Viking Valley & Glacier Hike Adventure
by Icarus Rising ehf · Glacier hiking · Hiking & trekking · Multi-day packages · Highlands
from €5,872.64 per vehicle
Next departure: Sun 25 Oct
1 / 34
Duration
2 days
Difficulty
Moderate
Season
May – Sep
Starts in
Reykjavík
Pickup
Hotel pickup included
Starts at
Hallgrímstorg, Reykjavík
Guide
Guided in English
Departs
09:00
Minimum age
6
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before
About this experience
Day 1: Glacier Hike, Black Sand Beach, and Adventure Begin your day in Reykjavík with a scenic drive to the stunning Sólheimajökull Glacier, where breathtaking views of rugged landscapes, vast lava fields, and towering mountains await. En route, stop at the famous Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, where dramatic basalt sea stacks and powerful Atlantic waves create a striking contrast against the black sands.
Once at Sólheimajökull, enjoy a guided glacier hike with gear provided, including crampons, harness, and helmet. Explore the glacier’s fascinating formations, including moulins, and feel the thrill of hiking on ice.
Possibility of upgrading to a private Ice Climbing Experience.
On your return, visit the spectacular Skógarfoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls before heading to a 4-star hotel under the magical midnight sun.
Day 2: Viking Valley, Waterfalls & Icelandic Heritage Start your second day beneath the towering Hekla Volcano, driving through the lush and dramatic landscapes of the Þjórsardalur Valley. Explore Þjóðveldisbærinn Commonwealth Farm, a Viking-era living history site where you can meet reenactors, learn about Viking customs, and discover the reconstructed farm and church.
Next, visit some of the hidden waterfalls of the South: Háifoss, Glanni, and Hjálparfoss, each offering serene beauty and awe-inspiring views.
Finish your Viking journey with a traditional Viking BBQ featuring Icelandic delicacies, before returning to Reykjavík for a unique Old Icelandic Books experience. Handle rare manuscripts and learn about Iceland’s rich literary history in an intimate, hands-on setting.
Highlights:
Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike or Ice Climbing Experience
Waterfalls of the South Coast
Black Sand Beach of Reynisfjara
Viking experience at Þjóðveldisbærinn
Hidden waterfalls: Háifoss, Glanni, Hjálparfoss
Viking BBQ & Icelandic heritage
Old Icelandic Books experience in Reykjavík
This 2-day tour immerses you in Iceland’s Viking history, stunning landscapes, and ancient literary traditions, creating an unforgettable adventure.
Description from the operator, Icarus Rising ehf. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Where you go
- South Coast Highlights, Glacier Hike Adventure
- Day 2: Viking Valley Adventure: A Journey Through Iceland's Viking Past
Included
- Pick-up and Drop-off from Reykjavík
- Certified Glacier Guide and Professional Photographer
- Small Group (16 persons max)
- Glacier Equipment: helmet, harness, crampons
- 1 Night Accommodation with Breakfast in a Luxury Countryside Hotel
- Viking BBQ on day 2
- Old Icelandic Books Immersive Experience
10 Personalized Photos included (Per Person)
Portrait and Landscape shots of both the Glacier
Portrait and Landscape shots of the Viking Valley on day 2
All photos will be edited and sent to clients within 14 days via a downloadable drive.
Not included
- Sunglasses
- Water Bottle
- Winter Clothing – Gloves, Hat, Wind/Rainproof Jacket, and warm layers for freezing conditions. (Available to hire)
- Hiking Boots (boots should have good ankle support) (Available to hire)
Good to know
What to bring: Outdoor Clothing, Gloves, Hat, Rain Pants/Jacket, Camera, and Hiking Boots if you have them.
- This Glacier Hike tour involves roughly 2 hours of total hiking. The first half of the terrain is very flat yet rocky and is relatively easy for a person of average fitness. The second half is hiking on the glacier which goes up a gradual incline for about 20 minutes. The overall hike is rated as easy with some areas of moderate exercise.
- Photo packages may sometimes take more or less than 14 days to edit. This is just our average turnaround time.
- Our Cancellation Policy can be found here. Also, check out our FAQ page if you have further questions.
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.
- 1Icarus Rising ehf 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 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.
Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →
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 6 cannot join this one.
- Priced per vehicle, so it is poor value for one or two people and good value for four or more sharing.
Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.
Why we list it
Icarus Rising ehf 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 →
Read before you book
- 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.
- Glacier hike or ice cave: which to bookBetween October and April, book the Skaftafell hike-and-cave combo and get both. The rest of the year, a glacier hike on Sólheimajökull is the better day.
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.
One checkout, any number of operators
Rankings are not for sale
203 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted
If it falls short, we fix it
Pairs well with
Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.
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