Ice Climbing and Hiking in Iceland

Travelling to the Arctic isn't complete without a bout of glacier hiking and ice climbing. On my trip to Iceland a few weeks ago, my travel buddy and I had a go at both.

We'd booked the Blue Ice trip through Arctic Adventures a local adventure excursion company. After we were picked up from our hotel, we were driven along the south shore to the Sólheimajökull Glacier where it was all going to happen.

At the parking lot near the glacier, we were greeted by an icy wind and subzero temperatures, making me extremely grateful for the dozen layers of clothes I was wearing. (Which also made me look a little bit like a Michelin woman.)

Our guides gave us quick instructions and a demo of how to strap on the crampons, how to use the ice axe and how not to use the ice axe.  We learned how to go up a hill on the crampons, and down a hill on the crampons, which some chose to do on their bums. Per showed us how to walk parallel on a slope dancer style and old man style, which probably makes more sense when you see this. And finally off we went.

We slalomed among the crevasses and moulins(glacier mills), while Per explained to us how they come into being. I'm afraid to say that I can't retell any of it because I was much more interested in the colours and shapes of the ice. It's amazing how ice can turn in different hues of blue.

At the end of the hike, Per found the perfect, steep ice wall, where he screwed in an ice screw and attached a rope. I attached my harness and after a lot of hacking, kicking and mostly being pulled up on the rope by Per, I managed to reach the top.

It does look very impressive in the picture, but in real life it was only about a 10 metre wall, however and most importantly; it all felt very much like a Bear Grylls expedition.

The Blue Lagoon in Iceland

Photo by Jonathanpercy

Usually when you mention the words blue and lagoon in one breath, what springs to mind is the sultry movie from the 80s with Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins. Or at least a body of warm Caribbean water in some hot, exotic country. My Blue Lagoon experience was a bit less tropical. My travel buddy and I took a day trip to the Blue Lagoon, the famous Icelandic thermal pool with the same name last week, in the dead of winter.

The Blue Lagoon in Iceland near Reykjavik is a giant spa complex built around a natural thermal pool. Its posh changing rooms have showers equipped with luxury shampoo and conditioner, downy towels and comfy bath robes. There are also numerous indulgent massage treatments to choose from.

The lagoon is accessible from an indoor wading pool, from where you can swim outside through a swinging door. This was especially convenient as the temperature outside wasn't exactly balmy, more like sub-zero. The water has a milky appearance and is rich in silica and sulphur. The temperature is around 37-39 degrees Celsius. A good reason to stay submerged.

We swam through a grotto where after a push of a button a sultry voice explained the origins of the Blue Lagoon. We lathered ourselves with purifying mud, (at least that's what the signage said what it was), while admiring the snowy/icy surroundings.

However; the best bit of our thermal experience was the swim up bar; floating in soothing warm mineral water with a glass of wine in your hand. What could be more blissful than that? Until  we noticed that our hair had started to turn into ice. Which was our queue to get out.

Overall it was a very relaxing experience, however I do have one tip for the ladies (and other people with long hair): Do make excessive use of the conditioner provided! I mean excessively drown your hair in the stuff. If you don't your hair will end up looking like a bird's nest. But don't let that spoil the fun!

Laundromat Cafe in Reykjavik

Photo by Laundromat Cafe

On my recent trip to Iceland my travel buddy and I  tried out the cappuccino at Laundromat Cafe,  a laid-back, trendy place stacked full of books. They serve great coffee and do awesome food. (Yummie French toast). And if you're wondering why it's called Laundromat: Just head down to the basement and you'll find a couple of washing machines humming away, while the owners of their content are busy enjoying their cuppa joe. How convenient is that?

Unfortunately we didn't have time to try out the numerous other coffee houses dotted around town. But if the coffee at Laundromat was anything to go by, Icelandic coffee gets a big fat 10!!One might not expect it of this Nordic city tucked away somewhere in a corner of Europe, surrounded by the Atlantic ocean, but the coffee culture in this city is very hot and happening. And without the help of the likes of Starbucks, Costa coffee and Nero, I might add. No, Iceland has its own local coffee chains called Kaffitár and Te Kaffi.

Find more information on Laudromat Cafe on
http://www.thelaundromatcafe.com/da

The Northern Lights Tour in Iceland

Photo by Billy Idle

Seeing the northern lights has been on my travel bucket list for a long, long time.

So last weekend was the weekend I was going to see them when I went on a trip to icy Iceland. On our first evening, my travel buddy and I were very excited as we hopped on a Reykjavik Excursions bus full of some 50 other similarly excited passengers. We didn't see them.

We drove around the Icelandic countryside for over three hours, peering hopefully up to the sky, where we saw nothing but clouds and some faint stars, but no green curtains.
We did some jumping jacks in the freezing cold, while gazing upwards, but we saw nothing but black darkness.
We listened to the guide talk about Icelandic Christmas decorations and traditions, taking our minds off the absent Aurora Borealis.

Disappointed we went back to our hotel, telling ourselves we might see them on the remaining nights of our stay. But we didn't...

On the downside the northern lights remain on the bucket list. But on the upside, I've got a very good reason to go back to Iceland.

We booked our tour through Reykjavik Excursions which was a very well organised tour company. It must be noted that if, like us, you fail to see the northern lights, they offer you free subsequent tours till you get to see them.

Good luck!