Private South Coast & Glacier Hike

by Skall Ventures · Glacier hiking · Hiking & trekking · private · South Coast

Private South Coast & Glacier Hike — Skall Ventures

Would this be cheaper direct? No — we sell at Skall Ventures'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.

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Private South Coast & Glacier Hike, photo 6

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  • Duration

    12 hours

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Season

    All year

  • Starts in

    Reykjavík

  • Meeting

    Hotel pickup available

  • Languages

    EN, HU

  • Start time

    Time agreed after booking

  • Minimum age

    10

  • Cancellation

    Free until 24h before

About this experience

The Private South Coast Tour & Glacier Hike is a full-day journey through some of Iceland’s most impressive and varied landscapes, combining classic sightseeing with a genuine glacier adventure. Traveling along the South Coast on a private basis allows for a relaxed pace, flexibility, and more time at each location.

The tour includes stops at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, two of Iceland’s best-known waterfalls. At Seljalandsfoss, visitors can walk behind the falling water and experience the waterfall from a unique angle. Skógafoss offers a powerful wall of water and, in good conditions, colorful rainbows rising from the mist.

A key highlight of the day is a guided glacier hike on Sólheimajökull, an outlet glacier of the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap. After being equipped with all required safety gear, guests step onto the glacier to explore crevasses, ice formations, and the constantly changing surface of the ice. During the hike, the guide explains how glaciers are formed, how they move, and how climate and volcanic activity shape the landscape.

The journey continues to the South Coast’s dramatic shoreline at Reynisfjara black sand beach, known for its basalt columns, volcanic sand, and powerful Atlantic waves. A stop in the nearby village of Vík í Mýrdal provides scenic views toward the Reynisdrangar sea stacks and insight into life in Iceland’s southernmost community.

This private tour is ideal for travelers who want to experience the highlights of the South Coast in comfort while also enjoying an active and memorable glacier hike.

Description from the operator, Skall Ventures. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

  1. Skógafoss
  2. Glacier Hike at Sólheimajökull
  3. Reynisfjara, The Black Sand Beach
  4. Vík í Mýrdal Village
  5. Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

Included

The Private South Coast Tour & Glacier Hike includes everything needed for a safe, comfortable, and well-organized day along Iceland’s South Coast.

The experience includes private transportation for the duration of the tour with pickup and drop-off as arranged, as well as the service of an experienced local driver-guide throughout the day. A guided glacier hike on Sólheimajökull is included, led by a certified glacier guide.

All necessary glacier safety equipment is provided, including helmet, harness, crampons, and ice axe where required. Parking fees and access to all listed sites along the itinerary are covered.

The tour also includes all applicable local taxes and insurances.

Food and drinks are not included, allowing travellers the flexibility to purchase meals and refreshments during stops along the route according to their preferences.

Good to know

Travellers should come prepared for a full day outdoors in Iceland’s changing weather conditions.

Warm, layered clothing is essential, including a waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers. Sturdy hiking shoes with good ankle support are required for the glacier hike; trainers or casual shoes are not suitable. Gloves and a warm hat are strongly recommended, especially for the time spent on the glacier.

It is advisable to bring a small backpack, a refillable water bottle, and any personal items needed throughout the day. Sunglasses and sunscreen can be useful, even on cloudy days, due to reflection from ice and snow. Snacks or lunch money are recommended, as food and drinks are not included but can be purchased during stops along the route.

A camera or phone is also recommended to capture the landscapes, waterfalls, and glacier views.

This tour includes a guided glacier hike and requires participants to be in good general health with a normal level of physical fitness. Guests should be comfortable walking on uneven and sometimes slippery surfaces, as the glacier terrain involves ice, snow, and small elevation changes. The glacier hike is suitable for beginners but is not recommended for travelers with serious mobility issues, balance difficulties, or certain medical conditions that may be affected by physical activity.

The experience is not wheelchair accessible due to natural terrain at multiple locations and the nature of the glacier hike. Infant seats can be provided upon request, but infants are not permitted to participate in the glacier hike. Children joining the hike must meet the minimum age and size requirements for safety equipment.

Weather conditions in Iceland can change rapidly, and the itinerary may be adjusted for safety reasons. Travelers should be prepared for outdoor conditions and follow the guide’s instructions at all times, especially in glacier and coastal areas.

Waterproof and warm clothing, sturdy hiking shoes, and gloves are strongly recommended. No prior glacier hiking experience is required, as full instruction and safety briefing are provided before the hike.

This experience is designed for travelers seeking a mix of sightseeing and light adventure in a natural environment.

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. 1Skall Ventures 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 →

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

  • Children under 10 cannot join this one.
  • Not a good fit if you want a relaxed day: 12 hours is a long time on the road, most of it spent getting there and back.

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

Why we list it

Skall Ventures 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

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  • 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

€2,077 per vehicle

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