Ever imagined climbing a glacier?
It might sound intimidating and the equipment used might scare you, but actually, there is nothing to fear. Everyone can participate in our ice climbing tour and there is no need to have experience. Our tours are in small groups so it is easy to adjust them to everybody’s capabilities. The ratio is max 6 persons per guide.
You will get the equipment for the climb, like crampons, harness, ax, and helmet. The only thing you need is to be dressed for the glacier exploring.
Our guide takes you on an unforgettable journey on Breiðamerkurjökull, one of Vatnajökull’s biggest outlet glaciers. The tour starts from Hali, just like all of our tours do. Out meeting point is only 10 minutes away from the Glacier Lagoon Jökulsárlón.
The guide starts with introducing you to the safety rules as well as the equipment that is used. This tour is also combined with a glacier walk as we have to go and find a good ice wall to climb.
The guide starts by fixing a line at the top of the ice wall and then attaches your harness to it. From there you start to climb the wall while the guide holds the other end of the line and adjusts the slack so you won’t fall.
There is no real danger and even if you fall you will be tightly harnessed. You kick the crampons into the ice to get a firm stance and then use the ice picks to lift yourself up. When you arrive at the top of the wall, you just lean back, as the rope holds you, and slowly kind of hop back down.
The tour takes approximately 4 to 5 hours (2 – 3 hours on the glacier), including drive back and forth from our pick up location at Hali.
You don’t have to have an ice climbing experience for this tour. It can be adjusted to the group’s ability, from extreme to easy conditions.
This an exhilarating outdoor activity that no one wants to miss.
