2-4 participants per guide.
Individual bookings welcome. If you end up being the only person on a trip you will have the option of changing to another date, paying extra to be guided privately, or a full refund.

NZ$ exchange rate.

Please note that on public holidays there will be a surcharge of NZ$80 per person per day.
New Zealand public holidays 2013: New Year 1/1 & 2/1, Waitangi Day 6/2, Good Friday 29/3, Easter Monday 1/4, Anzac Day 25/4, Labour Day 28/10, Christmas Day 25/12, Boxing Day 26/12.
New Zealand public holidays 2014: New Year 1/1 & 2/1, Waitangi Day 6/2, Good Friday 18/4, Easter Monday 21/4, Anzac Day 25/4, Labour Day 27/10, Christmas Day 25/12, Boxing Day 26/12.

Included: guide, national park huts, all food & surface transport ex Lake Tekapo, all climbing equipment including crampons, ice axe, helmet, harness and boots, National Parks concession fees, 15% GST.

Aircraft access (not included): Helicopter flights in and out from Mt Cook airport cost NZ$185 per person if there are 4 participants; NZ$250 if there are 3 participants; NZ$370 if there are two participants.

Hut bookings: Kelman, Tasman Saddle and Murchison Huts, the bases for this glacier trek are public huts that cannot be booked. The huts work on a first-come first-served basis.

Equipment: Participants must carry their own sleeping bags, personal gear and some of the group equipment, food, stove, fuel, and cooking utensils (all provided by us).

Fitness & endurance

It is essential that participants are fit enough to walk out from the high mountain venue, over glacial moraine, in case a flight on the last day is not possible due to marginal weather. This involves hiking with a full pack (approximately 20kg) over uneven, rough ground for 9-12 hours.

Previous exprience & agility

Previous mountaineering experience and good cramponing skills are essential. Your guide may elect to take snowshoes if conditions dictate. No prior experience of these is necessary and they are provided at no extra cost.

Preparation

We recommend doing either our 4-day Introductory Climbing Course or the Ball Pass Crossing as preparation for this trip.

Day 1:
8am gear check at the Alpine Recreation office, 30 Murray Place, Lake Tekapo. Drive to Mount Cook (1 hour 15 mins). Fly from Mt Cook airport to De La Beche Corner. Hike up the Tasman Glacier to Tasman Saddle Hut. 5 hours.

Day 2:
Refresh crampon, ice-axe and self arrest skills. Hike up to Lendenfeld Saddle, 2419m, on the Main Divide to look down the Whymper Glacier and Whataroa Valley. Traverse across to Kelman Hut. 5 hours.

Day 3:
Cross Tasman Saddle (2435m) and descend the headwall of the Murchison Glacier. This is a steep descent and the guide will provide a fixed belay. Hike across to Starvation Saddle, 2204m, for a look down the Mannering Glacier, then on to Murchison Hut. 5 hours.

Day 4:
Traverse the Murchison Glacier and ascend to Classen Saddle (2213m) for a great view down into the Classen Glacier, feeding into the upper Godley Valley. Hike down the Murchison Glacier as far as possible. 6 hours.
Helicopter back to Mount Cook Village, and drive back to Lake Tekapo.

There is some flexibility with this programme to work around unfavourable weather or crevasse conditions. We recommend this trip during the months November through to March inclusive. Please email us to request your dates.

Equipment:

Alpine Recreation provides all trekking and mountaineering equipment. Outdoor clothing, packs and boots can also be provided at no extra cost if necessary. Tasman-Murchison Glacier Trek Clothing & Equipment list.

Accommodation pre-/post- tour:

As the trip involves a pre-dawn start from Mount Cook Village, you need to book accommodation in Tekapo or Mount Cook Village the night before. Accommodation options in Tekapo.

Insurance:

In case of accident New Zealand's Accident Compensation scheme (ACC) will cover the majority of costs (about 80%) involved with evacuation and injury treatment, even for visitors to New Zealand. However you still need ordinary travel insurance to cover such things as your cancellation if an injury prevents you taking part on the trip, or a close relative suddenly becomes ill; and medical insurance in case you become ill. More information re Accident Compensation. The New Zealand Alpine Club provides a good mountaineering specific travel insurance.