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Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with our Glacier Explorer tour, where we will take you to the awe-inspiring Falljökull Glacier. Get up close and personal to Iceland’s iconic ice giants with expert guides. Falljökull is an outlet glacier from Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe, and is home to some of the most magical natural ice sculptures in the country.
As you enter this magical ice setting, you won’t be alone. Friendly and knowledgeable guides will be with you every step of the way to uncover mysteries and secrets about the glacier around you. They can lead you to Falljökull's best-kept secrets and viewpoints, ensuring you unlock the best possible sights and discover the hidden gems that most visitors might miss.
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Our world-renowned "Glacier Explorer" tour is an in-depth glacier adventure that takes you to Falljökull, one of the most impressive outlet glaciers of the Vatnajökull ice cap. We will take an inspiring walk along a winding path through the glacier's dramatically changing landscape. Arriving at the tongue of the glacier, we will have your crampons ready and waiting for you. With your knowledgeable guide leading the way, you will soon be exploring impressive terrain, walking through a wonderland of ice formations and brilliant blue colors.
You will enjoy vast, sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the fantastic crevasse system. Depending on the glacier conditions, we will enter the rugged and chaotic icefall, which tumbles over the side of the underlying mountain and down toward the ocean. Imagine standing in an actual icefall, up close and personal with the ancient ice – something truly unforgettable.
This trip will provide you with plenty of photo opportunities and the chance to understand this magnificent glacier, how it is formed, and how it continues to change shape every day.
Meeting point: Skaftafell booking center (wooden cabin with Arctic Adventures logo).
Please note: The meeting point for this tour is at the Arctic Adventures Booking Hut in Skaftafell National Park. Skaftafell is located at approx 327km (203 miles) from Reykjavik.
Coordinates: 64°00'58.0"N 16°58'05.2"W
The nearest towns to Skaftafell are Kirkjubæjarklaustur, 69km (43 miles) to the west, and Höfn, 130km (81 miles) to the east.
Shoe Size: For safety reasons, crampons are not available for shoe sizes below 35 EU, as they cannot be securely attached to smaller footwear.
If the tour is booked for a child aged 14 or older, an adult must accompany them during both the transfer and the tour. Safety and supervision are essential when planning the tour for young participants.
Yes, there is a parking fee at Skaftafell. Parking is monitored by license plate, and the fee starts at ISK 1,040 for standard cars. It’s valid until midnight on the day you pay, and you can come and go freely during that time. You can pay online or at the site. For details and current rates, check parka.is.
Skaftafell is about 327 km (203 mi) east of Reykjavík—roughly a 4.5 to 5-hour drive in summer. In winter, road conditions may slow you down, so plan for extra time and always check weather updates. The meeting point is our Skaftafell Booking Center, right next to the main parking lot. Just look for the wooden hut with the Arctic Adventures logo. Address: 785 Skaftafell, Iceland
‘Meet on location’ means you’ll make your own way to the tour starting point—usually a booking center or parking area near the site—rather than being picked up from Reykjavík or another town. It’s a great option if you’re self-driving or already staying nearby.
Exact meeting points, directions, and check-in times are listed in your booking confirmation and on the tour page. If you’re unsure where to go, you can always check the tour details or contact us directly.
Icelandic weather can be unpredictable, so it’s best to dress in layers. Start with a thermal base, then add something warm like fleece or wool, and finish with a waterproof jacket. Instead of jeans, wear hiking or outdoor pants with a waterproof layer on top. Sturdy hiking boots with ankle support are required, and we offer rentals if needed. Sunglasses and sunscreen are a good idea too—the glacier can be bright, even on cloudy days.
The main difference is how far you go and how much time you spend on the ice.
Glacier Wonders (4h) is ideal if you want a shorter experience. You’ll hike to the lower part of Falljökull and spend about 1 hour on the glacier. It’s easier, less physically demanding, and still gives you great views of the icefall.
Glacier Explorer (5.5h) goes deeper into the glacier and includes around 3 hours on the ice. You’ll explore more dramatic terrain, including crevasses and ice formations near the Öræfajökull icefall.
Both tours include a short drive from Skaftafell and a 25–30 minute hike to the glacier. Ice caves are sometimes seen on both tours, but not guaranteed. If you’re up for more walking and a tougher trail, go with Glacier Explorer. For a quicker but still stunning experience, Glacier Wonders is a great choice.
Yes, we recommend bringing a small backpack—especially for half-day or full-day tours. It’s handy for carrying extra layers, snacks, and water so you stay warm, comfortable, and fueled throughout the hike.
Yes—you can definitely bring your camera. The views on the glacier are unforgettable, and you’ll want to capture them. Just make sure it’s secure and protected from the weather.
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 attach to the soles of your hiking boots, providing a secure grip on icy surfaces to prevent slipping. On all our glacier tours where you'll be walking on ice, we provide specialized glacier crampons—sturdier and designed for tougher conditions than regular ice spikes. Your guide will help you put crampons on properly before stepping onto the glacier, and they will be returned after the tour. You can learn more about crampons in this guide.
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.
Glaciers form when snow builds up over time, gets compressed, and slowly turns into solid ice. In Iceland, heavy snowfall and cold temperatures make perfect conditions for this. Over thousands of years, that snow has built up into massive glaciers that shape the land as they move. Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe, is just one of many you’ll find here. Curious to learn more? Our Glacier Guide covers it all.
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. However, if conditions make the tour unsafe for any reason, we’ll cancel it, and you’ll receive a full refund.
