We are an adventure guiding company founded by two internationally experienced and knowledgeable guides. We operate activities in and around our backyard in South East Iceland.
At Ice Guardians, we provide unique, meaningful, and immersive experiences in the glaciated playground of Vatnajökull National Park, South East Iceland. But our Iceland adventure activities come with a mission. Our approach on trips is to educate, advocate for, and show the importance of glaciers to the world.
We want all our guests to have an unforgettable adventure here in the Land of Fire and Ice, creating memories to look back on for years to come. But just as importantly, we want everyone we welcome to leave us with a better understanding of glacier behaviour and how their retreat will have consequences globally in the battle against climate change.
With just a 1°C to 2°C increase in global temperatures, all the easily accessible glacier outlets in Vatnajökull National Park will have retreated entirely within 100 to 200 years. It’s more important than ever, then, to raise awareness about the importance of these ice giants.
In addition to glaciers, you’ll also learn about volcanos, the wider landscape, mighty floods, changing climates, and their impact on local lives since settlement nearly 1,200 years ago.
Ready to start your Vatnajökull journey? Browse our full range of Iceland adventure activities or find out more about our custom Vatnajökull tours for a tailor-made experience. If you have any questions for the Ice Guardians team, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Kish’s primary motivation as an Adventure Guide in Iceland is to share his understanding of how Iceland’s landscapes form geologically and the importance of glaciers to the world in the fight against climate change.
His professional experiences come from a range of roles in both hemispheres. Prior to guiding, he worked in the deserts of Western Australia in field geology roles exploring for gold. He also spent a couple of seasons in two of New Zealand’s most popular ski resorts.
He has guided in various forms, from skippering 175HP custom boats to leading nature valley hikes amongst the iceberg-filled lakes of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Aoraki Mt Cook National Park.
After leaving New Zealand, Kish came to guide and live in Vatnajökulsþjógarður, Iceland. He soon worked his way up to Senior Guide in two major glacier operations, and began to dream up the vision of ‘Ice Guardians’.
In his spare time, Kish enjoys skiing, trail running, hiking, and generally exploring wild areas. However, the weather in Iceland is not always helpful! When it’s less than ideal he enjoys reading scientific articles and papers and watching documentaries about glaciers, geology, and climate change, all while sipping on a nice hot brew.
One of his dreams is to visit Southeast Greenland, specifically an area which formed the basis for his Master’s thesis.
Rich hails from New Zealand and has a great deal of experience in the outdoors in both personal and professional adventures. Based in Skaftafell, Rich has worked in Iceland for five years, working full-time as Head Guide and Base Manager of a major glacier guiding operation, training, managing, and guiding on five of Vatnajökull National Park’s glaciers.
Prior to his arrival in Iceland, Rich trained and worked for six years full-time as a Senior Guide on the steep Franz Josef Glacier of Westland — Tai Poutini National Park — part of a UNESCO World Heritage Area in New Zealand’s rugged Southern Alps.
Rich is credited with developing and maintaining safe glacier and ice cave access under the often severe demands of steep glaciers, combined with the ever-growing challenges of climate change. Rich has the knowledge and skills that can only be gained with years of dedication. You are in safe hands if you take a trip with him!
In his personal time, Rich can often be found exploring little-visited or remote areas of Vatnajökull, both on glaciers and summits. In recent winters, Rich’s frequency of climbing both established and new water-ice routes has accelerated and shows no sign of slowing down.