - 18 Oct 2026 – FULL – no availablity".
- Oct 14 – Oct 20, 20262026 · 7 days5,150 NZDNZ$5,150 per person, standard price for the 7-day trip, individual bookings (2 per guide).LimitedChoose these datesBook on company website
Printed as "14 - 20 Oct 2026 – 4 – guaranteed departure".
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$3,000.00 for 7 days ); rescheduling to another trip/date; a full refund.
A maximum number of 2 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$1,500.00
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).
The route is typically done from east to west, starting in Lake Tekapo and finishing in Fox Glacier on the West Coast. Depending on the season and conditions, the route may be done in reverse, starting on the West Coast. Your IFMGA / NZMGA ski mountaineering guide will decide on the best option for the traverse based on group ability, weather and snow conditions at the time.
From the trip description by Alpine Recreation
Reviews
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