There’s nothing quite so breathtaking as seeing a glacier in real life. They soar into the sky, and can take your trip to new explorative heights. And best of all, they can be found all over the world.
1. Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
Planning on visiting the South American continent? Located in the Los Glaciares National Park (which is magnificent within itself), the Perito Moreno Glacier is a Patagonian gem. While jagged ice peaks form its top, you’ll also find many stunning ice caves within the glacier itself, some of which may be trekkable.
2. Vatnajökull Glacier, Iceland
Say hello to the King of glaciers! With an area of over 8,100 square kilometres, Vatnajökull is the biggest glacier in Iceland and one of the largest in Europe. It’s become such an important natural monument that in 2008, this glacier and its surrounds were officially declared a national park. Several volcanoes also lie beneath it.
3. Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska
The Juneau Icefield sports around 38 big glaciers, and Mendenhall is one of the most popular and impressive. Tours, shuttles and excursions all run regularly to Mendenhall, and best of all, it’s only about 13 miles from Juneau itself. Joining a group or hiring a professional guide is the ideal way to explore this glacier.
4. Furtwängler Glacier, Tanzania
Let go of your assumptions that Africa is all desert, heat and wildlife! Close to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro sits the Furtwängler Glacier, which once used to cover the mountain’s entire peak. Sadly, this glacier, along with the others on Kilimanjaro, are disappearing fast and may even be gone as early as 2020. See it while it lasts!
5. Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand
Visiting New Zealand’s South Island and journeying to the west coast will allow you to take advantage of this glacial trip. The Franz Josef Glacier is easily accessible, with guided hikes, climbs, valley treks and ice cave walks available. When you’re done, grab a ticket and take a dip in the Glacier Hot Pools, which can be found on Cron Street.
6. Presena Glacier, Italy
Ever wanted to ski down a glacier? Here’s your chance! Presena Glacier in Vermiglio offers beautiful skiing and glacier hiking experiences even in the springtime. It sits at 3,000 metres above sea level and also offers more advanced skiers the chance to ski off-piste.
7. Pasterze Glacier, Austria
Stretching over 8 kilometres and running beneath Glossglockner, the shining Pasterze Glacier is Austria’s longest and one of its most attractive. Although it’s receding by around 10 metres each year, it’s still breathtaking to see up close. An official ascent trail and the Glacier Railway make exploring Pasterze incredibly easy for travellers.
8. Lambert Glacier, Antarctica
Antarctica is a vast land of white beauty and so it’s no surprise that the largest glacier in the world – at 400 kilometres long, 100 kilometres wide, 2.5 kilometres deep – can be found here in the continent’s east. The Lambert Glacier is also one of the fastest moving glaciers on the planet, but good luck getting here. Harsh conditions make it very unlikely, though a tour to elsewhere in Antarctica is still entirely possible!