This tour is for anyone looking to experience one of the natural wonders of the earth and anyone who likes a good workout in the fresh air of the Icelandic mountains. Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier of Mýrdalsjökull, the 4th biggest glacier in Iceland. It is featured in detail in the 2012 documentary Chasing Ice, an award-winning investigation of climate change. Underneath the glacier is the active volcano Katla, one of the largest in Iceland, which erupted last time in 1918.
First you will meet your guide in the Sólheimajökull parking lot and get all necessary equipment for the hike: crampons, ice axes, harnesses, helmets and climbing boots. Then you will hike for about 15 minutes to the ice itself to get the blood flowing and warm up for the climb. Arriving at the glacier your guide will explain to you how to put on the crampons, a traction device out of steel which is attached to your climbing boots, and he will talk about safety and a few important rules for the tour.
You will stay 150 to 180 minutes on the ice itself and see lots of beautiful features. Since the glacier is impermanent and ever changing your guide often has to scout out a new crevasse or moulin for climbing each time. With this strategy we will be flexible and avoid the crowds on the glacier as well. Your guide will install a massive ice screw and attach a rope to it before you climb up the ice walls or even rappelling into a crevasse and climb out again.Your guide will introduce you in detail to the history of the glacier and tell you how the ice is formed on top of the mountains and make sure you never forget the adventure of your lifetime.