Kid friendly or skip? Honest Review
We had an magical Iceland trip during Thanksgiving week, and while there were many reasons it was incredible, doing the Ice Cave and Glacier hike with Melrakki adventures made it a true trip of a lifetime.
From scaling icy cliffs to spelunking through ancient Frozen caves, Iceland offers once-in-a-lifetime glacier experiences for adventurous families. After researching tons of glacier hike operators, we chose Melrakki for their stellar safety record, kid-friendly approach, and epic combo tours. We embarked on the Glacier Hike and Ice Cave Exploration tour – a full day each of stepping into a magical icy wonderland.
The night before we stayed in Vik at the Hotel Vik Myrdal. As an added bonus, they offer a Northern Lights wakeup call in the middle of the night– which is pretty darn cool. If you stay in Vik, consider watching the thriller show Katla on Netflix, which was filmed here (and quite good!).
Day One- Glacier Hike
After getting kitted out in serious climbing gear like harnesses, helmets and crampons, we set out to scale the dizzying heights of the famous Falljökull glacier. Our experienced guide Antwon exuded confidence and kept the mood lighthearted as he securely tethered us up steep ascents overlooking stunning vistas.
Day 1 was the Glacier Hike, and it wasn’t until we slowly got to the top of the glacier that I realized how terrifying this would be without a guide. As the crampons stuck to the glacier, with each mini step I tried to shake off the terror of slipping. In this moment and throughout the next couple of days I was so grateful we didn’t go with a low cost or DIY tour.
Day 2
Next day was the Ice Caves, and given our 6 year old is a huge Frozen fan, this was extra magical, though in many ways no less terrifying for us parents thinking of all the things that could go wrong as we descended below millennia of icesheets.
The true magic happened when we stepped into the naturally formed ice caves underneath the glacier. As we descended into the ancient blue depths, the kids were awestruck by the shapes sculpted by nature over centuries. The caves felt like a frozen, hidden world.
Again, our tour guide was extra cautious, knowledgeable and was extra focused on the younger kiddos given how dangerous this could be unaccompanied. And given a 6 year old’s mood can change like the weather in Iceland, Antwon was even that much more captivating and wethered through a few potential tantrum minefields.
While incredibly beautiful, glacier hikes and ice caves are not to be attempted without professional guides trained in safety and rescues. Crevasses, falling ice, and fast weather changes make these risky environments. Melrakki’s rigorous training and top-notch gear gave us peace of mind to enjoy the adventure.
Our charismatic Melrakki guide was fantastic with the kids, keeping them engaged while ensuring safety. His humor and patience made the 10 hour tour fly by. We highly recommend Melrakki Adventure tours to families seeking a once-in-a-lifetime Icelandic experience. Just come prepared for the cold!
The tour wasn’t cheap –about $125 per adult per day. And we opted for the private tour instead of the group one because kids had to be above 8 years old. But it was our only major splurge on the trip and it was absolutely worth every penny for the experience and the peace of mind.
Are you planning a trip to Iceland? See the 9/10 day itinerary with a downloadable packing list here.
