When you plan to visit Iceland’s glaciers, you might have conjured images of large icy waves creeping down the mountains. A myriad of colours including blues, whites and greys and dramatic cracks in the ice. However, there are a few other things you might not expect to find up there that you might be surprised to find.

Mice: Okay so not what you or I know as a mouse but a glacier mouse. These are round furry stones that have collected moss as they have travelled along the ice and are home to hundreds of tiny organisms. The internal temperature of this mini ecosystem is warmer than the temperature on the ice and makes the perfect home and breeding ground for all these microscopic bugs. You can find these scattered on the surface of the glacier so keep your eyes peeled.

Ravens: Here in Iceland there are a lot of Ravens around. A large group together is called a conspiracy or unkindness and you might become suspicious if you see a lot of them all gathering in one place as this can be considered a bad omen. If you come on a tour with us to Falljökull you will very likely see some ravens who have cheekily identified that tourists often drop the odd crumb or two as they have their lunch. These ravens are curious and very clever, and you’ll probably be able to see them very close up as they browse the menu and decide who´s scraps they want for lunch that day!

Volcanic Ash: You might not think that a large icy scape such as a glacier would hold so many secrets within, however beneath the surface of the ice you can find layers of ash from each volcanic eruption in Iceland. After each eruption thick layers of ash would cover the glacier, as more snow falls and compresses on top of the ice then this layer is locked inside. In certain caves and tunnels, you can be lucky enough to witness the layers running horizontally through the wall making stripes in the ice.

Running water. Not just a frozen block of ice, on the glaciers you can find fresh running water. Natural melting of the ice surface and snow high up in the mountains makes channels and waterfalls on the glacier. You can often find somewhere to grab a mouthful of icy cold water or ask the guide to show you how to do the drinking challenge using your ice axe and upper body strength for that refreshing gulp.

Hollywood actors. So, this one is perhaps a bit far-fetched as it will not be a daily occurrence, however many Hollywood films and series have been filmed on Icelandic glaciers such as Interstellar and Game of Thrones. The glaciers lend themselves to interpretation of large lunar landscapes or a cold icy no-man’s land meaning they are a popular filming location. You never know who you might find up there filming their next blockbuster!

If you would like to experience any of these up on the glacier, why not join one of our hiking tours. Here you can see a list of summer hiking tours.