Glacier's Edge - Sólheimajökull Introductory Walk

by Arctic Adventures · Hiking & trekking · Glacier hiking · Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón

4.60· 5,195 Google reviews of the operator

Beginners welcome
Fine on your own
Suits older travellers
Works in the rain
Good with teenagers
Eco-certified

from €66.01 per person

Next departure: Tue 1 Dec

Book Tue 1 Dec · €66.01 Other dates

Glacier's Edge - Sólheimajökull Introductory Walk — Arctic Adventures

Glacier's Edge - Sólheimajökull Introductory Walk, photo 2

Glacier's Edge - Sólheimajökull Introductory Walk, photo 3

Glacier's Edge - Sólheimajökull Introductory Walk, photo 4

Glacier's Edge - Sólheimajökull Introductory Walk, photo 5

Glacier's Edge - Sólheimajökull Introductory Walk, photo 6

Glacier's Edge - Sólheimajökull Introductory Walk, photo 7

Glacier's Edge - Sólheimajökull Introductory Walk, photo 8

Glacier's Edge - Sólheimajökull Introductory Walk, photo 9

Glacier's Edge - Sólheimajökull Introductory Walk, photo 10

Glacier's Edge - Sólheimajökull Introductory Walk, photo 11

Glacier's Edge - Sólheimajökull Introductory Walk, photo 12

1 / 12

12 photos from Arctic Adventures. Tap any one for the full-size original.

Duration
2 hours
Difficulty
Easy
Season
All year
Starts in
Parking
Pickup
Meet at the start point
Starts at
Sólheimajökull parking Lot
Arctic Adventures - Glacier Guides (Sólheimajökull Base), Parking, Iceland, Parking
Guide
Guided in English
Departs
11:00, 13:00, 15:30
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before

About this experience

Experience one of Iceland's remarkable glaciers up close on our most accessible and educational glacier tour, designed for beginners, families, and anyone curious about the natural forces that have shaped Iceland's landscape.

On this easy-paced guided walk, you'll follow scenic trails alongside a glacial river, past a glacier lagoon, and across the moraine leading to the edge of Sólheimajökull Glacier. Along the way, your certified glacier guide will explain how glaciers form, move, and transform the landscape around them, while sharing fascinating insights into the glacier's ongoing changes.

At the glacier terminus, you'll witness dramatic ice formations, deep crevasses visible from a safe distance, and striking layers of volcanic ash trapped within the ancient ice. This unique combination of ice and fire tells the story of Iceland's powerful natural forces.

You'll stop at a scenic location beside the glacier lagoon to enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while taking in the surroundings.

With an easy-paced walking route and no technical equipment required, Glacier's Edge is an ideal choice for families, seniors, educational groups, photographers, and any travellers seeking a relaxed yet meaningful introduction to Iceland's glaciers.

Highlights

Easy, educational glacier experience suitable for everyone
Walk to the edge of Sólheimajökull Glacier and learn from a certified glacier guide
Hear about glacier formation, movement, volcanic influences,
View dramatic ice formations, crevasses, and ash layers
Visit a glacier lagoon and glacial river
Enjoy hot chocolate or coffee and cookies with glacier views
No crampons or technical glacier equipment required
Perfect for families, first-time visitors, and educational groups

Tour Info

Duration: 2 hours

Distance: Approximately 2.5 to 3 km (1.5 to 1.9 miles)

Difficulty: Easy

Minimum Age: None

Description from the operator, Arctic Adventures. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Included

Certified glacier guide
Guided walk to the edge of Sólheimajökull Glacier
Educational interpretation of glacier geology, history, and climate impacts
Hot chocolate or coffee + cookies
Small group experience (maximum guide to guest ratio 1:16)

Not included

Transportation to and from Sólheimajökull meeting point
Walking shoes and outdoor clothing
Additional food and drinks
Personal travel insurance

Good to know

Weather conditions in Iceland can change rapidly. Please dress in warm, waterproof layers.
Wear comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots.
Bring a waterproof jacket, hat, gloves, and a reusable water bottle.

This is an easy walking tour and does not involve going on the glacier itself.
No crampons or other technical glacier equipment are required.
Participants should be comfortable walking 2.5 to 3 km on uneven gravel paths and natural terrain.
The tour operates in most weather conditions. In the event of severe weather or unsafe conditions, guests will be offered an alternative date or refund.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
While infants are welcome on the tour, the path is not stroller accessible.

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 wind above the treeline and river levels after rain — the guide decides on the day. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

1Arctic Adventures 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 we list it

Arctic Adventures 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 Arctic Adventures

Read all 5,195 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.6/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

Kai Gilchrist
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
This was a phenomenal trip with AMAZING sights. Our tour guide was informative, friendly, and easy to listen to. You will learn a lot and see nature at its greatest. We absolutely loved this tour and would recommend it to anyone. The car ride is comfortable and there is wifi as well! Shout out to our tour guide, Magnus (I hope I’m spelling his name correctly), who told us some hilarious stories.
Tatjana Kultaniemi
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
I spent six days on a bus tour around Iceland with a professional guide. It was an excellent opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of Iceland's breathtaking nature while also learning about the country's history and the everyday lives of its people. Iceland's landscape and animals are truly unique, featuring magnificent waterfalls, geysers, whales, seals, puffins, volcanoes, glaciers, and mountains. Every day brought new and unforgettable experiences. Of course, none of this would have been possible without our guide, Viko. He not only drove the bus safely but also shared fascinating stories about Icelandic history, culture, and way of life. He was willing to tailor the itinerary to our group's interests and wishes, making the experience even more enjoyable. I am very grateful for his professionalism, knowledge, and enthusiasm in interpreting Iceland's natural and cultural heritage. He played a key role in making this tour such a memorable experience.
Chloe Lamm
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
I did the Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik. Such an amazing tour and one of the highlights of my trip to Iceland! Our guide, Erik, was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much interesting information about Iceland throughout the day. We visited some of the country’s most beautiful sights, including stunning waterfalls, Vik, black sand beaches, and other breathtaking stops along the South Coast. The pickup process was simple and organized, making the day completely stress-free. The scenery was incredible from start to finish, and Erik helped make the experience even better with his knowledge, friendliness, and enthusiasm. If you’re visiting Iceland, the South Coast is a must-do, and I highly recommend taking this tour with Erik as your guide!
Nicole Y.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
What a wonderful adventure! The 3 Day South Coast/Golden Circle tour included all of the sites we wanted to see and it did not disappoint. We were picked up at a bus stop in downtown Reykjavik and our journey began with about 16 other guests, a good group size. Our tour guide "Good" John did an excellent job teaching us about the history of Iceland and the sites we saw. The tour is well organized with just enough time at each site. He also made adjustments to the itinerary based on the weather as well as including sites not on the tour to give us more to see, which we loved! There were plenty of bathroom/food breaks as needed and we loved that we could just sit back, relax, and enjoy the views outside the window rather than worrying about driving and parking. Our multi-day tour included a 2 night stay at Adventure Hotel Geirland, which Arctic Adventures owns. Such a quiet hotel, convenient location with beautiful views. Our only complaints were that the shower leaked and made the floor wet, and that dinner at the restaurant was expensive with limited options. However the food was good and breakfast was included. The Katla Ice Cave was our favorite part, which was partnered with Southcoast Adventure, and our guide Inga was very friendly and knowledgeable. We did pay for a hiking boot rental for my husband but never received the boots. We did not ask our tour guide so we are not sure what happened with that. Overall we absolutely loved this tour and would highly recommend Arctic Adventures to anyone visiting Iceland for the first time!

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.

Hiking & trekking — questions people ask

When can you hike in Landmannalaugar?

Late June to September. The highland roads to Landmannalaugar are closed by snow the rest of the year, and the opening date shifts with the weather each summer. In season, day tours from Reykjavík (/experience/16823/) run about fourteen hours with a three- to five-hour guided hike and a soak in the hot river. If you have your own 4x4, the meet-on-location hike (/experience/254326/) skips the bus.

How hard is the Laugavegur trek?

Moderate to hard. It is 55 kilometres over four days from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk, with river crossings, snow patches in July and weather that can turn to sleet in August. You do not need technical skills, but you need to carry a pack and walk five to eight hours a day. Guided treks (/experience/738812/) handle logistics and camping gear; the luggage transfer (/experience/1036525/) lets self-guided walkers carry a day pack only.

Can you hike to the volcano near Reykjavík?

Yes, when it is safe. The Reykjanes eruption sites at Fagradalsfjall and around Grindavík have drawn hikers since 2021, and guided tours (/experience/629086/, /experience/620679/) follow the routes the Civil Protection authority has open. If there is an active eruption, access changes daily and tours adapt or pause. The lava is usually cooled and crusted; you see fresh black rock and steam, not flowing lava. Wear boots; the ground is rough.

What should I pack for a day hike in Iceland?

Waterproof jacket and trousers, not a poncho; the wind will shred it. Hiking boots with ankle support, wool or synthetic layers, hat, gloves, sunglasses and a packed lunch with two litres of water. In the highlands add a warm mid-layer even in July. Guides carry first aid and route knowledge, not your rain gear. Cotton jeans and trainers are the most common reason people have a miserable day.

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

€66.01 per person

Arctic Adventures'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.

Departs11:0013:0015:30

Skaftafell: light 10:23–15:32, 5 h 9 min of daylight.

✓ Free cancellation until 24 hours before
✓ Instant confirmation by email
✓ If Arctic Adventures 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: Arctic Adventures'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 €6 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.