Exploring Icelandic Glaciers: Your Guide to the Kjölur Route in the Southeast Highlands

Icelandic glaciers, together with the majestic Langjökull Glacier, are among the many most extraordinary pure wonders within the Northern Hemisphere—huge, shifting lots of ice that form the panorama and outline the island’s wild coronary heart. The great thing about Icelandic glaciers attracts vacationers from all over the world.

For vacationers heading past the Golden Circle, the trail to Langjökull Glacier and into Iceland’s Highlands is an unforgettable journey into the uncooked, untouched inside. 

As you discover the Icelandic glaciers, you’ll uncover distinctive options that spotlight their historic historical past and significance to the surroundings.

Right here’s your information to exploring the Kjölur Route within the Southeast Highlands.

An outline:

Discovering Icelandic Glaciers: A Journey By way of Ice and Historical past

Understanding the influence of local weather change on Icelandic glaciers is essential for appreciating these pure wonders.

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The distinctive ecosystem supported by Icelandic glaciers consists of numerous natural world tailored to the tough situations.

Langjökull Glacier Tour: What to Know Earlier than You Go to the Icelandic Glaciers

Langjökull is Iceland’s second-largest glacier, spanning round 950 sq. kilometers. Categorized as an ice cap, Langjökull consists of centuries-old compressed snow, with ice that averages 400–450 years in age. The glacier shaped over 6,000 years in the past and continues to resume itself because it slowly flows underneath its personal weight—a defining attribute of any true glacier. 

The glacier’s floor reveals darkish layers of historic volcanic ash from previous eruptions, now embedded within the ice. These ash layers create dramatic visible patterns and are a stark reminder of Iceland’s fiery previous. The compressed glacier ice, usually tinged in luminous blue, is denser and melts roughly eight occasions slower than common ice. A characteristic that almost all glaciers in Iceland have in widespread.

Kjölur Highland Highway: The Greatest Locations to Go to

The path to Langjökull cuts by way of the Icelandic Highlands—a distant, elevated plateau recognized for its huge deserts, rhyolite mountains, and geothermal wonders. The one entry to this area is through the Kjölur Route (F35), a 196-kilometer highland street connecting Gullfoss within the south to Blönduós within the north. Open solely in summer season and accessible solely by 4WD, this historic observe sits 600–700 meters above sea degree and passes between Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers.

Highlights alongside this route embody: 

• Langjökull Glacier: Whereas solely accessible for snowmobiles, Jeeps and modified autos, the view from earlier than the sting of the glacier at Skálpanes, the best level of street 336, to the glacier & Jarlhettur mountain vary is effectively well worth the drive. In clear climate, the view extends to the south, in addition to to the north, to Hofsjökull and Kerlingarfjöll mountains.
• Kerlingarfjöll: A mountain vary recognized for its colourful rhyolite peaks and steaming geothermal valleys. A brand new resort, opened in 2023, now presents year-round lodging, whereas the summer season campsite is a favourite amongst hikers.
• Hveravellir: A geothermal discipline situated between the glaciers, famed for its effervescent scorching springs and pure scorching swimming pools—ultimate for bathing within the midst of Iceland’s wilderness. 

Crossing Kjölur: A Highland Journey just for 4WD (and Horses)

The Kjölur route (F35) is one among Iceland’s most simple Highland crossings, making it an excellent alternative for vacationers seeking to expertise the inside with out excessive challenges. Whereas the gravel street will be bumpy, it does not contain any river crossings—a rarity amongst Iceland’s Highland roads. Which means that anybody with a correct 4WD automobile can safely drive the route in summer season, with out requiring off-road experience or particular modifications. 

Take it gradual and benefit from the surroundings to profit from the journey. Staying in a single day earlier than and after the crossing provides consolation and suppleness to the expertise. Within the south, lodging vary from guesthouses to boutique resorts within the Gullfoss space, together with close by cities reminiscent of Flúðir and Reykholt. Within the north, the areas round Blönduós, Varmahlíð, and Sauðárkrókur additionally provide all kinds of lodging choices to go well with each journey fashion. Or select the in a single day cease at Kerlingarfjöll or Hveravellir and expertise the sunshine nights of the Icelandic summer season within the silence of the highlands. 

Touring by way of the Icelandic glaciers offers you the chance to witness breathtaking sights which might be in contrast to anyplace else.

A Distant Place in Iceland: Skálpanesvegur and Past

Branching from the Kjölur route is Skálpanesvegur, a 12-kilometer street main towards Langjökull’s edge. Right here, the surroundings grows even harsher and extra remoted. Constructing a street by way of the smooth, muddy plains between Kjölur and Langjökull as soon as appeared unimaginable. Ástvaldur “Valdi” Óskarsson, a pioneer with an unshakable imaginative and prescient, undertook the seemingly unimaginable process of constructing a street by way of a few of Iceland’s most treacherous terrain. 

With no clear tracks and floor that turned impassable in spring, he constructed out a 12-kilometer route—in the present day often known as Skálpanesvegur. This tough however important observe created the primary vehicular entry to Langjökull from the east aspect. His work opened up the glaciers East aspect to autos, laying the inspiration for tourism on this distant a part of Iceland’s Highlands.

For individuals who have by no means been on a glacier, Langjökull presents way over a frozen panorama—it offers a window into Iceland’s dramatic pure historical past. Standing on its huge floor, surrounded by silence and sweeping highland views, is a really unforgettable expertise. In summer season, guests can witness the shimmering white and blue of uncovered glacier ice, whereas in winter, the glacier transforms right into a pristine world of snow.

Glaciers are among the many most inhospitable locations on Earth, but they play a significant function within the ecosystem—supplying mineral-rich water to rivers and oceans, and offering among the world’s purest ingesting water by way of glacial groundwater. 

Touring Langjökull will be tailor-made to completely different ranges of journey. Snowmobiling presents high-speed pleasure throughout the icy expanse, excellent for thrill-seekers. For a extra accessible expertise, Jeep & monster truck excursions present a snug, all-terrain choice appropriate for all ages and health ranges. Guided excursions guarantee security, skilled perception, and entry to the glacier’s most fascinating options. 

Guests ought to take into account guided excursions to discover the Icelandic glaciers safely and find out about their geological significance.

Remaining Tip: Whether or not navigating the historic Kjölur route, stress-free within the scorching springs at Hveravellir, or gliding over the ice cap of Langjökull, the Icelandic Highlands promise landscapes that really feel untouched by people. With the precise planning—and the precise information—this distant nook of the world turns into surprisingly reachable. 

The Icelandic glaciers present important insights into our planet’s local weather patterns and environmental modifications.

Expertise the gorgeous fantastic thing about the Icelandic glaciers by taking part in organized excursions that showcase their grandeur.

Vatnajökull and Mýrdalsjökull: Iceland’s Different Iconic Glaciers

Whereas Langjökull presents a dramatic journey into the Highlands, two different glaciers—Vatnajökull and Mýrdalsjökull—are extra simply accessible and widespread amongst vacationers. 

Vatnajökull, the most important glacier in Europe, covers round 8% of Iceland’s landmass and dominates the southeast area. Simply reached through the Ring Highway, this glacier is house to well-known outlet glaciers like Skaftafellsjökull and Fjallsjökull, and the putting Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, the place icebergs drift towards the Atlantic. Vatnajökull Nationwide Park presents well-developed infrastructure for mountaineering, ice caving, and glacier walks, making it a best choice for first-time guests. 

Many journey seekers are drawn to the Icelandic glaciers for actions like mountaineering and snowmobiling.

Additional west lies Mýrdalsjökull, located close to the city of Vík. Beneath this glacier rests the notorious Katla volcano, making it an exhilarating vacation spot for exploring the Icelandic glaciers. Regardless of its volatility, Mýrdalsjökull is a serious hub for glacier excursions, together with snowmobiling and ice cave explorations, usually ranging from the favored Sólheimajökull outlet and Vik village.

Each glaciers will be reached year-round through Highway 1 alongside the South and provide a variety of guided excursions—making them among the most visited glacier locations in Iceland. 

Essential Security Observe: By no means try to stroll or drive on a glacier and not using a licensed information or a guided tour in Jeep/Truck/snowmobile. Glaciers will be deceptively harmful, with hidden crevasses, unstable snow, and quickly altering climate. Guided excursions guarantee your security and supply skilled information of the terrain. 

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