The Top Most Unique Adventure After Completing 30 Countries

Photo by Angel Luciano on Unsplash

Of all my adventure experiences while traveling, Glacier hiking has to be the most memorable one, hands down. And literally, hands were down for most of the hike on the rope or glacier because of the sheer slipperiness.

Iceland has many unique and diverse experiences to offer. Glacier hiking tops the list, for the simple reason, that very few places on earth have glaciers, and of those very few have such access to them.

What is Glacier Hiking?

Simply put, the activity of hiking on a glacier is called Glacier Hiking.

What is so great about it?

Glaciers are rare, becoming more rarer by the day. Finding them in conditions favorable to the human body is even rarer. The opportunity to be on top of one is rarest.

Add a lot of high-intensity wind, continuous rainfall, and the super slippery surface of the glacier to the equation, and the experience converts into an adventure.

There is no forest, no greenery, no pitstops, nothing! Just your tour & the massive, glistening, rugged glacier.

Approach to the Glacier. Photo Credit: Author

Where can one do this?

Iceland.

Sólheimajökull Glacier

Sólheimajökull Glacier is an easily accessible glacier located on the south coast of Iceland, about 200 km from Keflavik International Airport. The parking lot where the tour operator vans are located is just a 6-minute drive from national highway 1. Another half a km hike, and you shall arrive at the foothills of the glacier.

The extended part of Sólheimajökull Glacier. Photo Credit: Author

Duration

3 hours including training and equipment prep

Difficulty

Easy to Moderate

Pre-Preparation

1. Book tickets for guided tours. Standard sites such as trip advisor, Viator et cetera have plenty of options. We booked troll expeditions via trip advisor. Top-notch experience.
2. Wear the usual layers of winter clothes with a top layer being waterproof.
3. Carry heat patches in your gloves and socks to keep them warm
4. Double-check that your booked tour operator provides basic and compulsory hiking equipment i.e. crampons, helmets, safety harnesses, and Ice axes. Email them your shoe size to ensure they arrange for right sized crampons.

Ice axes are essential for Glacier Hike. Photo by José Ignacio Pompé on Unsplash

Preparation

1. Empty your bladder in the parking lot. Cannot stress enough on this point. This will be the last opportunity for the next 3, cold & wet hours if you do not count wetting your pants as an opportunity.
2. Listen to the instructions carefully. Wearing crampons properly is critical.
3. Do not overload yourself with a backpack full of stuff. Leave it in your car or your guide’s van.

The Glacier Hike

On the foothills of the glacier, fully equipped, we were waiting to embark on the hike when we heard a loud crack. Our guide told us not to worry as Glaciers have this hobby of cracking. He also added not to worry that we are surrounded by active volcanos.

We looked up towards the sky to find god, but could not as it was cloudy and rainy.

The 1st step on the glacier was wobbly as it was slippery despite the crampons. As we ascended on an incline, a fixed rope acting as a flimsy railing was our sole confidence provider.

To make it more thrilling, the winds started blowing against us. To make it even more thrilling, three young, exuberant ladies decided to stop mid-climb to take several selfies and post them on Instagram right there!

Halfway through the climb, we became comfortable walking on crampons with the help of Ice axes. That is when we started observing and absorbing the majesticness of the glacier.

From the top, the pale blue glacier sprinkled with dark volcanic ash looked like something we had never seen before. It was radiating fresh doses of cold. Incessant rains and howling winds were making our jackets flap crazily. We literally had to shout to converse. YET, it was serene, it was peaceful.

Somewhere on the Glacier hike. Photo Credits: Author

We took about 45 mins to reach the top, another 15 minutes at the top, and about 30 mins to descend.

A hazy picture of people descending from the hike. Photo credit: Author

After Hike Effects

Bruised Bums because of several tumbles on the glacier, short sharp pinches by pebbles flying because of high-intensity winds were common by now. By the time we got down, cold rainwater had seeped down toward vital body parts.

After thoughts of doing a Glacier Hike

1. I had never seen a glacier live in my life, leave alone hiking on it.
2. I was spellbound by the beauty and ruggedness of the glacier.
3. It is the single most unique adventure of my travel stories after completing 30 countries.

So do give it a shot next time you find yourself in Iceland, or any other place which offers this experience. I guarantee that you shall not regret it.