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| Sapphire Ice Cave |
We had an amazing adventure today to the Sapphire ice cave. Our guide Max dropped us off at the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon where we rendezvoused with Pat, our ice cave guide. Pat would drive the bumpy 30 minute journey in a super jeep to take us towards Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, an outlet glacier of the larger glacier of Vatnajökull. This same glacier would be the one leading to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, the source of the "diamonds" at the nearby diamond beach. We hiked about 40 minutes on thankfully relatively flat, although rocky and uneven terrain to get to the entrance of the ice cave. We had to trust our cold weather gear which held up! Phew! Once in the caves, the near 0 degree temperature felt absolutely balmy...
Pat pointed out the various points that the entrance to the cave had been in previous years, which was sadly receding by around 350m each year! They predict that this will be the last season for the Sapphire ice cave. Once at the cave, we were transfixed by the phenomenal blues of the ice. It was an environment that felt so surreal. Apparently blessed with perfect weather conditions to accentuate the blue of the ice (no snow, no wind, no cloud, recent rain but not too recent, cold snap), the "cleanliness" of the glacier (usually concrete grey because of the ash in summer!), as well as the comfort of the hike to the cave itself, we were super happy! We'll take it thanks!
The guides did a great job taking their groups through the cave system so each one is in a cavern by themselves which meant we always felt like we were the only group there. This was definitely a great reason to be in Iceland in the winter as this activity is not possible in the warmer months. If you do get an opportunity, we highly recommend it as it was a unique experience (at least for us!).
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| Our super jeep |
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Our group hiking in the sunrise (around 1045 just in case you were wondering...)
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| Our first glimpse of the cave entrance |
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| The old cave entrance not so long ago... |
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| Could pass for a Star Wars scene. The old entrance visible |
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| All sorts of phenomenal colours and textures |
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| Wow! |
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| To get perspective on the length of some of these caverns |
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| cave ceiling |
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| Cave wall |
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| Beware of icicles |
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| A newly created alternate entrance |
Our adventures continued at the lagoon with a brief view of the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon itself, followed by fun at Diamond Beach. Young Jonah only realised at the end why it was called Diamond Beach. Obviously not listening to the guide!! The rest of the day consisted of a long drive back to Reykjavik with rest stops. We checked back into the Hilton ready for more Iceland adventures tomorrow!
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| Hiking back towards our jeep the guide drank from the glacier. He blends into the rocks...but you can make him out |
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| If he can do it, let's do it too. Apparently delicious water |
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| View of the glacier |
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| Once back at the carpark, and cooled down from our walk we were freezing and hungry! Yay for langostine soup. Yummy |
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| The roll was good too!! |
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| Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Can't see it from this pic but there were many many seals |
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| Diamond Beach |
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| Up where they stay all day in the sun... |
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| Umm no one else was doing this... |
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| Nor were they trying to pound a glacier ice into a round ball |
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| looking for a nice flat piece to distort the face |
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| The source of the "good" exemplary behaviour |
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