Glacier Hike Adventure at Sólheimajökull

by David The Guide · Glacier hiking · Hiking & trekking · South Coast

4.6· 19 TripAdvisor reviews of this tour4.70· 127 Google reviews of the operator
  • Fine on your own

from €109.38 per person

Next departure: Fri 23 Oct

Book Fri 23 Oct · €109.38Other dates
Glacier Hike Adventure at Sólheimajökull — David The Guide
Glacier Hike Adventure at Sólheimajökull, photo 2
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  • Duration

    4 hours

  • Difficulty

    Moderate

  • Season

    All year

  • Pickup

    Meet at the start point

  • Starts at

    Sólheimajökull

    Sólheimajökulsvegur, 871, VIk

  • Guide

    Guided in English

  • Departs

    12:00

  • Minimum age

    8

  • Cancellation

    Free until 24 hours before

About this experience

Feel like you are on top of the world with this day hike that will get the adrenaline pumping.

This glacier hiking tour begins when you arrive at the base camp at the foot of Solheimajokull. Solheimajokull is an outlet of Myrdalsjokull, one of the country’s largest ice caps, and is perfect for adventurers due to its accessible slopes, incredible formations, and striking views.

Your friendly, certified guide will be waiting to dress you in a harness, helmet, and pair of crampons and equip you with an ice ax. They will then brief you on the equipment and route before leading you around the murky glacier lagoon to Solheimajokull’s snowy surface.

Worry not about the dangers of glacier hiking in Iceland, as your guide knows how to navigate this otherworldly terrain safely and is trained to deal with all potential circumstances.

All aspects of Iceland’s ice caps are breathtaking. The colors are striking, with untouched white snow veined with black ash from past eruptions and brightened by dazzling blues (please note the color can change with the seasons). Formations such as glistening icicles, towering ice walls, deep crevasses, and sometimes even winding ice caves are around each corner.

As you hike, you can refill your water bottle in pure freshwater streams as it melts.

The higher you ascend, the more spectacular the views will become. In clear weather, you’ll be able to look over dramatic mountains, the Westman Islands, the black sands of the South Coast, and stunning lava landscapes.

Your guide will tell you how glaciers form and why Iceland is so renowned for them. They will also talk about the dangers they face and how you can help protect them for future generations.

You are also welcome to ask them any questions about the ice caps or life in Iceland, and they can take photos of you and your group at the most picturesque spots.

David the Guide started out as one guide wanting to share and give more. With growing demand, the David the Guide team has grown and our team of adventure loving guides will be with you on your tour with us. This is not a single man operation, but a family of guides who believe in the vision David has for the industry. 

Description from the operator, David The Guide . Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

  1. Itinerary

Included

Safety Gear: Crampons, Ice Axe, Helmet, Harness
Certified Guide

Not included

This is a meet on location product, so you will meet us at the glacier

We do not offer rentals for shoes/pants/jackets. Please be sure to bring your own or make arrangements. Only the safety gear for the tour will be provided.

Good to know

Please wear proper footwear- hiking boots. Athletic sneakers may not fit the glacier crampons. Please bring hat, gloves and other weather appropriate clothing. 

  • If pregnant, we suggest checking with doctor before booking

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. 1David The Guide 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 →

Why this one and not the cheaper one?

The nearest cheaper Glacier Hike Experience on Sólheimajökull Glacier - Meet on location from Glaciers and Waterfalls is €95 — €14 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

David The Guide · €109Glaciers and Waterfalls · €95
How long it runs4 hours3 hours
How hard it isModerateEasy

The €14 buys you 1 more hour out. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.

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

David The Guide 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 David The Guide

Read all 127 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.7/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

  • Michael Donegan

    ★★★★★ · 6 months ago

    We had an amazing time seeing the Northern lights with David The Guide during our first trip to Iceland! Ania was our guide and she was very informative about the science behind how the lights appear, and how they are able to take measurements to predict the intensity for the night. Ania also took pictures of everyone in the group who wanted one, and they turned out fantastic! In our case, the forecast was not looking great when we started the tour. But they ended up becoming very bright around midnight! Hot chocolate was provided and everyone could warm up in the bus when it got too cold. We will absolutely purchase a tour again during our next visit to Iceland!

  • Jubel

    ★★★★★ · 9 months ago

    As a solo traveller, I did the 2-day Winter Tour to South Coast and Diamond Beach and was able to see many of the sites that I wanted to see on my first trip to Iceland! The bus is comfortable and I had a great stay at the Hotel Hofn (comes with delicious breakfast). A few of the sites included Ice Cave, Waterfalls (Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss etc.), Diamond Beach and more. We were a small group of 9 and everyone was respectful and on time when coming back to the bus at each stop. Yes, this is a fast-paced tour, but you will cover MANY spots! Thank you to my guide, Sebastien, for a wonderful trip to the South Coast, he is friendly, knowledgeable and communicates clearly.

  • K S

    ★★★★★ · 6 months ago

    I went on the Northern Lights tour, and they let me reschedule it twice with no additional fee because conditions weren't good and the northern lights were not visible. I was able to see the northern lights on my third try, and it was an amazing experience. Chasing the northern lights with this tour company was fantastic since they take professional photos of both you and the aurora by itself, so you don’t have to worry about figuring out camera settings yourself. They also give you a hot drink, cookies, and they also lend you blankets! Be sure to layer up and bring hand warmers for your hands and feet as you will be outside for several hours

  • Zorali De Feria

    ★★★★★ · 3 months ago

    ★★★★★ I highly recommend this South Coast tour with David the Guide. Everything was exactly as promised—and even better. Our guide, Jagoda, was outstanding. She was extremely professional, knowledgeable, organized, and clearly passionate about Iceland. Throughout the two days, she shared fascinating information about the country’s history, geology, culture, and landmarks, making every stop more meaningful and enjoyable. What impressed me most was how efficiently she managed the itinerary. We maximized our time at every location without ever feeling rushed, and she even included a few extra experiences along the way. Her planning and time management were exceptional. The small-group format made a huge difference. If you’re considering a South Coast tour, I would not hesitate to book with David the Guide. And if you’re lucky enough to have Jagoda as your guide, you’re in excellent hands. Her professionalism, expertise, and dedication truly made this one of the highlights of our trip to Iceland.

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 Hella & Hvolsvöllur, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

All hotels in South Coast →

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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.

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€109.38 per person

Book Fri 23 Oct · €109.38