About the trip
Experience deep valleys and mind-blowingly beautiful landscapes like you've never seen before on our Siberia Valley Adventure. You'll never look at 'just 2-days' the same after diving deep into the remote landscapes of Mt Aspiring National Park on our 2-day Siberia Valley Adventure hiking tour. In under 48 hours, you'll take a fixed-wing flight into Siberia Valley, hike up to the astonishingly blue Lake Crucible, stay in a cosy backcountry hut and jetboat out again. With every detail sorted and Queenstown your starting and finishing point, every moment is yours to enjoy.
Highlights
- Siberia Valley
- Lake Crucible
- Queenstown
Meals
Accommodation
Included in the price
Day-wise Itinerary
ExpandDay 1: Arrive Queenstown, Hike Mt Aspiring National Park
This morning we’ll rise very early and pick you up from the accommodation at 5am, heading off on a short but dramatic journey over the Cardrona Saddle to the charming lakeside town of Wanaka and onwards to Makarora. Once we've arrived we’ll start our adventure with a stunning scenic flight alongside the snowy Southern Alps to the Siberia Valley airstrip, followed by a short hike to the Siberia hut to check out the views down the valley. After lightening your packs at the hut, we will hike up the trail to Lake Crucible, a cauldron-like glacial lake with fantastic views of the valley below. The hike follows the Siberia river upstream for a short while before crossing the river to make our way up into the Crucible Valley. This section of the trail is steep and forested and is where the majority of the 550m (1800 feet) in elevation gain will be tackled. The path will ease eventually, and you’ll cross the Crucible stream, making your way toward the moraine wall and the impressive backdrop of the valley, Mount Alba. The hike at times is strenuous, though the Lake Crucible Valley has exceptional scenic diversity, so it provides a great reward for the efforts you put in. We’ll be there to encourage you the whole way. Tonight, you’ll enjoy a true Kiwi experience at a small mountain hut, tucked within the Siberia Valley, our home for the night!
Day 2: Hike Siberia Valley, Jet Boat Wilkin River
- After an early start, we spend the morning hiking to Kerin Forks, at the head of the Wilkin River, where we’ll be met by a jet boat for an exhilarating ride back to Makarora for lunch. Your load will be little more than a day pack – our guides will carry the lion’s share. You’ll be carrying a backpack with a sleeping bag, a few spare clothes and some food – no need for any more than that, although if you opt to camp out under the stars the night before, you’ll be carrying your tent out. We’ll have a picnic lunch before
- taking a beautiful drive through spectacular glacier-carved valleys. The landscape changes rapidly from dense beech forests to semi-arid mountainous terrain. From Wanaka, it’s a short drive back over the Cardrona Saddle to Queenstown for the end of your trip!
Exclusions
Expand- Airport Transfers
Terms and Conditions
Expand- Cancellation and Postponement
- BY YOU
- In the event you need to cancel your trip, the following cancellation charges will apply:
- Cancellations outside 60 days of departure: full refund, less transferable deposit and any non-refundable expenses incurred by Active Adventures
- Cancellations within 60 days of departure: no refund is given
- Any deposits not transferred to future trips are non-refundable and will be forfeited. All refunds are less any non-refundable expenses incurred by Active Adventures.
- Requested changes to your trip and/or date must be made prior to 60 days before your departure. In the event you need to change your trip and/or date, the following will apply:
- One change (trip and/or date): free of charge
- Second and subsequent changes: A fee of 300 per person per change consistent with the currency in which your booking was made (USD $300, CAD $300, NZD $300, GBP £300, EUR €300, AUD $300)
- New trip pricing (where applicable) will apply for all changes
- A cancellation or postponement will take effect from the date which Active Adventures receives written notification of the cancellation or postponement. This cancellation policy includes voluntary or involuntary early departure from a trip. No refunds will be given for missed or unused services such as accommodation, activities or meals. We strongly recommend travel insurance which covers cancellation fees at the time of booking.
- BY ACTIVE ADVENTURES
- We occasionally may have to cancel any trip at any time before departure for commercial reasons beyond our control, including if the minimum numbers required to operate the trip are not reached. If we do have to cancel your trip, you can transfer the fare to an alternate departure date for no additional fee or alternatively opt for a refund, including your deposit.
- BY FORCE MAJEURE
- In circumstances where the cancellation is due to any conditions or event outside our control, including but not limited to natural disasters, pandemics, border restrictions, terrorism or political instability, Active Adventures will re-book you on an alternative trip or will offer you a future trip credit valid for 24 months.
- If you’re re-booked to a new departure, as a result of your booking being cancelled by us or force majeure, the cancellation terms in effect on the date when your booking was changed will apply for your new booking.
- All credits and refunds resulting from cancellations for any reason will be less any non-refundable expenses incurred by Active Adventures. Active Adventures is not responsible for any additional expenses you may have incurred as a result of your booking, including but not limited to visas, vaccinations, medical expenses, clothing, equipment, testing, quarantine, travel insurance excess or non-refundable flights.
