Visit Sólheimajökull: A Glacier In Retreat

As the dizzy heights of the Eyjafjallajökull glacier come into view, most people understandably feel a magnetic pull to the otherworldly ice cap. The most accessible place to satisfy the urge get your feet on the ice is Sólheimajökull.

Various tour companies offer short hikes onto the glacier, which is accessible from Route One via a short dirt road. They’ll supply crampons and experienced guides, who can point out and educate you about the glacier’s various features. If you don’t fancy that, you can still get a spectacular view over the jagged blue ice—but don’t go walking on there alone, as the slippery glacier can be deadly to the untrained.