Glacier Experience
Easy Glacier Walking Tour suitable for beginners
Explore the incredible ice world of the Sólheimajökull glacier on a ravishing glacier walking tour right off the beautiful South Coast
Meet us at the Sólheimajökull parking lot right off the Ring Road for a fantastic glacier hiking experience. Put on your hiking boots and provided glacier gear and become a real adventurer when you join this memorable small group tour with an experienced glacier guide.
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!
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Availability
All year
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Duration
3 hours
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Duration Overwrite
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Level
Easy
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Pickup
No
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Meet on location
Yes
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Min. Age
8 years
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Ratio
1:15
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Departs from
Sólheimajökull
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Departs from Overwrite
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Price from
9.500 ISK
- Tour highlights
- Glacier hike
- Small group guarantee
- Sólheimajökull (Solheimajokull glacier)
- Included
- Guided glacier hike
- Certified glacier guide
- Specialized glacier gear
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 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 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.
Add some adventure to your Iceland tour and explore an amazing crawling glacier, before it becomes inaccessible.
Remember to bring: Warm outdoor clothing, waterproof jacket and pants, headwear and gloves. Good hiking boots are recommended.
What if I don’t own all of these clothing necessaries?
Don’t worry, you can always rent sturdy hiking boots, waterproof jacket and pants in the booking process or on location. Booking these items in advance is recommended.
Please note
This tour is a meet on location only which means that you will have to meet us at Sólheimajökull Parking Lot. If you want a pick up from Reykjavík, please check out our Glacier Experience from Reykjavík or our Glacier & Waterfalls tour.
Departure from Sólheimajökull Parking Lot. Distance from Reykjavik approx. 164 km / 101 mi. GPS 63°31’00.48″N, 19°22’00.12W(WGS84).
How far from Reykjavik is the meet-up location for the tours at Solheimajokull?
We meet you at Sólheimajökull parking lot and the distance from Reykjavik is approx. 164 km / 101 mi. The drive takes around 2-2,5 hours.
For GPS: 63°31’00.48″N, 19°22’00.12W(WGS84).
What does meet on location entail?
Meet on location means travelling to the location of the tour yourself and then meeting our tour guides rather than being picked up and taken to the location.
What should I wear on our glacier trip in Iceland?
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.
Do I need to bring a backpack on a glacier trip in Iceland?
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.
Can I bring my camera along on a glacier tour?
You can bring your camera along, and you should definitely bring one since the setting on the tour is full of amazing, scenic views.
I am pregnant, can I still join a glacier hike?
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.
Do I need to bring a lunch with me on the glacier tours?
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).
What are crampons?
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.
Is there a guide on each Arctic Adventures glacier tour?
Yes, there is a specially trained and certified glacier guide on every glacier tour that we offer.
What equipment is provided when taking part on a Glacier Hike?
When glacier hiking you will be provided with an ice axe, harness and helmet. This will help you to complete the tour safely.
Why are there glaciers in Iceland?
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.
What if it is raining?
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.
Where can I find more information to prepare me for my Glacier Hiking tour?
This guide to Glacier Hiking includes all the information you might need when preparing for a glacier hike.
“Worth every cent”
We took part in the 90 minute glacier hike up Sólheimajökull and it was well worth every cent we paid! Well organized and they even had pants, shoes etc for rent for those who did not have it.
Very interactive and informative. One lady was not too confident and I witnessed them helping her which was very sweet.
"Great Glacier Trip, ideal for families"
Review of: Small Group Glacier Experience from Solheimajokull GlacierAs our son is 11, we chose a short glacier trip and booked with Artic Adventues as their prices seemed the lowest of the various companies who were offering walks on Sólheimajökull. The tour was well organised and offered excellent value for money. We were given full safety kit including helmets (saw other groups on the glacier bare headed). Josh, our guide, was excellent – he paced the group perfectly to ensure that we saw as much as possible without taking it too fast. He was able to share lots of knowledge about the glacier itself and the rest of the local area.
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