Dining on a glacier means a helicopter drops you on the ice, at a place you would otherwise only reach with a rope and crampons. A set table is waiting there, with a top level menu and a view of peaks where nobody else is. At Element X we call it Glacier Dining.
In this article you read how such a dinner works, where it is possible, what happens before you land and what to know about cold, weather and safety.
How a dinner on a glacier works
- Boarding. A short briefing and you step into the helicopter.
- The flight. You fly low over ridges, crevasses and ice fields you can only see from the air.
- At the table. Furs on the benches, candles on the table and a menu served warm, in the middle of the glacier.
- Back. One more look over the ice, and the helicopter takes you back down to the valley.
On the glacier you hear nothing but wind and ice. You do not need any mountain experience: you only walk a few metres over the snow, within a zone that has been checked beforehand.
Where you can dine on a glacier
A helicopter is not allowed to land on every glacier. Each place has its own rules for landings. Possible destinations include:
- New Zealand
- Iceland
- the Swiss Alps
- Norway
- Alaska
- Patagonia
In your proposal you receive concrete places that suit your group and the period.
What happens before you land
A table on a glacier takes more than a nice photo. This is arranged beforehand:
- The location. We choose the landing zone and the table spot together with local pilots and mountain specialists, at a safe distance from crevasses.
- The set up. Table, benches, furs and tableware are flown in and set up beforehand, so everything is ready when you land.
- The kitchen. A menu designed for cold and altitude, served warm, with the drinks that go with it.
- The weather. We follow the forecasts closely, plan a reserve day and only fly when it is safe.
Is it too cold on a glacier?
We choose the period and the hour with the most sun, put furs and blankets on the benches and serve warm food. You receive clothing advice beforehand, so you sit comfortably at the table.
Who is Glacier Dining for?
For anyone who wants to give someone something that cannot be booked anywhere else: a company for its best clients or partners, a team after a strong year, or a private group that wants to celebrate a moment.
It works from a table for two to a larger group. A helicopter takes a limited number of people per flight, so larger groups fly in several rotations. Glacier Dining can also be the high point of a longer programme, for example a client event in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need mountain experience to dine on a glacier?
No. The helicopter drops you at the table and takes you back. You only walk a few metres over the snow, within a zone that has been checked beforehand.
What if the weather does not cooperate?
In the mountains the weather decides, and the pilot has the final say. That is why we plan a reserve day or an alternative, so your experience is not lost.
Is a dinner on a glacier safe?
Safety is our highest priority. We work with experienced local pilots and mountain specialists, the table zone is marked out and you always stay within that zone.
Find out more
How it works, the destinations and how to request it are on the page Glacier Dining. All our experiences are together on the page experiences.
