Glacier Adventures: Snowmobile and Hiking in Iceland
Iceland is an island of vast tundras and glaciers, carved over time from an ever-changing environment. During a recent trip, we decided that Snowmobiling and a Glacier Hike/Climb were the best adventures to experience this phenomenon.
What To Pack
• Windproof clothing (pants, jacket, and gloves) Ski bibs can be a bit heavy. I would opt for fleece pants and thermals.
• Baklava or neck and ear coverings for the wind.
• Snacks
• Water
• Chapstick
• Headlamp (just in case it gets dark before your hike is complete)
SNOWMOBILING ON LANGJÖKULL GLACIER & EXPLORING A NATURAL ICE CAVE
Your Arctic Adventures Snowmobile excursion will begin at the Gullfoss Café, where a Super truck shuttles rider to the base camp at Langjökull Glacier, the second largest in the country.
Our Handsome Guide 
Arctic Adventures Super Truck that takes riders to the base camp from the Gullfoss Cafe.
At the base camp, you are given overalls, balaclavas, gloves, shoe covers, and helmets. The overalls are very heavy and warm, so limit your layers to three (thermal, outer, and coat), trust me!!
You board the bus, next stop…. Snowmobiles. After a quick safety lesson, we hop on, and we’re off.
The one-hour snowmobile tour takes you across the Langjökull Glacier, the second largest in Iceland.
After a 20-minute ride, you arrive at the Natural Ice Cave. The guides will assist you in taking pictures if you are traveling solo.
Jinelle on the Snowmobile 
Sheena on the Snowmobile 
Hiking down to the Ice Cave 
Hanging Out in the Ice Cave. This area will be filled up with water in a couple of weeks. 
Crawling around in the Ice Cave
When your trip is over, the base camp has hot cocoa and coffee to warm you up with the other riders. The Super Trucks returns the riders to the Gullfoss café where you can continue to tour the falls. Read about the falls here.
GLACIER HIKE & ICE CLIMBING ON THE SOLHEIMAJÖKULL GLACIER
At the Solheimajökull base camp, you check in and get your equipment which includes: a helmet, crampons, hiking boots, harness, and ice ax. Your guide will give you a shorty safely lesson and help you attach your crampons. Adam is the most awesome guide!
The hike begins, and you ascend the glacier, enjoying all of its beauty for about 30 minutes.
We’re heading out to begin our hike on the Sóheimajökull glacier.
There are ice carved steps that can be slippery so, make sure to dig your crampons n while walking.
When you reach the top, it will be blue ice as far as the eye can see. Oh and the temperature changes. It gets much colder and windy so be sure to have a balaclava on for your ears and neck.
Glacier Climbing Experience
Your first adventure is the repel into the crevasse below (approx.. 50 Meters) straight down the glacier wall. Yes, it’s a bit scary at first, but Adam makes you feel very comfortable.
Repelling into a Crevasse about 50 meters down.
The view inside the crevasse is surreal. It’s quiet, cool, and little wind.
Inside the Glacier 
Glacial Structures 
Inside the Glacier
Now time to climb back up! First Adam scales the wall and gets the cables set up. Then we go up one at a time. It will take about 10-20 minutes depending on your upper body strength. It’s all in the legs, not the arms.
Once everyone reaches the top, the group will descend from the glacier back to the parking lot. The hike out is just as strenuous as the hike in, so preserve your energy.
This was by far the most challenging yet, rewarding adventure that so far. Arctic Adventures provides great adventures that will blow your mind.
Read about how to stay warm in Iceland here.
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