Cover From the jagged peaks of the Alps to the temperate rainforests of New Zealand, glaciers offer an unparalleled chance to witness ice in motion. (Photo: Wirestock / Freepik)
From the jagged peaks of the Alps to the temperate rainforests of New Zealand, glaciers offer an unparalleled chance to witness ice in motion. (Photo: Wirestock / Freepik)
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Glaciers you can experience firsthand, offering striking landscapes and insight into nature’s slow forces
For travellers who want to see the earth’s shifting landscapes at close range, glaciers remain some of the most striking features accessible without specialist training. These rivers of ice are spread across mountain ranges, coastal areas and valleys, and each moves at its own pace, shaping the land as it goes. Many can be approached on foot or viewed from dedicated paths, while others are best seen by boat or through guided tours. Visiting glaciers offers insight into natural forces that have sculpted the earth over millennia, leaving behind valleys, rock formations and feeding rivers. Observing them up close allows an understanding of scale and change that maps or photographs alone cannot convey.
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Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
Located in Los Glaciares National Park in Patagonia, this glacier is notable for its relative stability compared with others in the region. Visitors can walk along a series of balconies and pathways that allow close observation of its ice walls, which regularly calve into Lake Argentino. Boat trips provide another angle for viewing the shifting surface.
Vatnajökull, Iceland
Covering nearly eight per cent of Iceland’s landmass, Vatnajökull is Europe’s largest glacier. Sections of it are accessible through guided hikes, particularly around Skaftafell where trails reach the ice tongue. Boat tours on the nearby Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon bring travellers within sight of floating icebergs that have broken away.
Aletsch Glacier, Switzerland
Part of the Unesco-listed Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area, this is the largest glacier in the Alps. It stretches over 20 kilometres and is best viewed from vantage points such as Eggishorn or Bettmerhorn, both accessible by cable car. Guided treks onto the ice are also available in the summer months.
Hubbard Glacier, Alaska, USA
Situated in eastern Alaska, Hubbard Glacier flows from Yukon into Disenchantment Bay. Cruises often include this location, allowing passengers to watch as large blocks of ice break off into the water. At over 120 kilometres in length, it is one of North America’s most extensive tidewater glaciers.
Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand
On the west coast of the South Island, Franz Josef descends from the Southern Alps into temperate rainforest. Visitors can approach via walking tracks to the glacier’s terminal face or take helicopter tours to access higher sections. Its proximity to lowland vegetation highlights the contrast between ice and subtropical surroundings.
Rob Roy Glacier, New Zealand
Nestled in Mount Aspiring National Park, Rob Roy Glacier is smaller than Franz Josef but highly accessible. The hike to the viewpoint takes three to four hours return, passing alpine meadows, waterfalls and beech forest. From the lookout, visitors can see the glacier’s terminal face and the valley carved by its ice. Rob Roy Glacier illustrates how even retreating mountain glaciers continue to shape the landscape.
Jostedalsbreen, Norway
The largest glacier in mainland Europe, Jostedalsbreen covers more than 480 square kilometres. Branches such as Briksdalsbreen and Nigardsbreen are accessible to visitors through guided walks. The surrounding Jostedalsbreen National Park provides trails that lead to viewpoints over the ice.
Baltoro Glacier, Pakistan
One of Asia’s most remarkable glaciers, Baltoro stretches over 60 kilometres in the Karakoram Range. It provides access to several of the world’s highest peaks, including K2. Trekkers often walk alongside its icy expanse on multi-day expeditions, witnessing moraines, icefalls and rugged peaks. Baltoro Glacier demonstrates how Asian glaciers carve dramatic valleys in remote mountain landscapes.
Whether approached by foot, cable car, boat or helicopter, each of these glaciers offers a rare look at natural forces in motion, revealing how ice continues to shape valleys, rivers and the wider environment.
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Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
