Glacier Tourism: The Rising Danger of Last-Chance Travel

Glaciers, with their towering ice formations and breathtaking landscapes, have long been a key attraction for adventurers and nature lovers. However, with the rapid melting of glaciers due to climate change, a new trend is emerging: last-chance tourism. This phenomenon is driving people to witness these natural wonders before they disappear. Unfortunately, the rush to see the world’s dwindling glaciers is turning deadly, as the landscape becomes increasingly unstable and dangerous.

The Allure of Glacier Adventures

In 2019, Zach Sheldon, an experienced tour guide in Alaska, witnessed a tragedy that highlighted the perilous nature of glacier tourism. Leading a group to Valdez Glacier, he saw the aftermath of a devastating event. Chunks of ice had calved from the glacier into the lake, trapping and ultimately killing three tourists from Europe. Drawn closer by the glacier's striking blue ice, these tourists had unknowingly ventured into an extremely dangerous zone. This incident is just one of many that illustrate the increasing risks associated with visiting glaciers.

As glaciers melt, they become more accessible, drawing tourists who want to experience these natural wonders up close. But this accessibility comes with greater risks. Ice is more mobile, crevasses widen, and entire ice formations can collapse without warning. Despite these dangers, the number of tourists visiting glaciers is growing, driven in part by a desire to see them before they disappear forever.

What Is Last-Chance Tourism?

Last-chance tourism refers to the rush to visit natural wonders that are at risk of vanishing due to climate change. Glaciers have become the poster child for this type of travel. As these vast rivers of ice continue to shrink, they attract visitors eager to experience their majesty before they melt away. This growing market reflects a shift in travel motivations—from being the first to explore new places to being among the last to witness them.

Jackie Dawson, a professor at the University of Ottawa, notes that last-chance tourism is becoming more common as the effects of climate change become more evident. With glaciers rapidly disappearing, tourists are now seeking out these fragile environments, knowing they may not be around for future generations.

The Rising Dangers of Glacier Tourism

The increasing popularity of glacier tourism comes at a cost. As glaciers melt, they become less stable, and the risks of accidents and fatalities rise. Melting ice moves more unpredictably, creating unstable surfaces, widening crevasses, and causing sudden rockfalls. For tour guides, this presents an ongoing challenge, as they must adapt to a constantly shifting landscape.

One of the most tragic recent examples of the dangers of glacier tourism occurred in Iceland in 2024. An American tourist lost his life when an ice cave collapsed at Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier, prompting authorities to reconsider safety regulations for tours. Even experienced guides, who prioritize safety, acknowledge that they are working with a highly unstable element.

Despite these risks, tourists continue to flock to glaciers. Stefan Gössling, a professor of tourism research at Linnaeus University in Sweden, explains that many travelers underestimate the dangers. They often believe that the risks are manageable, but this assumption can be dangerously naive. The unpredictable nature of melting glaciers means that even the most well-prepared travelers can find themselves in life-threatening situations.

Climate Change and Its Impact on Glacier Tourism

Glaciers are not only becoming more dangerous, but they are also vanishing at an alarming rate. Research suggests that even under the best-case scenarios for reducing carbon emissions, up to half of the world’s glaciers could be gone by 2100. In some regions, such as Alaska and the European Alps, glaciers are retreating so rapidly that entire landscapes are being transformed.

Matthias Huss, a glaciologist at ETH Zürich, explains that events like the ice avalanche on Marmolada Glacier in northern Italy, which killed 11 hikers in 2022, are becoming more frequent. An unusually hot spring and summer caused massive melting on the glacier, which led to the sudden collapse of a large section of ice. This tragic event marked the first time such an occurrence had been recorded on the Marmolada Glacier, highlighting how quickly conditions in mountain environments are changing.

For those who rely on glaciers for their livelihoods, such as tour guides and local businesses, the rapid melting poses significant challenges. In Alaska, for example, Sheldon has observed how quickly the landscape is changing. Areas that were once prime locations for ice climbing now melt away in a matter of weeks, forcing guides to constantly seek new routes. Despite these challenges, the demand for glacier tours continues to grow, with Sheldon reporting an annual increase of 20% to 30% in bookings.

The Environmental Cost of Glacier Tourism

While glacier tourism allows people to witness the impacts of climate change firsthand, it also contributes to the very problem it seeks to highlight. The carbon emissions generated by flights and other travel-related activities are significant. For instance, a round trip between New York and Alaska can result in the loss of about 70 square feet of Arctic ice. This connection between tourism and environmental degradation is often overlooked by travelers, many of whom fail to realize that their own actions are contributing to the disappearance of glaciers.

Despite this irony, some argue that glacier tourism can play an important role in raising awareness about climate change. Sheldon frequently receives questions from tourists about whether he believes in climate change. When he shows them a glacier that has retreated by a mile in just a year, the reality of the situation becomes clear. For many, witnessing these changes firsthand can be a powerful wake-up call.

The Future of Glacier Tourism

As glaciers continue to melt and the risks associated with visiting them increase, the future of glacier tourism is uncertain. Experts like Stefan Gössling believe that the dangers will eventually push tourists to seek out different destinations. However, for now, demand remains high, driven by the allure of experiencing these natural wonders before they disappear.

For Sheldon, the shrinking glaciers are a stark reminder of how quickly the world is changing. He estimates that there may only be six to ten years left for his popular iceberg tours in Alaska. As the glaciers continue to calve and retreat, the tours will inevitably come to an end.

In the meantime, tourists will continue to flock to glaciers, driven by the desire to witness these majestic formations before they vanish forever. But with every trip, they are reminded of the fragility of the natural world and the urgent need to address the root causes of climate change.