Itinerary
This trip operates with a max. of 4 max. per guide.
We will meet at Freysnes Gas Station where you have the chance to use the bathroom and buy snacks, you'll follow us for a short drive to a glacier car park, where we'll get you equipped with the appropriate safety gear.
From the car park we'll take a short walk on a trail to the front of the glacier where we'll put on our equipment and go through safety instructions. Once on the glacier we'll walk through easy terrain to get you familiar with all the necessary techniques to progress throughout the trip.
Once familiar and confident with the equipment and their use, we'll begin to move through steeper and more adventurous terrain beyond the crowds. Here, you will see your guide at work, fixing anchors, fixing ropes and cutting steps to make your journey through these areas very safe.
Throughout the day you'll get many opportunities to take photos, learn about the natural history of Vatnajökull, Europe's most voluminous ice cap. More specifically, we love to talk about geology, glaciology, recent glacier changes and what the future looks like in a world of climate change.
Stop At:
• Vatnajokull Glacier, Vatnajokull National Park Iceland
• Vatnajokull National Park, Vatnajokull National Park, East Region
• Vatnajokull, Iceland
• Skaftafell National Park, Vatnajokull National Park 785 Iceland
See Availability.
Freysnes, 785, Iceland
09:00 AM
1 day(approx.)
Returns to original departure point
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a strong physical fitness level
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 4 travelers
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Posted By : jorrits399
Kish took us onto the Vatnajökull Glacier on a bit of a cloady day. He fitted us crampons and gave us an ice axe. He showed us a multiple techniques on navigating / walking on the ice. We took the less touristy longer route onto the left side of the glacier. When we got closer to the ice falls he showed us how to ice climb, abseil, shuffle, etc.
He is very knowledgable and was able to answer all our questions and even gave us tips for the rest of our Iceland journey.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-05-13
Posted By : JC R
Kish was a wonderful and highly experienced guide. at no time did we feel at risk in what was actually a slightly technical and challenging conditions, including white out conditions. He was always careful to make sure we understood how to use our crampons. He spent a lot of time scouting ahead for loose ice or potential crevasses, and he was very careful and thorough with his decision making. He let us to an amazing ice cave, and he took us deeper than we would’ve even thought was possible to go to. We actually had probably the youngest traveler that will be on the glacier in sometime with usand he made the whole trip without any issue. Can’t say enough about the experience. Kish was great. It also helped that he was a geologist in a former life and so had a lot of perspective on the ice and the rocks and the overall landscape.
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Posted On : 2023-12-23
Posted By : jasonfR4989DL
We got far into the glacier and saw some amazing features including tunnels that we were barely able to fit into. Beautiful spots and a great guide that adjusted the difficulty to our preferences. Thank you!
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Posted On : 2023-11-25
Posted By : 233romanep
My boyfriend and I booked a private tour and we had an amazing time thanks to this superb guide Kish!
A lot to explore, he made some special path forus, he is passionate and love to share stories and information about the nature.
The landscape is fantastic and it’s a real adventure. If you want to book a hike at Skaftafell, do not hesitate to do it with Ice Guardian. I recommend at 100%.
All the best Kish!
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Posted On : 2023-11-11
Posted By : 478siebes
We had Kish as our guide, and we simply had the best time.
He takes his time to get to know you and feel which style of hike you’re capable of.
He gave us two options: a simple walk or an adventurous start to ice climb. Being 2 fit young men, ofcourse we chose the latter.
Besides the adventurous hike, he also took his time to answer all of our questions. He gave us lots of information about the region, glaciers and Icelandic culture.
We felt like he really knew what he was talking about, seeing he’s got a degree in geology.
All in all we almost pitied the large groups who only got to see the base of the glacier. The money they payed almost feels like a ripoff compared to this unique experience!
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-11-05
Posted By : almostaccurate
In some situations, I suppose a larger corporate tour operator could be a good fit for you. Here's why Ice Guardians is probably WAY better.
Kish and Rich are two of the most experienced glacier guides in Iceland and have been head guides for several of the larger operators. But they wanted to start their own independent company to ensure they can keep the quality of the experience high while operating leaner. As a result, they are able to offer much richer, smaller group experiences than other larger operators at (at the time of writing) very similar price points.
From what I could see from other groups on the glacier, the difference between a 2-4 person group and a 8-16 person group is extraordinary. We noticed that other groups moved a lot more slowly. For them, most of the guide’s time seemed to be taken up by wrangling and waiting, with some sporadic group explanations. Because it was just the two of us and Kish (a former geologist), we could walk side by side as he pointed out each detail in the ice and mountain and explained the in-depth scientific background throughout the entire day. He was also able to bring us much farther out than the crowds, giving us nearly all the day feeling like we had the glacier all to ourselves.
Don’t be put off because the large tour operators have a ton of reviews. Ice Guardians runs much smaller groups and I suspect have less of a machine or inclination to persistently remind clients to post on social media. (I’m writing this because it was so clearly a superior experience and making these insights public can really help people trying to figure out the difference between all the operators. Another side effect of having a tiny tour group is that we could chat candidly about the industry—sorry Kish if I’m spilling state secrets.) Also keep in mind that these guys subcontract for other other tour operators, so going with another company might end up being the exact same tour but with more people and a higher price tag.
If you’re a group larger than four, aren't renting a car, or only want to be on the glacier for an hour for photos, I could see the argument for going with a more corporate tour group and Kish spoke highly of the other guides out that day. But otherwise, doing a half or full day with Ice Guardians is an absolute no brainer. Our day on Vatnajökull was the highlight of our trip.
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Posted On : 2023-10-13
Posted By : Leon_H
What a wonderful experience. The small group hike was amazing. Kish was extremely knowledgeable about Iceland and the Glacier. At the same time he had our safety in mind as he guided across and through the glacier. We had a wonderful time.
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Posted On : 2023-08-30
Posted By : travelguyreviews
My best day while visiting Iceland. Ice Guardian's guide Kish took our group of 3 up Virkisjokull for stunning views of the glacier and its' fascinating features. Kish was very knowledgeable and his expertise in geology and mountaineering made for an extremely educational and rewarding experience. For anyone fit and looking for a great day of adventure I highly recommend this tour.
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Posted On : 2023-07-24
Posted By : psmolar
Looking for McDonald's tourism? Keep scrolling! Our day tour with guide Richard was anything but ordinary. Although the tour was advertised for groups of up to 4 on TripAdvisor, in the end, it turned out to be just the two of us. And that made it even more special! We covered vast ground, immersing ourselves in the wonders of Vatnajokull glacier. The best part? Richard's expertise led us to a secluded part of the glacier, where we met nobody else. It felt like a private adventure in untouched beauty. If you crave unique experiences away from the crowds, Richard's tour is the perfect choice.
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Posted On : 2023-07-22
Posted By : Paulyaface
This was the absolute best thing I did in Iceland! My wife and I went with Kish and he took us for the adventure of a lifetime. We hiked and rappelled down parts of the glacier and were able to have a personal experience with our guide vs the other companies that were herding people on and off the glacier like cattle. This experience is well worth it and I cannot recommend it more. They can custom tailor the experience to your needs and abilities.
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Posted On : 2023-07-16
