Icelandic glaciers, together with the majestic Langjökull Glacier, are among the many most extraordinary pure wonders within the Northern Hemisphere—huge, shifting plenty of ice that form the panorama and outline the island’s wild coronary heart. The great thing about Icelandic glaciers attracts vacationers from world wide.
For vacationers heading past the Golden Circle, the trail to Langjökull Glacier and into Iceland’s Highlands is an unforgettable journey into the uncooked, untouched inside.
As you discover the Icelandic glaciers, you’ll uncover distinctive options that spotlight their historic historical past and significance to the setting.
Right here’s your information to exploring the Kjölur Route within the Southeast Highlands.
An summary:
Discovering Icelandic Glaciers: A Journey By Ice and Historical past
Understanding the impression of local weather change on Icelandic glaciers is essential for appreciating these pure wonders.
Purple Glacier Monster Truck Tour
Prepare for an unforgettable journey on a Monster Sleipnir Truck! You’ll journey in consolation and security as you head to the awe-inspiring Langjökull, the second-largest glacier in Iceland.
The pleasant native guides will take you thru this unimaginable pure surprise. You’ll hear enjoyable details about glaciers, uncover actual tales from the Icelandic Highlands, and discover the enchanting world of Nordic Mythology.
Guide right here
Driving on the glacier with the Purple Glacier Monster Truck Tour.
The distinctive ecosystem supported by Icelandic glaciers contains varied natural world tailored to the tough circumstances.
Langjökull Glacier Tour: What to Know Earlier than You Go to the Icelandic Glaciers
Langjökull is Iceland’s second-largest glacier, spanning round 950 sq. kilometers. Categorized as an ice cap, Langjökull consists of centuries-old compressed snow, with ice that averages 400–450 years in age. The glacier shaped over 6,000 years in the past and continues to resume itself because it slowly flows beneath its personal weight—a defining attribute of any true glacier.
The glacier’s floor reveals darkish layers of historic volcanic ash from previous eruptions, now embedded within the ice. These ash layers create dramatic visible patterns and are a stark reminder of Iceland’s fiery previous. The compressed glacier ice, usually tinged in luminous blue, is denser and melts roughly eight occasions slower than common ice. A characteristic that the majority glaciers in Iceland have in widespread.
Kjölur Highland Highway: The Greatest Locations to Go to
The path to Langjökull cuts via the Icelandic Highlands—a distant, elevated plateau recognized for its huge deserts, rhyolite mountains, and geothermal wonders. The one entry to this area is through the Kjölur Route (F35), a 196-kilometer highland street connecting Gullfoss within the south to Blönduós within the north. Open solely in summer season and accessible solely by 4WD, this historic observe sits 600–700 meters above sea stage and passes between Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers.
Highlights alongside this route embody:
Langjökull Glacier: Whereas solely accessible for snowmobiles, Jeeps and modified autos, the view from earlier than the sting of the glacier at Skálpanes, the very best level of street 336, to the glacier & Jarlhettur mountain vary is effectively definitely worth the drive. In clear climate, the view extends to the south, in addition to to the north, to Hofsjökull and Kerlingarfjöll mountains.
Kerlingarfjöll: A mountain vary recognized for its colourful rhyolite peaks and steaming geothermal valleys. A brand new resort, opened in 2023, now affords year-round lodging, whereas the summer season campsite is a favourite amongst hikers.
Hveravellir: A geothermal area positioned between the glaciers, famed for its effervescent scorching springs and pure scorching swimming pools—perfect for bathing within the midst of Iceland’s wilderness.
The colorful rhyolite Mountains of Kerlingarfjöll
Crossing Kjölur: A Highland Journey just for 4WD (and Horses)
The Kjölur route (F35) is one among Iceland’s most simple Highland crossings, making it a really perfect selection for vacationers seeking to expertise the inside with out excessive challenges. Whereas the gravel street might be bumpy, it doesn’t contain any river crossings—a rarity amongst Iceland’s Highland roads. Because of this anybody with a correct 4WD automobile can safely drive the route in summer season, with out requiring off-road experience or particular modifications.
Take it sluggish and benefit from the surroundings to benefit from the journey. Staying in a single day earlier than and after the crossing provides consolation and adaptability to the expertise. Within the south, lodging vary from guesthouses to boutique resorts within the Gullfoss space, together with close by cities equivalent to Flúðir and Reykholt. Within the north, the areas round Blönduós, Varmahlíð, and Sauðárkrókur additionally supply all kinds of lodging choices to swimsuit each journey fashion. Or select the in a single day cease at Kerlingarfjöll or Hveravellir and expertise the sunshine nights of the Icelandic summer season within the silence of the highlands.
Touring via the Icelandic glaciers provides you the chance to witness breathtaking sights which are in contrast to wherever else.
Horses ready for his or her riders at Gullfoss, beginning a journey over Kjölur Highland street
A Distant Place in Iceland: Skálpanesvegur and Past
Branching from the Kjölur route is Skálpanesvegur, a 12-kilometer street main towards Langjökull’s edge. Right here, the setting grows even harsher and extra remoted. Constructing a street via the gentle, muddy plains between Kjölur and Langjökull as soon as appeared not possible. Ástvaldur “Valdi” Óskarsson, a pioneer with an unshakable imaginative and prescient, undertook the seemingly not possible job of constructing a street via a few of Iceland’s most treacherous terrain.
With no clear tracks and floor that turned impassable in spring, he constructed out a 12-kilometer route—immediately generally known as Skálpanesvegur. This tough however very important observe created the primary vehicular entry to Langjökull from the east aspect. His work opened up the glaciers East aspect to autos, laying the muse for tourism on this distant a part of Iceland’s Highlands.
For many who have by no means been on a glacier, Langjökull affords excess of a frozen panorama—it offers a window into Iceland’s dramatic pure historical past. Standing on its huge floor, surrounded by silence and sweeping highland views, is a very unforgettable expertise. In summer season, guests can witness the shimmering white and blue of uncovered glacier ice, whereas in winter, the glacier transforms right into a pristine world of snow.
Glaciers are among the many most inhospitable locations on Earth, but they play an important function within the ecosystem—supplying mineral-rich water to rivers and oceans, and offering a number of the world’s purest ingesting water via glacial groundwater.
Touring Langjökull might be tailor-made to totally different ranges of journey. Snowmobiling affords high-speed pleasure throughout the icy expanse, good for thrill-seekers. For a extra accessible expertise, Jeep & monster truck excursions present a cushty, all-terrain possibility appropriate for all ages and health ranges. Guided excursions guarantee security, knowledgeable perception, and entry to the glacier’s most charming options.
Guests ought to take into account guided excursions to discover the Icelandic glaciers safely and find out about their geological significance.
Ultimate Tip: Whether or not navigating the historic Kjölur route, stress-free within the scorching springs at Hveravellir, or gliding over the ice cap of Langjökull, the Icelandic Highlands promise landscapes that really feel untouched by people. With the correct planning—and the correct information—this distant nook of the world turns into surprisingly reachable.
Gravel Highway Skálpanesvegur F336 with View to Langjökull Glacier
The Icelandic glaciers present important insights into our planet’s local weather patterns and environmental adjustments.
Expertise the beautiful great thing about the Icelandic glaciers by taking part in organized excursions that showcase their grandeur.
Vatnajökull and Mýrdalsjökull: Iceland’s Different Iconic Glaciers
Whereas Langjökull affords a dramatic journey into the Highlands, two different glaciers—Vatnajökull and Mýrdalsjökull—are extra simply accessible and fashionable amongst vacationers.
Vatnajökull, the biggest glacier in Europe, covers round 8% of Iceland’s landmass and dominates the southeast area. Simply reached through the Ring Highway, this glacier is dwelling to well-known outlet glaciers like Skaftafellsjökull and Fjallsjökull, and the placing Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, the place icebergs drift towards the Atlantic. Vatnajökull Nationwide Park affords well-developed infrastructure for climbing, ice caving, and glacier walks, making it a best choice for first-time guests.
Many journey seekers are drawn to the Icelandic glaciers for actions like mountaineering and snowmobiling.
Additional west lies Mýrdalsjökull, located close to the city of Vík. Beneath this glacier rests the notorious Katla volcano, making it an exciting vacation spot for exploring the Icelandic glaciers. Regardless of its volatility, Mýrdalsjökull is a serious hub for glacier excursions, together with snowmobiling and ice cave explorations, usually ranging from the favored Sólheimajökull outlet and Vik village.
Each glaciers might be reached year-round through Highway 1 alongside the South and supply a variety of guided excursions—making them a number of the most visited glacier locations in Iceland.
Essential Security Word: By no means try to stroll or drive on a glacier and not using a licensed information or a guided tour in Jeep/Truck/snowmobile. Glaciers might be deceptively harmful, with hidden crevasses, unstable snow, and quickly altering climate. Guided excursions guarantee your security and supply knowledgeable information of the terrain.
Jarlhettur Mountain Vary
Purple Glacier Monster Truck Tour
Prepare for an unforgettable journey on a Monster Sleipnir Truck! You’ll journey in consolation and security as you head to the awe-inspiring Langjökull, the second-largest glacier in Iceland.
The pleasant native guides will take you thru this unimaginable pure surprise. You’ll hear enjoyable details about glaciers, uncover actual tales from the Icelandic Highlands, and discover the enchanting world of Nordic Mythology.Prepare for an unforgettable journey on the Monster Sleipnir Vans!
Go on a snug and protected journey to the beautiful Langjökull, Iceland’s second-largest glacier.
The pleasant native guides will likely be your companions as you discover this breathtaking pure surprise. You’ll hear cool details about glaciers, dive into genuine tales from the Icelandic Highlands, and uncover the charming world of Nordic Mythology. It’s going to be a blast!
Guide right here
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