Courses

Hard Ice 1 Guide Training

Glacier Guide Training at a professional standard. 

Tour code: IMG120

Hard Ice 1 Guide Training

Basic training for glacier guides 

This 4-day course is run according to the standards of the Association of Icelandic Mountain Guides. Students will receive a certification of their skills upon satisfactory completion of the course. The course covers both hard skills such as rescue techniques and soft skills that relate to both risk management and customer service. 

The IMG instructors on all our courses are among the best in the business, with a wealth of experience in different fields of guiding. IMG set the base for what is now the AIMG standard in training in cooperation with some of New Zealand's most experienced guides and instructors. The company has always been the biggest provider of AIMG training. 

IMG trained guides are sought after for guiding in Iceland and beyond. Hard Ice skills are the foundation for various guiding jobs where risk management, quality of service, and rope skills are needed.  On the IMG Hard Ice training courses, you will be trained by some of the best and most experienced guides available in Iceland.

The practical part of the course will be held on an outlet glacier in South Iceland, while lectures will take place in the Icelandic Mountain Guides Base Camp. An equipment list will be sent out to participants in the weeks prior to the course.

Accommodation: There are many options for accommodation in the area. Icelandic Mountain Guides can assist with booking a hotel or guesthouse stay if necessary.

Prerequisites: On professional courses, students must have an amateur background in the outdoors including some mountaineering and rope work experience. Typically from volunteer rescue teams (Iceland), climbing or mountaineering/climbing courses. Those lacking the relevant skills can look at our Glacier Skills Course for preparation.  

Tour Overview

  • Meeting point

    IMG office in Reykjavík

    Meeting point

    Possible to meet the group in Skaftafell

  • Group size

    4 - 10

  • Language

    English

  • Difficulty

    Challenging

    Difficulty

    Suites those that are physically active and have some background in basic traveling in mountainous terrain with a backpack. 6-7 hrs walks per day.

  • Availability

    May

  • Duration

    4 days

  • 20

    Minimum age:

    20 yrs

Book this tour

Tour Highlights

Included

  • Experienced and qualified instructors
  • Technical group equipment 
  • Transport from / to Reykjavík
  • Food during the course 

Not Included

  • Accommodation (camping is possible) 
  • Personal equipment 
  • Food during travels to/from Reykjavík