Conquering Aoraki / Mount Cook via the Linda Glacier

Difficulty

Extreme

Comfort

Basic

Group size

1-1 tourists,
over 18 y.o.

There are places where the horizon feels infinite — and standing on Aoraki’s icy ridge is one of them. Rising above the Southern Alps, New Zealand’s highest peak has drawn climbers for generations — not for its height, but for its power. The mountain doesn’t give itself easily, every metre must be earned through skill, patience, and respect for the elements.

Your journey begins in the quiet alpine town of Wānaka, then unfolds across wild landscapes to the heart of Mount Cook National Park. After a breathtaking helicopter flight to Plateau Hut, you’ll spend days training and acclimatising among shimmering peaks before setting out across the Linda Glacier — a labyrinth of ice and shadow leading toward the sky. The summit day begins beneath the stars and stretches through the raw light of dawn to the highest point in the country, where the world falls away in every direction.

Each step of this six-day expedition is guided by experience, precision, and the rhythm of the mountain itself. Fly in, climb, and return with more than a summit — return with the feeling of standing on the edge of everything. Join us and take your place among those who have touched the roof of New Zealand!

We no longer have availability for the 2025 season so get in touch to to plan your pathway for this tour in 2026 or beyond.

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

The Linda Glacier Challenge

Navigate crevasses and steep ice slopes on one of the country’s most iconic routes

Helicopter into the Wild

Fly over vast glaciers and land at the remote Plateau Hut, your high-mountain base

Alpine Mastery

Sharpen your ice and mixed-climbing skills with expert guidance in true expedition style

Route details

Arrive in the alpine town of Wānaka, meet your guide, and go through an in-depth gear check and safety briefing. The evening is spent reviewing the route, studying weather forecasts, and finalising logistics. Rest well — the adventure begins tomorrow.

1 more photo

Difficulty

Extreme

Only for experienced and physically fit tourists. Requires specific skills and equipment

Tour provider's comments

The summit day involves over 1700m of ascent and descent including a number of mixed climbing pitches. A good fitness benchmark is being able to ascend 1000m in 3 hours and trek up to 20km in a day over rough ground with a 15kg pack.

The difficulty of Aoraki / Mount Cook is often underestimated due to its modest height by international standards. Attempting a guided climb requires a proven track record of technical climbing, crampon and ice axe use.

The route is also subject to serious crevasse, avalanche, and icefall hazards. The exposure to objective hazards requires guides and clients to be able to move quickly and efficiently through steep and difficult terrain. The duration of the climb means that climbers need to have experience managing fatigue, sustenance, and maintaining focus on long mountain days.

With this in mind, we only accept clients for an Aoraki / Mount Cook ascent who have climbed with us before on other technical ascents or have significant transferable experience.

Accommodation

Comfort

Basic

Guest House

5 nights

Weather during the tour

Weather conditions along the route

You will get a weather forecast for this tour’s route based on

the forecasts for this season
the statistics from previous years’ trips

Conditions

Included

applicable taxes;
guide fees;
compliance costs;
transport from Wānaka;
technical equipment;
food;
accommodation.

Extras

helicopter costs*;
other personal expenses.

*A climb of Mount Cook requires flights in and out from Plateau Hut. During the peak season, it is likely to be able to share flights with other climbing parties, and cost savings are passed on directly. Budget between $400 and $1200 for each direction.

It's important to know

Over the last few decades, the period when the Linda Glacier route is in a climbable condition has narrowed to the spring climbing season of November and December. Early in the season there is the possibility of soft snow and heightened avalanche hazards. Later in the season, the glacier deteriorates to the extent that it is not possible to traverse in a sufficiently timely manner to minimise exposure to the overhead hazards. This period also coincides with New Zealand’s unsettled spring weather so possible summit days may be infrequent.