Glacier Hike & Horse Riding in South Iceland

by Arctic Adventures · Glacier hiking · Horse riding · Hiking & trekking · South Coast

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

from €190.51 per person

Next departure: Sat 24 Oct

Book Sat 24 Oct · €190.51Other dates
Glacier Hike & Horse Riding in South Iceland — Arctic Adventures
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  • Duration

    6 hours

  • Difficulty

    Moderate

  • Season

    All year

  • Pickup

    Meet at the start point

  • Starts at

    Sólheimajökull Glacier

    Arctic Adventures - Glacier Guides (Sólheimajökull Base), Parking, Iceland, Parking

  • Guide

    Guided in English

  • Departs

    10:00, 11:00, 13:30

  • Minimum age

    10

  • Cancellation

    Free until 24 hours before

About this experience

Meet on Location: Glacier Hike & Horse Riding in South IcelandTour Highlights
  • Guided Glacier Hike on Sólheimajökull
  • Horseback Riding on Vík's Black Sand Beach
  • Stunning South Coast Landscapes
  • Expert Local Guides

Please note: This is a self-drive tour. Guests are responsible for making their own way to each activity meeting point.

Glacier Hike on Sólheimajökull

Begin your adventure at Sólheimajökull Glacier, where you'll meet your certified glacier guide and receive a safety briefing along with all necessary glacier equipment. Before stepping onto the ice, enjoy a scenic walk through a peaceful valley surrounded by moss-covered hills and dramatic volcanic landscapes. Along the way, you'll be treated to breathtaking views of the glacier, nearby mountains, black sand plains, and the glacier lagoon below.

After fitting your crampons, follow your guide onto the glacier itself and discover a fascinating world of ice formations shaped by centuries of movement. Explore deep crevasses, towering ice ridges, winding meltwater channels, and striking blue ice features while learning about the glacier's formation and ever-changing nature.

Your guide will share insights into the geology of the area, Iceland's unique relationship between fire and ice, and the visible effects of climate change on this remarkable frozen landscape. Keep an eye out for layers of volcanic ash embedded within the glacier, telling the story of past eruptions that have helped shape Iceland over time.

Guests should be prepared to hike ~6km over uneven terrain with moderate elevation changes. The glacier hike is 4 hours in total. 

Horse Riding in Vík

Your second adventure takes place in the charming village of Vík, home to some of Iceland's most spectacular coastal scenery.

Upon arrival, you'll meet your guide and your Icelandic horse, renowned for its gentle temperament, sure-footed nature, and unique gait. After a brief introduction and safety overview, it's time to saddle up and head out onto the stunning black sand beach of Víkurfjara.

Ride along the dramatic shoreline surrounded by ocean views, volcanic landscapes, and towering cliffs. Along the way, your guide will introduce you to the history and characteristics of the Icelandic horse while sharing stories about the local area and its natural wonders.

This memorable experience combines beautiful scenery, fascinating local knowledge, and the chance to connect with one of Iceland's most beloved animals.

The horse-riding tour lasts ~ 1 hour. 


Duration: Full day (self-drive between locations)

Meeting Points: Sólheimajökull Glacier Parking Lot & Vík Horse Adventure in Vík Village

Difficulty: Easy (2/5)

Suitable for: Beginners and anyone looking for a relaxed South Coast adventure combining ice and horseback riding.

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

Where you go

  1. Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike
  2. Black Beach Horse Riding

Included

Guided Glacier Hike on Sólheimajökull

Certified Glacier Guide

All Necessary Glacier Gear

Horseback Ride

Horse Riding Guide

All Necessary Riding Gear 

Not included

Transportation between meeting points

Food and drinks

Good to know

Bring warm and waterproof clothing. Hiking boots with ankle support are mandatory for the glacier hike portion. Rental boots are available onsite for a small fee.

This is a self-drive tour - guests are responsible for making their way to each meeting point

Please note that the minimum age for this tour is 10 years

For horseback riding the weight limit is 100kg (220lb).

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 →

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 — €96 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

Arctic Adventures · €191Glaciers and Waterfalls · €95
How long it runs6 hours3 hours
How hard it isModerateEasy

The €96 buys you 3 more hours out. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.

Who this is not for

  • Children under 10 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 207 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 23 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 €9 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.

from

€190.51 per person

Book Sat 24 Oct · €190.51