private guiding
tailor-made Guiding missions
Difficulty
Customised
Duration
1 to 5 days
Season
All year round
Gearlist
PRICE FROM $450 NZD
Private Guiding is our flexible package for shorter mountaineering and ski touring trips in the Mount Cook and Mackenzie Region. Let us tailor-make a mission based on our decades of mountain knowledge and your ability and objectives.
Trips can range from a scenic alpine trek, a challenging snow and ice ascent, or a multi-day ski tour. We always consider the current mountain conditions (if booking at short notice) as well as your experience, when putting together a proposal.
Private Guiding prices cover the cost of your guide, meals, technical gear, national park fees, and accommodation if longer than one day. Most trips do not require flying. If aircraft are required to get you to and from your venue, this is an additional cost that will be discussed before you book.
Designing your trip
Every Private Guiding program is unique
We will discuss a general plan for your trip when going through the booking process.
When dealing with a dynamic environment it is best to take a flexible approach and avoid fixed day-to-day schedules. Your guide will work around prevailing weather and conditions, to get the most from your time.
After meeting your guide, the first stage is an equipment check and sort, then follows an in depth discussion outlining your trip, and the mountain venue, given the outlook for weather and conditions.
At this stage, your guide may advise on a revised plan if conditions and weather do not suit our initial plans. We always reserve the right to modify schedules to best suit the conditions at the time.
Flexibility to Move
If weather conditions do not allow us to tackle your trip of choice we will devise another suitable trip that will fit your time available and experience.
Weather Contingency and Special Booking Conditions
New Zealand mountain weather is unpredictable and may potentially play havoc with short trips. The following special conditions apply to all Private Guiding bookings, to help increase the chance of a successful outcome, and attempt to provide some flexibility.
If the weather severely affects your trip plans:
For 1 or 2-day trips - We will roll the start to the following day (only if your guide is available) or cancel and refund you 80% of your fees. During peak times guides are heavily booked, possibly with little flexibility. The option to roll the start back is not guaranteed.
For 3 to 5-day trips - A guaranteed one-day weather contingency is allowed to roll your trip back a day if weather dictates. We reserve the right to modify trip objectives and itineraries to best work around prevailing weather and snow conditions.
Prices and Details
Prices from May 2024
| People | 1 day | 2 days | 3 days | 4 days | 5 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,150 | $2,425 | $3,700 | $4,975 | $6,250 |
| 2 | $675 | $1,425 | $2,195 | $2,950 | $3,695 |
| 3 | $525 | $1,100 | $1,695 | $2,295 | $2,875 |
| 4 | $450 | $950 | $1,450 | $1,975 | $2,475 |
Prices are per person, in NZ$ and include GST.
Unless arranged differently, trips start at 08:30 AM on day one and finish at 5:00 PM on the final day.
Check-in at Alpine Guides office in Mount Cook Village.
Please read our booking Terms and Conditions.
The package Includes
Guide and national park fees
All meals (including snacks and energy bars)
Hut fees/ local accommodation, as required
Bivouac/camping gear, as required
Free use of a range of technical equipment
Does not include:
Aircraft costs (if required)
Accommodation on single-day trips
Trips outside the Mt Cook Area may incur some travel costs. We will discuss this prior to booking.
Aircraft Use
Some ski touring and climbing objectives can be greatly enhanced by aircraft access - reducing heavy load carrying, and quickly accessing your objectives. Aircraft use could save you a day or more from your trip duration - for example, climbing Nuns Veil, accessing Barron Saddle Hut, or ski touring at Twin Streams.
If used, all aircraft costs are in addition to the trip fees. We will advise on likely costs based on your specific trip and the number of people involved.
How to Book
Whether you are an experienced mountaineer, a fit hiker, or a ski tourer/split-boarder we can tailor a trip to meet (or challenge) your mountain background. Please contact us with some information about what you hope to achieve.
We can advise on the suitability of a trip based on the time you have available, snow/route conditions, your experience, and what we know of your fitness.
possible Objectives
Summer - late October through April
This is by far the best time for alpine mountaineering, rock climbing and alpine trekking. We will consider route conditions when advising on trip options.
Mountaineering Objectives
Mount Wakefield, 2,058 metres (2 days)
Mount Edgar Thompson, 2,379 metres (2-3 days)
The Nuns Veil, 2,749 metres (3-4 days)
Mount Sealy, 2,627 metres (2-3 days)
Mt Barth - Ahuriri Valley - (3 days)
Dassler Pinnacles - Hopkins Valley (3 days)
Alpine Trekking Objectives
Watertank Ridge - Mueller Hut - Mt Cook Village Traverse (1+ day)
Sebastopol Ridge - Mueller Hut - Mt Cook Village Traverse (1+ day)
Biliken Pass - Mt Wakefield Traverse (2 days)
Ball Pass (3 days)
Whale Stream Trekking (3-4 days)
Lake Dumbell - Ohau Range - (2+ days)
Gunsight Pass - Temple Valley (2-3 days)
Rock Climbing Objectives
Rock climbing at Sebastopol Bluffs (1-3 days)
Twin Streams rock climbing (2-4 days)
Winter: July through Early October
This is the best time for ice climbing (July and August) and ski touring (July to mid-October).
We normally recommend 2 to 3 days at least for an ice climbing trip, and at least 3 days for ski touring - unless you are happy to use aircraft to quickly and easily access the mountains.
Winter presents different challenges for climbers and ski/snowboard tourers - potential deep snow and avalanche risk can make some routes/peaks inaccessible.
A 25% deposit is required to secure your booking
