A must-do glacier hike in Iceland—breathtaking scenery you've never seen in your life!

Text & Photos /Evan

I used to only read about glaciers in earth science textbooks, where they seemed like something far removed from me. But what left a deep impression was that any landform carved by glaciers is incredibly beautiful. And it takes an incredibly long time to form such magnificent landscapes.

So how could I miss this when I came to Iceland? Of course, I had to joina glacier hike!This activity, of course. Back at home, we used to drink mineral water from glaciers—it was so sweet and fragrant. A single bottle was super expensive. So for this tour, EVAN brought along a secret weapon—heehee (want to know what it is? Keep reading with me XDD)

We woke up super early, had a very hearty breakfast, packed warm clothes, wore hiking boots, and brought some snacks before driving to the glacier. The glacier we hiked this time was the Skaftafell Glacier Hike. We chose a two-hour tour, which cost 9,900 ISK per person (not cheap—about NT$2,724). Definitely drink some glacier water when you get there to get your money’s worth!!

There are many different tour durations, but since we don’t usually go hiking, we thought we’d just try the two-hour experience.

Along the way, as we’ve seen these past few days, the glacier looks quite small from afar, almost unimpressive. But when you get close, wow—the glacier is truly massive and spectacular. That’s when I realized this wasn’t going to be a joke of a trip—so I obediently put on my crampons and listened carefully to the guide’s safety instructions.

Before joining this tour, many people said the guides here are all handsome guys and pretty girls—really—they’re not lying. Our guide was so good-looking, if it weren’t for the stunning glacier, it would’ve been hard to focus!

Our guide.

Everyone putting on their crampons, ready to set off.

Alright—enough chit-chat, let’s get into the glacier hike. Since we only signed up for a two-hour session, I was especially mindful of every moment walking on the ice. But honestly, it’s not easy to walk on. Fortunately, the crampons helped, and I could properly enjoy the view. Not all paths are walkable—you need the guide to confirm it’s safe first. Because you never know if the ice beneath each step is solid, so there is definitely some level of danger involved. The scenery along the way was the most beautiful I’ve ever seen in my life. The glacier, shaped by various natural forces, displayed stunning solid waves of water.

With sunlight streaming down—it was truly like a fairyland. But as they say, Iceland’s weather is highly changeable, so having good weather is really a matter of luck. The weather can change every 10–20 minutes, more unpredictable than a woman’s heart—haha.

As we walked and got thirsty, the guide let everyone drink glacier water (this is the moment to “get your money’s worth”—make the most of it).

The scenery along the way.

Everyone drinking water in the classic “hard mode” pose.

Then EVAN pulled out the secret weapon—hahahaha silly—doesn’t this make it easier to drink? XDD The water here is really delicious—no chlorine taste, and it has a natural sweetness. I didn’t even want to finish it.

At every stop, the guide let us take photos. Iceland is a place with zero bad angles—no matter how you shoot it, it always looks amazing. When we got to particularly tricky spots, the guide even carved steps into the ice so we could clearly see the flow of water beneath. I was super scared because it was so slippery—I felt like one slip and it’d be over. I had to tightly hold onto the guide. It’s not like I meant to cling to you—XDD

Glacier hike from multiple awesome angles.

After reading this, do you love Iceland’s glaciers as much as I do? These natural wonders, shaped over centuries, are truly worth cherishing and admiring. Let’s preserve them so future generations can also witness such beauty. This painting-like scenery can only be truly remembered if you experience it in person. Come on—let’s go—this place will be absolutely unforgettable!

Tour Info:http://www.mountainguides.is/day-tours/glacier-walks/
The two-hour glacier hike now costs 10,900 ISK.

Evangeline-Evan
Hi everyone, I’m Evan. I’m someone who’s timid and easily scared,
but through solo travel, I’ve gradually found courage,
and each solo journey has helped me discover a different side of myself.
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