Vatnajökull Glacier Walk
by Blue Iceland · Glacier hiking · Hiking & trekking · Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón
- Fine on your own





Would this be cheaper direct? No — we sell at Blue Iceland'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 Vatnajökull Glacier Walk
30 photos from Blue Iceland. Tap any one for the full-size original.
Duration
3 hours and 30 minutes
Difficulty
Moderate
Season
All year
Starts in
Höfn, Hornafjørdur
Meeting
Meet on location
Languages
EN
Departs
09:30, 14:00
Minimum age
8
Cancellation
Free until departure
About this experience
Are you ready for a unique adventure, an excursion consisting of a Jeep ride and glacier walk at a location where there are very few people.
This is a tour for those who wish to enjoy outdoor activities in the fresh mountain air and experience the unspoiled natural beauty of Iceland at its best. We meet at Jökulsárlón and embark on a 30-minute jeep ride to where we start our walk, at which point all passengers receive necessary safety equipment and instructions from the guide, essential for glacier walks. During the tour, passengers will acquire knowledge about the glacier and view some unique ice sculpture and crevasse formations.
Description from the operator, Blue Iceland. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Included
- Professional Guidance
- Crampons
- Helmet
- Ice axes (if needed)
Good to know
- Hiking boots with ankle support and warm socks
- Good, warm hiking clothes (fleece, wool, wind and waterproof jacket and trousers)
- Hat, gloves
- Water bottle, (energy-rich, like chocolate)
- Camera
Cancellation for this tour
Free cancellation until departure. 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.
- 1Blue Iceland 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 0 hours 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 — €33 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.
| Blue Iceland · €118 | Nordur Travel Services ehf · €85 | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it runs | 3.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Changing your mind | Free until departure | Free until 24 h before |
| How hard it is | Moderate | Easy |
The €33 buys you 0.5 more hours out. 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
- 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
Blue Iceland 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 →
What travellers say about Blue Iceland
Read all 155 reviews on Google →Operator rating 4.8/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.
★★★★★ · 5 months ago
CHOOSE BLUE ICELAND! We went on a glacier/ice cave tour with Oscar and Maggie (?). Oscar led our group. He was a very knowledgeable and safety- conscious guide. I was enthralled by all that he shared about the glacier and Iceland. I can't recommend a better guide! He was patient and made sure we were safe the entire time, even though the weather made it seem like we were on a trek across the Arctic. And, he managed to find half a dozen ice caves, even though it was near white-out conditions. We had to wrap the tour up early, and had some challenges getting back to the lagoon, but Maggie was reassuring and I had confidence in their ability to lead us back safely. Once back at the lagoon, they told us that all the roads were closed and asked everyone to follow them to a farm not far away, where we could get hot food and wait for the roads to open. The weather got worse and everyone managed to find a place to stay for the night (two hotels on the farm) to wait out the storm. This company is caring, kind and not just about making money from tourists. They showed us the best side of Iceland and those who live in this amazing country. If you are in doubt about what company to choose, choose this one!
★★★★★ · a month ago
*5 stars for 3 hours hike Summer Treasure - Glacier Discovery - with our guide LUCY* Really great hike with Lucy - only 9 people in our group, from Jokulsarlon on Vatnojokull glacier. It is a 30 minute ride to the glacier, then you put on your microspikes. Not many people on this glacier (Compared to Solheimajokul glacier which was VERY busy). We got to go into some crevices, as well as peer down some of the holes (harnessed). Nice hike and experience also for my 9--year old. Next time, would like to try the 6 hour hike. Note: the meeting point at the busy Jokulsarlon meeting area is not at the cafe...you have to go to the Bus parking lot, and find a truck that is labelled Blue Iceland - you meet at the bus.
★★★★★ · 2 years ago
This tour was absolutely awe inspiring. It was a once in a lifetime experience. We did the long day glacier hike and cave. Definitely worth it. Got a great 10% discount by staying in guesthouse Gerdi. The guide was really knowledgeable and taught us loads about the glacier and the characteristics of the area. The gear we got was top quality. Be sure to dress well though as its very cold in winter. The guide took loads of photos too which he sent afterwards. I would 100% would recommend this company.
★★★★★ · 2 years ago
This tour was amazing!! We got to see a bunch of the ice caves on top of the glacier! We went into a huge monster truck and traveled over bumpy off beat roads to arrive at the glacier. Then they gave us ice spikes for our shoes. The whole experience was so exciting and unique and we got to explore the beautiful caves! And our tour guide was very nice. Highly recommended tour while in Iceland!
Reviews from Google · updated 13 Sept 2026
Read before you book
- Sólheimajökull, Skaftafell or Vatnajökull — which glacier hike to actually 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.
- Snowmobiling on Langjökull or a glacier hike — pick one glacier day, not bothAn hour on a snowmobile from €241 or three hours in crampons from €92. They feel nothing alike, and one is the better first glacier day for most people.
Reviews from our travellers
Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.
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.
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