The highly microporous graphene aerogel monolith of unidirectional textures is obtained from reduction and KOH activation of colloidal graphene oxide prepared with an ice-templating route. The free-standing geometry and well-aligned textures of graphene monolith are persevered even after an intensive KOH activation at 973 K, although the frame structure is slightly disordered. The non-overestimated surface area of the KOH activated graphene monolith is 990 m(2) g(-1). The free-standing graphene aerogel monolith has predominant microporosity with appropriate macroporosity and a low bulk density of 8 +/- 0.5 mg cm(-3), being one of the lightest materials of the reported porous graphene materials. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.