Iceland · ICELAND GLACIER HIKES

Glacier Hikes in Iceland: The 15 Best Walks on the Ice

62 tours  ·  from $94 a head

Sólheimajökull is the glacier nearest Reykjavik; Skaftafell and Vatnajökull are bigger and further. These 15 hikes are sorted by how long you are on the ice, the minimum age and whether the day starts in the city or out east.

Skaftafell: Ice Cave Tour and Glacier Hike - The walk in is part of the lesson
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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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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

6.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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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

7.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

8.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

9.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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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

10.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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Reykjavík: Iconic Glacier Hike, South Coast & Waterfalls - Skógafoss brings the first big waterfall
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Reykjavík: Iconic Glacier Hike, South Coast & Waterfalls

11.Iconic Glacier Hike, South Coast & Waterfalls

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 605 reviews · from $195

From Reykjavík, join a small group of up to 15 for an 11-hour South Coast trip with stops at Skógafoss, Reynisfjara and Seljalandsfoss, plus a guided hike on Sólheimajökull. Your English-speaking guide supplies glacier safety gear and shares Icelandic stories along the way. Bring sturdy hiking boots, waterproof layers and food for the day.

“Everything was amazing from the views, the waterfalls and the glacier hike. The last waterfall was incredible. Klaus the tour guide was so nice and was excellent at providing us with information throughout the tour.”

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Skaftafell Glacier Hike 3-Hour Small Group Tour - Small group, real safety value
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Skaftafell Glacier Hike 3-Hour Small Group Tour

12.Skaftafell Glacier Hike 3-Hour Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 580 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $117

Join a certified guide for a three-hour outing on Vatnajökull, with a short drive, a walk to the glacier, and time among its ice formations and moulins. Helmets, harnesses, and ice axes are included. Groups are limited to 12, and guides such as Maria, Anna, and Martin have led outings. Bring sturdy boots and weatherproof layers, or rent them at the meeting point.

“Our guide Maria was fantastic - she was extremely patient with the people struggling with equipment, and with one member of our party who was in a bad mood and less than polite. She was a saint! The glacier hike was stunning, with gorgeous ice formations and beautiful views back down to the coast.”

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Blue Ice Discovery – Guided Glacier Hike from Skaftafell - Getting equipped and learning to walk on ice
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Blue Ice Discovery – Guided Glacier Hike from Skaftafell

13.Blue Ice Discovery – Guided Glacier Hike from Skaftafell

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 532 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $116

Walk on Falljökull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, with a certified guide and a group of no more than 15. You get crampons, an ice axe, and instruction, so no glacier experience is needed. The 3.5-hour outing includes a short bus ride to the ice; guides such as Rob, Emilia, and Przemyslav have earned praise for their care and clear explanations.

“The tour is amazing and our guide is very attentive and friendly. We enjoyed the hike and explored many features of the glaciers. It was a fairly easy hike for me and should be suitable for every age group. High recommend”

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Skaftafell: Extra-Small Group Glacier Hike - Learning to walk on Falljökull
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Skaftafell: Extra-Small Group Glacier Hike

14.Skaftafell: Extra-Small Group Glacier Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 501 reviews · 3 hours · from $162

Meet Melrakki Adventures in Skaftafell for a three-hour outing to Falljökull, an outlet of Vatnajökull. A modified 4x4 cuts the approach to 15 minutes each way, leaving up to two hours for ice. Your English-speaking guide supplies glacier gear, teaches crampon technique and leads a group of no more than eight past crevasses, moulins and blue pools.

“We had a wonderful experience with Franziska as our guide whom made it even more amazing than this tour on the gletsjer already is. Franziska is VERY knowledgable, knows her stuff and shares everything with great enthusiasm! I believe she also made the sun shine and gave us clear blue skies that day. Thanks Franzy! :) Definitely recommend to book the extra small group hike AND go as early as possible to beat the crowds. Enjoy!”

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Solheimajokull Glacier 3-Hour Small-Group Hike - What $125.77 gets you
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Solheimajokull Glacier 3-Hour Small-Group Hike

15.Solheimajokull Glacier 3-Hour Small-Group Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 501 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $125

Meet your guide at Sólheimajökull for a three-hour, small-group glacier hike. The guide fits your crampons, helmet, harness and ice axe, then sets a pace suited to the group. Look for blue ice, volcanic ash and, on clear days, views of Eyjafjallajökull. Guides have included Edgar, Anna, Eli and Lilly.

“This company was awesome and would definitely do another tour with them. Our guide, Edger was amazing. I would ask for him. He made the hike fun and was very knowable about the glacier.”

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