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About tour

Take a journey through a frozen maze of towering ice formations, jagged ridges, and deep blue crevasses!

This tour offers you the opportunity to hike and climb at the immeasurably magnificent Sólheimajökull glacier. We will explore the crevasse-riddled outlet glacier and have the chance to test our ice climbing skills. With its unique ice formations, sinkholes, and jagged ridges, the Sólheimajokull glacier is absolutely an unforgettable site to spend the day. 

Highlights

  • Small Group Experience
  • Sólheimajökull Glacier (Solheimajokull Glacier)
  • Ice Climbing (optional)
  • Glacier Hiking

Included

  • Guided Glacier Hiking
  • Optional Introduction to Ice Climbing
  • Certified Glacier Guide
  • All Required Safety Equipment

What to bring

  • Warm layers (not cotton)
  • Headwear
  • Scarf
  • Gloves
  • Waterproof jacket and pants
  • Hiking boots are essential

Tour Snapshot

Availability All Year
Duration ~ 4.5 / 11 hours
Departs From Sólheimajökull / Reykjavik
Level Moderate
Minimum age 14 years
Ratio 1:8
Meet on Location Yes
Pick Up Yes

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Itinerary

This tour is available with pick up from Reykjavík, or you can meet us on location at Sólheimajökull glacier car park.  

This small-group tour is a fabulous glacier hiking adventure – those who want to can even try ice climbing – there is nothing more sensational than ice climbing in Iceland! This tour is the queen of glacier expeditions for beginners or those with glacier experience, giving you three magnificent hours on the ice!  

All equipment, such as ice axes, helmets, crampons, and safety lines, are provided. Your certified glacier guide will show you how to use the equipment and give you a safety briefing.   

Then it’s time to hit the ice! You’ll hike out into the majestic ice wonderland, with its astonishing networks of crevasses, ridges, ice walls, moulins, and blue-hued frost. Your friendly and knowledgeable guide will ensure you are always safe on the ice and share some fascinating and fun glacier facts with you. Glacier is a frozen world, but did you know it is always moving? You may even hear the ice cracking as it adjusts beneath you!    

Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier of Mýrdalsjökull glacier, Iceland’s 4th biggest glacier. The glacier tongue is a rugged, raw, and ever-changing hub of ancient frozen water; truly a phenomenal place.  

The journey to Sólheimajökull will take you sightseeing through the South Iceland countryside. Along the way, we pass through some picturesque towns and villages. On the return journey to Reykjavík, we stop at the stunning Seljalandsfoss waterfall, a wonderfully graceful waterfall that drops around 60 meters into the otherwise tranquil pool below. 

Reviews

5.0
Based on 61 reviews

Blue Ice - Ice Climbing Adventure

1- of 61 reviews

Experience of a Lifetime with the Best Guide

Reviewed on September 26, 2021 by BLTraveler76 Review from Tripadvisor

My afternoon with Arctic Adventures provided a lifetime of memories in a 4-hour tour. My guide, Nikol, was fantastic! She was extremely knowledgeable as a guide, demonstrating expertise the technical part of the climb, safety practices, Solheimajokull's history, and glacial science. Every part of the tour was seamless and the highlight of my Iceland trip. This exact tour with Arctic Adventures had been recommended to me by a friend and I see why, it's unrivaled!

As part of my tour we hiked from the meeting point to the base of Solheimajokull before we put on our technical gear (crampons, helmet) and was given a tutorial on how to properly walk on the ice. Again I want to reiterate the professionalism of both Arctic Adventures and Nikol's service, who ensured proper safety the entire time.

From the base we hiked to the glacial wall I would be climbing, where I was given instruction on proper climbing techniques. I was lucky enough to get multiple climbs in and it was the experience of a lifetime! I also got to do some "viking pushups" and experience the raw natural beauty of the glacier. And don't worry, there's plenty of opportunities for photos!

I want to thank Nikol and the entire Arctic Adventures team again for an unforgettable afternoon that created memories to last a lifetime. This tour was the highlight of my Iceland trip and is a must-do when visiting!

Glacier walk was good

Reviewed on August 21, 2021 by Cheryl Review from Tripadvisor

An overall great experience on the Blue Ice adventure. We managed to walk all of what was expected (around 1.8 miles on the glacier) and complete an ice climbing taster. It is only a taster and you only get 1 shot. I expected this though and it was good fun. Guide was very knowledgable and everything seemed organised well enough.

Of note, if someone in the group is a litle unfit, you wont go as far on the glacier, simple as that. This cannot be accounted for by the company but could be very frustrating. If you have the money, try do something private to work at your own fitness level.

What you do and see seems to be down to luck a little. There was a new blue cave opened up when we were there which was an added bonus for our group. I am certainly not complaining but these cool blue caves are not guaranteed.

Definitely book a glacier tour whilst you are in Iceland if you can and fingers crossed nature is on your side with some blue caves and good weather.

Amazing! Loved the tour and the guides

Reviewed on May 03, 2021 by Valdi Review from Tripadvisor

The landscape is surreal, being on top of the glacier and doing the hike with the trusty guides, Olly and Meg, was an awesome experience. Both the guides so professional, friendly and funny :)

Best Adventure Tours and Guides Ever Experienced

Reviewed on February 29, 2020 by CloudSwing Review from Tripadvisor

I booked with Extreme Iceland, but Artic Adventures seemed to be our tour operator - so I am not sure how that worked. However, we did the Blue Ice Tour and Black and Blue Tours on back-to-back days on short stay in Iceland and found it to be amazing! These are adventure tours that include some higher risk, more physical activities like Ice Climbing and Snorkeling. Meg and Louis on the Blue tour were the best guides I've ever had - fun, focused on safety, and demonstrated a passion for their country and these adventures alike. Halli, the guide on the snorkeling (black and blue tour) established rapport with me and made me feel comfortable in my discomfort. ;-) .

The buses were on-time, comfortable, and clean. Note, these are long days, esp blue ice tour, and you need to either bring your own food or buy at a gas station at the only convenience stop of the day.

Blue ice cave

Reviewed on February 23, 2020 by joskoc Review from Tripadvisor

We had the best time ever! It was time and money well spent. Our guide Adrien showed us few great spots, told us some great stories and was very patient with us taking photos. Also it was his birthday, so he treated us with some extra time on the glacier. All in all, it was awesome, and Adrien, if you see this, thank you for a greaf time!

Amazing experience

Reviewed on February 19, 2020 by Rachel From our post-trip system

One of the best activities I’ve done in Iceland. The tour guide, Meg, was an absolute legend and was professional and friendly to all of us, she made the whole experience amazing. It’s challenging but rewarding with great views from the glacier. They let you hire boots (which were comfortable) and supply you with the gear you need. The two stops on the way are also incredible. Highly recommend this tour!

Blue Ice Glacier Tour

Reviewed on February 19, 2020 by Mariah H Review from Tripadvisor

I had an incredible experience at the glacier hike today! Everything from pickup to drop off was enjoyable. Our bus driver was fantastic- conversational when he was telling the bus (which only had about 15-20 people in it!) about the areas we were going through. We stopped at Skogafoss waterfall on the way to the hike and had about 20 minutes to take photos. We also stopped at a gas station about half way to pick up some lunch. The bus had 3 different groups on it- the glacier hike, horse riding, and the volcanic cave tour. The glacier hike was dropped off first, and we were split into two groups. My group had two couples, me, and another solo traveler in it. It was extremely manageable and let everyone really hear and talk to our excellent guide, Bart. He was knowledgeable, helpful, funny, and just generally an excellent person to take us on this hike and ice climbing experience. I felt in good hands!

We got kitted out at the parking lot- everyone ended up needing to rent boots and I am SO GLAD I did, the ones I thought would be great would not have worked at all and it would have been unpleasant at worst and unsafe at best to try to even hike in them, much less attach crampons! We also put on climbing harnesses and got our ice picks and crampons.

After that, our group went up the glacier. It’s a bit of a walk- probably 45 minutes from the parking lot until we actually reached the area where we were going to climb! We put on our crampons and learned how to use the ice picks on the way up. A lot of it was uphill on slick ice and rock and slush. It wasn’t rushed at all, but it would not be a good experience for someone without some cardio strength. Once we got to the ice climbing wall Bart chose (it was in a crevasse where everyone could fit and was a good height) we learned how to use the ice picks in the ice and practiced using our crampons in the wall. Much more difficult than I expected!

After that, Bart went to attach the climbing anchor to the top of the wall and one by one we climbed the wall. Whoah is it hard- but everyone made it up the wall, and Bart was incredibly helpful and patient!

After everyone finished, we took a long walk onto the top of the glacier. Again, this was not for people without any endurance. Some hiking experience would also help, or at least enough endurance to get up and down hills or rocky areas. The walk was about 90 minutes and it was a loop around the top of the glacier and back down. We learned a ton about the glacier, got some amazing photos, and really just had a great time.

In terms of clothing: dress warm! I run cold and I wore: two layers of high-quality base layer pants, fleece lined pants from Eddie Bauer, crewneck long sleeve silk base layer, a good quality base layer turtleneck, a looser base layer top with a good, a fleece quarter zip, and a ski coat and rain pants. I would NOT wear pants that can’t sustain possibly being caught on crampons- mine got caught and the
crampons ripped the interior of both legs down by my ankle! I also had a balaclava, which was a pain because it didn’t fit right under the helmet- something more form fitting that still allows you to pull it up over your mouth and covers your ears would be helpful.

Overall, it was an incredible experience and I recommend it! Extreme Iceland/Arctic Adventures is clearly a great tour company. I loved that the tours were small, including on the tour bus!

Blue Ice + Amazing Tour + Glacier Climbing

Reviewed on February 14, 2020 by Oliver Gradwohl From our post-trip system

Hello, I will give a very big recommend to your tour, blue ice with the glacier hiking and climbing. It was extremely amazing and I had very much fun with my tour guide. I don‘t remember her name in full, I think it was Marelin? (From England) I had the tour on 7th, of February, and it was my luck to get I private single tour with her. The best expirience was the climbing and hiking. I loved it. She made the tour excellent. It was the top of my holiday. Thank You.

Great glacier climbing tour with Meg

Reviewed on February 09, 2020 by Alice_V84 Review from Tripadvisor

We went on the blue ice tour with Meg and she was absolutely great! We did some glacier climbing and had a great experience exploring through the snow. She was very knowledgeable and explained a lot about the glacier and the environment. We had an awesome day would definitely book this tour again.

Blue Ice Tour (Glacier Hiking with Climbing)

Reviewed on February 09, 2020 by GradwohlOliver Review from Tripadvisor

Hello, I will give a very big recommend to your tour, blue ice with the glacier hiking and climbing. It was extremely amazing and I had very much fun with my tour guide. I don‘t remember her name in full, I think it was Marelin? (From England) I had the tour on 7th, of February, and it was my luck to get I private single tour with her. The best expirience was the climbing and hiking. I loved it. She made the tour excellent. It was the top of my holiday. Thank You.

Great glacier climbing tour with Meg

Reviewed on February 09, 2020 by Alice_V84 Review from Tripadvisor

We went on the blue ice tour with Meg and she was absolutely great! We did some glacier climbing and had a great experience exploring through the snow. She was very knowledgeable and explained a lot about the glacier and the environment. We had an awesome day would definitely book this tour again.

Blue Ice Tour, Two Day South Coast Tour, and Golden Circle + Horseback Riding

Reviewed on February 08, 2020 by Rasmeet C Review from Tripadvisor

We booked three tours with Arctic Adventures -- the two day South Coast tour, Horseback Riding + Golden Circle tour, and Blue Ice (glacier hiking + ice climbing). The first two we booked through Extreme Iceland but were operated by Arctic Adventures. All three trips were amazing!!! Everything was seamless including pick-up and drop-off. The drivers were both great and let us know what we should expect. We had enough time at each stop. During the 2 day tour we stayed overnight at Hof at Hof Adventure Hotel. The Northern Lights can be seen from just outside the hotel there, the guide showed us where to look. I think his name was Hyalti? We got photos of the lights but they were not bright enough to be seen with the naked eye that night. That tour included an ice cave excursion which was really cool!! We got some amazing photos.

The horseback riding was at Laxnes Horse Farm and was a true highlight for us, even though it was freezing cold that day! We liked that Extreme Iceland lets you combine horseback riding with the Golden Circle (which was a bit touristy for our taste).

The Blue Ice tour was probably our favorite out of everything. An active day spent on the glacier and trying ice climbing was probably our favorite trip we have ever taken. The guide for this was amazing! He made sure everyone in the group was comfortable and would hold our hand on steep and slippery inclines during the hike to make sure you made it safely. It was definitely not an "easy" hike and we enjoyed the challenge!
10/10 would recommend.

One day ice cave tour

Reviewed on January 29, 2020 by Geoff Long From our post-trip system

The tour is a long day but totally worth it if you don't have the luxury of more time on the south coast. Our driver was great and your bus is 4wd so it takes you to the cave car park. (Some other tours have to change buses at glacier bay) On our way to the cave our driver added a couple of nice detours which helped to break up the trip.One the way home we stopped for some great star viewing and later we were fortunate enough to see the northern lights. A great day, the cave didn't disappoint

Blue ice wonderland of Sólheimajökull Glacier

Reviewed on November 03, 2019 by Irma K Review from Tripadvisor

What could be better than walking on the glacier on a sunny day? There are many answers to this question, but if you choose to walk on the glacier in Iceland-book the tour w Arctic Adventures! This company was very easy to book, they were prompt to send confirmations, meeting point instructions and also they are very responsive if you have a questions. We booked two tours w them, one of the tours had to be cancelled due to extreme weather-notification about that was send in time and refund was offered immediately.
On our tour on Solheimajokull glacier we had a privilege to meet Vjeran, who was our guide. To walk on the glaciers can be very dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. Vjeran tough us how to put crampons, how to walk w them, how n where to walk on the ice-all of it he did w wonderful ease and grace. In no time we all were stomping hard on the glacier and soaking in the unbelievable scenery. Vjeran educated us all about the glaciers, we learned glacier lingo and we drank glacier water on the top of the glacier. It was a wonderful experience.
If you are planing a visit to Iceland-glacier walk should be very high on your to do list

Blue Ice (Arctic Adventures) - Glacier Hiking and Ice Climbing

Reviewed on July 16, 2019 by Kris K Review from Tripadvisor

Absolutely Fantastic Day. We booked this trip via Artic Adventures and were taken by Oli from Reykjavik in a nice little bus (which included wifi!). We stopped at a waterfalls for some photos, and a break to buy a snacks and a packed lunch as there are no facilities on the glacier. Next we arrived at the glacier (big yellow school bus), and were kitted out with ice climbing boots, crampons, over clothes etc. We had booked in advanced but you can pay for them on the day. Then we were off walking towards the glacier. We were a large group broken down into a smaller one led by Lewis, then as we got to the edge our group was further reduced to just 6 and our new guide Arthos (excuse spelling). He led us onto the ice teaching us about how to walk with crampons. Then we were taken to a slope to be taught the basics of ice climbing. A little further on we were taken to a large crevasse and the groups came together. The guides fitted the equipment and were taken through a descent into the crevasse and the climb out after. Exhilarating! Later to warm up we went for a short explore of the glacier. All of the guides were excellent and very well informed teaching us about how glaciers are formed and the effect of global warming and the risks of volcanic activity. An absolutely fantastic day, very highly recommended!

Blue Ice Glacier Hike

Reviewed on May 31, 2019 by SFTraveller Review from Tripadvisor

We did the Blue Ice Glacier hike with Arctic adventures in May 2019. Our guide ( Alpha if I remember it correct) was amazing, he knew so much about Glaciers and the history. Our hike was almost 5hours and we covered a lot of Area of the Glacier. We also did some Ice climbing and it was Overall a Fun experience.

I would recommend doing the longer hike as you get to experience the Glacier and its surrounding more. It is a bit strenuous, specially with the boots and crampons it was difficult to climb steep parts , but again they give multiple breaks to rest .

Blue Ice / from Reykjavik

Reviewed on January 10, 2019 by LindaC Review from Tripadvisor

Amazing experience. Couldn’t have done it without our guide Zeki. You were amazing. Helped me all the way. Lots of patience and a wonderful sense of humor. Thanks again.

Arctic Adventures/Zeki

Reviewed on January 10, 2019 by 1zhivago1 Review from Tripadvisor

We did a Blue Ice Tour today,Zeki was our guide and he was absolutely brilliant.He made us feel at ease and was more than kind and patient if any member of our group battled. We were lucky to get him as he made our experience just amazing,thank you.

The lady who did the blue ice hike and ice climb was really good

Reviewed on October 11, 2018 by S P Review from Tripadvisor

The lady who did the blue ice hike and ice climb was really good. The booking process was easy although it states they take amex but they don't.

You can purchase additional equipment when you are there in case you need anything.

They are really friendly and she was really funny on the tour...

She was skilled and ensure that everyone had a good experience.

Blue Glacier Adventure (4hrs) - Sólheimajökull

Reviewed on August 20, 2018 by HeroshiFoxx Review from Tripadvisor

We did the 9 AM Blue Glacier hike (4 hours) that meets in the Sólheimajökull parking lot. It was about a two our ride from our Airbnb in Reykjavik. They have a similar tour with pickup in Reykjavik in the early am.

There were only two groups there - our group of six and a couple doing a private hike. It was a sunny day with temps in the low 50s and as we climbed we got warmer and shed layers. The guide was knowledgeable and kept us moving at a good pace. No one did any actual ice climbing. A few people practiced it, but once they realized how difficult it was the skipped it. Hiking boots with ankle support are needed. We had our own, but you can rent some from them on the spot along with rain pants and jackets.

The glacier is beautiful and we saw many moulins. On the way down we saw several groups getting ready for their hike, so we were lucky to have had the glacier experience to ourselves.

Great experience ice climbing

Reviewed on August 07, 2018 by laura p Review from Tripadvisor

We did 4 day tours with Arctic Adventures: the Golden Circle afternoon, Blue Ice from Reykjavík, South coast & Jökulsárlón, and Snaefellsnes peninsula. Each tour itinerary was jam-packed, showcasing the natural beauty of Iceland. The guides we had were outstanding, especially Hafsteind(sp?), Kyle and Finn. We learned a lot about Iceland including its geology, language, culture, and animals. The Blue Ice glacier hike and ice climbing excursion was a highlight and should not be missed by anyone up for a little adventure - you will be rewarded with the most breathtaking views. The optional zodiac boat excursion on Jökulsárlón was another memorable experience we would highly recommend. Takk!

Blue Ice Revisited

Reviewed on February 14, 2018 by Kim T Review from Tripadvisor

I wanted to fit in a bit of ice climbing again during this visit and since I needed transfer from Reykjavík to Sólheimajökull I booked the Blue Ice tour for the second time.
We had a group of approximately 20 people and drove from the city to the glacier parking lot where we were outfitted with our glacier gear (harness, helmet, ice axe and crampons).
Some other visitors fell on the icy trail from the parking lot to crampon point, and I was happy that our guide Röggi chose a path that was easier to walk on and less slippery. He gave us time to take pictures and explained about the lagoon and the ways the glacier is changing.
At crampon point we learned how to put on the crampons and how to walk on them. Since there was so much snow on the glacier this time, walking with the crampons was fairly easy.
There were two ice climbing groups from Arctic on the glacier. We checked out the wall where the other group was planning to climb and then decided to hike up a bit further to a crevasse.
Röggi set up the anchors and the belay and explained the climbing technique. Since I had already climbed with him he let me go first, so I was lowered into the crevasse and then climbed up. It wasn't easy to get good swings in with the ice axes, but I managed. Then every member of our group had a go. While the rest of us waited we all shared my two extra pairs of warm gloves/mittens, and I was happy I had brought a warm belay jacket.
Röggi was very patient with every climber and even managed to help one woman overcome her fear of heights and complete the climb after her initial nervousness. He was unflappable and always in a good mood.
On the way back we stopped at Skógafoss and at the N1 station in Hvolsvöllur for a quick snack stop before driving back to Reykjavík.
If you like to combine a glacier hike with a bit more of a challenge, this tour is the right choice for you. Just make sure you have or rent sturdy boots and bring enough warm layers to stay comfortable, even while you are waiting for your turn to climb. Warm gloves and hat and maybe some handwarmers may also come in handy.

Glacier Walk / Ice Climbing - Excellent!!

Reviewed on January 24, 2018 by Graham E Review from Tripadvisor

We had this in our Itinerary for midway through our trip. It was just over a 2 hour trip each way for us as we had opted to meet at the start point rather than journey by coach from Reykjavik. We arrived a little early but waited in the café at the far end of the car park, drinking tea and eating freshly baked cake. I ended up hiring a pair of boots as mine weren't suited to the crampons we had to wear, I think they worked out under £10.00 to hire for the day. Our group was quite small compared to the other but we were all of similar fitness which allowed us to go further up the Glacier in the afternoon. Our guide, Josh, was great, he was very knowledgeable and very reassuring when Ice Climbing. The weather was absolutely fantastic with blue skies and sun. This was by far our best day and activity and would highly recommend.

Amazing Day on Glacier

Reviewed on October 08, 2017 by cralter Review from Tripadvisor

My husband and I just came back from 8 days in Iceland. We did the Blue Ice Tour. It was the highlight of our trip. Francesco was such an excellent guide. He made sure all our equipment was on correctly and gave us a short lesson on how to hike on the glacier. At one point once we were up on the glacier, he gave us a lesson on ice climbing and we each got a chance to try it. It was a fabulous day!! If you are dressed properly, you won't be cold at all. I would definitely would try this tour and if Francesco is your guide, you are in good hands!

Black & Blue tour and glacier walk (Blue Ice)

Reviewed on October 06, 2017 by Koby B Review from Tripadvisor

Went on two tours: The Black & Blue tour (caving and snorkeling) and the Blue Ice glacier hike\climbing tour.
Both tours were great and well organized. Beautiful views, some outdoor activity, really nice and knowledgeable guides.
The Black & Blue tour in Thingvellir was amazing. As a diver, the snorkeling part was a nice experience but nothing too crazy. For me, the cave and the views were the best parts. After the caving, the guide made a detour on way the snorkeling point and took us to an amazing waterfall, which was a really nice addition to the tour.
The Blue Ice was also a great experience. An interesting place with amazing view. Although it was my first time walking and climbing on ice, with all of the equipment, I felt really safe thanks to the guide who made sure everything went smooth.

Blue Ice - glacier hike and ice climbing

Reviewed on September 21, 2017 by Kim T Review from Tripadvisor

I was the only person who had booked transfer from Reykjavík to Sólheimajökull for the combination glacier hike and ice climbing, so I got a private transfer with our guide Röggi which was nice for chatting and asking questions.
We met the rest of our group at the Sólheimajökull parking lot and got our glacier gear (harness, helmet, ice axe and crampons). If you don't have stiff hiking boots rent them from Arctic, because if they are too soft it will make walking and climbing with the crampons much more difficult and if you only have shoes instead of boots, the crampon straps will cut into your ankles. Also wear warm baselayers and good wind- and waterproof outer layers plus warm hat and gloves to keep warm. Bring sunglasses and sunscreen. An extra layer of fleece or down might also be good to have in your backpack, especially for the wait time while the others are climbing
Make sure to use the restrooms at the café (and pay the small fee into the honesty box) before taking off for the tour and bring sandwiches or snacks to have something to refuel during the tour or buy something at the N1 gas station at Hvolsvöllur if you have a transfer from Reykjavík.
For the 15 min hike to the foot of the glacier Röggi chose a path that avoided the main trail which I appreciated. He gave us time to take pictures and explained about the lagoon and the shrinking of the glacier.
At crampon point he explained step by step how to put on the crampons and how to walk on them and checked every person before we set off. The glacier is getting steeper, so the right walking technique, especially for traversing or walking downhill, helps a lot.
If you want to take pictures, ask the guide to stop, since walking and taking pictures at the same time is a sure recipe for getting your crampons tangled up in your pants or the other crampon and taking a fall.
During the hike up Röggi cut steps for us, was ready to help in more difficult sections and was very conscious of the different levels of experience in the group. When two guests didn't feel comfortable climbing the wall of the moulin we would have had to be lowered into he hiked up further towards the waterfall with us and found a spot where we could climb up from a crevasse we could simply walk into.
Turn away from your guide when steps are being cut, since there will be loose ice flying that might hit you otherwise. Sunglasses are also good protection.
Röggi set up the belay and explained the climbing technique and then let us have a go. Each guest managed to make it to the top and he helped us with tips during the climb. He also set up his ice axe to let us have a drink of the purest water ever from a small glacial creek and explained about the different formations and the way glaciers form and move plus he answered all questions we had.
Röggi has a great sense of humour and kept us all safe during the hike and the climb. He had an eye on everyone during the hike and noticed right away when someone's crampon straps were coming loose.
I really enjoyed the tour with him! The drive back felt like coming back after a tour with friends and he even helped me cut and seal the straps of my personal pair of crampons before dropping me off close to my guesthouse.
If you enjoy being physically active in the outdoors, don't mind walking on uneven ground and like a bit of adventure I highly recommend this tour to see the glacier and get a first taste of ice climbing.

Ice climbing - Most fun I've had in Iceland

Reviewed on September 18, 2017 by Liisa M Review from Tripadvisor

I booked the Blue Ice glacier walk and iceclimbing tour through this provider and had a great experience. I got a pick-up from Reykjavik which was very handy, and the time on the ice was brilliant. Our guides Erik and Chris were excellent and very friendly, and getting to try some iceclimbing was a highlight of my trip. Thoroughly recommend it and want to do this again.

Definitely spend the extra 1000Kr on renting the glacier boots though, makes for a much better experience than going with just your regular hiking boots. Harness/crampons/helmet/ice axe provided as part of the tour.

The Blue Ice tour is amazing!!!

Reviewed on September 03, 2017 by JessiAnn85 Review from Tripadvisor

We loved Arctic Adventures. We did the blue ice tour and it was well worth the money. The guides are very informative and super friendly. Once you are fitted with all your gear you begin your journey onto the glacier. Ask questions, they love telling you about the glacier. Once you reach the top of the glacier you get to repel down into a small cavern type area. Once down there you have the opportunity to ice climb. The guides make it all look so easy. The views are beyond picturesque. Theres a spectacular contrast between the ice and the ash left from previous eruptions. I highly recommend this outfitting company.

Mind blowing and phenomenal Blue Ice Tour

Reviewed on September 03, 2017 by jessi Review from Tripadvisor

We went on a Blue Ice tour with the amazing ice climber and guide, Bori. The tour was phenomenal. His educational information was top notch, his safety guidance and oversight was spectacular. Someone did trip on our walk and cut her eyebrow- Bori handled it with finesse and extreme care. We hiked up the glacier, and the views were unbelievable. Then he set up for our ice climb into a 150 meter deep hole in the ice. It was scary, but very safe, and an adrenaline high that lasted for days. He was extremely patient with those of us that got scared, and was a really knowledgable and encouraging guide. If you are into adventures, let this be the easiest decision of your trip- do this tour. Every element was mind blowing.

Blue Ice - ice climb and hike

Reviewed on September 03, 2017 by Schtozeled Review from Tripadvisor

Brilliant tour, Josh was a legendary guide and took us to number of different spots on the glacier he had recently discovered. Saw little ice caves, waterfalls, amazing formations and spent over 3 hours on the ice where Josh was really informative about the history and science.

Great Experience!

Reviewed on September 03, 2017 by Jessica N Review from Tripadvisor

We did the Blue Ice tour and it was fantastic. Our guide Josh was so knowledgeable and engaging, made our tour really enjoyable. We loved hiking all over the glacier and being able to climb the ice as well. The tour lasts the full 4.5 hours so be prepared!

Blue Ice Tour - Amazing experience

Reviewed on July 30, 2017 by Brisbane_Family_11 Review from Tripadvisor

Our family of 5 loved our Blue Ice Tour on 12 July with Francesco. We had a lovely clear day which was definitely a bonus but the experience was enhanced by Francesco. What a great guide - knowledgeable, great company and obviously loves what he does. Walking on the glacier was great but I had to pinch myself as I sat eating our lunch at the bottom of an ice wall after having climbed it! The Blue Ice tour was one of the highlights of our trip to Iceland.

Good staff!

Reviewed on July 18, 2017 by Maxs_Trip_Tips Review from Tripadvisor

Good communication with office and pick up on time. Staff on site were friendly and knowledgable. I did the 'blue ice' tour. I recommend to other to do this in winter, not summer. Or a similar tour in winter at least. Felt like more guidance and time on ice climbing was needed. Didn't get to enjoy it fully and our guide picked an awkward spot to climb on which didn't help our experiences (one guy actually got stuck at the very bottom because of this!).

Blue Ice Hike and Climbing

Reviewed on July 12, 2017 by MNFamof5 Review from Tripadvisor

We lucked out with not only a spectacular day weather-wise, but also with an awesome guide, Josh, for our Blue Ice hike and climb at Solheimjoküll. There were four of us and then one other couple - everyone was quite fit and had past climbing experience so we took some great treks around the glacier and enjoyed a challenging climb. Josh had a very laid back happy disposition with great confidence in his advice and guiding. All our interactions with AA from booking through email correspondence were impressive and very customer service oriented. Highly recommend!

Blue ice adventure- great experience !!

Reviewed on July 08, 2017 by Jenna H Review from Tripadvisor

Went on the blue ice glacier hiking and climbing tour with a friend... if you're even the least bit interested in ice climbing this is the place to do it, so cool and so beautiful! Our tour guide Bori was amazing and found us a sick spot to climb, definitely made us feel safe and was friendly and entertaining during the trek! Definitely recommend :)

Amazing Blue Ice Experience!

Reviewed on July 05, 2017 by Tina T Review from Tripadvisor

My girlfriend and I had the best Blue Ice experience with our tour guide, Bori! It definitely surpassed our expectations. We drove straight to the glacier, and found the vans easily. They helped us geared up with helmets, ice picks, and harness and gave great instructions so we felt like we were in good hands. Rent the mountaineering boots they have there if you don't have proper mountaineering/ice climbing boots. It helps with the climbing and glacier hiking. Bori was very knowledgeable, friendly, relaxed yet always placed emphasis on safety first. It was breathtaking to hike on a glacier, and you can drink directly from it in some places! Needless to say, we would do this again in a heartbeat - a highlight of our trip. Thanks for the best experience, Bori!

Blue Ice Tour was amazing!

Reviewed on June 26, 2017 by pamhallagan Review from Tripadvisor

Our family of 6 went on the Blue Ice Tour on June 19, 2017. Francesco was our guide and he was fantastic! He was knowledgeable and so friendly. He taught us all about the glacier as we hiked to a crevasse to do some ice climbing. Francesco was an excellent teacher as none of us had climbing experience. He made us feel incredibly safe and we had a blast. I highly recommend this tour and if you can get Francesco as your guide, even better!

Great Guides and Customer Service

Reviewed on June 14, 2017 by Abby C Review from Tripadvisor

We went on the "Blue Ice" glacier hike + ice climbing experience. Our guide was great, she was very knowledgeable about the area and greater Iceland history. The guides do a bunch of search and rescue training prior to becoming certified, so I felt very comfortable with her leading the way. There were only 6 people in our group, so it was definitely fun compared to I saw some other groups with 20+ people. The groups merged in order to do the ice climbing portion and everyone who was interested got the option to participate. They'll give you the ice axes and everyone gets crampons and a pick. The weather can be variable, so make sure to dress in layers and bring some sunglasses! Overall, the experience lasted about 4 hours (about 45 min-1 hour of prep and off the ice, 2-2.5 hours on the ice, and another 30 minutes hike back to the parking lot). Would definitely recommend the company.
We did book, but had to cancel the Sea Kayaking experience due to flight delays and AA honored their refund claims and made it pretty easy.

Amazing Experience, Would Highly Recommend!!

Reviewed on June 06, 2017 by Bryan D Review from Tripadvisor

Two friends and I went on the Blue Ice Tour on Solhemajokull in late May, 2017. We ended up having only 2 other people in our group, so essentially got a private tour for no extra cost. Our guide was Icelandic, and he was great (and his English was very solid)!! We were able to explore a large area on the glacier; we were shown various moulins and we even got the chance to go into a ice cave, a rare opportunity for that late in the season. After our exploration, our guide let us choose our spot for ice climbing, he set up the topropes, and we were on our way. I had ice climbed before, but never on a glacier, and that was an amazing experience! We rappelled into our moulin/ice canyon and then got to climb our way out! I would highly recommend this tour and Arctic Adventures in general.

Great way to sample hiking on a glacier

Reviewed on May 27, 2017 by Vince R Review from Tripadvisor

We booked two excursions with Arctic Adventures, the first one was the Blue Ice glacier tour. We had a widely different group, and AAdv handled that perfectly. The guides were patient and careful with my 80 year mother (shout out to Borjee!), and they marveled when my wife ice climbed like an arctic monkey. So cool to learn a bit about hiking on the glacier, using crampons and an ice axe, and seeing how to use ropes and harnesses. We also went to Thingvellir and hiked through a lava tube a few days after our Blue Ice deal. Also a great experience.

Great Experiences

Reviewed on May 27, 2017 by lakeside63880 Review from Tripadvisor

We did the Blue Ice and Underworld tours. Both of our guides were outstanding. The online booking process and communication was excellent as well.

Blue Ice Glacier Tour

Reviewed on May 23, 2017 by Clay Z Review from Tripadvisor

That was the best Tour we could get! We had an nice group an the freakin BEST GUIDE on iceland - Swanish ( i hope to wirte the name right ) ! We realy loved him! Nice infomations, nice climbing, the best of routes though/above the ice! Perhaps the most amazing event ob our iceland-tour! Thank you very much Swanish!!!

Fantastic time during the Blue Ice Tour

Reviewed on May 22, 2017 by Samantha O Review from Tripadvisor

Pick-up was prompt, the drive to the glacier is 2.5 hours - the guides talk about the geology and landscape during the last 30 minutes of the drive.

Our main guide made lots of "Dad jokes" which were hilarious to us, he made the experience very enjoyable.

The ice climbing was fun, too! My partner is experienced with non-ice climbing and was of course a bit of a natural. However, the guides set up 3 climbs that would rank easy-medium-hard.

Very enjoyable experience, I would recommend.

Blue Ice Tour - glacier hiking and ice climbing

Reviewed on May 13, 2017 by my248 Review from Tripadvisor

I booked the Blue Ice tour in advance through the Arctic Adventures website while I was planning for my trip to Iceland. I really wanted to try ice climbing and Arctic Adventures was one of the few tour companies who was offering a short introduction to ice climbing that was relatively affordable. I was out on the road, driving the south shore of Iceland by myself with a rental car, so I decided to meet the tour company at the site (Sólheimajökull) instead of a pick up from Reykjavík. The van arrived a little later than the meet-up time (I think they just tell you to be there early), so I had coffee at the cafe located on site. I found the van that said Arctic Adventures on it and met up with the rest of the group. From then on, it took us about an hour for everyone to be fitted with crampons, put the harness on, and a short hike to the glaciers. The tour itself was amazing, we were on the glacier for about 4+ hours, tried ice-climbing (10min or less per person, but we had the opportunity to go twice). You don't have to be in great shape for this tour. There were some steep spots on the glacier, but the guides made frequent stops so we could all catch a breath while they gave us information about the area. There's no lunch provided on the tour, so make sure you eat breakfast/lunch before the tour starts and pack a snack. There's plenty of time while you watch other people climb for you to eat and take photos. Overall, I thought it was a very well-run tour and the guides, Sarah and Swan, were fun to hang out with :) Worth the money, as you can't go climbing on the glaciers on your own!

Blue ice and golden circle

Reviewed on May 12, 2017 by Linus H Review from Tripadvisor

Did both the Blue Ice and the Golden circle + secret lagoon with arctic adventure. Can especially recommend the blue ice tour. The guide Jacob did a great job.

Awesome tours and cool guides!

Reviewed on May 08, 2017 by Yusuf P Review from Tripadvisor

We did the Blue Ice tour which is the glacier hike and ice climb and it was an awesome experience. All specialist equipment was provided. The guides were cool and provided some good bits of info about the glaciers. Plus, they had a nice playlist for the ride to the glacier! So shout out to Saga and Svana (sorry if I've misspelled the names!)

Next day, we went on the golden circle tour with caving. It was fascinating seeing the natural wonders of Iceland and the caving in the lava tube was definitely a highlight of our trip! I'd definitely recommend it. There were some tight bits which required a short belly crawl but nothing too strenuous. Our guide, Bigi, was pretty cool too so shout out to him as well!

Blue Ice Tour - great day on our trip to Iceland

Reviewed on May 02, 2017 by Chris R Review from Tripadvisor

We had a great time on the Blue Ice tour, our guide Norris was amazing. Give that man a raise! He took us to some really cool spots on the glacier and we got in some good ice climbing as well. He was very knowledgeable about the area and climbing in general and we enjoyed having him as our tour guide. I highly recommend doing this tour and we have some friends there this week that have already booked it.

1. I'd recommend renting their climbing boots. I thought my normal hiking boots would be ok, but when I got there we tested them out in the crampons and I immediately switched to the boots they had available. Big help.
2. We enjoyed driving ourselves instead of taking the bus from Reykjavik. It was nice to explore a little on the way home instead of just getting in the bus and heading back.

Glacier Hiking and Ice Climbing on Iceland's Sólheimajokull Glacier

Reviewed on April 21, 2017 by tsubakisanjyuro Review from Tripadvisor

One of the highlights of my Iceland trip!!:) The hotel pick-up was on time. I saw blue ice. Climbing was such a life time experience!! Our guides (I think their name were Feva and Thor) were great! And you can drink water there as it's very clean!!

Blue Ice extravanagza!

Reviewed on April 13, 2017 by robstew666 Review from Tripadvisor

I had booked this tour prior to flying out to Rek after much research online. The "Blue Ice" tour was something that I had wanted to do for around 20 odd years, and Stone and Ravi made for fantastic guides, taking great care of us, and showing us the glacier and taking us to many beautiful areas of Solheimjokull glacier.

Pickup was smooth, although I had to wait 30mins, this was in the small print. The journey through tot he glacier was peppered with a couple of comfort breaks, and arrival at the snout of the glacier was relatively quick despite it being a long drive.

Collection of the hired kit was easy - the kit itself, waterproof jacket, trousers, and boots were fairly tired and perhaps needs updating - I imagine it takes quite a hammering over the year, but it was serviceable, and kept me warm (not dry though as it rained all day). That said, I stayed warm, and thoroughly enjoyed the day.

The ice climbing is a must - I had always wanted to do this - and finally was given the opportunity. My only criticism would be that this could have lasted a little longer; although I fully appreciate that whilst x2 people are climbing, that leaves the remainder of the group doing nothing - I would suggest that this could be made as a designated lunchstop so that the most of this could be made.

Tiny tiny criticisms overall being not enough time ice climbing, and tired hire kit - aside from these things, it was a fantastic day & I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone who wants to go on a glacier walk, or wants to have a go at ice climbing.

Special mention to Ravi & Stone - excellent guides - funny, knowledgeable, and safety conscious at all times.

Blue Ice Glacier Hike

Reviewed on April 09, 2017 by leeal0 Review from Tripadvisor

Æðislegt!! I would recommend this trip to anyone looking for a fun filled day of adventure. The staff were friendly, funny and knowledgable. I live in Iceland and am conscious of the dangers of its awesome nature, but I felt completely safe in their competent hands. They were also super informative about glacial science, very cool. We had a beautiful day, bright blue skies above, glistening ice below, trekking across Sólheimajökull. The staff pointed out interesting features of the glacier and showed us some mysterious cracks and holes. There was a unique canyon where we ate lunch and were introduced to the thrill of ice-climbing. The best day trip I have been on in Iceland! Thanks-Kata and Biggi :)

Incredible time on glacier - Blue Ice

Reviewed on April 05, 2017 by Matt J Review from Tripadvisor

The 'Blue Ice' trip was the highlight of the holiday. We were very lucky with the weather and it might have been unpleasant if the weather was bad but what we had was wonderful. The scenery was impressive on the glacier, the ice climb was very fun, the guide was great and as a bonus there was a natural ice cave for us to explore (although i understand these are rare on this trip).

Many excellent tours!

Reviewed on April 04, 2017 by Amanda Review from Tripadvisor

Overall, I would strongly recommend Arctic Adventures. We went on 3 different tours with Arctic and had a great time. Their tours are interesting and different than other companies, great price point and excellent equipment and guides.

The Northern Lights Explorer tour was totally worth it. Our guide was very knowledgeable, took really good care of us, and spend a lot of time helping us out individually to set up our cameras properly to take photos of the northern lights. It's probably the only tour that leaves from Reykjavik and takes you on a super jeep, off-road so you have a much better chance of seeing the northern lights. We good really lucky on our last day.

We also took the Blue Ice tour, which was amazing! Hiking on the glacier was super cool as was ice climbing. Groups were small, 8 people per guide. Our guide was very knowledgeable, attentive, and spend a lot of time answering our questions. Safety, comport and everyone having a good experience was really important to them. We drove ourselves to the glacier, rather than being picked up from Reykjavik, which gave us a lot of flexibility to stop on the way and take photos. It's an easy drive, but could be miserable depending on the weather.

Blue Ice & Silfra Fissure Snorkeling Tours

Reviewed on April 04, 2017 by Meredith B Review from Tripadvisor

Both of these tours were highlights during our time in Iceland. I highly recommend working with Artic Adventures! Our guides went above and beyond to take care of us and these memories will never be forgotten. Thank you Artic Adventures! We will be back sooner than later. ✌

Blue Ice Tour

Reviewed on April 01, 2017 by annemay82 Review from Tripadvisor

All I have to say is that this was once in a lifetime experience and adventure. It included a guided hike through the glacier and a lesson in ice climbing, with a small group of 6 which was wonderful!! Our guide Biggi was knowlegdeable and fun, and made sure that we were all safe. A MUST DO!!

Blue Ice

Reviewed on March 18, 2017 by Courtney W Review from Tripadvisor

Excellent tour, great guides, well organized. This was one of the most exciting tours I did while in Iceland in March.

Blue Ice - Glacial Hike and Ice Climbing

Reviewed on March 16, 2017 by Sarah Review from Tripadvisor

I was in Iceland and this activity wasn't on my radar at all but it turned out to be the best day of my whole holiday. It is expensive but it is thoroughly worth it.
Our guide Kata knew a huge amount about the geological aspects of the glacier, how it was formed and a lot of the local history surrounding the area and she made it all fun and interesting too. We were 8 in the group of varying ages (25 - 55yrs) and we all came well prepared with good waterproofs and thermals. You can hire boots and waterproof trousers from them at an extra cost. I hired the trousers but had my own boots, but I wish I'd hired their boots. Especially with respect to the ice climbing taster session.
Thank you Kata for getting us all up (and more importantly down) safely. Great adventure and I thoroughly recommend those with an adventurous spirit and a good sense of balance give this a go.

Great Guides, great scenery, minor hiccups

Reviewed on March 15, 2017 by Monica S Review from Tripadvisor

We did the Blue Ice tour with pick up in the Reykjavik. For the most part the tour was amazing. I was happy with the equipment we rented (good quality, reasonable price). The best part was the amazing guides (Swan and Fiva). They were knowledgeable, funny, and kept everyone safe. The only issue we ran into is that I felt like there was some slight glitches in their planning (ie they took some wrong turns on pickup and seemed to argue in front of us what order the drop offs should be done in).

Blue ice tour

Reviewed on March 14, 2017 by dawn l Review from Tripadvisor

What an amazing experience hiking the glacier and getting to do some ice climbing too! So beautiful up there, our guides Fifi and Swan were great, very knowledgeable about the glacier! Definitely something you need to do with people who have experience on the glacier and arctic adventures has top notch guides! Everything was super smooth and I even accidentally booked 3 people on the tour when I only needed to book 2 while jet lagged and booking online, it wasn't until 5 days later when I got home and was looking at my statement that I realized this. I sent them an email and they refunded me the full amount of the one tour I mistakenly booked! That's amazing customer service! It was after all my fault but they didn't hesitate to refund. I would recommend this company for all your touring needs in Iceland!

Blue Ice glacier hike & Crystal Cave ice cave tour

Reviewed on March 13, 2017 by Michael13 Review from Tripadvisor

The glacier hike was one of my favorite things I did in Iceland! Hiking up a glacier is unlike anything else I've ever done, and we got to do a bit of ice climbing as well, which was fantastic. The ice cave was nice but not as extreme or active, it was more just a walk through a cave. A really cool cave, but it's not as much an interaction with the environment. If I had to choose just one to do, definitely the Blue Ice glacier hike. Don't forget your sunglasses it's bright out there.

I highly recommend renting a car and driving around Iceland and staying in hotels on the road, rather than staying in Reykjavik and getting day-tours, you'll spend much less time on a bus. The roads are well maintained and easy to navigate.

Reviewed on February 08, 2017 by Adam Wozniak (Wild Woz) Review from Google Reviews

Awesome Blue Ice tour. Eric was a very knowledgable guide and was very encouraging throughout the tour and ice climbing! Would recommend to everyone!

Blue ice tour- PERFECT!

Reviewed on February 01, 2017 by Jelcees Review from Tripadvisor

The guide didn't talk much in the journey to and back from the glacier, which is good to us as we went to see the northern light yesterday and need sleep during the drive journey. He also mentioned that there's nothing much to talk about during that road so it was great!

The instructions before the walk was clear and straight forward, didn't take us long to understand and be equipped. The guide to the glacier is is professional and knowledgeable, he talked about anything you should know about the glacier and allowed some time for you to take pictures. The scenery is magnificent, you have to see it in person to believe it.

The ice climbing experience is interesting, the guide will help you with that so nothing to worry about. It's a short climb but definitely a good try but you won't be exhausted from it!

Just rememberto bring a empty water bottle so you can try drinking the water from the glacier. We didn't have a bottle to hold but still tried with our hands, it taste clean.

A prefect trip that I will definitely recommend to other people!

FAQ

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 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.

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).

Crampons are metal spikes that we attach to the soles of your hiking shoes, these enable you to walk on the glacier ice without slipping. Find out how to put crampons.

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.

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