Glacier hiking in Iceland
A glacier is a thick layer of ice that was once a layer of snow. If snow is thick enough and stays there long enough, it will eventually turn into a glacier. It is also not visible with the naked eye, but this ice layer is constantly in motion. This makes it advisable to always make a glacier hike with a guide, because he can anticipate changes in the landscape where you cannot do it yourself. The guide also knows how to take you to the most beautiful places and you will be loaned the necessary material. These are 3 fantastic places for a glacier hike in Iceland .
Jokülsarlon glacier lake glacier hiking
The Jökulsárlón glacial lake in Iceland is a beautiful and photogenic place. The lake has a maximum depth of no less than 250 meters and it is the largest glacial lake on the island. The glacier on which the lake is located is the Vatnajökull glacier. Due to the special and icy nature, the lake has only grown since the 1930s. Armed with spikes under the shoes (crampons) and an ice ax you set off.
Glacier hiking on the Sólheimajökull glacier
The Sólheimajökull Glacier is an offshoot of the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier and is located in the south of Iceland. What makes the Sólheimajökull so nice is that it is very accessible, so you can go for a walk on your own without the need for a guide. You walk along a river to the foot of the Sólheimajökull glacier, which lies at the bottom of an active volcanic area. You can walk a little further up to enjoy a beautiful view of the area. You cannot climb the steeper part of the Sólheimajökull glacier without a guide and the right materials, but luckily there are many tour operators who can help you further.
The guide will give you a detailed explanation of the glaciers on the island along the way, in particular about the Solheimajokull glacier. Not only can you book a tour where you go glacier hiking, but there are also tours where you really climb the ice wall. In winter there are breathtaking ice caves that you can visit. This really makes you feel like you are on another planet. The blue and black ice shapes look surreal and are beautiful in shape and color.
Discover the Vatnajökull glacier
The Vatnajökull Glacier is located on the Jokülsarlon Glacier Lake. The impressive Vatnajökull glacier is vast so that you feel completely in sync with nature when you walk over the large ice mass. As far as you can see you can see ice and snow. Here you make beautiful hikes under the guidance of a guide and also at Vatnajökull countless ice caves form in the ice every winter. These unique caves are very rewarding and will give you an unforgettable memory.
Glacier hiking suitable for beginners and advanced
It is never really hot on the island, with an average summer temperature of 13 degrees. This means that some ice caves can be visited all year round. However, it can get very cold in winter, when it regularly freezes during the day. The days are also very short in winter and the wind can blow. This makes it more difficult to do a glacier hike. This makes it advisable to always go out with an experienced guide.
There are various tours for hikers of all levels, from intensive one-day hikes to a 1 to 2-hour hike over mostly flat terrain. This allows both novice hikers and experienced hikers to take a beautiful hike and marvel at the unique natural beauty of the island.