If someone asked you if you wanted to go inside of a glacier what would your answer be?
My answer…
YES PLEASE!
Last week H and I got the chance to check out Iceland’s newest attraction, Into the Glacier. A man made ice cave located on Europe’s second largest glacier, Langjökull, Into the Glacier is a once in a lifetime experience!
I will say this is probably one of the most unique experiences I have ever had in my travels. And now I have an awesome travel story to share… “this one time in Iceland and I went inside a glacier”. I just made my self sound a thousand times more interesting than I really am with that statement!
Lets back up to the start of the tour, this was the real highlight for my Viking.
To kick off the tour you are taken in a big 8 wheel jeep across the glacier to the ice tunnel entrance. H was so excited about this part, he has always wanted to ride in one of these jeeps across a glacier. Into the Glacier, making my Viking dreams come true with one jeep ride:)
I tried my best to join in with my Viking on his excitement, and while I maybe wasn’t on his level it was pretty awesome riding across the glacier in one of those massive jeeps.
After about 45 minutes of bouncing across the glacier in the big jeep we arrived to the entrance of the ice cave. Iceland made sure to greet us well with a big gust of wind blowing the snow on the glacier right into our faces. In true Viking fashion we continued to explore around a bit while the others rushed inside away from the wind.
I don’t think I will ever become a fan of the wind no matter how long I live here.
If your like me you may be wondering why in the world there is a man made ice cave inside of a glacier. Fear not, I asked the tour guide first thing, mystery solved.
Into the Glacier came to be after two Icelandic men had a daring dream of what it would be like to take people inside of the glacier. After five years of planning and hard work this dream came to life with Into the Glacier opening this June. I was so excited to get to be one of the first to get the chance to go inside and explore this unique attraction.
My second question for our tour guide, is it going to be slippery inside? Me and ice don’t really go so well together, I am a guarantee to slip and fall on the smallest patch of ice. Thankfully my fears were put aside when I was given my lifesavers, crampons. I must buy a pair for myself for next winter!
Just as I was thinking I wouldn’t be an embarrassing clutz slipping all over the place I managed to spice things up a bit when I grabbed crampons a size too small. When I tried to fit the band across my boots it quickly shot across the room, thankfully missing everyone else in its path and only a few people giggled at me. Way to start off the tour Kaelene geez.
This is me trying to nonchalantly look for my crampon, smooth I know.
With the correct size of crampons successful attached to my boots I was ready to start exploring. H and I spent the next hour walking around the ice tunnel listening to our guide share stories about the glacier, point out interesting formations and we even got to see some blue ice!
Into the Glacier is a large ice tunnel but there are also several different rooms inside, even a chapel! These rooms can be rented out for meetings and events, or a wedding if your into a winter themed celebration. Last weekend there was the first dance party held inside of a glacier, how cool is that?!
So who is ready to join me for a journey inside of the glacier?
The entire ice cave is lit with led lighting. I loved all the different colored lights against the ice, isn’t it pretty?
The chapel room. Could you imagine getting married in here? Sounds chilly and amazing!
Spotted, blue ice! Quick definition of blue ice, “a clean, dense ice of a vivid blue color, formed in glaciers by the recrystallization of snow.” My definition, it is beautiful and amazing and everyone should see it!
H and I of course both had to touch it and then have the tour guide take our picture in front of it, blue ice fans here ha.
The crevasse inside the tunnel were an unplanned finding when they were making the ice cave. I am oh so glad they found them though, the ice formations inside where so beautiful, pictures just can’t do it justice.
Walking through the halls made completely of ice, that was just amazing!
A bonus to H and my’s visit, it was on the 17th of June, Iceland’s Independence Day, so we got little Icelandic flags to celebrate.
Today was Iceland’s independence day, the Viking and I celebrated inside a glacier #happyindependencedayiceland #thevikinginhishabitat
Hanging out inside of a glacier, pretty much the coolest way I can think of to celebrate Iceland’s Independence Day!
If your headed to Iceland and want to add a unique experience to your itinerary I definitely recommend checking out Into the Glacier. I mean, how many people can say they have gone inside of a glacier!
For tour bookings and more information head over here.
Question of the Day?
Would you be up for going inside of a glacier?
*I was a guest of Into the Glacier however as always all opinions are my own. This truly is one unique attraction and if you have the chance to visit while in Iceland I definitely recommend it!
Pingback: weekly gems | Beagle and Bear()