Snowmobile and Jet Ski Tour: From Glacier to Ocean

Langjökull glacier is about 152 km (94 mi) from Reykjavík, a drive of 2 to 2.5 hours. A Super Jeep takes over for the last stretch, a modified 4x4 built to cross the rough ground that ordinary cars can't. 

At base camp, you'll pull on a snowmobile suit, balaclava, goggles, gloves, and a helmet, then get a safety briefing before the engines start. The ride lasts about an hour on open ice, with one guide for every six machines. On a clear day, you can pick out Eiríksjökull glacier, the dome of Hofsjökull glacier and the Kerlingarfjöll mountain range in the distance.

Roughly the first hour covers gear and briefing: dry suit, fleece suit, life vest, gloves, shoes, and a helmet with an intercom, so you can hear your guide once you're moving. The second hour is on the water, with the Reykjavík skyline on one side and the open Atlantic on the other.

Your first stop is Lundey, a small uninhabited island a few minutes from the city with a puffin colony in residence from May through late August. Compact binoculars are available to borrow. Puffins spend the middle of the day fishing out at sea and return to the colony in the morning and evening, so an 8:00 PM departure gives you a good chance to catch them onshore during one of their two daily visits.

A quick note about the light: Reykjavík doesn't get a real sunset at the height of summer. Sunset falls between 9:51 PM and 11:27 PM through May, and close to midnight in June and July, so what you'll actually ride through is the long amber glow of the midnight sun. True sunset returns in late August, when the sun drops around 8:47 PM, and September delivers it reliably. That's why the tour shifts to a 7:00 PM start for its final month.

• These are two separate tours sold together. If one is canceled, the other still goes ahead.
• Driving a snowmobile requires a full driver's license. A motorcycle license isn't accepted.
• Driving a jet ski requires a valid driver's license and a minimum age of 17.
• Children from age 8 can join both activities as passengers, paired with a licensed adult.
• Solo travelers and odd-numbered groups must select the “Solo on a snowmobile” option, which includes the single-rider supplement for both activities.
• Snowmobiling isn't recommended during pregnancy.
• The largest snowmobile suit size we carry is 5XL.
• For the Langjökull glacier snowmobiling portion, toilets are only available at base camp, with no facilities out on the ice.

• Pickup for the snowmobile begins at 10:00 AM from selected locations in downtown Reykjavík. Be ready from the start of the pickup time shown on your booking.
• Drop-off is back in downtown Reykjavík around 6:00 PM.
• The jet ski starts at 8:00 PM, or 7:00 PM in September. Allow roughly two hours in the city between the two halves, or one hour in September.
• The jet ski is a meet-on-location tour. Your meeting point is Gufunesvegur, 112 Reykjavík, a 15- to 20-minute drive from downtown.
• Pickup for the jet ski can be added for 4,000 ISK (approximately $33/€28) per person, arranged by email once your booking is confirmed. Drop-off at the same location is included.