Glacier Adventure From Skaftafell - Small Group Tour
Overview
Available languages
4 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
On this adventurous, small-group, glacier hike from Skaftafell - Vatnajökull National Park, you'll explore the majestic glacial landscape of one of Vatnajökull outlet glaciers. You will be provided with crampons and ice axes, and an experienced, certified glacier guide will teach you how to use the equipment before you step on to the ice. During your 4-hour tour, you will hike through a wonderland of ice sculptures and deep crevasses, traversing zones of different glacial formations. The tour is of moderate difficulty, and to ensure a personal experience, groups are limited to 8 participants. Choose from the following departure times when booking: 9am, 9:30am, 1pm, and 1:30pm.
Additional Info
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Age: Minimum 14
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Please bring warm clothing, rain gear, gloves, and hiking boots
Extra clothing can be rented: hiking boots 1.500 ISK and rain gear 1.000 ISK per item
What To Expect
Skaftafell National Park
The tour departs from our Skaftafell Base Camp, right on the Skaftafell campsite next to the visitor center. 20 minutes prior to departure, you will meet your experienced glacier guide, who will gear the group up with crampons, ice axes and harnesses. When everyone is ready, you will take our glacier bus up to the glacier for an amazing adventure.
We head to the glacier on our Glacier Bus. After a few minute's drive from our Skaftafell Base Camp, there is a short hike up to the roots of the glacier. After a short introduction on how to use the glacier gear, we step onto the glacier and into a frozen wonderland. The guide will lead the group through deep crevasses and majestic ice ridges. With about 2 hours on the glacier, we have plenty of time to take pictures and make memories. After the wonderful adventure, we head back to our Skaftafell Base Camp.
Options
Scheduled departure
What‘s Included
Certified glacier guide
Transport to glacier by minibus
All necessary glacier gear
Guided glacier hike
Gratuities
Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Extra clothing can be rented: hiking boots 1.500 ISK and rain gear 1.000 ISK per item
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
394 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Interstellar Fans Shouldn’t Miss this Tour
nickproto,Jun 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00If you’re a fan of the film epic Interstellar and you want to feel like you’re scaling the icy hills of Dr. Mann’s planet, then this tour is the experience for you. Mike was a fantastic guide who adjusted the hike experience to our group’s ability. We felt safe the entire time, knowing Mike was a seasoned veteran of the glacier. The small group setting is the perfect size for this type of hike—we were able to proceed up the glacier without feeling like we had to wait for anyone like you might in a larger group. Mike showed us many jaw dropping sights on the glacier, providing us windows of opportunity to capture photos together (and to catch our breath because, surprise, this was a workout). 10/10 time. Don’t miss this one. I’m very excited to work in “I climbed a glacier in Iceland” into conversations.
One of the Must do Adventures in Iceland
ryanluo23,Jun 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This longer tour allowed us further and higher onto the Glacier! The Guide is also fantastic. Must do adventure
Best guide and phenomenal climbing experience
278tatec,Jun 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our Skaftafell glacier walk and ice climbing was the highlight of our trip to Iceland. We were blessed with good weather but the most incredible part of our trip was our guide Ágúst. We had no prior ice climbing experience and Ágúst made it both a challenging and approachable experience. An excellent blend of humor, education, and encouragement, we would happily go on any expedition led by Ágúst. The duration of the adventure was also excellent ~4.5 hours. We were tired but fulfilled by the end. 10/10, Ágúst was 12/10.
Amazing Intro to Ice Climbing
737jonathanf,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide, Agust, was fantastic. He gave good instructions on safety & the process for ice climbing. Our tour was called Skaftafell Glacier Hike and Ice Climbing. We were able to do a couple climbs at an easier location soon after getting on the glacier. The glacier was beautiful. After we enjoyed a bit of walking around, we found a more challenging ice climb location. Some of our group did that climb twice. I highly recommend this tour if you are new to ice climbing and want a fun experience.
First time on glacier
319anneclairec,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A fantastic adventure with Angelika Stanke on the glacier. Very professional and truly friendly. A first for us. Beautiful crevasses and seracs, and a few roped sections, all done safely. Thank you, Angelika! Thank you to the entire Icelandia team for their professionalism, warm welcome, and friendliness Anne-Claire et Lionel / France
Unexpected journey
I2158EGtom s,Jun 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Pur experience eith guide Jan Kondrat was the best time in my life. He is so erudated and clever, that I never felt unsave.
Adventure on the glacier!
Karla D,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Brook did a fantastic job! He made a point to know each person on the tour. He also made us feel safe, confident and adventurous. We definitely would recommend Brook and the Icelandic Mountain Guides!
Exploring the world of glaciers
v clavd178,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I have enjoyed the tour with Jan from the very beginning till the end. It was adventurous but safe at the same time, Jan shared a lot of interesting facts about Skaftafelljokull glacier and glaciers in general.
Great ice experience
257jakubl,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An extremely professional guide who took into account the requirements of a quite diverse group of participants with great commitment and knowledge. Despite the poor weather, the trip to the glacier was an interesting experience with lots of interesting and useful information. The group of participants was small, and the tour itself was significantly longer than promised. I highly recommend it.
An unforgettable day on the glacier
levenskunstu,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mark is a great guide. He led us this sunny day, caringly and carefully up the glacier. He taught us how to move and survive on a glacier; about the formation of glaciers in general and specifically about this geltser. He led us past spectacular ice fissures in all shades of blue, glacial crevices and rivers. Overall a great guide and experience! Fee provided a pleasant round trip in the 4x4 bus.
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Operated by Icelandic Mountain Guides