Iceland · HIKING & TREKKING

15 Hikes & Walks in Iceland Worth Booking Ahead

81 tours  ·  from $76 a head

A badly planned day in Iceland is mostly spent driving. These 15 hikes & walks are the ones worth the time, priced and timed so you can choose in a few minutes.

Skaftafell: Ice Cave Tour and Glacier Hike - The walk in is part of the lesson
Hiking & Trekking, Iceland Glacier Hikes, Iceland Ice Cave Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Vik Tours

Skaftafell: Ice Cave Tour and Glacier Hike

1.Skaftafell: Ice Cave Tour and Glacier Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,746 reviews · 4 hours · from $165Our pick

Walk onto Falljökull with a certified English-speaking guide, learn to use crampons, and explore glacier ice and a naturally formed cave. Groups are limited to 12. Gear, coffee, glacier water, and chocolates are included; bring warm clothes, hiking shoes, and rain gear.

“Overall activity was amazing experience. The guide was knowledgeable and provided us lots of information nuggets during the hike. The ice cave was a little disappointing but I was sort of anticipating it. Highly recommend this activity.”

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Skaftafell National Park: Falljokull Glacier Easy Hike - Starting at Troll Expeditions in Skaftafell
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Skaftafell National Park: Falljokull Glacier Easy Hike

2.Skaftafell National Park: Falljokull Glacier Easy Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,370 reviews · from $132

Meet your English-speaking guide at Troll Expeditions in Skaftafell, collect glacier gear, then ride to Falljökull for a guided walk among crevasses, moulins and blue ice. Expect roughly 60 to 90 minutes on the glacier, plus transport and a safety briefing. Boots can be rented; you must be at least 8.

“We don’t have glaciers back home, so being able to hike on one and seeing the beauty up close was incredible!”

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Reykjavik: Glacier Hike, Waterfalls and Black Sand Beach - Sólheimajökull is the day’s most hands-on stop
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Reykjavik: Glacier Hike, Waterfalls and Black Sand Beach

3.Glacier Hike, Waterfalls and Black Sand Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,285 reviews · 11 hours · from $186

Travel from Reykjavík by minibus to Sólheimajökull for a beginner-friendly guided glacier hike, then visit Reynisfjara, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. Crampons, helmet, harness and ice axe are provided. Guides such as Sarah, Al, Thomas and Bessi have been praised for clear safety briefings, good pacing and lively stories, though your guide is not guaranteed.

“This was a fantastic experience, Sarah was an amazing guide. She was highly knowledgable and friendly taking us on a safe and amazing hike on the glacier. The whole tour process was fantastic from start to finish and I would recommend for anyone.”

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Sólheimajökull: Guided Glacier Hike - Reading the ice with a guide
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Sólheimajökull: Guided Glacier Hike

4.Sólheimajökull: Guided Glacier Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,123 reviews · from $116

Meet your certified English-speaking guide at Sólheimajökull’s parking lot, then gear up for a guided walk on the glacier. Crampons, helmet and ice axe are included. Guides such as Daniel, Steve, Daniela and Tomas have led outings here, though your guide will depend on the departure. Expect ice formations, crevasses and glacier views, with the route and pace shaped by the group.

“We loved this tour! Steve our tour guide was brilliant! Great balance of taking time to take pictures and go at everyone’s pace, whilst using lots of humour and sharing his knowledge of the glacier structures… an absolutely superb morning out with the wild weather to compliment it!”

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Skaftafell National Park: Falljokull Glacier Advanced Hike - Three hours among crevasses and icefalls
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Skaftafell National Park: Falljokull Glacier Advanced Hike

5.Skaftafell National Park: Falljokull Glacier Advanced Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,083 reviews · 5 hours · from $167

Spend five hours exploring Falljökull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, with a certified guide and a group of no more than 10. You’ll get crampons, a helmet, harness and ice axe, then hike for about three hours on the glacier. Expect striking ice formations, glacier science and a solid physical workout.

“We had the best time on our tour with a wonderful guide named Lily! She was very nice, helpful, comforting and gave a lot of information. Definitely do the 5h instead of 3h tour, then you go a little higher on the glacier where there are fewer people. Very well organised.”

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Reykjavík: Volcano Eruption Site and Reykjanes Hiking Tour - The hike toward Geldingadalur and the eruption zones
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Reykjavík: Volcano Eruption Site and Reykjanes Hiking Tour

6.Volcano Eruption Site and Reykjanes Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,066 reviews · 9 hours · from $126

Spend nine hours exploring Reykjanes with an English-speaking guide, including a strenuous hike toward recent eruption sites and stops at Kleifarvatn, Seltún, Gunnuhver, Reykjanes Lighthouse and the Bridge Between Continents. The route and viewing point can change with conditions, and an active eruption is never guaranteed.

“Our guide was great, and added an extra stop at the end that was so worth it! Transport was good, comfortable. We spent the right amount of time at each activity. The hike was challenging but definitely doable, and was absolutely worth the effort! Our tour had people of all ages/ability levels with us. (Mid-20s to mod/60s)”

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Skaftafell: Blue Ice Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull - Blue ice, crevasses and Falljökull’s icefall
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Skaftafell: Blue Ice Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull

7.Skaftafell: Blue Ice Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,045 reviews · 4 hours · from $116

Spend about four hours hiking Falljökull, an outlet of Vatnajökull, with an English-speaking certified guide. You’ll ride a 4x4 to the ice, learn to use crampons, and walk among blue ice, crevasses and the glacier’s icefall. Guides have included James, Anna, Nil and Tomas, though your guide may vary.

“Glacier hiking is once in a life time experience!!! The view was out of the world. Equipments such as crampons, ice hammer, and helmets were provided. Tour guides checked if your hiking boots were compatible with the crampons. If not, you could rent boots. They also had waterproof jackets for rent. However, the weather was so stormy, even one layer of north face waterproof jacket couldn’t withstand. I was drenched at the end. So definitely bundle up more layers! The hike was not easy, but our guide Dragon was considerate, knowledgeable, and brave. He held out his hand when I had a hard time crossing the ice cracks. One time,…”

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Reykjavík: Guided Afternoon Hiking Tour to New Volcano Site - Seltún: geothermal ground in 25 minutes
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Reykjavík: Guided Afternoon Hiking Tour to New Volcano Site

8.Guided Afternoon Hiking Tour to New Volcano Site

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 934 reviews · 7 hours · from $126

From Reykjavík, join a guide for a seven-hour trip to Reykjanes Peninsula. Stop at Seltún’s colorful geothermal ground, then hike toward recent eruption sites near Geldingadalur and Fagradalsfjall. Expect a strenuous walk, changing volcanic conditions and plenty of geology. Guides vary; past trips have been led by Tom, Alain and Dave.

“Omar was really very very informative and funny! The tour was worth it!”

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Jökulsárlón: Vatnajökull Glacier Guided Hiking Tour - What the glacier walk is like
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Jökulsárlón: Vatnajökull Glacier Guided Hiking Tour

9.Jökulsárlón: Vatnajökull Glacier Guided Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 921 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $150

From Jökulsárlón, ride a super jeep to Breiðamerkurjökull for a guided glacier walk with crampons, helmet and harness. Expect about two hours on the ice, with route choices shaped by weather and conditions. Guides such as Iga, Guillermo, Javier and Thomas have led past tours. Ice caves and moulins are possible, but never guaranteed.

“Very surprise, and the experience is wonderful. Especially, it is so beautiful when see the blue ice cave.”

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From Reykjavik: Glacier Hike, South Coast and Waterfalls Day Trip - Sólheimajökull: boots, gear and a safety call
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From Reykjavik: Glacier Hike, South Coast and Waterfalls Day Trip

10.Glacier Hike, South Coast and Waterfalls Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 915 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) Top rated

Spend about 12 hours touring Iceland’s South Coast, with stops at Skógafoss, Sólheimajökull, Reynisfjara and Seljalandsfoss. A guide leads the glacier hike and provides crampons, a helmet and an ice axe. Bring sturdy hiking boots, outdoor clothing, snacks and water. Guides named on past departures include Michal, Svenni and Roberto, but your guide may differ.

“Incredible experience and so glad I was with a small group for this one. The glacier hike is truly special and incredible and this experience was worth every penny. The guide makes sure that you have everything you need and that the experience is amazing. The best part of my Iceland trip!”

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Glacier Hike and South Coast Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik - Reynisfjara’s black sand and Atlantic surf
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Glacier Hike and South Coast Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik

11.Glacier Hike and South Coast Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 827 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $205

Spend a full day on Iceland’s south coast, with stops at Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and Reynisfjara, plus a guided walk on Sólheimajökull. Troll Expeditions provides glacier gear and minibus transport for groups of up to 18. Guides such as Philip, Malek and Bjorn have led trips, though your guide will vary. Bring food, sturdy boots and layers.

“This was one of my most memorable experience. Our tour guide (Juliana) was very accommodating and friendly. She took good care of our group. Plus, we had Jon as our glacier guide and he kept us safe while telling us fun stories. I would definitely recommend folks to do this tour!!”

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Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike – Adventure in a Small Group - What the glacier walk is really like
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Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike – Adventure in a Small Group

12.Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike – Adventure in a Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 799 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $115Best value

Meet your certified guide at Sólheimajökull Base Camp for a three-hour small-group glacier hike. You’ll get a helmet, harness, crampons, and ice axe, then learn how to walk safely on the ice. Expect about an hour on the glacier, with stops to see crevasses and ice formations, hear about glacier geology, take photos, and drink glacier water. Groups are capped at 14.

“We had the most incredible time with Sophia as our tour guide. Our experience was very intimate -- just Sophia, me and my husband -- as the other group members had to cancel last minute. The views were stunning and drinking glacier water for the first time was an unforgettable experience. Sophia was knowledgeable and excellent at clearly explaining concepts whenever we asked questions. She was patient, kind, and also took great photos for us! Overall we had a very safe, fun, and educational adventure and were able to go quite far as we did not have other group members to wait for. I would absolutely recommend this experience to…”

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From Reykjavík: Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike with Geologist - Reading the lava on foot
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From Reykjavík: Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike with Geologist

13.Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike with Geologist

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 780 reviews · 4 - 6 hours · from $163

Travel from Reykjavík to Fagradalsfjall with a geologist such as France, Jasmin, or Giuseppe, then hike to a crater viewpoint and explore safe areas of recent lava. Expect a small group, 2 to 3 hours on rough, uphill trails, and clear explanations of how eruptions shape the Reykjanes Peninsula. Hot lava is never guaranteed.

“Our tour guide Fransie was very kind and easy to talk to. Very knowledgable tour too! Had great fun experiencing the lava and mountains.”

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From Reykjavík: Landmannalaugar Day Hike - A trail through lava, canyon and color
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From Reykjavík: Landmannalaugar Day Hike

14.Landmannalaugar Day Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 662 reviews · 5 - 14 hours · from $214

Travel by 4x4-capable coach into the Fjallabak Highlands for a guided hike across Laugahraun lava field, Vondugil Canyon and colorful Brennisteinsalda, with a natural hot-spring soak afterward. Guides such as Matt, Enrique and Olga have led trips here. From Reykjavík, plan for about 14 hours door to door.

“Quite a long ride, but with magnificent views, 100% worth it! We split up in half for the hike and spontaneously created faster and slower groups, which was a win. The hot springs at the end completed the great experience.”

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Skaftafell: Blue Ice Cave & Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull - A Blue Cave, With No Fixed Blueprint
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Skaftafell: Blue Ice Cave & Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull

15.Skaftafell: Blue Ice Cave & Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 643 reviews · 4 hours · from $163

From Skaftafell, ride a 4x4 to Falljökull for a guided glacier walk and visit to a natural ice cave. Your guide supplies crampons, helmet, ice axe, and harness, then leads a small group of up to 12 across ridges and crevasses. Guides such as Ola, James, and Albin have earned praise for clear explanations and careful pacing. The cave changes with conditions, so its size and shape are never guaranteed.

“Was amazing, the guide was really nice and passionate about the glaciers”

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