Contributed post – Glaciers & Trekking in Iceland

​Iceland is a breathtaking destination for spectacular contrasts and exhilarating outdoor adventure. It also happens to be home to some of the most incredible natural scenery in the world. It has a huge geographical diversity. Expect to see everything from fierce volcanoes and angry geysers to happy horses and elusive elves. Yes really, in Iceland they do believe they exist. Adventure wise you can do everything from scuba diving between two continents at Lake Þingvallavatn to travelling by horseback across the land. And of course, Iceland is home to the iconic Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. Here you'll get to experience mud treatments, saunas, waterfalls and steam rooms. Today, however, we are going to look at what Iceland has to offer in the form of hiking.

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Image credit: Pexels

Moderate Hiking In Iceland
 
Due to its incredibly diverse landscape, hiking in Iceland is an adventure that can be experienced in many ways. We love all types of winter climbing, but there’s nothing quite like experiencing the majestic beauty that can be found in Iceland. You can take a hot springs hike through the Hengill area, which is just 30 minutes drive from Reykjavik. Or you might want to take a hike into an exciting lava cave just outside of Reykjavik. Here you’ll see stalagmites and stalactites up close and personal and get down and dirty with these natural phenomena. Iceland offers you the opportunity to crawl through lava tubes and craters and witness lava formations inside the caves. Or if you are visiting in winter you could enjoy a fairly moderate glacier walk through an ice field in search of the spectacular Northern Lights. If you’re wondering what to do in Iceland in winter, hiking across the diverse natural landscape should certainly whet your appetite. But what if you want something a little more challenging? Don’t forget that Iceland is home to some incredible ice glaciers. So let's take a look at the hiking and climbing opportunities that are available on the glaciers.

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Image credit: Pixaby

Glacier Hiking
 
The south coast of Iceland is home to some amazing glaciers, mountains and volcanoes. If you are looking for a breathtaking adventure, why not join a glacier tour that includes both a walk and an introduction to ice climbing. Hiking the Sólheimajökull glacier will let you see both the Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls. It is also the perfect base to start a thrilling ice climbing adventure. You can also combine a day of glacier climbing with a beautiful horseback trek across this incredible landscape. You’ll get to see the Eyjafjallajökull volcano on this journey. And on your glacier walk, you’ll experience amazing ice sculptures and crevasses that are centuries old. Some of the ice on these majestic glaciers is over 1,000 years old. With your ice axe, you’ll be able to see that what looks like years of solid ice is actually a spot where a glacier flows rapidly. It’s at these points that your ice axe will reveal steep drops that are just covered in a layer of snow. Ice climbing and glacier hiking are fantastic ways to see the majestic natural scenery of Iceland and are fun for all levels of climbers. Difficulty levels can be changed to suit the level of climbers. All in all, climbing a glacier in Iceland is certainly one to tick off the bucket list! 

For years i've been thinking of a visit to Iceland. From what I hear it's pretty amazing. To get the most out of the snowy days, come on a winter skills course here in the Lakes as preparation, then head out there.

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© Copyright 2024. Website by Freshspace.