From Skaftafell

Full Day Glacier Adventure - Private

Spend 6 hours immersed in an icy wonderland that features stunning ice sculptures, tunnels and deep crevasses on the glacier.

Tour code: SKFP23

Full Day Glacier Adventure - Private

Get a Full Day Experience of A Glacial Wonderland

Wander through the majestic crevasses of a stunning outlet glacier. On this full day adventure you will hike up the glacier tongue deep into a glacier valley surrounded by steep glacier wall and high peeks . An experienced glacier guide will safely lead you into this frozen world and reveal to you the secrets of this largest glacier in Europe.

The outlet glaciers in Vatnajökull National Park are some of the jewels of Icelandic nature. This massive ice field, part of Europe’s largest glacier, is home to spectacular scenery and an otherworldly landscape. Your day starts off with meeting your highly trained and experienced glacier guide in Skaftafell. After a brief safety orientation and being fitted with the required gear we provide, like crampons, a helmet and an ice axe, you head off to the glacier. As your small group, maximum of eight people, step onto the glacier it will feel as if have been transported into another world. Your guide will lead you passed the typical Glacier Walk route that most people take and farther into the ice field. The crowds will fade away and the sound of ice rhythmically crunching under your crampons will fill the air. In the glacier valley, you will find the closeness of the majestic glacier outlets coming down from Öræfajökull glacier close to the highest summit of Iceland, Hvannadalshnúkur .  There is so much history about Iceland’s ever changing landscape that lie within these icy giants. Your knowledgeable guide will provide some insight about how this stunning landscape came into being. Whether you hear geological facts or Icelandic folklore throughout the day, they are sure to be fascinating tidbits of information. During your exploration of this extensive ice field, you might encounter moulins, deep crevasses, water cauldrons and ice sculptures. On top of a high wall, you can enjoy amazing panoramic views of the glacier, towering mountains and the Atlantic Ocean nearby. After about 6 hours on the ice, you will head back to the Skaftafell Nature Reserve in our minibus. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the magic of this icy wonderland to the fullest. A must-do for outdoor enthusiasts.

*The Skaftafell parking lot fee is not included in the tour price.

Tour Overview

  • Meeting point

    Skaftafell Base (next to the National Park Visitor Center)

  • Group size

    2 - 8 per guide

  • On the ice

    6 hrs

  • Minimum shoe size

    European 34 (U.S. - 2.5)

  • 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

    Jun - Aug

  • Duration

    7 hours

  • 16

    Minimum age:

    16 yrs

Book this tour

Customer Reviews

If you have the time this trip is well worth the cost. For pretty much the entire day we were alone on the glacier because I think most people just do the half day so they do not get very far up the glacier. Our guide, Matthew, was great. We ended up coming down a quicker way then we went up so with the extra time we had he taught us the basics of ice climbing; which after a day on the crampons was hard on the toes but it was cool to try.
eepwa — 2014-08-14

We had an amazing morning on the glacier with our guide. The team at Icelandic Mountain Guides were friendly, helpful and they had a very efficient check in process for sizing us for crampons and distributing the gear we would need. Our guide was so nice and extremely knowledgeable about the glacier and the region in general.
Harriet, USA — 2017-09-20

Tour Highlights

Hike on Europe's Largest Glacier

Hike deep into a glacier valley

Picturesque views

Ridges and Crevasses

Included

  • Experienced and qualified guide
  • Glacier gear
  • Safety equipment

Not Included

  • Rain gear
  • Hiking boots
  • Warm clothing
  • Lunch

Optional Extras

  • Rain gear (jacket or pants)
  • Hiking boots

Tour Map and Itinerary

Click map for detailed itinerary

Full Day Glacier Adventure - Private

MAP & ITINERARY

Day Tour

Get a Full Day Experience of a Glacial Wonderland

Before heading off for your full day of exploring on the glacier, you will meet with your certified glacier guide and group in Skaftafell at our Base.

After being equipped with an ice axe, harness and crampons, you will receive a short safety orientation.

You will be safely led farther onto the ice field than most people will ever experience.

When you are done soaking in all of the majestic mountains and scenery, you will head back to the original meeting point.

Directions

Skaftafell - Where to meet us

Driving time
From Reykjavík: 5 hrs
From Vík: 2.5 hrs
From Höfn: 1.5 - 2 hrs

GPS point for Skaftafell
N 64.016217
W 16.966664

Our Base in Skaftafell is located by the bus parking lot of Skaftafell National Park, across form the Visitor Center. When coming from the visitors parking lot take the path that leads to the Visitor Center, turn right at the end of the path, and then right again at the bus parking.

The parking lot is at the end of road no. 998 that branches off main road no. 1.

Please be there 20 min before the departure of your tour.
  • Day Tour
  • Directions
Click to activate the map

Practical Information

We always recommend to book as soon as you are ready especially if you have a strict travel schedule or a large group. It is easy to change or cancel 24 hours before departure by emailing us ([email protected]). Tours can also be purchased the day of as long as there are spaces available.

There are no official addresses on our meeting points but you can see directions and GPS points if you click the map above.

Before we head to the glacier for the tour we need to get everyone fitted with the equipment, crampons and harnesses. The crampons need to be adjusted to each persons shoe size so it is important that people arrive 20 minutes before so everyone is ready at the departure time.

Sólheimajökull and Skaftafell are two different locations in Iceland, each having its own unique characteristics and attractions. 

Sólheimajökull is a glacier tongue that extends from the mighty Mýrdalsjökull glacier, Iceland's 4th largest ice cap. It is located on the south coast of Iceland between the volcanoes Katla and Eyjafjallajökull. The area is renowned for its beauty and is perfect destination for glacier hiking and ice climbing due to its easily accessible location and terrain. We offer a variety of tours at Sólheimajökull, which are especially suited for families and those seeking a more relaxed experience.

Skaftafell is a nature reserve located in the Vatnajökull National Park in the south-east of Iceland. It is a green oasis nestled under the white expanse of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier. Skaftafell is a hiker's paradise, with trails leading to stunning attractions and picturesque glacial tongues.

Skaftafell's glaciers are known for their rugged terrain and fantastic views. The tours we operate here are particularly designed for those with an adventurous spirit. If you're a keen hiker or climber, you'll find the challenging landscapes of Skaftafell incredibly rewarding.

  • Hiking boots that reach over your ankle are a must on our glacier walks.
  • Other clothing should be picked according to weather that day, you will not get much colder on the glacier as on the ground.

Related Blog Posts

People walking and having fun on the Solheimajokull glacier

What to Wear on a Glacier Hike in Iceland

2023-03-11
Svínafellsjökull Glacier Walk

Adventurer of the Week: Gon on a Glacier Adventure!

2017-05-11
Inside dark ice cave with a waterfall inside

Ice Cave Exploration

2016-10-17

Other Tours That You Might Like