Vatnajökull Glacier Walk

by Blue Iceland · Glacier hiking · Hiking & trekking · Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón

4.80· 155 Google reviews of the operator

Fine on your own

from €121.13 per person

Next departure: Thu 1 Apr

Book Thu 1 Apr · €121.13 Other dates

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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
Pickup
Meet at the start point
Starts at
glacier lagoon
Guide
Guided in English
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 Glacier Wonders from Arctic Adventures is €101 — €20 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

	Blue Iceland · €121	Arctic Adventures · €101
How long it runs	3.5 hours	4.2 hours
Changing your mind	Free until departure	Free until 24 h before
How hard it is	Moderate	Easy

On everything we can measure, the Arctic Adventures tour is the better buy. The €20 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 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 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 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.

Leslie Gleason
★★★★★ · 6 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!
Mandy Wong
★★★★★ · 2 months 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.
Jessica
★★★★★ · 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.
David Nagel-Nunez
★★★★★ · 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 21 Oct 2026

Read before you book

Höfn í Hornafirði: the glacier baseIceland's best-placed small town for Vatnajökull. Ice caves, glacier walks and langoustine, an hour east of Jökulsárlón and a long way from Reykjavík.
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.

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 Höfn í Hornafirði, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

All hotels in Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón →

One checkout, any number of operators
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If it falls short, we fix it

from

€121.13 per person

Blue Iceland'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.

Departs09:3014:00

Höfn í Hornafirði: light 06:22–19:48, 13 h 25 min of daylight.

✓ Free cancellation until departure
✓ Instant confirmation by email
✓ If Blue Iceland 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: Blue Iceland'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.