After our amazing road trip in Snaefellsnes Peninsula in the West Island, we headed to the South Coast for a fun glacier adventure. We enjoyed the amazing sights of the glaciers in Iceland everywhere we turned and we thought that the best way to enjoy them is to be upclose and personal with one of them.
Glacier field meeting volcanic slope.
We signed up for a glacier hike in Solheimajokull, the glacial tounge of Mýrdalsjökull, Iceland’s fourth largest ice cap. Snoozing beneath this ice cap is Katla, one of Iceland’s biggest volcanoes. Iceland is indeed a land of fire and ice!
Glacier sprinkled with volcanic dust.
Our guide Tom from Iceandic Mountain Guides giving us instruction on how to use our safety equipment on ice.
We were provided with crampons and ice axe and we were all set to explore the ice field.
A group of hikers on the slope.
Another group on their way up.
Although it was cloudy and raining on and off, we had great time exploring this wonderland of ice scuptures, glacial crevasses, ice caves and ice walls.
Ice sculpted by nature.
Meandering through valley of ice sculptures.
Glacial Crevasse
Entering an ice tunnel.
Inside an ice cave.
Standing next to a towering ice wall.
Hikers making a beeline to exit the glacier.
It started to get dark by 4:00 pm on a winter day and we had to leave the glacier before it got completely dark. Despite the rain and short day light, we had an amazing glacier experience and was one of the highlights of our time in Iceland.
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- We booked this trip with Extreme Iceland but our guides were provided by Icelandic Mountain Guides. The guides were very professional and seasoned mountaineers and we recommend their services. Transport to the glacier, crampons and ice axe are included in the trip cost. It also included traditional Icelandic dinner at a farmhouse and norther light hunting,
- This activity is rated “easy.” However, we don’t consider it a walk in the park even though it was not our first time we wore crampons and walked on ice. We don’t recommend it for those with ankle or knee problem and to those with poor balance. There are some steep uphill and downhill strides that will be very challenging to tackle if you have one of these issues. We saw a woman with a bad knee and one that was not in so good shape; they struggled going up and down and had to hold on to their guides.
- This activity can be done all year round.
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Linking to Noel Morata’s Travel Photo Discovery, Bonnie Rose’s Travel Tuesday, Our World Tuesday and Nancie McKinnon’s Travel Photo Thursday.
The colors of the ice, the tunnels and shapes sculpted by nature are incredible! Thanks to you, Marisol, another place has just been added to my must-go-to list 😉
memographer recently posted..London in Colour
Hi Alex, our pleasure. I’m glad you added it to your list. It’s a place you and your camera would be happy to explore.
Great photos
Muza-chan recently posted..A Japanese Song per Day: L’Arc-en-Ciel – Hurry Xmas
Thanks Lilli.
OMG, what an adventure. Looked like a lot of fun.
Photo Cache recently posted..The Time I Finally Got To Stay in a Victorian Room
It truly was a lot of fun. Thanks.
I’m surprised its labeled as easy if you saw people hanging on to their guides. I’m not sure how I would do on an ice hike. I’m so uncoordinated, I’ve been known to trip over my own feet! Still, it looks like an incredible experience and I can see why it was one of the highlights during your trip to Iceland. The colors are beautiful.
Tonya {The Traveling Praters} recently posted..Last Minute Christmas Gifts for a Traveling Canine #HappyAllTheWay
Hi Tonya, I think when they rated it easy they omitted to mention that it was easy for those who are in decent shape. And those people in poor shape probably assumed that because it was rated easy it was supposed to be a walk in the park. But yes, it was an incredible adventure and a true Icelandic experience.
I am with Tonya, this might be an outing I should only enjoy from the computer desk chair! Great photos and what an adventure though. . .
Jackie Smith recently posted..Sydney, Australia: A taste of Watsons Bay
Hi Jackie, glad you enjoyed the photos. It truly was an adventure. If you don’t think this is for you, Iceland has a lot more adventures that it can offer you.
Great adventure … esp the valleys, glaciers, tunnels and caves.
Rachel M recently posted..Temple Point Resort
Thanks Rachel. It truly was a great adventure.
You are so privileged to be travelling all the uncommon and spectacular! I haven’t seen many posts like yours and i am sure it is not easy. Actually, i got scared just even looking at your photos. Thanks for that tour, i am sure i will not do that in this lifetime.
Hi Andrea, were very thankful for the priviledge and we deeply wish that you wlll also enjoy the same priveledge in this lifetime. Keep the hope high:)
Amazing! I grew up in Alaska and yet, I never did anything like this! It looks fun!!
Tina @ Girl Meets Globe recently posted..Loop Head Drive
Hi Tina, it’s never too late to do this kind of fun. Hope you get to do is soon.
Marisol recently posted..Iceland: Glacier Walk on Solheimajokull
What an amazing adventure
Mollyxxx
Molly recently posted..Day 351 – Adding Colour
Hi Molly, it truly is. Thanks.
Amazing collection of photographs, especially those ice tunnels.
Lauren Kennedy recently posted..Last Of Autumn
Hi Lauren, thanks! Glad you enjoyed the photos.
What an amazing adventure Fifteen years ago I would have been right up there with you all, but not now. Now, I would be scared to death. That crevasse was spooky. I am so glad you all had such a wonderful trip and that you shared your photos with all of us. I can live vicariously through you all now that I am up in years. genie
Hi Genie, but you had those all those wondrous years and you have your beautiful granddaughter Eloise to enchant you. I’m sure you have had amazing adventures in your days that we would be jealous of:)
What a wonderful experience. I have a friend that love everything Iceland and would love to travel there. – Margy
Margy recently posted..Semi-Homemade Curtains
Hi Margy, I hope you can join friend in Iceland soon:)
Oh gosh! The glacier walk looks spectacular! The colors in the photo on the slopes is amazing!! SOO glad I found ya through the Travel Tuesday link-up!
Hi Elena, the glaciers are actually a lot more spectacular in person. I hope you get to see it for yourself someday:) Thanks for dropping by.
What a magical experience!
Thanks Fiona!
This looks so amazing, we were going to do a Glacier hike in NZ but never got the chance. Iceland is a little closer now! Will have to look into it.
Dannielle recently posted..Day Tripping :: Castle Howard
Hi Danielle, iceland is much more closer, You definitely have to do it. Have fun!
Wow, that looks like such an incredible experience! your photos are amazing and really capture the moment
Hi Michelle, it truly was an amazing experience. Thanks for the visit.
That looks like great fun despite crummy weather. Sometimes all you have to so is dress properly for it and then once you’re out in it, it’s actually fine. I have climbed Mt Rainier where we had to rope up, wear crampons and use ice axes. Hard but so rewarding. One of the best hikes of my life was a spring climb of Mt Quandry in Colorado. We climbed for several hours and then sat on our rears & with the help of our ice axe glissaded several thousand feet down in about 5 mins. You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.
Leigh recently posted..Visiting Yosemite in Winter
Hi Leigh, you’re right as long as you’re dress properly you’re fine. That’s why I love Gortex! I can’t live without it! I got exposure to rain, wind and snow when I was climbing Kilimanjaro but I was layered up in high performance clothes and Gortexed up from head to toe and the elements didn’t bother me a bit. Your Mt. Quandry hike sounds a lot of fun It sounds like the hike I did in Mt. Cotopaxi in Ecuador. We were roped up, and with the use of crampons and ice axe and slid down part of the way. It was challenging but I’d love to do it again. So thanks for letting me know about Mt. Quandry. I’ll look into it.
I just can’t imagine how cold it must have been there, but it is all worth the experience. Amazing, this is what I really want to do in the future. The glacier walk is on my bucket list and you made it – something incredible! I admire you two!
Agness recently posted..One Day In Bruges In Photos
Hi Agness, thanks! it was cold but bearable if you’re property geared up for it. I hope you get to do the glacier walk sometime soon. It’s a lot of fun and deserves to be in your bucket list.
Hey, this looks amazing! This is what Bruce wants to do in Antarctica!
Hi Oggie, really? It would be a great honeymoon destination for you guys. We’d love to join you!
That looks amazing. We did a similar one in N.Z. but the weather seemed a lot warmer on ours. I agree it is not that easy. Having a volcano beneath is an interesting twist!
budget jan recently posted..An introduction to Kars
Hi Jan, I’m sure your NZ experience was just as spectacular. It was not the first time we walked with crampons but we still didn’t find it easy.
What an incredible experience. The ice sculptures and caves look beautiful…I love the blue of the ice.
It certainly doesn’t look like an easy walk but one that I’d love to do never the less!
Best wishes for a great Xmas and New Year
jenny@atasteoftravel recently posted..London’s Christmas Wonderland
Hi Jenny, it’s not that easy but really doable if you’re in good physical condition. I’m pretty sure you will enjoy it.
Love how you managed to capture these ice shots without everything looking blazing white
Denise recently posted..The Festival of Lights in Sukhothai, Thailand
Hi Denise, thanks! I guess it helped that it was not sunny at all.
ahhhh ICELAND! How much I miss thee! I was there back in the Christmas of 2009, for about a week. Such amazing, eerie landscapes! Like a totally different planet. I visited a glacier but only walked along the edge: we didn’t go on an ice walk. Will have to next time I’m there! because I definitely plan to come back: absolutely loved it there.
-Maria Alexandra
Maria Alexandra @LatinAbroad recently posted..2014 New Year resolutions: study in Indonesia and finally discover ASIA!
Hi Maria, I don’t know of anyone who went to Iceland and didn’t love it. We plan to go back ourselves. And yes, you have to experience the glacier walk when you return.
I especially like the photos of you in the ice tunnel, and that glacier ice is certainly a distinctive shade of blue. Can you only hike this glacier with a guide? We once went glacier hiking by ourselves in Canada, and there were signs all over the place that you could fall into a crevasse at any moment. I like that they gave you crampons and axes. That same Canada trip, we went hiking in an Ice Canyon with regular winter shoes, and I thought I’d slip and slide my way to injury. As it is, my ankle’s been wonky ever since I hurt it at boot camp a few years ago, so I’m not sure if this glacier hike is in the cards for me anymore.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders} recently posted..Looking for Mary at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
Hi Michelle, guides are required for this glacier. The surface is solid ice and wearing crampons is a must. Also there were some areas that are not safe to wander around which we wouldn’t know if we didn’t have a guide. I hope your ankle heals and get to do this fun activity someday.
iceland is amazing. the landscape is so unique and interesting.
eileen at FamiliesGo! recently posted..5 Tips To Manage a Holiday With Extended Family
Thanks Eileen. Iceland has one of the unique landscapes we have ever seen.
Wow – those ice tunnels look amazing. And the bluish color of the ice is so beautiful. Iceland looks like a truly unique place to explore. I can’t wait to make it there one of these days!
Dana Carmel @ Time Travel Plans recently posted..Yakiniku at Gyu-Kaku
Hi Dana, you should definitely put Iceland on your list.
That looks like a wonderful adventure. How did you keep your feet warm?
SandyCarlson recently posted..Wordless Wednesday: Get That Itch
Hi Sandy, it really was a fun adventure. We were wearing trekking shoes that are designed for hardy terrain including ice and a pair of thick high performance socks. They’re breathable on warm weather but keeps in the warmth when its cold.
What an excellent adventure, going to an ice cave looks like an exciting event, well I guess most of it is really cool!
noel morata recently posted..Christmas markets and celebrations around the world
Hi Noel, it real was a cool adventure:)
This looks quite scary! But what an amazing experience. I love the photo of you all in a long row. Stunning
Johanna recently posted..Top 10 Places in Western Australia by The WA Tastemaster
Hi Jo, it wouldn’t been scary without our guide. But he kept us in harm’s way telling us where not to venture.
oh wow! I could only dream of doing a trip like this! I wish I was 30 years younger and fitter! Amazing! Thankyou for taking us along. I love following your travels.
Happy travels, have a wonderful Christmas, and thank you for stopping by my blog this week.
Hi Jill, thanks! With all those crazy road trips and camping you have been doing you couldn’t have fooled me about your fitness level. I’m pretty sure you can still try this activity. Happy travels to you, too. Have a wonderful Christmas.
I have done exactly this same hike last November, it was a lot of fun
Did you also climb the ice wall?
Ice land is very beautiful and there are many fun things to do, great photos !
Freya recently posted..Ice Hiking and Ice Climbing in Iceland
Hi Freya, really? We were probably there almost at the same time. We wanted to do the trip with the ice wall climb but we decided on this one because it included northern light hunting. Yes, there’s so much to do! For a country that small we thought we would cover a lot for our week stay but we felt we barely scratched the surface
Marisol recently posted..Iceland: Glacier Walk on Solheimajokull
You and Freya are writing about Iceland at the same time that it almost makes me envious of your experience. Almost, because even though it looks really beautiful there, I know I can’t stand the cold! Brrrr
Aleah | SolitaryWanderer.com recently posted..Why I Love Christmas in the Philippines
How awesome and cool!
You and Freya’s post make me want to go back to Iceland during the winter and “maybe” do this. I’m not a big fan of cold weather but I’m willing to try. I know my husband would love to do this. It looks so fun and what an amazing experience. Love those pictures of the ice caves and sculptures. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Keith. You guys make adventurous things like these look so fun and inspiring.
Mary {The World Is A Book} recently posted..Tropical Fun at a Luau in Oahu
Hi Guys, wow! What an adventure! I love the ice tunnels and all the ice sculptures. How wonderful to experience this nature. What’s next?
Hi Kira, glad you enjoyed the post. Come back on next post for more Iceandic adventure:)
Living vicariously through your icy experience here on the tropical beach of Koh Samui. I hope to make it to Iceland soon. Thanks for sharing!
Peter Korchnak @ Where Is Your Toothbrush? recently posted..Christmas in Thailand
You’re welcome Peter. And we’re living vicariously through your sunny and delicious experience in Koh Samui.
So cool (literally!) that you got to do this! I have horrible balance so I’m not sure if I could do this, but I loved looking at your photos and experiencing this vicariously through you. Also, after our experience up in the mountains of Nepal, I don’t know if I can handle the cold weather any more (shhhh… they might take away my Canadian passport!). I REALLY loved the photos of you guys going through the ice tunnels!
Steph (@ 20 Years Hence) recently posted..Captured Moments: Our 50 Favorite Photos of 2013
Hi Steph, thanks! We really enjoyed the experience. The cold wasn’t really that bad if you’re dressed appropriately. I think you’ve been way to spoiled in the warmth of Southeast Asia but I’m sure you’ll get accustomed back to Canadian cold:)
Marisol recently posted..Iceland: The Winter Glory of the Golden Circle
Marisol, Jim and I are leaving for Iceland for a drive around in a few weeks, so I’m back checking out all your Iceland posts. If you have any hints or ideas, we’d love to hear them. We did glacier walking quite a bit in Alaska, but I don’t know those tall blue walls are so pretty!
Corinne recently posted..Instagramming Croatia
Hi Corinne, sorry for the delayed reply;. I was away and just catching up. I’m so glad to hear about your forthcoming visit to Iceland. We enjoyed Iceland but I’m sure you’ll have a better time as the weather will be much better when you go. Driving around on your own should be fine by this time. If you want to try the glacier walk, I think it will be worth it. We found the glacier walk unique from others that we did because of the natural ice sculptures and the ice walls.
I definitely recommend a drive to Snaefellsness Peninsula. It was spectaculer during the winter; I can imagine how much more in spring/summer; Plus there’s a lot more to see and do there outside of fall/winter.
Marisol recently posted..Cape Peninsula: A Stunning Road Trip