Blue Ice Discovery

by Local Guide of Vatnajökull · Glacier hiking · Hiking & trekking · Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón

4.90· 518 Google reviews of the operator

Fine on your own
Self-guided

from €182.79 per person

Next departure: Thu 22 Oct

Book Thu 22 Oct · €182.79 Other dates

Blue Ice Discovery — Local Guide of Vatnajökull

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Duration
4 hours
Difficulty
Moderate
Season
All year
Pickup
Meet at the start point
Starts at
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon - ice cave tours meeting point
Local Guide - Ice Cave Tours, Jökulsárlón, Iceland, Jökulsárlón
Departs
09:00, 13:00, 14:00
Minimum age
10
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before

About this experience

Step off the beaten track and onto ancient ice with our Crystal Blue Ice Glacier Hike — a half-day glacier adventure that brings you face to face with Vatnajökull’s stunning blue-ice formations, without needing previous glacier experience.

Your journey begins with a 30-minute ride in a modified 4×4 across rugged terrain, followed by a 1 km walk on gravel to the glacier’s edge. Once there, you’ll gear up (with helmet, crampons, harness, and ice-walking guidance) and step onto the glacier for a round-trip hike of about 4.2 km (approx. 2.6 miles). Along the way, you’ll ascend roughly 60–70 metres to about 260 m above sea level, making the hike moderate — accessible to anyone comfortable with a regular hike, even without prior glacier experience.

Once on the ice, prepare to be mesmerized: you’ll walk amid beautifully vivid blue ice formations, crystalline walls sculpted by nature, and enjoy unique vantage points over the glacial landscape — including rarely visited views of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon from a side many travellers never see.

Because glaciers are alive — shifting and reshaping with the seasons — each hike is different. Our expert local guides monitor conditions daily, adapt routes accordingly, and always prioritize safety. That means you’ll enjoy a secure, well-equipped glacier walk with all necessary gear provided, detailed safety briefing, and dedicated guidance every step of the way.

Tour at a glance (details my change a little between the seasons)

Duration: ~ 4 hours (including transfer, gear prep and glacier walk)
Distance: ~ 4.2 km round-trip on ice + ~1 km approach hike.
Elevation gain: ~ 60–70 m (ending around 260 m above sea level) — moderate difficulty.
Activity level: Easy to moderate — suitable for anyone fit for a regular hike. No prior glacier experience required.
What’s included: Glacier safety gear (helmet, crampons, harness), glacier-walking guidance, transport from meeting point in 4×4 vehicles.
What to bring: Warm layered clothing, waterproof/windproof outer shell, sturdy hiking boots, gloves, hat.

Why choose this hike instead of a standard ice-cave tour? Because glaciers are ever-changing: after weather shifts, many caves become inaccessible — while the blue ice features remain. Our hike gives you guaranteed access to spectacular blue ice formations, safely and reliably, on a manageable half-day itinerary.

Whether this is your first glacier experience or you’re returning to Iceland seeking something different, the Crystal Blue Ice Glacier Hike offers a unique chance to walk on ancient ice, connect with Iceland’s wild landscapes, and see the glacier as it stands now — alive, dynamic, and full of icy blue magic.

For the most recent images and updates from our winter tours, please follow our updates website .

Description from the operator, Local Guide of Vatnajökull. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Included

What’s Included

Transport in our modified 4×4 vehicle
A certified, professional glacier guide
All necessary glacier safety equipment (crampons, helmet, harness)
Small-group experience for a safer, more personal tour
This tour is carbon neutralized

Not included

Not Included

Food and drinks
Parking fee at the meeting point
Gratuities (optional)

Good to know

What to Bring

Warm, layered clothing suitable for changing weather
(base layers, mid-layer fleece/wool, and a waterproof/windproof outer shell)
Sturdy hiking boots with good ankle support
(or rent a pair on location for 1,500 ISK)
Gloves and a hat to stay warm on the glacier
A small backpack for your personal items
Snacks and water, as food and drinks are not included on the tour

Important Information Before You Book

Minimum age: 10 years old.
This tour is not suitable for children under 10.
Participants must be in good health.
You need to be able to complete the full hike on your own without assistance. The tour is rated moderate, so a basic level of fitness and comfort walking on uneven terrain is required.
Not accessible for wheelchairs, mobility aids, or strollers.
The tour involves gravel paths, uneven ground, and glacier surfaces.
Dress for the weather.
We recommend warm layers, a waterproof and windproof outer shell, gloves, and a hat.
Wear sturdy hiking boots.
Proper ankle support is important for glacier walking.
If you don’t have suitable footwear, hiking boots can be rented on location for 1,500 ISK.

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.

1Local Guide of Vatnajökull 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.
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.
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 Glacier Wonders from Arctic Adventures is €101 — €82 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

	Local Guide of Vatnajökull · €183	Arctic Adventures · €101
How long it runs	4 hours	4.2 hours
How hard it is	Moderate	Easy

On everything we can measure, the Arctic Adventures tour is the better buy. The €82 is not buying anything we can point to, so unless you want this operator in particular, take the cheaper one.

Who this is not for

Children under 10 cannot join this one.

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

Why we list it

Local Guide of Vatnajökull is one of 204 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 →

What travellers say about Local Guide of Vatnajökull

Read all 518 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.9/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

Jana Ulrichová
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
We had a chance to try Glacier Discovery Tour with Polish guide Michael. It is our favourite memory from Iceland, truly the best experience. Michael is a very good guide and we were just sad that the tour wasn’t longer because the views up were stunning. I recommend trying Local Guide!!!
Valerie Kramer
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
Outstanding experience - saw many other companies on the glacier... Felt our tour best - drove right to the glacier in a heavy duty 4WD vehicle. Took the most interesting route - though challenging glacial terrain - minimizing time on scree. Never stopped moving. Taught techniques; emphasis on safety without babying us. Loved it!
Mara Lee Oleson
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
If you’re considering a glacier hike in Iceland, I can’t recommend Claudia with Local Guide highly enough! She guided our group of 11, ranging in age from an 8-year-old to grandparents, and somehow made the experience perfect for every single one of us. Claudia struck the perfect balance between being incredibly fun and making everyone feel completely safe and confident on the glacier. She was patient, knowledgeable, encouraging, and genuinely one of the friendliest people we met during our entire trip. It was obvious how much she loves what she does, and her enthusiasm made the experience even more memorable. Our glacier hike ended up being one of the absolute highlights of our Iceland vacation, and that’s largely because of Claudia. She made every member of our family feel included, comfortable, and excited from start to finish. Thank you, Claudia, for giving us such an unforgettable adventure. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide!
JiaOng ong
★★★★★ · 11 months ago
We joined a glacier hike tour, and it was an unforgettable experience! There were so many great things about it, but here are a few highlights: 1. Booking Process: The online booking was simple and straightforward. We received reminder emails with clear details and the exact meeting point, which was easy to find. 2. Equipment & Preparation: Hiking boots were provided for those who didn’t have suitable footwear for crampons. The guides were very helpful in getting everyone ready and making sure the equipment fit properly. 3. Our Guide – Sam: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and beyond! Sam was absolutely amazing. Our parents weren’t very comfortable walking on the glacier, and she personally assisted them the entire way, ensuring their safety and comfort. We are incredibly thankful for her kindness and care. She also shared fascinating glacier facts throughout the hike, kept the group engaged with her humor, and even found a natural spring so we could try drinking fresh glacier water — such a special touch! Overall, it was a fantastic and well-organized tour with a truly exceptional guide. Highly recommended!

Reviews from Google · updated 21 Oct 2026

Read before you book

Best Glacier Hike in Iceland (2026): 5 PicksThe glacier hikes we would book ourselves in Iceland, on Sólheimajökull and in Skaftafell, with real adult prices, departure points and who each one is not for.
Glacier hike in Iceland: which glacier to bookThree glaciers sell almost the same walk at different prices and distances. Which one fits your route, what 'easy' means, and what blue ice really requires.
Glacier hike or ice cave: which to bookBetween October and April, book the Skaftafell hike-and-cave combo and get both. The rest of the year, a glacier hike on Sólheimajökull is the better day.

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for 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.

Hotels

Where to stay for this tour

From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Skaftafell, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

All hotels in Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón →

One checkout, any number of operators
Rankings are not for sale
203 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted
If it falls short, we fix it

from

€182.79 per person

Local Guide of Vatnajökull's own price. 3% off the whole trip when you book two or more tours together, in one checkout.

Your date

The next departure we can see — change it if this tour is for another day.

Pick a date to check departures.

Departs09:0013:0014:00

Skaftafell: light 08:16–17:28, 9 h 12 min of daylight.

✓ Free cancellation until 24 hours before
✓ Instant confirmation by email
✓ If Local Guide of Vatnajökull cancels for weather or safety: a full refund, or another date
✓ Card — Apple Pay or Google Pay where your device offers it — through Stripe; the charge is made in Icelandic krónur
✓ Price promise: Local Guide of Vatnajökull's own price, or we refund the difference
✓ One checkout, even with tours from several operators
✓ Vetted operator — the six checks every operator passes

Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €9 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.