Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull glacier is definitely a bucket list item. Summer or winter, doesn’t matter, glacier hikes are available all year round.
Glacier hiking is among the most amazing and fun adventures you can have in Iceland. Just imagine the unique experience of trekking across and outlet glacier.
No one should ever go on a glacier without a certified guide.
Currently, there are several tour operators offering glacier hikes on Vatnajökull glacier. Each company has a separate meeting point. Each company goes to different glacier outlets and it can vary how long it takes to drive to the starting point. A super jeep with huge wheels transports you across the rough Icelandic landscape as close to the glacier as possible.
The hike begins with everyone being outfitted with the appropriate gear and equipment such as helmets, crampons, ice axe, and a harness. Your glacier guide will teach you how to use the equipment properly and after that, you walk towards the edge of the glacier to officially begin your glacier hike.
The hike begins with everyone being outfitted with the appropriate gear and equipment such as helmets, crampons, ice axe, and a harness. Your glacier guide will teach you how to use the equipment properly and after that, you walk towards the edge of the glacier to officially begin your glacier hike.
It is difficult to describe how awe-inspiring the glacier hike is. Walking on the glacier is an unbelievable and unique experience. While walking, the only thing you see for miles is white ice with ash scattered on top and are surrounded by beautiful mountains. Breathing in the fresh air and taking it all in. Just beautiful. If you have not tried it, we highly recommend that you consider doing a glacier hike as the glaciers will not be around forever.
Depending on conditions, the tours often involve sipping water from a stream running on the top of the glacier. On this particular tour, we stopped at a small stream that was flowing on the surface of the glacier. The guide used two axes to make a bridge and showed us how to use it to drink straight from the stream. One of the best parts of the whole experience, aside from the insane photo opportunities.
Time flies when you are doing something as exciting as this. Usually, it takes around an hour to walk up the glacier but the way down only takes about 10 minutes. The whole tour usually takes up to 4 hours, depending on accessibility to the glacier, which of 1-1,5 hours is spent on the glacier itself.
What to wear on the hike?
There is no need to bring any special glacier equipment as that is provided by the tour operator.
The weather on the glacier can get colder, no matter if you are traveling in summer or winter, it is necessary to wear warm clothing and good hiking shoes. Of course, depending on the season if you will need more or fewer layers of clothes for the glacier hike or other things. If you don’t have hiking shoes with you, the tour company you are going with can provide shoes for an extra fee.
Layers of sweaters, a waterproof jacket, hat, gloves, and sunglasses are other things that are good to bring along.
Don’t miss out of this unforgettable experience on walking on Vatnajökull glacier. Book here.
