5 best glacier hikes in the world for first-timers, from Iceland to Alaska

Franz Josef Glacier, one of more than 3000 in New Zealand's Southern Alps, carves a sharp contrast for glacier hikes where dripping rainforest meets sheer ice walls. Start in Franz Josef township on South Island's wild West Coast, an easy 20-minute walk from most lodges to the heli-pad amid fern gullies. Short chopper flights, slicing through mist for 5 minutes, deposit groups of 6 directly onto the glacier's undulating surface for 2 to 3-hour sessions. Navigate sculpted ice tunnels glowing electric blue, skirt towering icefalls that groan with latent movement, and kneel to sip from pure, effervescent streams carving their own paths. The air hums with meltwater and distant avalanches, a raw intro to temperate glacier dynamics.

Guides run hands-on demos, teaching self-arrest with ice axes on gentle slopes—a quick confidence booster without real peril. Terrain forgives with no climbs over 100m, keeping focus on the surreal textures under crampons. Prime window falls May to October, dodging summer's accelerated melt that roughens access. Costs hit £150 to £200, air time baked in; small groups ensure pace matches fitness. Fly into Queenstown, then bus 5 hours via Haast Pass for glacier-framed vistas, or self-drive the coastal curve. Crash at Te Waonui Forest Retreat, steps from the pad, for post-hike spa recovery.

Stretching 23km through the Jungfrau-Aletsch Unesco World Heritage site, Aletsch Glacier sets the stage for high-altitude glacier hikes that deliver scale without exhaustion. Board the Jungfrau Railway from Interlaken Ost station, a cogwheel climb through tunnels to Jungfraujoch at 3454m—Europe's highest rail point, with observatories framing the ice cap. A 20-minute snowcat shuttle or brisk walk across the saddle drops you onto the glacier for 90-minute to 2-hour guided treks, where wind-polished snow crunches underfoot and the horizon flattens into infinity. Traverse vast white expanses overlooked by Matterhorn-like peaks, the sheer Eiger North Face and a hazy Mont Blanc; pause amid seracs like frozen cathedrals and ice towers teetering on blue crevasses, as guides probe ahead with poles for hidden weak spots.

Logistics lean effortless, with cable cars and trains shuttling you back to valley warmth. Season locks to July through September, when a firm snowpack stabilises the upper reaches. Link up with Alpincenter or Glacier 3000 for Swiss-run precision; costs span £120 to £180 including rail passes. Base in Grindelwald, a 30-minute train ride down, where trails fan out for acclimatisation hikes and evenings dissolve into fondue by roaring fires. Altitude demands hydration—start slow to dodge headaches.

A 30km Patagonian behemoth in Los Glaciares National Park, Perito Moreno Glacier thrives on accessible glacier hikes framed by its relentless 5km-wide front against Lake Argentino. From El Calafate airport hub, a 2-hour bus or transfer threads through pampas to the visitor centre's boardwalks. Hop catamarans for a 20-minute lake crossing, engines humming past bobbing ice chunks, before docking at the north wall to ascend steel stairs and ramps for a 1.5 to 2km ice trek. Tread broad shelves where bootprints sink into granular blue ice, all while thunderous calvings echo like artillery—massive slabs sheering off in slow explosions. Climb to viewpoints atop 60m stacks, the ground trembling faintly under each rupture.

Guides from Hielo y Aventura unpack the mechanics: this rare advancing glacier pushes forward 2m daily, damming and bursting against the lake in cycles. Dry Andean winds scour the surface firm, easing crampon work year-round, though December to March peaks with longer light. Certified tours cost £90 to £130, gear included. Pair with estancia overnights an hour out, trading ice for gaucho barbecues and horseback loops. Pack binoculars for distant flamingos; earplugs blunt the roar if sensitive.

Tucked 21km from Juneau in Tongass National Forest, Mendenhall Glacier serves up beginner glacier hikes laced with tidal rhythms and wildlife cameos. Roll 20 minutes from Juneau airport by rental car or shuttle, pulling into the Mendenhall Visitor Center amid totem-carved trails. Choose canoe paddles across Mendenhall Lake—paddles dipping into frigid 4°C water—to reach the glacier toe, then gear up for a 1 to 2km ice walk; or opt for 10-minute heli-drops that hover over crevassed moraine before touchdown. Practice deliberate crampon steps on undulating blue ice, probe shallow pools rimed with fresh rime, and scan bergy bits for harbour seals hauling out, their barks cutting the hush.

Guides from Above the Clouds or Mendenhall Glacier Adventures unpack tide cycles that expose margins and the glacier's 40m annual retreat, driven by warming fjords. Flat paths keep it straightforward, with axe work limited to basics. June to September shines, coinciding with salmon runs. Costs run £110 to £160, paddles or rotors extra. Juneau's cruise docks streamline flights from Seattle or Vancouver. Lodge at Alaska's Capital Inn for whale-watching add-ons; bring bug spray for lakeside no-see-ums.

These glacier hikes prioritise safety and scenery for entry-level explorers. Check operators for current permits and fitness checks.

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