Reconnect with nature on a guided day trip from Skaftafell. Gear up with safety equipment and hike across the Vatnajökull, Iceland's largest ice cap, exploring its unique ice formations.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Reserve now & pay later to book your spot without any charges today. Learn more
Duration 5 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: English
Small group: Limited to 10 participants

Highlights

Hike across the Vatnajökull ice cap with a certified glacier guide
Get breathtaking views of Skaftafell National Park
Learn how glaciers are formed and hear about the impact of global warming

Full description

Enjoy a frozen adventure in the wilderness of Skaftafell and hike across a stunning outlet glacier of Vatnajökull in the company of an expert guide. Get a short safety briefing and collect all the necessary equipment at the Skaftafell Terminal. Then, marvel at the majesty of the landscape on the short hike to the ice cap. Put on your crampons for security out on the ice. See different formations, including deep crevasses and ice sculptures, and get panoramic views over Skaftafell National Park. Learn how glaciers are formed and hear how their future is under threat as a result of global warming.

Get an introduction to more advanced stages of glacier hiking before heading back to Skaftafell Terminal.

Includes

Live tour guide
Helmet
Harness
Crampons

Not suitable for

Children under 12 years

Covid-19 precautions

You must book this activity online because the ticket office is closed

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Meeting point

Meet at Skaftafell Terminal Tour Center by the main road. Free parking and restrooms are available at the meeting point. You can look up “Skaftafell Terminal” on Google Maps to find the exact location and driving direction.

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Important information

What to bring

Warm clothing

Know before you go

Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly with warm and waterproof clothes in layers
Waterproof pants, jackets, and hiking boots are available for rent if you don't have your own

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 279 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.9/5
Value for money
4.6/5
Service
4.8/5
Organization
4.7/5

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Hi guys, I’m so sorry my review was so late…but I have to say the hike experience with Kish and Ricardo was amazing. Fortunately we were the only one on the tour, and they treated us like VIPs. They explained the tour in detail and we learn a lot about the hike, and the places we saw. I would recommend this to anyone. Thank you guys, it was one of the best experiences we had been on, and both of you guys made that happen. Extremely happy…

May 15, 2022

Really enjoyed the whole day! Very glad we chose to do the 5 hour tour as 3 hours wouldn’t be enough! Our guide Adam was really good, and ensured everyone was okay and showed us loads of cool stuff and had great knowledge! We all really enjoyed it (ages 19-55) and would deffo recommend

April 23, 2022

We had a fabulous experience hiking with our guide Sam. After arriving at the Skatafell Terminal, you take a shuttle closer to the glaciers, where you begin your hike. The 5-hour hike allows you to explore higher up on the glaciers, explore really amazing crevices and go inside a natural ice cave. The initial ascent is a bit strenuous, but we took our time. Sam was really knowledgeable, thoughtful and fun. We only had 7 in our group (including our 4 people). We learned a lot and would highly recommend!

March 19, 2022

Skaftafell: Guided Glacier Hike Day Trip

Skaftafell: Guided Glacier Hike Day Trip

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