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Langjökull is the second largest glacier in Iceland, located in the Western Highlands, visible from many popular attractions, including Húsafell and Haukadalur. The glacier isn’t wide, but it is very long, which is why it was given the name Langjökull or “long glacier“. Langjökull is a popular location to visit in Iceland, being a never-ending source for adventures, and it is explorable by Super Jeeps or Snowmobiles, often including visits to mesmerizing ice caves!
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Langjökull ice cap or the “long glacier” is the second-largest glacier in Iceland about 953 km2 or 367.955 square miles. The only Icelandic glacier that is bigger than Langjökull is the famous Vatnajökull glacier, the largest glacier in Europe.
Langjökull is quite high, its highest peak Péturshorn, reaching a soaring 1,355 meters (4,445.5 ft), which places the glacier on par with some of the highest mountains found in the country, including the wonderfully named Jarlhettur (The Earl’s Hat), Fjallkirkja and Þursaborg. Its volume is about 196 km3, and the ice is up to 580 meters thick (1,900 ft).
Langjökull lies almost parallel to Iceland’s volcanic system from northeast to southwest and is located in a very geothermally active area. Two or more volcanic systems stretch out from under the glacier in different directions. The most famous of them is Hveravellir, East of Langjökull.
The glacier’s calderas are very visible and can even be seen from the air when flying over, but the region is relatively quiet on an Icelandic scale, with only 32 eruptions in the last 10,000 years.
Want to learn interesting facts about the Langjökull glacier? Here are some of the top facts you probably didn’t know:
GPS 64°45′N 19°59′W
Langjökull is situated in the West of the Icelandic interior or in the Highlands of Iceland and can be seen clearly from Haukadalur. Langjökull is the closest glacier to Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital.
There are a few different ways to get to the glacier.
Most drive the route past Gullfoss waterfall and like to do the Golden Circle in the meantime. This route is the most popular for those who are joining a Snowmobiling tour on the glacier. Then your options are; to get picked up in Reykjavík, to meet at Gullfoss café or, if you have a large 4×4 car, meet at the Glacier Base at the foot of the glacier. This option is only available during summertime.
The other way is from Húsadalur for those who are joining for the Into the Glacier man-made Ice Cave Tour. If you take this route, then you drive up North from Reykjavík in the direction of Borgarfjörður.
Setting foot on Langjokull Glacier gives visitors the feeling that they are walking on the roof of a white kingdom or on the roof of the world! There is a special kind of spaciousness to Langjökull’s stark and majestic landscape.
Langjökull Glacier is famous for its amazing open landscapes and views that go as far as the eye can see. The glacier was long known as the perfect playground for the local snowmobile enthusiast but is now recognized by many travelers for the same. We offer daily departures, multiple times a day, with various pickup locations and add-ons.
In recent years, ice caves have been found on the glacier, and many have been staggeringly beautiful. The rule seems to be that the newest is better than the last, and so on. The Snowmobiling and Ice Cave tour is a 2-for-1 as you snowmobile to the extraordinary ice cave, where you get to enjoy the magic of Icelandic nature before returning, all on an exciting snowmobiling trip. The perfect day spent in Iceland.
Langjökull is impassable by a regular car, and the road can have heavy snow well into summer, so a Super Jeep or larger vehicle is the best option to safely reach the glacier. Great Super Truck tours are offered with expert guides who take you to all the safe places and know the glacier inside out.
Driving on a glacier without any experience isn’t recommended, as crevasses and overhangs are everywhere. It is a lovely, worry-free experience to have an expert guide read the terrain for you.
The largest engineer-designed ice cave in the world is made into the famous Langjökull glacier. Take a Super Jeep tour from Reykjavík or meet at Húsadalur to go on this epic walking adventure through this ice tunnel. Its visit can be a cherry on top for an already exciting Ring Road adventure or a day-long Golden Circle excursion.
In recent years Langjökull has become somewhat of an ice cave paradise, with more than one ice cave to choose from each season and the added value of the glacier being the closest to Reykjavík. Ice Caves are very weather-dependent, and it’s hard to tell how they will appear or if they will appear at all.
2017-2020
This Ice Cave was first famous for its ice neon blue frozen river in the ceiling and later for its frozen waterfall. The ice cave changed significantly during its first year and had to be monitored closely. The ice cave is located right under the Jarlhettur mountains, which adds even more uniqueness and beauty to its presence.
When stepping down into the cave, you can make a right into a larger area where the frozen waterfall resides or to the left into what seems to be a narrow but endless tunnel with stunning colors and exquisite ice layers.
Fun Fact: This is the only ice cave known to have been used for a diving expedition. A few of Arctic Adventures best divers snowmobiled to the glacier and remarkably dove the ice cave making world history in 2018!
2015-2017
This Ice Cave was passable for a long time but was well closed off, and you had to slide into it. Since it was higher on the glacier and deeper into the ice, light didn’t shine as brightly through it, resulting in no blue colors, but it glistened beautifully and was quite large.
The largest man-made ice cave in the world is found at Langjökull with an inbuilt church and stunning layers of ice that tell you a lot about Iceland’s interesting volcanic and geological history. Easily accessible and doable for all ages.
Iceland’s glaciers are extremely popular for glacier hiking, and ice caving and Langjökull glacier are no exception. It is the nearest ice cap to Reykjavik and can be visited at any time of the year. Langjökull attracts visitors with a thrilling snowmobile ride, cross-country skiing, and hiking is probably one of the best ways to explore its vast ice landscapes. So, put on your crampons and get ready for exploring!
Langjökull glacier feeds numerous waterfalls all over Iceland and you will be surprised by the distances that the water travels. To name a few:
Langjökull also feeds a lot of the hot spring in Borgarfjörður valley including Europe’s most powerful hot spring Deildartunguhver.
The river Hvítá which is famous for being the best River Rafting river in South Iceland also takes its water from Langjökull and so does lake Þingvallavatn.
Silfra fissure is one of Iceland’s most famous Landmarks. It’s where you can go snorkeling or diving in between the North American and the Eurasian continental plates. It’s located in Thingvellir National park and is truly a rare and unique geological wonder.
When the rifts started moving apart, the fissure filled with glacial meltwater that had filtered through a porous lava field for about 100 to 200 years. This means that the water was incredibly clear and the visibility without comparison.
The water, originated at Langjökull glacier and does still today. The glacier feeds the fissure which might come as a surprise to many as Silfra and Langjökull are more than 50 km (approx. 31 miles) apart.
Films:
Oblivion (2013) has some scenes shot at the staggeringly beautiful Jarlhettur e. Earl’s Hat that sits right next to Langjökull and the view is of Langjökull in the film. One of the Natural Ice Caves found at Langjökull was right under the newly famous mountains. Here you can see more about filming there.
The Iron Giant (1999): The final scene of the cartoon Iron Giant takes place on Langjökull although the name of the glacier, which appears in large letters across the screen, is misspelled “Langjoküll” instead of the correct spelling which is “Langjökull”.
Music Videos:
Mist – Hot Property (2017) The UK rapper Mist shot his music video for the song Hot Property at Langjökull glacier where he and his crew drove snowmobiles around with guides from Arctic Adventures on a private tour.
David Guetta ft. Sia – She Wolf (2012) The wolf running and the dog sledding part of the video is taken at Langjökull and many of the Eskimo/Viking parts are in the area surrounding the glacier.
Movie screening inside the ice cave at Langjokull Glacier. Source: Arctic Adventures.
Reykavik International Film Festival (RIFF) is an annual event where filmmakers show their works, focusing on important topics such as human rights and environmental issues. On October 4th, 2023, RIFF hosted a unique movie screening inside the Langjökull Glacier, Iceland's second-largest glacier. The event took place in the man-made ice tunnel located at the top of the glacier, 656 feet (200 meters) beneath the surface. Guests were treated to a viewing of Lars Ostenfeld’s documentary Into the Ice, which explores Greenland's melting ice sheet and its environmental impact. Before the screening, attendees had the chance to tour the glacier with professional guides, adding an immersive touch to the event inside this remarkable icy venue.
There are plenty of accommodation options around Langjökull mostly in Húsafell, Borgarfjörður and near the Golden Circle. Here are the best-rated options:
Hotels
Guesthouses, B&B and Farmstays
Cabins and Cottages
Geysir Camping Ground is situated within a walking distance from the great Geysir. Facilities on-site include showers, toilets, electricity, washers, WIFI, a golf course & a playground.
Langjokull Glacier is conveniently located next to two main highland tracks that connect North and South Iceland. During summertime, you can drive to the base of the glacier in a large 4×4 car. In winter, make sure to check for road closures before attempting to drive to Langjokull. If possible, avoid driving in Iceland in winter for safety reasons, especially in the Highlands.
Langjökull is the closest glacier to Reykjavík. Langjokull is around 93 mi (150 km) away from Reykjavik. It takes around 2 – 2.5 hours to drive from the capital to the glacier.
It’s hard to tell exactly how old Langjokull Glacier is, but most current Icelandic glaciers started forming around 7,000 years ago. They only started growing even more recently, around 2,500 years ago.
Langjokull is the second-largest ice cap in the country. The glacier covers around 950 square kilometers, which is 1.2 times larger than the size of New York City! Langjokull is around 50 km (31 mi) long (hence the name, which means “long glacier”) and 20 km (12 mi) wide. At its thickest point, the ice is 580 m (1,903 ft) deep.
Langjokull is one of the most popular spots for snowmobiling and super jeep tours. The glacier is also a great attraction for skiers and hikers. However, no trip to the glacier is complete without visiting the ice tunnel inside the glacier!
Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle is located on the way to Langjokull. A visit to Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall, and Geysir Geothermal Area can easily be combined with your trip to the glacier. The Golden Circle also offers plenty of adventurous activities, including white water river rafting on the Hvita River, snorkeling in Silfra Fissure, and horseback riding across lava fields.
