Explore the incredible and stunning ice world of the Sólheimajökull Glacier on a ravishing glacier walking tour right off Iceland's beautiful South Coast. A hiking adventure you'll never forget.
Glacier Experience is a small group experience that offers an easy glacier hike on Sólheimajökull glacier with an experienced glacier guide and is available all year around. The tour offers a pick-up from Reykjavík or a meet on location at Sólheimajökull glacier. Add even more adventure to your stay in Iceland and come explore this amazing crawling glacier with us.
Sólheimajökull glacier is an outlet from the mighty Mýrdalsjökull and is surrounded by some of Iceland's most grand volcanoes and during summertime, a glacier lagoon forms in front of the glacier only adding to the charm of the location. This popular day tour is the perfect way to get in real contact with the true reason behind the name Ice-land!
The tour is offered either as a meet on location at Sólheimajökull glacier or with a pick-up from Reykjavik. Please specify which option you prefer in checkout.
Customer reviews on TripAdvisor
Glacier Hike on Sólheimajökull
I did the glacier hike with my husband after booking the tour online. The booking process was very easy and we were able to meet the guide on location as we had rearmed a car for our stay in Iceland. The instructions were very clear for meeting them and we found the yellow school bus with no problem. The guides were very friendly and professional and have everyone’s safety as a high priority. They checked everyone was wearing appropriate gear and kitted us out with helmets, harnesses and boots, jackets and even gloves if needed! All instructions given on the day were very clear and we soon got out towards the glacier, got our crampons on and ventured onto the ice. Our guide was so positive and enthusiastic! It really made the hike even more enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this company and excursion for any experiences in Iceland. Thank you for an unforgettable experience!
From
BOOK WITH 10% DEPOSIT
Worried that your travel plans might change? Book your tour more than 21 days in advance with a 10% deposit & pay the rest 14 days before departure. Alternatively, you can pay full price and get a 5% early bird discount! Choose the deposit or full payment option in the third step of your checkout.
Your Glacier Experience tour starts with an introduction to the necessary glacier equipment provided in the tour and your expert guide going over the safety rules needed to explore the beautiful Sólheimajökull glacier. Then, you will take off on a short but scenic walk across the pitch-black volcanic ash and sands that lay in between the Sólheimajökull glacier and it’s the parking lot.
The ash and sand are from the volcanic eruption in Eyjafjallajökull stratovolcano that took place in the year 2010 and is a reminder of the closeness of volcanoes and glaciers in Iceland. Truly a fantastic and unique start!
The Sólheimajökull glacier tongue originates at Mýrdalsjökull which is famously also the home to the volcano Katla. There is no doubt that the glacier is exquisite and the surrounding area as well. Your knowledgeable glacier guide will point out to y...)
The Sólheimajökull glacier tongue originates at Mýrdalsjökull which is famously also the home to the volcano Katla. There is no doubt that the glacier is exquisite and the surrounding area as well. Your knowledgeable glacier guide will point out to you how the glacier is retreating and give you an interesting history and geology lesson to get you to understand the true magic of the glacier.
Right at the foothills of the glacier you will lace up our crampons and follow your guide to explore this otherworldly natural wonder; a rugged, raw and ever-changing hub of ancient frozen water. This glacier hike is an adventure like no other, and with the rapid rate of global climate change, this popular activity is only available in very few parts of the world.
You will see how the primal elements shape and affect the glacier, creating mesmerizing labyrinths of ice ridges and deep V-shaped crevasses that crisscross and scar the surface of the ice. Not to mention the big sinkholes, called “moulins”, that sometimes have drilled their way through the glacier, draining the meltwater of the ice through little waterfalls and streams.
The glacier also carries with it ashes of volcanic eruptions from the distant and not so distant past, you might even be lucky enough to be able to collect a little sample of the Eyjafjalljökull volcanic ash from 2010.
The hiking part of the tour is about 2 hours with 1-1.5 hours spent on the glistening glacier.
Add some adventure to your Iceland tour and explore an amazing crawling glacier, before it becomes inaccessible.
If you select the Reykjavík pickup option, our tour guide will pick you up at your chosen meeting location in the capital city. After pick-up, we drive in an easterly direction out of the city on our way to the glacier. On our way to and back from th...)
If you select the Reykjavík pickup option, our tour guide will pick you up at your chosen meeting location in the capital city. After pick-up, we drive in an easterly direction out of the city on our way to the glacier. On our way to and back from the glacier, we make stops at three of the most magnificent natural attractions in Iceland: Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, and Reynisfjara.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
About an hour and a half from Reykjavik we will arrive at Seljalandsfoss waterfall with. The waterfall is about 65 meters (213 ft) high and can be inspected from different angles. The water flows from the Seljalandsá river, which has its origin at the infamous volcano glacier, Eyjafjallajökull. During summer it is even possible to walk behind it to experience it from another perspective.
Skogafoss waterfall
About 30 km further up the south coast, we have Skogafoss, another majestic phenomenon, located close to the small village of Skógar. It is one of Iceland’s largest waterfalls with a width of 25 meters (82 ft) and a 60 meter (197 ft) drop. Due to the amount of spray it produces, single and even double rainbows are often seen on sunny days.
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
The epic volcanic black sand beach with basalt columns, lava formations, towering cliffs, and basalt column caves is one of Iceland’s ultimate superstar destinations. In fact, it has been ranked as one of the ten most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world by the American journal, Islands Magazine.
The whole tour with transportation included takes about 11-12 hours. The hiking part of the tour is about 2 hours with 1-1.5 hours spent on the glacier.
Pick up is at 08:00 am from your hotel or a nearby meeting point in Reykjavík. Picking everyone up can take up to 30 minutes, your patience is much appreciated. Available pick-up points: Arctic Adventures’s pick-up list.)
Pick up is at 08:00 am from your hotel or a nearby meeting point in Reykjavík. Picking everyone up can take up to 30 minutes, your patience is much appreciated.
Available pick-up points: Arctic Adventures’s pick-up list.
If you select the Meet on Location option, please meet your tour guide at Sólheimajökull Parking Lot. Please give yourself plenty of time to drive from Reykjavík – there is no way you want to miss this stunning adventure on Sólheimajökull Glacier. In...)
If you select the Meet on Location option, please meet your tour guide at Sólheimajökull Parking Lot.
Please give yourself plenty of time to drive from Reykjavík – there is no way you want to miss this stunning adventure on Sólheimajökull Glacier. In good conditions the journey takes just over two hours without stops, it is always worth allowing extra time so you can relax. With poor weather or road conditions, the journey will take longer. The distance from Reykjavík is approximately 158 km (98 mi).
GPS 63°31’00.48″N, 19°22’00.12W(WGS84).
Meet on location means traveling to the location of the tour yourself and then meeting our tour guides rather than being picked up and taken to the location.
We meet you at Sólheimajökull parking lot and the distance from Reykjavik is approx. 164 km / 101 mi. The drive takes around 2,5 hours.
For GPS: 63°31’00.48″N, 19°22’00.12W(WGS84).
Iceland is known for colourful 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.
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, harness and helmet. This will help you to complete the tour safely.
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.
