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You'll see Sólheimajökull before you set foot on it. The way in climbs through a quiet, moss-covered valley and comes out high above the ice, so you get the whole view first.
South Coast, Waterfalls and Glacier Hike is a 13 to 13.5-hour day tour from Reykjavík, built around a 4-hour guided hike on Sólheimajökull glacier. The route covers about 6 km (3.7 miles) over uneven ground with moderate elevation changes, and no previous experience is needed.
Skógafoss waterfall and the black sand at Reynisfjara come ahead of the ice, with Seljalandsfoss kept for the drive home. Certified glacier guides lead the hike, and the tour operates year-round by minibus.
Availability
All Year
Duration
13–13.5 hours
Departs From
Reykjavik
Level
Easy-Moderate
Suitable for most people in fair condition.
Ratio
1:19
Guide to client ratio
Meet on Location
No
Pickup
Yes
Minimum age
8 years
Shoe Size
From 35 EU
Crampons unavailable for sizes under 35 EU.
Expert Guides
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Pickup starts at 8:00 AM and the day heads east along Iceland's South Coast, back in Reykjavík by evening. The drive out crosses farmland and small villages beneath Eyjafjallajökull and Hekla volcanoes. Eyjafjallajökull is the ice cap whose 2010 eruption grounded flights over Europe, and on clear days you'll also see the Westman Islands offshore.
First stop is Skógafoss waterfall, 60 m (197 ft) of water pouring over the cliff edge. Walk right up to the base, and you'll feel the spray on your face. A staircase of 527 steps climbs the slope alongside it to a platform at the top, with a view straight down the drop and, on bright days, rainbows that hang in the mist.
Reynisfjara is a black sand beach backed by a wall of stacked basalt columns and shallow caves worn into it. Offshore, the Reynisdrangar sea stacks rise straight out of the water. Icelandic legend says they're trolls caught out by the rising sun and turned to stone. The waves here are powerful and unpredictable, so your guide will show you where it's safe to stand and how far back to keep from the water.
The glacier hike is the centerpiece of your day and takes about four hours. Your guide starts with a gear briefing: crampons, harness, helmet, and ice axe, plus the safety rules. The route then climbs through a valley and brings you out above Sólheimajökull, with the glacier and the surrounding peaks laid out below.
From that high point, you'll drop down to the edge, strap on crampons, and follow your guide out onto the ice. Expect ridges, deep crevasses, and moulins, the sinkholes that drill down through the glacier and drain meltwater away in streams. Black bands of ash streak the surface, left by the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull.
Seljalandsfoss is the last stop before heading back to Reykjavík. The fall is 60 m (197 ft) high, and in summer a path leads around the back of it, so you can stand behind the curtain and look out.
Pickup: Pickup starts at 8:00 AM from your selected Reykjavík location and can take up to 30 minutes. Your patience is much appreciated. You'll travel by minibus with a glacier guide on board for the day.
Available pickup points: Arctic Adventures' pickup list
No, our guides are not able to provide information on these matters, but our team will be happy to assist you. We kindly ask that you reach out to our customer care team regarding any questions or concerns.
Iceland is known for its colorful weather. It can sometimes show you all 4 seasons in one day.
Dressing for this sort of weather can be a challenge so we always recommend dressing in layers. 3 or 4 upper layers are highly recommended such as a light t-shirt (preferably wool) next to the skin, then a fleece or heavy wool garment, topped off with a waterproof windbreaker.
Jeans are not recommended for our trips as they become very heavy, cold and uncomfortable to wear when they get wet.
Lightweight hiking pants, track pants or long cotton pants are best and then wind/waterproof pants over. We also recommend using sunglasses and sunscreen even if it is cloudy due to the high UV and sunlight reflecting off of the glacier.
You will need sturdy hiking boots with ankle support that fit crampons for the glacier hiking tours. If you do not own a pair then we rent out good hiking boots as well as a waterproof raincoat and trousers.
We recommend bringing your own backpack on our full day or 1/2 day tours. It’s great to carry a small lunch and some extra clothing.
You can bring your camera along, and you should definitely bring one since the setting on the tour is full of amazing, scenic views.
This is, of course, a personal choice, we have often had pregnant women on our trips. We recommend you take a close look at our trip description and difficulty rating, they will hopefully give you a better idea. It is also good to contact your physician, pregnant women’s health can be quite different. Feel free to contact us if you have further questions or concerns.
During the winter months, from mid-October to mid-April, we recommend purchasing lightweight crampons (ice spikes) when booking this tour. They provide extra grip and safety on icy paths at sightseeing locations in Iceland.
For the glacier hike part of the tour, you’ll be provided with specialized glacier crampons, which are specifically designed for walking on ice. At the end of the walk, you'll return these to your guide.
We do not provide lunch on any of our trips, so we recommend you bring your own lunch (for the longer trips), snacks and a bottle of water (you can refill it on the trip).
Yes, there is a specially trained and certified glacier guide on every glacier tour that we offer.
When glacier hiking you will be provided with an ice axe, crampons, harness and helmet. This will help you to complete the tour safely. The minimum shoe size to attach crampons is EU 35.
When snow stays long enough in one place it turns to ice. Over long periods of time, the ice layers up becoming huge blocks called glaciers. As there is a lot of snow in Iceland, it forms to create ginormous glaciers that sweep across huge masses of land. Iceland is home to Europe’s largest glacier named Vatnajökull. This Glacier Guide will also tell you everything you may want to know about Glaciers.
Rain is not uncommon in Iceland. However, we do not let the rain stop our tours. This is why having appropriate clothing is very important to keep you warm and dry. Nature is not something that we can control and therefore we need to adapt to the weather. If your safety is compromised by going on the tour, we will cancel and you will be fully refunded.
This guide to Glacier Hiking includes all the information you might need when preparing for a glacier hike.
