Glacier Wonders

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

4.60· 5,195 Google reviews of the operator
  • Beginners welcome
  • Fine on your own
  • Good with teenagers
  • Eco-certified

from €101 per person

Next departure: Thu 22 Oct

Book Thu 22 Oct · €101Other dates
Glacier Wonders — Arctic Adventures
A group of hikers posing for a photograph during Glacier hike in Iceland Skaftafell
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Big smiles for a hiker during Glacier hike Iceland
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  • Duration

    4 hours and 10 minutes

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Season

    All year

  • Starts in

    Skaftafell

  • Pickup

    Meet at the start point

  • Starts at

    Arctic Adventures Booking Hut in Skaftafell National park

    Arctic Adventures Booking Hut in Skaftafell National park, Skaftafell

  • Guide

    Guided in English

  • Departs

    09:00, 09:40, 10:00, 10:20 …

  • Minimum age

    8

  • Cancellation

    Free until 24 hours before

Our take on this one

A guided walk on Falljökull, one of the outlet glaciers that spill down from Vatnajökull, starting from the Arctic Adventures hut by the car park at the Skaftafell visitor centre. A short drive takes you to the ice, the guide fits crampons, harness and helmet, and you spend a couple of hours walking among ridges, crevasses and moulins, with the icefall above you. Allow about four hours in all and roughly 4 km on foot with 200–250 m of climb over uneven ice, which the operator rates easy. Departures run through the day from 09:00 to 15:00, which suits a South Coast drive or a night in Skaftafell. Bring waterproofs and proper boots (both can be rented) and your own food. What the ice looks like on the day changes with the weather and the season.

Book it if
Anyone already driving the South Coast or staying near Skaftafell who wants a first proper glacier walk without a long day trip from Reykjavík.
Skip it if
It is not a Reykjavík pickup tour, and the crampons only fit EU shoe size 35 and up, so small children's feet rule them out even above the minimum age of 8.

Written by us, from the operator's own details and what we know of the route. We don't take a fee for a good word.

About this experience

Glacier Wonders - Skaftafell Glacier Hike 

Ready to unleash your inner explorer? Embark on this Skaftafell Glacier Hike and step into a world of icy marvels where adventure beckons at every turn. With a trip difficulty of 2/5, this journey is perfect for those craving excitement without going to extremes. Venture across the legendary Falljökull glacier, gaze out over the vast, shimmering expanse of Vatnajökull, and feel the thrill of conquering ancient ice. 

Your adventure begins at the Arctic Adventures Hut, nestled near the car park at the Skaftafell Visitor Center in Vatnajökull National Park. Here, your guide and fellow adventurers await, ready to set out on an unforgettable quest. After a short drive through wild Icelandic landscapes, you’ll arrive at Falljökull. Strap on your crampons, listen to your guide’s tales of glacial wonders, and prepare to journey onto the living ice itself. With each step, you’ll traverse glittering crevasses, peer into mysterious moulins, and marvel at cascading icefalls. Every twist and turn reveals new shapes, surreal colors, and textures that seem pulled from another world. 

Don’t forget your camera - you’ll want to capture every breathtaking moment of this epic voyage. This is more than a hike - it’s an expedition into the heart of Iceland’s wildest wonders. 

Disclaimer: All day trips are undertaken at your own risk. Arctic Adventures does not assume responsibility for accidents caused by participants or their actions. All adventurers must sign a waiver acknowledging the inherent risks of outdoor exploration. 

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

Included

Guided tour with an English-speaking, certified glacier guide

Specialized glacier safety gear (helmet, harness, glacier crampons, ice axe)


Good to know

- Waterproof jacket and pants (Available to rent)

- Sturdy hiking boots with ankle support (Available to rent)

- Light sweater, wool or fleece

- Light synthetic or quick dry pants (Try and stay clear of jeans on the longer trips as they get wet & cold quick and dry slow)

- Thin Gloves

- Hat

- Small Backpack (Can be handy to carry camera, rain gear and all extras)

- Sunglasses and sun protection (It can get quite bright on the ice with the reflection)

- Food and drinks 

Travelers should be prepared to walk approximately 4 km (2.5 miles) with an elevation gain of 200-250 meters (650–820 ft). While the tour is rated as easy and suitable for most fitness levels, there is a moderate amount of walking over uneven glacier terrain.

Our specialized glacier crampons are only available for shoe sizes 35 EU and larger. Those with a smaller shoe size are unfortunately unable to participate.

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. 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.
  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 →

Who this is not for

  • Children under 8 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

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

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 →

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Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €7 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.

from

€101 per person

Book Thu 22 Oct · €101