We demonstrate tapering of a high air-fill fraction photonic crystal fiber by using the flame-brushing technique. Transverse probing along the taper allows us to ascertain how the microstructure is preserved during tapering. Experimental results are compared with numerical simulations performed with the finite-difference time-domain and plane-wave expansion methods. Through this investigation we find that the fiber geometry is well preserved throughout the tapering process and we resolve the apparent discrepancies between simulation and experiment that arise through the finite extent of the fiber microstructure.