Aspiring Glacier Journey

Difficulty

Challenging

Comfort

Basic

Group size

1-2 tourists,
over 18 y.o.

Have you ever stood so high the world feels paused beneath you? The Aspiring Glacier Journey invites you into a world where silence is broken only by the crackle of ancient ice and the whisper of alpine wind. Here, in the heart of Mount Aspiring National Park, every step leads deeper into a landscape carved by time and glacier — a place both fierce and breathtakingly delicate.

Your journey begins with a helicopter flight into Bevan Col, landing beside the shimmering Bonar Glacier. Days are spent crossing crystal fields of ice, exploring deep crevasses and mirror-like tarns, and climbing the ridges that watch over the mighty peak of Mount Aspiring. At night, the sky unfolds in quiet brilliance above your alpine hut — a front-row seat to a universe of stars.

Led by our experts, this trek blends raw wilderness with safety and purpose. You’ll learn glacier techniques, move roped across shimmering snowfields, and descend through changing worlds — from eternal ice to sunlit beech forests. It’s a journey into the living spirit of Aotearoa’s wild heart. Join us and feel the pulse of the mountains beneath your boots!

Price:
3 days: $2690 / $5050 per person for 2 / 1 people.
4 days: $3350 / $6190 per person for 2 / 1 people.

National Park Tours

Tim S. is the provider of this trip

The provider speaks: English

Tim is based in Wānaka with his young family. He has been climbing, skiing, and guiding throughout the Southern Alps since arriving in New Zealand from the UK in 2008. He has climbed and skied around the world and in other roles, he mentors, trains, and assesses prospective ski patrollers and mountain guides and is a member of the local Alpine Cliff Rescue team. When not out in the hills guiding or instructing, he will be usually found introducing his young family to the outdoors, away on his own adventures, or out at the local rock climbing crags.

Tour highlights

Flight to the Ice

Soar by helicopter into the untouched world of the Bonar Glacier — where adventure begins above the clouds

Walk on Living Ice

Walk through blue crevasses and glittering ice fields, learning the craft of glacier travel with ropes, crampons, and axes

Summit Horizons

Climb Shipowner Ridge for breathtaking views of Mount Aspiring’s summit and the endless white below

Route details

For those drawn to challenge and wonder, the journey begins in the vast stillness of New Zealand’s alpine world. A breathtaking flight carries you into Bevan Col, where the glittering expanse of the Bonar Glacier stretches beneath you.

From here, a steady travel across the ice leads to your high mountain base for the night. Spend the afternoon exploring shimmering crevasses and sculpted ice formations — the living artistry of a glacier in motion.

1 more photo

Difficulty

Challenging

Does not require specific skills, but one must be in a good physical shape

Tour provider's comments

This is a challenging trek for people with some previous and recent trekking experience away from formed tracks on rough terrain, rock, and scree.

The trip involves 1500m of descent down the steep French Ridge track requiring good balance and head for heights. Distances can be up to 20km per day.

Crampons and ice axes are required and the team will be roped together for security on the glacier. The use of these techniques and systems will be introduced by your guide during the trip.