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Glacier Experience is a 4-hour guided hike on Sólheimajökull glacier in South Iceland. You'll cover about 6 km (3.7 mi) in total, and the walk in takes you through a quiet, moss-covered valley that reaches the ice from above. Certified glacier guides lead every departure, year-round.
Expect uneven ground and moderate elevation changes along the way. No previous experience is needed, though you should be comfortable on your feet for the full four hours.
Guests joining from Reykjavík get a full day out, 13 to 13.5 hours door-to-door. The route also stops at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, and at Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach.
Sólheimajökull is an outlet tongue of Mýrdalsjökull, the ice cap on Iceland's South Coast that covers Katla volcano. In summer, a meltwater lagoon forms at the glacier's snout.
Availability
All Year
Duration
4 / 13–13.5 hours
Departs From
Sólheimajökull / Reykjavík
Level
Easy–Moderate
Suitable for most people in fair condition.
Expert Guides
• Deep local knowledgeYour guide starts with a gear briefing: crampons, harness, helmet, and ice axe, plus the safety rules for the day. The route then climbs through a quiet, moss-covered valley and brings you out above Sólheimajökull, with the glacier and the surrounding peaks laid out below.
From that high point, you'll drop down to the glacier's edge, strap on crampons, and follow your guide out onto the ice.
Sólheimajökull moves and changes through the season, so no two visits look the same. You'll pick your way between ridges and deep V-shaped crevasses, past moulins, the sinkholes that drill down through the ice and drain meltwater away in streams and small waterfalls.
Black bands of ash streak the surface here, blown over from the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull volcano. You might come away with a little of it in your pocket.
Your guide will show you how far Sólheimajökull has pulled back in recent decades and explain what's driving the change. The full tour takes about four hours and covers roughly 6 km (3.7 miles).
If you select the Reykjavík pickup option, our tour guide will pick you up at your chosen location in Reykjavík. On our way to or back from the glacier, we stop at a few of Iceland's most magnificent natural attractions: Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach and the waterfalls of Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss.
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
We will visit Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, one of Iceland’s most breathtaking coastal sights. The beach is known for its black volcanic sands, impressive basalt columns, and the dramatic sea stacks of Reynisdrangar rising from the Atlantic Ocean. Located near the village of Vík, Reynisfjara is a must-see highlight on Iceland’s South Coast — a place where the power and beauty of nature truly come together.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Seljalandsfoss waterfall is about 65 meters (213 ft) high and can be viewed from different angles. The water flows from the Seljalandsá river, which has its origin at the infamous volcano glacier, Eyjafjallajökull. It's even possible to walk behind it during summer to experience it from another perspective!
Skógafoss waterfall
The mighty Skógafoss is located close to the small village of Skógar. It’s one of Iceland's largest waterfalls, with a width of 25 meters (82 ft) and a spectacular 60-meter (197 ft) drop. Due to the amount of spray, single and even double rainbows are frequent on sunny days.
If you’ve selected the ‘From Reykjavík’ option: Pickup starts in Reykjavík at 8:00 AM from your selected pickup location and can take up to 30 minutes. Your patience is much appreciated.
Available pick-up points: Arctic Adventures’ pickup list.
If you've booked the tour with pickup outside of Reykjavík, the following pickup times apply:
Please Note: The order in which we visit the waterfalls may change depending on the time of year. Seljalandsfoss is lit up at night during the winter months, making it a magical stop on the way back to Reykjavík.
If you select the meet-on-location option, please meet your tour guide at Sólheimajökull Parking Lot.
Please give yourself plenty of time to drive from Reykjavík – there is no way you want to miss this stunning adventure on Sólheimajökull Glacier. In good conditions, the journey takes just over two hours without stops. It is always worth allowing the extra time so you can relax. With poor weather or road conditions, the journey will take longer. The distance from Reykjavík is approximately 158 km (98 mi).
No, our guides are not able to provide information on these matters, but our team will be happy to assist you. We kindly ask that you reach out to our customer care team regarding any questions or concerns.
Meet on location means traveling to the location of the tour yourself and then meeting our tour guides rather than being picked up and taken to the location.
We meet you at Sólheimajökull parking lot and the distance from Reykjavik is approx. 164 km / 101 mi. The drive takes around 2,5 hours.
For GPS: 63°31’00.48″N, 19°22’00.12W(WGS84).
Iceland is known for its colorful weather. It can sometimes show you all 4 seasons in one day.
Dressing for this sort of weather can be a challenge so we always recommend dressing in layers. 3 or 4 upper layers are highly recommended such as a light t-shirt (preferably wool) next to the skin, then a fleece or heavy wool garment, topped off with a waterproof windbreaker.
Jeans are not recommended for our trips as they become very heavy, cold and uncomfortable to wear when they get wet.
Lightweight hiking pants, track pants or long cotton pants are best and then wind/waterproof pants over. We also recommend using sunglasses and sunscreen even if it is cloudy due to the high UV and sunlight reflecting off of the glacier.
You will need sturdy hiking boots with ankle support that fit crampons for the glacier hiking tours. If you do not own a pair then we rent out good hiking boots as well as a waterproof raincoat and trousers.
We recommend bringing your own backpack on our full day or 1/2 day tours. It’s great to carry a small lunch and some extra clothing.
You can bring your camera along, and you should definitely bring one since the setting on the tour is full of amazing, scenic views.
This is, of course, a personal choice, we have often had pregnant women on our trips. We recommend you take a close look at our trip description and difficulty rating, they will hopefully give you a better idea. It is also good to contact your physician, pregnant women’s health can be quite different. Feel free to contact us if you have further questions or concerns.
We do not provide lunch on any of our trips, so we recommend you bring your own lunch (for the longer trips), snacks and a bottle of water (you can refill it on the trip).
Crampons are metal spikes that attach to the soles of your hiking boots, providing a secure grip on icy surfaces to prevent slipping. On all our glacier tours where you'll be walking on ice, we provide specialized glacier crampons—sturdier and designed for tougher conditions than regular ice spikes. Your guide will help you put crampons on properly before stepping onto the glacier, and they will be returned after the tour. You can learn more about crampons in this guide.
Yes, there is a specially trained and certified glacier guide on every glacier tour that we offer.
When glacier hiking you will be provided with an ice axe, crampons, harness and helmet. This will help you to complete the tour safely. The minimum shoe size to attach crampons is EU 35.
When snow stays long enough in one place it turns to ice. Over long periods of time, the ice layers up becoming huge blocks called glaciers. As there is a lot of snow in Iceland, it forms to create ginormous glaciers that sweep across huge masses of land. Iceland is home to Europe’s largest glacier named Vatnajökull. This Glacier Guide will also tell you everything you may want to know about Glaciers.
Rain is not uncommon in Iceland. However, we do not let the rain stop our tours. This is why having appropriate clothing is very important to keep you warm and dry. Nature is not something that we can control and therefore we need to adapt to the weather. If your safety is compromised by going on the tour, we will cancel and you will be fully refunded.
This guide to Glacier Hiking includes all the information you might need when preparing for a glacier hike.
