Curious about ice climbing on a glacier? In this post, we’ll go over everything you need to know to prepare for this once-in-a-lifetime experience – and why it’s not so scary. After this, you won’t want to miss out on ice climbing in Iceland!
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For most people, ice climbing is a daunting and terrifying thought. But just remember that the unknown is always scary at first. Once you become more familiar with the idea it’ll feel like a much more achievable feat.
Ice climbing (or rock climbing in general), can be such a rewarding experience as long as you’re comfortable, safe, and having fun. I always remind myself it’s mind over matter. If you’re ever going to try an adventure like this, why not do it on Europe’s largest glacier?!
Whether you’re worried, scared, or feel unprepared about the idea of ice climbing, I’ve got you covered! After reading this post, you’ll be sure to feel knowledgeable, confident, able, and ready to take on ice climbing on one of Iceland’s glaciers.
* Just a quick note about me: I have been rock climbing for several years now but had never tried ice climbing until this experience. It was a super amusing and exhilarating adventure that I would recommend anyone to try, regardless of their experience or skill level. The guides make sure that you’re safe and having fun!
Is Glacier Ice climbing safe?
Yes, glacier ice climbing is a safe excursion for tourists to try with the assistance of a guide.
However, climbing, whether rock or ice, is an inherently dangerous sport. That being said, there are ways to mitigate and minimize risk factors to create an enjoyable experience.
Climbers should always have a basic knowledge and understanding of how to safely and properly use climbing equipment. You should never attempt to climb if you don’t know what you’re doing or have the proper gear.
Once again, that being said, there are many mountaineering guides and tours available to ensure you are climbing safely, even if you are a beginner.
If you follow all the safety guidelines and tips, ice climbing can be quite a safe and gratifying experience – especially if you want to step out of your comfort zone and have a new, thrilling, adventure.
What to Wear to go ice climbing in Iceland
- LAYERS! Warm layers are going to be your best friend in Iceland for practically any activity because of the sudden changes in weather. But especially for glacier hiking/climbing in case you get hot easily.
- WATERPROOF JACKET & PANTS. You definitely want to wear a waterproof outer layer. Ski pants/jackets are perfect for this in case you get wet.
- HATS, GLOVES & WARM SOCKS. A beanie or some other warm hat is recommended, as well as warm wool socks. I would also recommend gloves. You may or may not decide to use these but it’s nice to have if your hands get cold. Trust me grabbing an ice axe is not easy if your hands are freezing.
- PROPER SHOES. Most tour companies will have proper mountaineering shoes for rent so I wouldn’t worry too much about this. Especially because you’ll be strapping crampons (metal spikes) onto your shoes and this requires a certain type of boot. So just make sure you’re wearing your best mountaineering boot if you have one. If not, consider renting shoes before you start the excursion.
- SUNGLASSES. Well because you know how the reflection can hurt or damage your eyes!
You may also want to bring a small backpack with plenty of water and maybe some snacks in case you get hungry.
Ice climbing tours & Iceland mountain guides
In order to ice climb in Iceland, you will need a mountaineering guide. You really should have a guide anytime you explore a glacier for safety reasons.
I booked our ice climbing excursion through Arctic Adventures and paid $145 per person for a 4.5-hour glacier hike/ice climb. We did the Blue Ice – Ice Climbing Adventure Tour. I would definitely recommend it if you’re interested in doing the same one.
However, a quick Google search will show you the many tour companies offering similar ice climbing tours. Some of these other companies are Guide to Iceland, Iceland Unlimited, and Troll Expeditions.
Our guide was very knowledgeable, patient, and fun throughout our whole excursion. He made us feel safe and answered any questions we had before we started.
If you’re curious, click here to see a reel of my ice climbing experience in Iceland!
What to expect While ice climbing in Iceland
meet your guide & put on equipment
Depending on which tour you book, will depend on where your meeting point is. For the most part, I believe the tours are mainly held in either Sólheimajökull or Vatnajökull glacier. (I will discuss this more in the next section).
Once you meet up with your guide and group, they will make sure you are dressed properly including having the right boots. They will also pass out all of the proper equipment and gear you will need for the excursion. This includes helmets, harnesses, crampons (spiky metal for your shoes), and an ice axe.
You will then walk down to the base of the glacier for a quick safety briefing.
Safety Tips & Practices
Here your guide will go over all of the necessary safety tips and practices before you step onto the glacier.
They will give you tips on the best way to walk with the crampons on as well as when and how to use your ice axe for help or support. This is a good time to ask any questions/concerns you may have.
Then they will explain to you exactly how to put on your harness and crampons. This was a fun part for me as I had never used crampons before. There’s a technique for tying them to ensure they will stay tight and tied.
After you put on your helmets, you’ll follow your guide onto the glacier!
The Glacier hike
This was so fun on its own so even if you don’t decide to partake in the climbing aspect, the glacier hike alone will make this excursion worth it. I did my tour of Sólheimajökull glacier and there was so much ash scattered on top from a nearby volcano.
There was even one section of volcanic ash mud that our guide had us put on our faces as it’s actually rich in minerals and an antioxidant exfoliant. So cool – who knew you could find such a natural skin care mask up there!
After hiking for about 30 mins to 1 hour, you’ll start reaching the ‘top’ of the glacier where your guide will direct you to a climbing area. The view from here is absolutely breathtaking, especially if it’s your first time on a glacier.
the ice climbing
Once your guide finds a designated area of good ice to climb, you’ll start settling down to get ready for the climb!
Your guide will place all of the proper gear where it belongs to get you started on the route. If you’re curious, this includes screwing ice screws into solid ice to build an anchor.
After the anchor is built and secure, the guide will run a rope through it with the climber (you) safely secured by a double-figure eight knot tied to your harness.
Then he will use a belay device on the other side of the rope to lower you safely down an ice wall. You can communicate with them and have you lowered a lot (so you can climb more) or just a little (to climb less).
After you’re lowered, you can start climbing! It’s a tricky maneuver to get down at first. You need to really kick your feet into the ice and I mean REALLY KICK YOUR FEET IN. It kind of hurt my toes when I did it but it was the only way to get the crampon stuck on the wall.
Once you have a solid foot in, you’ll want to then stick your ice axes into the wall so you can step up and get another good foot in. You pretty much just repeat these moves and before you know it, you’ll be climbing up that ice wall!
Level of Difficulty
The level of difficulty depends on many factors – your physical abilities, your experience, the softness or toughness of the ice, etc. However, overall I would say it’s a moderate to challenging exercise.
Your arms will likely get more tired than your legs but that’s natural as most people try to use their upper body strength to climb. If you can, be mindful of your legs and use them as much as possible. They are, after all, a larger muscle group.
As I mentioned, my toes started to hurt after repeatedly kicking the wall which is also another reason you need those sturdy boots.
If it’s any consolation to you, I don’t think my 5+ years of climbing gave me any special advantage so you should be just fine!
Sólheimajökull vs Vatnajökull ice climbing
Vatnajökull or Sólheimajökull glacier – which should you choose?
Sólheimajökull glacier is closer to Reykjavik (2hr drive) and easily accessible, which means it could be explored on a day trip. This makes it the perfect glacier to try an ice climbing excursion on. This is the option I went with.
However, Vatnajökull is much larger and holds the title for Europe’s largest glacier. Because of its immense proportions, it has a lot of outlets. The main outlet for excursions is Skaftafell.
Skaftafell is about a 4-hour drive from Reykjavik but so worth it if you have the time. They also do blue ice cave tours here which I would definitely recommend.
Ultimately, your choice depends on how much time you have and whether or not you’re traveling Iceland in a campervan, as this gives you more flexibility. However, both options are great options for ice climbing.
We decided to ice climb at Sólheimajökull glacier and did a blue ice cave tour at Vatnajökull glacier to experience the best of both worlds!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is glacier hiking/climbing safe in Iceland?
Climbing, whether rock or ice, is an inherently dangerous sport. That being said, there are ways to mitigate and minimize risk factors to create an enjoyable experience.
As long as you follow all the safety guidelines and tips, ice climbing can be quite a safe and gratifying experience – especially if you want to step out of your comfort zone and have a new, thrilling, adventure.
How hard is ice climbing in Iceland?
I would say it’s a moderate to challenging excursion. Of course, this depends on your physical abilities but it can be tiring for most. This being said, you can do as much or as little as you’d like. If you only want to try it once on an easier wall, your guide should be able to assist you with that.
Do you need a guide to hike/climb glaciers in Iceland?
Yes, absolutely. While there’s no one physically stopping you from entering, there are signs posted that you shouldn’t proceed onto the glacier without a guide.
This is for your safety. The guides are trained professionals and do this multiple times a week. They know the safest routes to take and what to do in case of an emergency. Let them do their jobs and help you!
Ice climbing Iceland from Reykjavik?
If you want to ice climb on a day trip from Reykjavik, Sólheimajökull glacier is your best option. It’s a 2-hour drive from the capital city and provides some great glacier climbing.
Vatnajökull Glacier is your other option for ice climbing. Although, it is a 4-hour drive from Reykjavik so unlikely that you’ll be able to enjoy it on a day trip but luckily there are many other tours to do in Vatnajökull as well, like the blue ice cave tour.
Hopefully, you feel better prepared and convinced to try ice climbing on your next trip to Iceland! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and with so many tour options available, it would be a shame not to try it. Hiking on a glacier has to be one of the coolest things you can do in Iceland so why not upgrade and try out those ice axes?
For more Iceland information, you may also like:
- Easy, Epic, & Best Iceland Ring Road 5 Day Itinerary
- What To Wear In Iceland In October: Essential & Important Packing Guide
- Iceland Glaciers That Will Blow Your Mind: Vatnajökull vs Sólheimajökull
