Glacier Hiking in Iceland – A Full Guide [2025]

Glacier hiking in Iceland is an adventure unlike any other. It’s also quite pricy and might have hidden tourist traps. This guide will tell you everything you need to plan your glacier hike based on my experience.

Exploring Iceland’s Glacial Landscapes

As its name implies, Iceland has many glaciers, which cover 11% of land. Icelandic glaciers formed during the last Ice Age, at least 11 thousands years ago.

Key glaciers in Iceland suitable for hiking include:

• Sólheimajökull: Accessible from Reykjavík, ideal for shorter trips (3 hour drive from Reykajavik). Lot’s of blue ice.
• Vatnajökull: Europe’s largest glacier, home to dramatic ice caves and expansive ice fields (5 hour drive from Reykjavik). Lot’s of both blue ice and snow.
• Langjökull: Famous for its vastness and ice tunnels, perfect for beginners (2 hour drive from Reykjavik). Mostly snow.

Personally, I think the best glacier to go to is Sólheimajökull, the one in the featured image for this post. It’s a nice outlet glacier near Skogarfoss, easily reachable from the Road 1. You approach it by foot. And there is a nice parking with a toilet and basic cafe.

The best times for glacier hiking are from May to October for stable weather. In winter you can also explore ice caves, which might be unstable in warmer weather.

Climate change significantly impacts Icelandic glaciers, making certain routes less predictable. Your glacier guide will check the weather. Sometimes they might need to postpone or cancel the tour if the forecast is bad. This especially true about longer expedition, for example my Hvannadalshnukur hike was rescheduled 3 times.

If you’re hiking on your own, always check conditions at Icelandic Met Office before heading out. Even if there are no weather warnings, it doesn’t mean it’s safe to go. You need to be experienced in reading weather forecasts for mountains and glaciers specifically.

Planning Your Glacier Hiking Adventure

Booking glacier hiking tours in Iceland is straightforward.

Icelandic law mandates certified guides for glacier tours due to potential hazards. This means all advertised tour companies employ licensed guides. Of course there is some variation guides’ skills but for short glacier walks you can be sure to get decent guides with any company.

Glacier tours typically cost between 10,000 to 50,000 ISK, depending on duration and additional features. Book your tour several weeks in advance, especially in summer.

Independent exploration of glaciers can be extremely risky. Hiking on your own requires specialized skills of traveling on glaciated terrain with both hard ice and covered with snow (which stays year-round in some parts).

Tour Options and Itineraries

Most tour companies in Iceland have more or less the same offerings in terms of glacier tours.

• Half-day vs. Full-day Tours: Half-day hikes offer a good introduction, while full-day hikes provide deeper exploration with time too see different glacier features. On all these hikes you’ll see this beautiful blue ice.
• Combined Tours: I’d advise skipping northern lights tours unless conditions are perfect. And don’t bundle waterfall sightseeing, you can just see those for free.
• Summit Expeditions: Suitable for advanced hikers and mountaineers. You actually won’t see much blue ice (which is found in outlet glaciers). To reach summits, you’ll be walking on snow-covered glaciers.
• Seasonal Itineraries: In summer you can do midnight sun hikes. And winter you can explore ice cave.

Top Glacier Hike Tour Operators

Major tour operators include:

• Arctic Adventures
• Icelandic Mountain Guides
• Local Guide of Vatnajökull

There are also several smaller tour operators, specializing glacier adventures. You can check your tour operator’s licenses with Icelandic Tourist Board. But Iceland is pretty safe in this regard.

Transportation and Logistics

Most glaciers are reachable within a few hours’ drive from Reykjavík. Self-driving provides flexibility, but many tour operators offer transportation services from Reykjavik.

Tour meeting points have clearly marked parking lots. There is usually no shortage of space for parking. There isn’t much around so it’s best to stock up on snacks ahead of time. You will be hungry after glacier hikes.

Accommodations near glaciers range from camping grounds to cozy guesthouses to hotels, particularly near Vatnajökull National Park.

Equipment and Preparation

Tour companies provide all the specialized glacier hiking gear you’ll need:

• Crampons and Ice Axes: Essential for safe glacier navigation.
• Helmets and Harnesses: Mandatory for safety during hikes.

You need to bring your basic personal gear:

• Waterproof hiking boots (some tour operators can also rent them)
• Layered clothing suitable for variable weather
• Sunglasses and sunscreen (mandatory even if it’s cloudy)
• Backpack with snacks and water

Appropriate Clothing

For glacier hikes, you should layer your clothing:

• Base layer: moisture-wicking thermal underwear, wool or sythetic (no cotton!)
• Mid-layer: insulating fleece or down jackets
• Outer layer: waterproof and windproof jackets and trousers

Choose insulated, waterproof hiking boots and quality wool or synthetic socks.

Safety Considerations

Common glacier hazards include crevasses, moulins, and unstable ice. Always follow your guide’s instructions carefully. Confirm your guide’s qualifications—most Icelandic guides hold certifications in glacier guiding and rescue.

Tours can be canceled due to poor weather, so flexibility is key. Ensure your travel insurance covers glacier activities, including emergency evacuation.

The Glacier Hiking Experience

Glacier hikes vary in difficulty from easy walks suitable for children (usually aged 10+) to challenging treks.

Short hikes last around 2-4 hours and suitable for all skill levels. I’ve seen people of all shapes and ages able to do these hikes. In large groups, guides usually adapt to the least able person’s ability. If you’re in a smaller or private group, your guide can make it a bit more challenging if you want to.

Full-day hikes can extend up to 8 hours and are meant for hikers in good walking form. If you want to do these, you should ideally have some experience of walking on crampons.

Summit expeditions can be 12-14 hours long and physically demanding. Specialized hikes cater to different fitness levels, including more accessible options. I’ve done those and it’s a full-on mountaineering expedition even though the highest mountain in Iceland is only 2,110.

Beyond Basic Glacier Hiking

For adventurous hikers:

• Ice Climbing: Available at several glaciers, including Sólheimajökull. More routes are available in winter. You’ll likely need to do private tours and those get quite expensive.
• Advanced Mountaineering: Expeditions to Hvannadalshnúkur, Iceland’s highest peak, and Eyjafjallajökull, the famous 2010 volcano.
• Photography Tours: Capture stunning glacier landscapes with professional guidance.
• Glacier Lagoons: Combine hikes with visits to Jökulsárlón, experiencing icebergs up close in a boat. You can also just book those separately.

Seasonal Specialties

Every season brings something special:

• Winter: Explore natural ice caves.
• Northern Lights: Witness Aurora Borealis during evening glacier hikes in winter months.
• Midnight Sun: Enjoy endless daylight in summer months.
• Spring and Autumn: Ideal times for summit attempts and observing unique glacier formations.

Going on a glacier hike in Iceland is not just an adventure, but an opportunity to witness nature’s grandeur in its rawest form. Ready to plan your trip?

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