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Being the Land of Fire and Ice means boasting icy landscapes that will take your breath away. What’s more, is that these frozen surfaces are not just for your viewing pleasure, but you can actually have all sorts of adventures exploring these bad boys. If you’re looking for the proverbial Ying/Yang, Fire and Ice scenario, look no further than Myrdalsjökull Glacier.
Because this ice cap also covers the top of one of our most active volcanoes. So, if you want to learn more about magical Myrdalsjökull, and all the adventures that are to be had there, getting the 2-for-1 experience package with both glacier and volcano, read on.
Myrdallsjökull: A Quick Overview and Its Location
The Myrdalsjökull Glacier can be found in the southernmost part of the Highlands, just north of the little town of Vik I Myrdal. Myrdalsjökull sits on top of Katla Volcano, and neighbors another famous glacier/volcano combo, Eyjafjallajökull. The latter is not as big as Myrdalsjökull, though.
It stands about 1500 meters above sea level and covers roughly 600 square kilometers, making it the fourth-largest glacier in Iceland. If you were wondering how it’s possible to have all sorts of adventures on top of what is essentially a gigantic sheet of ice. Well, this sheet of ice averages a thickness of 225 meters, but can even reach 750 meters at certain places!
You have a better chance of falling through the floor of an apartment building than through this ice. That being said, the surface of the glacier holds all sorts of wonders, but also some dangers. You’ll come across interesting ice formations and also very deep crevasses. That’s why any icy adventure on top of the glacier will be via a tour with an experienced guide at the helm.
The Historical Significance of Myrdalsjökull Glacier
The Myrdalsjökull Glacier has played a massive part in creating the Icelandic landscape we experience today. Katla started erupting as early as 930 AD and has never become dormant, even though its last eruption occurred in 1918. In fact, Katla totals over 20 eruptions since it started to let loose in 930.
Except for the impact the volcano itself has on the surrounding landscape because of its lava and ash, it’s the glacial floods it causes that literally shape the surface of the earth. Just imagine what a glacial flood from the fourth-largest glacier in the country would look like. During the last eruption, the Myrdalsjökull Glacier caused the coastline to move out 2-3 kilometers!
This is because the glacial flood (or Jökuhlaup” as we call it) would have massive volumes of water rushing across the earth at incredible speeds, carving its way through mountains, and digging into the ground, shaping mountains, creating canyons, and so forth. But these waters also include a lot of silt, debris, and potentially harmful chemicals originating from the magma.
The lava penetrating the ice will also cause massive amounts of ash and debris that cover the landscape, much of which is harmful to humans and the environment. That’s why many of these past eruption sites are hard to cultivate again. When one looks at the pattern of past Katla eruptions, it seems that she makes herself known every 40-60 years. Since Katla’s last eruption was in 1918, this is making experts pretty nervous.
The recent volcanic activity causing disruption in Grindavik has also opened up the eyes of the residents of Vik. A Katla eruption and another Myrdalsjökull Glacier flood would completely destroy the little town. But please note, that Icelanders are pros when it comes to living with all these extreme natural elements. An eruption, a flood, etc. rarely leads to fatalities or even injuries. In fact, stats have proven that tourism flourishes during this time, as we have ways of getting tourists pretty close to the action with the utmost safety in mind.
Our warning systems are top of the range, and there’s a backup plan to the backup plan of any evacuation plan. By the time an eruption actually occurred, everyone would long since be safe, and, in the case of a town like Vik, many moved to new houses, specifically designated for situations such as these. The big concern for eruptions such as this is the overall disruption, as well as damage to infrastructure and the environment.
Geological and Environmental Features of Myrdalsjökull
Below we dive into some of the geological significance of the Myrdalsjökull Glacier:
Katla Volcano
Katla is actually part of a major volcanic system here in Iceland. While the Katla Volcano’s crater is roughly 10 kilometers wide, the actual volcanic system covers over 595 square kilometers underneath the ground, interconnecting with other volcanoes such as Eyjafjallajökull.
The Structure and Composition of Myrdalsjökull Glacier
The ice of Myrdalsjökull Glacier can give scientists incredible insight into the past. Not only can geologists dig into (pun intended) the hardrock geology of Myrdalsjökull and the surrounding area in which three prominent formations are found (Pleistocene Grey Basalt, Pleistocene Hyaloclastite, and Holocene Lava), but the ice itself also holds ash and other debris of past eruptions and all sorts of other elements found in the air and environment thousands and thousands of years ago.
Activities and Tours at Myrdalsjökull Glacier
As we mentioned, you will find all sorts of icy adventures on the surface of Myrdalsjökull that can only be done via tour. These are just some of the experiences you can look forward to:
Glacier Hiking
A glacier hike is exactly what it sounds like; traversing the icy surface and exploring the landscape on foot. This is an incredibly immersive and informative experience as your guide will teach you all about things such as water cauldrons, formations, crevasses, etc. as you pass them by.
Any/all gear and equipment required will also be provided by the tour operator. Glacier hikes usually take between 2 and 4 hours, depending on which tour and tour operator you choose.
Ice Caving
At Myrdalsjökull, you will find one of the few ice caves in Iceland that is actually open all year round: Katla Ice Cave. Exploring these ice caves is almost other-worldly as you walk through these chambers of ice with streaks of black ash from past eruptions still frozen in time.
Add on all sorts of interesting stalagmites, stalactites, and other ice formations, and you’re in for one of the most surreal experiences of your life. As with the hikes, ice cave exploring can only be done via guided tours due to safety concerns.
Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling is for those who want their glacier explorations to be a bit more fast-paced. The exploration of the glacier looks similar to that of the hikes, but the distances you’re able to cover are more, you won’t be doing so much legwork (literally), and cruising across the icy surface on one of these is sure to get the blood pumping.
ATV Adventures
Similar to the snowmobiles, the ATV tours are for those looking for a bit of an extra adrenaline kick. But the most significant difference is that the quads never actually make it onto the ice. These bad boys will take you all along the foot of the glacier, offering spectacular views, but also allowing you to cruise across some of our famous black sand beaches and see some of our popular landmarks such as the Solheimassandur Plane Wreck.
Planning Your Visit
Below you will find all the information you need to plan the perfect trip to Myrdalsjökull:
The Best Time to Visit
It may seem counterintuitive, but the glaciers in Iceland can be visited all year round (yes, even during the warmer months). And since even the ice caves at Myrdalsjökull don’t close during the warmer months like most others, the entire Myrdalsjökull Glacier experience is up for grabs all throughout the year. That being said, there are a few things to consider before making the call of when might be the best time for you to visit:
- The best time for an icy adventure is probably the winter. But here in Iceland, you might end up contending with some pretty extreme weather conditions. This can include blizzards and wind speeds of more than 35 kilometers per hour. That being said, a glacier adventure is still possible as long as you keep an eye on the Iceland weather forecast and the Iceland road conditions (you’ll need to be able to get there too, of course).
- If you want to give the harsher weather a skip, we recommend having your icy adventures (ironically) during the warmer months of the year. This includes summer in Iceland (June to August). Although we recommend one of the shoulder months such as October/November or April/May during which you can still get many of the winter perks without many of the hassles.
- When we talk about winter perks, it doesn’t just begin and end with the weather. For example, summer is peak season here in Iceland. That means peak season crowds and peak season prices all across the country. Visiting during the winter in Iceland (excluding the festive season and New Year’s, of course) or one of the shoulder months, will help you avoid the crowds and burning through your holiday budget too fast.
- You’ll need to pick your natural phenomena. Many want to combine their icy experience with either experiencing the Midnight Sun or spotting the Northern Lights, and there is no way you can experience both in one trip. The Midnight Sun can only be experienced mid-summer when daylight hours are more than 22+ hours a day, and the Northern Lights require darkness and cold, with winter bringing the ideal conditions.
How Much are Myrdalsjökull Glacier Tickets?
Visiting Myrdalsjökull Glacier doesn’t require any tickets. Anyone is free to visit the glacier any time they want absolutely free of charge. Just remember that any activities or exploration on top of the glacier will require booking a spot on a guided tour, and those tours will have fees attached. Prices will depend on the activity and the tour operator you choose.
How to Get to Myrdalsjökull Glacier
You will essentially have two options for getting to Myrdalsjökull:
Via Tour
As you’ve already seen, Myrdalsjökull is a popular spot for tours offering all sorts of icy adventures. For the same reason, you’ll often find that many of these tour operators or guides also include Myrdalsjökull Glacier as a destination on day tours or multi-day holiday packages.
Via a Self-drive
We will always recommend the self-drive. It’s the best and easiest way of exploring the island on your own terms. Even if you decide to drive yourself, you’ll still be able to book a spot on an icy adventure tour that departs from Vik or that meets on-site. Driving to Myrdalsjökull is very easy.
If you’re driving from the direction of Reykjavik, you just need to drive south on the Ring Road, pass the village of Skogar on your left, and after about 6 kilometers, turn left onto Route 221. You then simply continue on this road till you reach the glacier’s parking lot.
Other Attractions Near Myrdalsjökull Glacier
If you’re planning on doing a self-drive or even road-tripping around the island via the Ring Road, then you can consider adding the following nearby attractions to your trip itinerary:
- Solheimajökull Glacier
- Vik I Myrdal
- Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
- Dyrholaey
- Skogafoss Waterfall
- Pakgil Canyon
- Solheimasandur Plane Wreck
- Kvernufoss Waterfall
- Loftsalahellir Cave
Accommodation Options Near Myrdalsjökull Glacier
You will find a wide variety of accommodation options if you would like to stay over and explore the area a bit more. The following are some of the places to consider:
Myrdalsjökull Glacier: A Magnificent Back Drop to Your Road Trip
If you plan on exploring the island via a Ring Road road trip, Myrdalsjökull makes for the most breathtaking backdrop and pitstop for an icy adventure. After traversing the frozen landscape, there’s still plenty more to discover in the surrounding area, from black sand beaches to cascading waterfalls and even a plane wreck.
A road trip around the country is guaranteed to dish up incredible natural wonders and all sorts of interesting attractions and exciting activities, with a stop at the magnificent Myrdalsjökull Glacier with all its icy adventures also bound to leave you with ever-lasting memories. Time to pack those bags, rent a car in Reykjavik upon arrival, and head out for the adventure of a lifetime!
