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Of all the activities I wanted to experience in Iceland, one stood at the top of the list: glacier hiking. I’ve wanted to do this for years, but I’ve never visited a destination with a glacier! After researching tour companies in Iceland, I found Arctic Adventures‘ Blue Ice Tour, which included an ice-climbing session as well. Even better.
Two hours after setting off from Reykjavik, we arrived at Sólheimajökull Glacier, on the island’s south coast.
One thing to keep in mind: glacier hiking can be extremely dangerous. Glaciers are very active, moving and creaking all the time, and if you step onto a weak area, you could fall through and drown. Our guide, Dori, talked us through the dangers, taught us how to walk in crampons (hint: don’t do anything you’d do on skis, like walk up hills sideways), and led us on top of the ash-filled glacier.
The glacier isn’t bright white, but a sea of swirling gray and black from past volcanic eruptions. Some of this was from the infamous Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010 that shut down air travel across the Atlantic for a week; some of the ash dates back as far as 1918!
As we explored the glacier, Dori pointed out how moulins, or sinkholes are formed — a rock gets caught, water begins to flow around it, and before long, the water is pouring into a deep hole. As he explained this, I looked over at a nearby tour group. There was a crowd of about 25 of them, and they shuffled along slowly as their guide yelled to be heard. Compare that to our Arctic Adventures group — there were just six of us, all of us chatting with Dori and covering more ground than the other group.
Dori seemed to know everything about glaciers, including where to find both the deep blue ice, and the stunningly clear ice.
The only thing I didn’t like? Dori pointing out how much further the glacier extended in the year 2000. It was devastating. “Here in Iceland, climate change is real,” he said with a grimace.
We spent about an hour exploring the glacier and learning about the glacier.
Next up? Climbing a wall of ice!
If you’re been a longtime reader, you may remember that I hated rock climbing in Railay, Thailand. It was probably 50% because I wasn’t good at it and 50% because I hated the feeling of it — the tight shoes, the difficulty of finding footing, the uncertainty. Either way, I failed miserably.
But ice climbing? That was different. Dori was holding the line at the bottom, and I held a pickaxe in each hand, throwing them widely at the wall — HARD — and pulling my body upwards, kicking my toes straight into the wall for traction. I kind of felt like a villain in a Bond movie set in the Himalayas!
I didn’t think I’d actually get to the top, but before I knew it, Dori was yelling, “Two more steps!” I clanged the top with my pickaxe and got cheers from my group. Success!
And to celebrate — a refreshing sip from the astoundingly cold glacial river.
No, I didn’t get ash in my mouth.
One reason why I was initially drawn to Arctic Adventures is because they have a reputation for having great, super-knowledgeable, adventure-loving tour guides. Dori went above and beyond — cheering us as we climbed the ice wall, telling us story after story about hidden people and trolls (much more on that later!), even translating my feature in Frettabladid newspaper from Icelandic to English for me!
We were abuzz as we jumped into the van and headed to the best possible stop on our way back — Skogafoss Waterfall!
I had been thinking of booking a tour of Iceland’s south shore, but considering that this waterfall is the piece de resistance of the south shore, I figured it was like getting two tours for one! A perfect end to our day.
I didn’t think the glacier climbing was that fatigue-inducing — yet on the way back, all six of us fell fast asleep in the van! Dori must have expected this, because he turned up the relaxing Icelandic lounge music and let us snooze away.
Glacier hiking was a blast, and I would have stayed up there for hours longer. Look out — this is something I’m going to be doing much more of around the world!
More on Iceland:
- My Actual Iceland Trip Cost: Detailed Budget Breakdown
- 35 Awesome Things to do in Reykjavík, Iceland
- Things to Know Before You Visit the Blue Lagoon, Iceland
- Why Iceland is Great for First-Time Solo Female Travelers
My Favorite Places in Iceland:
- How to Visit Kvernufoss, My Favorite Iceland Waterfall
- A Look Inside the Sky Lagoon, Iceland
- Sail Through the Sky with FlyOver Iceland
- Snorkeling Silfra: The Cold Neon Waters of Iceland
- How to Visit Studlagil Canyon, Iceland
- Visiting Stokksnes and Vestrahorn Mountain, Iceland
- Guide to the Gorgeous Tröllaskagi Peninsula, North Iceland
- Are the Vök Baths Iceland’s Best Geothermal Spa?
Many thanks to Arctic Adventures and the Iceland Tourist Board
for hosting me on the Blue Ice Glacier Hiking Tour. For an activity like this, be sure to stay warm with Patagonia clothing, thick socks, and hiking boots. All opinions, as always, are my own.
Great post, Kate – love the photo of the waterfall at the end! The sound of glacier hiking has always scared the bejesus out of me (you know, the whole falling in and drowning thing, which would totally happen to me) so I’m living out this experience vicariously through you!
Better to have the relaxing Icelandic music on the way back than one of Bjork’s more experimental (read: screamy and clanging) tracks.
Haha, thank you, Tom! And I’m pretty sure I heard no Bjork the whole time I was there!
Awesome that you got to go hiking AND ice climbing! Sounds like a great day. And again – the weather!! I am so jealous. Glad to hear you got a great guide, too. They really make or break the experience during something like this!
Yeah, I REALLY lucked out with the weather! Pretty sure I won’t have it this good next time I return, whenever that may be.
WOW….such an awesome adventure ! But I don’t think I’m fit enough to do that though :p
The waterfall is so beautiful. Makes me want to visit Iceland even more!
Oh, you are definitely fit enough! It’s actually not that strenuous at all.
I really want to do this, especially the ice climbing – that looks badass!
And, um, that river doesn’t look very river-y… More like you’re licking the ground 😉
Haha, believe me, there was some water there!
After you described the dangers of glacier hiking, I would have preferred the smallest group too. I would not want to be with 25 others in a situation like this. It is important to check stuff like this when booking adventure activities. Great to know you has a blast!!
I fully agree, Ruth — when you’re in a dangerous setting, it can be so much smarter to have a small group.
I’ve done Franz Josef but this glacier looks far more interesting. The colours look amazeballs! Great waterfall/rainbow show too 🙂
I plan on doing Franz Josef when I (eventually) go to New Zealand! Maybe this winter if I can swing it.
You’ve blown my mind. I had no idea glaciers could be blackened. What a great spot!
It’s definitely a worthwhile activity!
Is anyone else totally reminded of the Choco Mountain track on Ninendo 64 Mario Kart by this scenery?
Haha, I couldn’t tell you. I was one of those kids kept away from video games (and happy for it today).
i like this scene have you been to the lagoon after this experience?
I had actually gone to the lagoon the day before!
SO AWESOME!!!!!!
This looks awesome, and climbing the giant wall of ice – even if you’re saying it’s not *that* hard – is bad ass! I just hope there’s still some glacier left for me to climb once I eventually get there 🙁
Sweet. I’m going glacier hiking in Alaska next month for the first time. Can’t wait to drink some glacier water!
I love this post Kate. I’ve been walking on a glacier before when I was in New Zealand, but only for a little while. I would love to do some ice climbing, so I think Iceland will make my list of places to visit.
I went glacier hiking in New Zealand. It’s a whole lot of fun! Iceland looks beautiful.
I’d like to do it in New Zealand as well, Dean.
It’s fascinating how the glacier colors are different than those of the glaciers in southern Argentina. Love that you climbed the glacier. I hiked on Perito Moreno glacier in Argentina and want to do that again (and again and again), but now I want to do some climbing as well!
Perito Moreno is high on my list as well. It looks so blue!
Would love to try glacier hiking. Climate change IS sad. I hope there is still some glacier left when I get there.
Looking back at this article for potentially planning an Iceland trip, what time of year was this? The guide book I’m looking at references glacier tours being available in March but the company websites don’t seem to list anything that early.
I visited in May. The summer season generally runs from May through September for most companies.
How long was the hike? (In terms of time.) I’m not a very good hiker but I’d like to give this a try – do you have to be very fit? Thanks!
You don’t need to be very fit at all! I’m quite out of shape and I handled it just fine! Wasn’t exhausted at all. This is deliberate walking, not a cardio routine, which is nice.
Glacier hiking in Iceland would be so much fun, it is so beautiful there, thank you for sharing this amazing adventure!