Ice Cave & Glacier Hike with South Coast Waterfalls

by Glaciers and Waterfalls · Glacier hiking · Ice caves · Hiking & trekking · Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón

Ice Cave & Glacier Hike with South Coast Waterfalls — Glaciers and Waterfalls

Would this be cheaper direct? No — we sell at Glaciers and Waterfalls's own price and take our commission from them, not from you. What you get here is one checkout across operators, one confirmation, and one place to change or cancel it. If you ever find it cheaper on their own site, tell us and we will match it or explain why we cannot.

More photos of Ice Cave & Glacier Hike with South Coast Waterfalls

Ice Cave & Glacier Hike with South Coast Waterfalls, photo 6A woman staning in front of a waterfall and a rainbowIce Cave & Glacier Hike with South Coast Waterfalls, photo 8People standing if front of the wall of ice.Ice Cave & Glacier Hike with South Coast Waterfalls, photo 10Ice Cave & Glacier Hike with South Coast Waterfalls, photo 11

11 photos from Glaciers and Waterfalls. Tap any one for the full-size original.

  • Duration

    11 hours

  • Difficulty

    Challenging

  • Season

    Sep – Apr

  • Starts in

    Reykjavík

  • Meeting

    Hotel pickup available

  • Languages

    EN

  • Departs

    08:00

  • Minimum age

    12

  • Cancellation

    Free until 24h before

About this experience

Step into a world of ice and wonder
Your adventure begins on Sólheimajökull, an outlet glacier of mighty Mýrdalsjökull, Iceland’s fourth-largest ice cap. After gearing up with crampons, harness, helmet, and ice axe, you’ll set foot on the glacier and explore crevasses, ridges, and ever-changing ice formations.

The highlight of the day awaits as you venture inside a natural ice cave, where shimmering blue walls and frozen sculptures reveal the glacier’s hidden heart. Standing within this otherworldly cathedral of ice is an unforgettable experience.

After the glacier adventure, the journey continues with visits to two of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls. Skógafoss, thundering 65 meters down from ancient sea cliffs, is both breathtaking and steeped in legend. Further west lies Seljalandsfoss, where you can walk behind the falling curtain of water for a magical perspective.

This full-day tour combines glacier hiking, ice cave exploration, and stunning waterfalls for an adventure that captures the very essence of Iceland’s natural beauty.

Itinerary
Glacier Hike & Natural Ice Cave on Sólheimajökull
Sólheimajökull, an outlet glacier of Mýrdalsjökull, Iceland’s fourth-largest glacier, graces the South Coast with its presence. Located just 158 kilometers (98 miles) from Reykjavík, it offers a unique opportunity to explore striking glacial features and gain insight into their formation. This icy realm is a living testament to the powerful, ever-changing forces that shape Iceland’s landscape.

At the Sólheimajökull parking lot, you gear up with crampons, helmet, harness and ice axe, and step onto the ice. Hike across ridges, crevasses, and a glacier lagoon while learning how these formations are created. Then venture into the glacier’s ice cave—an otherworldly chamber of vivid blue ice and natural wonder.

Skogafoss waterfall
Skogafoss, one of Iceland’s classic waterfalls, stands as a magnificent testament to the power of nature. Soaring to a height of 65 meters and spanning 25 meters in width, it ranks among the country’s largest waterfalls. Local legend weaves tales of a hidden chest of gold behind the falls, a challenge that would require the strength and bravery of a Viking to pursue.

Seljalandsfoss waterfalls
Seljalandsfoss, another of Iceland’s classic waterfalls, offers a unique twist on the traditional waterfall experience. While not among the country’s largest falls, what sets Seljalandsfoss apart is the rare opportunity to walk behind the cascading water for most of the year. This immersive encounter transports you into a world of mist and magic, revealing a different perspective of nature’s beauty.

Description from the operator, Glaciers and Waterfalls. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

  1. Glacier hike
  2. Skógarfoss waterfall
  3. Seljalandsfoss waterfall

Included

  • Transfer to/from Reykjavik in a Minibus
  • English speaking certified glacier guide
  • All glacier safety equipment
  • Free WiFi on the Bus

Not included

Meals

Good to know

  • Warm outdoor clothing
  • Hat and gloves or mittens
  • Rain gear
  • Good hiking boots
  • Backpack
  • Water bottle
  • Camera/Phone
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • No public transportation nearby
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • Not recommended for people with heart conditions

Cancellation for this tour

Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.

If the weather cancels this tour

Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is high wind or rain on the ice — the guide decides at the meeting point, sometimes after you have set off. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

  1. 1Glaciers and Waterfalls decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
  2. 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
  3. 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.

What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.

Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →

Why this one and not the cheaper one?

The nearest cheaper Solheimajokull Glacier Guided Hiking Small Group Tour from Nordur Travel Services ehf is €85 — €129 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

Glaciers and Waterfalls · €214Nordur Travel Services ehf · €85
How long it runs11 hours3 hours
Getting therePicks you upYou make your own way
How hard it isChallengingEasy

The €129 buys you 8 more hours out and hotel pickup. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.

Sold out on your date?

Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.

Who this is not for

  • Not for families with children under 12 — the operator will not take them, even with a parent.
  • Not for anyone unsure on their feet or carrying an injury — the operator rates this as physically demanding, and there is no easy version of the day.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

Glaciers and Waterfalls is one of 154 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →

Read before you book

Reviews from our travellers

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No reviews yet from our travellers on this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Glacier hiking — questions people ask

Which glacier is best for a first glacier hike?

Sólheimajökull on the South Coast, about two and a half hours from Reykjavík. It is the most accessible glacier tongue, the walk from the car park is short and the three-to-four-hour tours (/experience/6853/ or /experience/914990/) suit beginners. Skaftafell in the southeast has bigger ice and fewer people, with tours like Glacier Wonders (/experience/17340/), but it is a five-hour drive each way, so it only works if you are staying out there.

Can you hike on a glacier in Iceland in summer?

Yes. Glacier hiking runs all year. In June to August the ice is grey and gritty on the surface with blue crevasses and meltwater channels, and the weather is milder. In November to March the ice is whiter and you may see ice formations, but daylight is short and the wind bites. Neither is better; summer is easier, winter is prettier. The one thing you cannot do in summer is visit a natural blue ice cave.

How fit do I need to be for a glacier hike?

Moderately. You walk two to three hours on uneven ice in crampons, with some short steep sections. Anyone who can manage a hilly day walk will be fine; the pace is slow because the guide is checking the route. It is not for anyone with knee or balance problems, and most operators set a minimum age of eight to ten. Check the tour page. Longer tours like Glacier Explorer (/experience/17338/) push further onto the ice and need more stamina.

What do I need to bring on a glacier hike?

Sturdy boots with ankle support, waterproof jacket and trousers, warm layers, gloves and a hat, plus water and a snack. The operator provides crampons, a harness, a helmet and an ice axe. Jeans and trainers are not allowed on the ice, and guides do turn people away. Most meeting points rent boots and rain gear for a small fee; check the tour page and book them in advance in summer.

  • One checkout, any number of operators

  • Rankings are not for sale

  • 153 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted

  • If it falls short, we fix it

Pairs well with

Everything here goes into the same basket and the same single payment, however many operators it comes from.

from

€214 per person

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