Vatnajökull · Sólheimajökull · Langjökull

Iceland Glacier Tours

Glacier hikes, ice caves, snowmobile rides and lagoon boats, from Reykjavík or from a base beside the ice

Iceland glacier tours put you on the ice itself: crampons on Vatnajökull at Skaftafell, a blue cave in the cold months, a snowmobile on Langjökull. Every card shows which glacier you reach, where you meet your guide and what the fare covers, so you book the day that fits your trip.

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Every tour here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, so you can book now and decide later.

2019UNESCO World Heritage park

7,500 km²Europe’s largest ice cap

From $96Three hours on the ice

Hours, prices and access verified by the Iceland Glacier Tours team — last checked 2026-09-23.

Iceland Glacier Tours › Tours & Tickets 2026 Updated: 2026-09-23

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Top Iceland Glacier Tours for 2026

The best Iceland glacier tour is the one that starts where you are. Pick a day from Reykjavík, a hike off the ring road at Skaftafell, or a snowmobile on the ice cap.

Glacier Hike and South Coast Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★ 4.8 (863 reviews · 12 hours)

Glacier hike on SólheimajökullReykjavík bus-stop pickupMax 18 guestsCrampons in the fare

Board a minibus at a designated stop in Reykjavík for a twelve-hour Iceland glacier day on the South Coast, with an English-speaking guide and Wi-Fi on board. Two waterfalls and a black sand beach frame the main event, a guided hike on Sólheimajökull with the harness, crampons, helmet and ice axe supplied. The minibus carries eighteen people at most, so the group on the ice stays a manageable size. Food is not included and boot rental costs extra, so bring sturdy waterproof boots of your own if you have them.

Minibus pickup at Reykjavík bus stops
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Skógafoss waterfall
Gear up: harness, helmet, crampons, ice axe
Guided glacier hike on Sólheimajökull
Reynisfjara black sand beach
Drive back to Reykjavík

From $197 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Skaftafell Glacier Hike 3-Hour Small Group Tour

★★★★★ 4.7 (612 reviews · 3 hours)

Glacier hike on VatnajökullMeets at Hof, in ÖræfiCoffee and chocolateGuide included

Meet at the base at Hof, in Öræfi, twenty minutes before the start, collect a helmet, harness and ice axe, and ride the short drive out to a Vatnajökull outlet glacier. A certified glacier guide leads the hike, and coffee and chocolates wait at the end of it. At three hours it is one of the most affordable ways onto Iceland glacier ice for anyone driving the ring road. There is no pickup, so you arrive under your own steam, and boots, jackets and waterproof trousers are for rent at the base.

Meet at the Tröll Expeditions base
Collect helmet, harness and ice axe
Short drive to the glacier outlet
Guided hike on a Vatnajökull outlet glacier
Coffee and chocolates, then back to base

From $112 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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From Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Glacier Snowmobiling

★★★★★ 4.7 (1,491 reviews · 10 hours)

Snowmobile on LangjökullStarts in Reykjavík1-hour snowmobile rideWi-Fi on board

Leave the BSÍ bus terminal in Reykjavík by coach for a ten-hour loop of the Golden Circle: Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall. The high point is an hour on a snowmobile on Langjökull, two riders to a machine, with protective clothing and safety gear handed out before you ride. A single-rider option is sold for anyone who would rather drive alone, and Wi-Fi runs on the coach between stops. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan how you reach the terminal, and budget for food along the way.

Coach from Reykjavík's BSÍ bus terminal
Þingvellir National Park stop
Geysir geothermal area, about one hour
Gullfoss waterfall
One-hour snowmobile ride on Langjökull
Gullfoss break, then back to Reykjavík

From $337 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Why book with us

Trusted by Thousands of Visitors

⚖

Best Guides

Iceland glacier guided tours here run with certified glacier guides who fit your crampons, read the ice and choose the safest route across it on the day.

✓

Book With Confidence

Every tour here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, and each card shows the fare, the glacier and what the fare includes, so nothing arrives as a surprise.

★

Experience of a Lifetime

Stand in crampons on ice that reflects nothing but blue, look down into a crevasse, and walk off knowing you saw Iceland’s glaciers while they are still this big.

FREE CANCELLATION up to 24 hours ahead on every tour, so a change in the weather or your plans costs you nothing.

Everything available

All Iceland Glacier Tours & Tickets

Iceland Glacier Hike Tours

Iceland glacier hike tours put crampons on your boots and a certified guide in front of you, on Vatnajökull at Skaftafell or on Sólheimajökull near the South Coast. Most run three to five hours from a base beside the ice, and some add ice climbing.

Solheimajokull Glacier 4-Hour Small-Group Hike

★★★★★ 4.8 (515 reviews · 4 hours)

Glacier hike on SólheimajökullMeets at the glacierMax 12 guestsCrampons in the fare

Park at the glacier car park near Vík and find the marked trailer twenty minutes before your start time. Four hours on Sólheimajökull come with a certified glacier guide and the full kit of crampons, helmet, harness and ice axe. Groups are capped at twelve, and boots and waterproofs can be rented if yours will not do. It is the Iceland glacier hike that fits a self-drive South Coast day, since the ice sits about two hours from Reykjavík.

From $121 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Skaftafell Glacier Explorer - Extended Small Group Trek

★★★★★ 4.8 (205 reviews · 5 hours)

Glacier hike on VatnajökullMeets in Skaftafell parkCrampons in the fareGuide included

Five hours from the Skaftafell national park car park allow a longer trek than the three-hour hikes, with a four-wheel-drive bus to the foot of the glacier. A certified guide leads the way up the Vatnajökull ice, and crampons, an ice pick, a helmet and a harness are all supplied. Sturdy hiking boots are required, and you can rent a pair for a fee if yours will not do. Pack your own lunch, because none is included and the trek runs through the middle of the day.

From $168 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Skaftafell Ice Climbing & Glacier Hike

★★★★★ 4.9 (130 reviews · 4 hours)

Ice climbing on VatnajökullMeets at Hof, in ÖræfiMax 6 guestsCrampons in the fare

Swap walking for climbing: four hours at Skaftafell pair an Iceland glacier hike with ice climbing under a certified guide. The group is six people at most, and the harness, helmet, ice axe, crampons and even the hiking boots are in the fare. Coffee and chocolates round off the trip back at the base at Hof, in Öræfi. You need to be at least twelve, and waterproof jackets and trousers are rented separately, so pack your own if you have them.

From $256 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Iceland Glacier Ice Cave Tours

Iceland glacier ice cave tours pair a hike across Vatnajökull with time inside a natural cave of blue ice. They run in the cold months, roughly October to April, and each cave is judged safe day by day.

Skaftafell Ice Caving & Glacier Hike

★★★★★ 4.8 (242 reviews · 4 hours)

Ice cave in VatnajökullMeets at Hof, in ÖræfiCrampons in the fareCoffee and chocolate

Free parking at the base at Hof, in Öræfi, starts four hours on the ice with a certified, English-speaking glacier guide. The trip combines a Vatnajökull glacier hike with a visit to an ice cave, and the harness, helmet, crampons and ice axe are all provided. Caves are visited in the cold months, roughly October to April, and the operators and the park assess the ice formations every day. Hiking boot rental costs extra, and you bring your own food and drink.

From $163 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Skaftafell Glacier Hike & Natural Ice Cave Tour

★★★★★ 5.0 (96 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes)

Ice cave in VatnajökullMeets by the visitor centreCrampons in the fareGuide included

Report to the base camp beside the Skaftafell visitor centre twenty minutes early, and a vehicle takes you from there to the glacier. Three and a half hours cover a guided hike and a natural ice cave, with crampons, an ice axe and a helmet handed out by a certified guide. Children can join from the age of ten, with one youth per adult. Rain gear, hiking boots, warm layers and snacks are yours to bring, so dress for a cold day on Iceland glacier ice.

From $160 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Jökulsárlón: Blue Ice Cave Tour and Glacier Walk

★★★★★ 4.9 (69 reviews · 6 hours)

Ice cave in VatnajökullMeets at Jökulsárlón75-min hike, 1 hour in the caveMax 8 guests

From the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, a jeep ride of about thirty minutes takes you to the ice, where the crampons, helmet and harness go on. About seventy-five minutes of walking across Vatnajökull lead to the cave, and you spend roughly an hour there before returning the same way. Groups are eight at most with an English-speaking guide, and a headlamp is handed out if the cave needs one. It suits fit travellers of fourteen and over who can reach the lagoon under their own steam.

From $242 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Iceland Glacier Snowmobile Tours

Iceland glacier snowmobile tours ride the ice cap of Langjökull, the country's second-largest glacier, with two riders to a machine as standard. Start from Reykjavík, or drive yourself to the Golden Circle and meet the truck there.

From Geysir: Snowmobile Adventure on Langjökull Glacier

★★★★★ 4.6 (573 reviews · 4 hours)

Snowmobile on LangjökullMeets at GeysirAbout 1 hour ridingGuide included

Drive yourself to the car park behind the Geysir visitor centre, and a super truck carries you up to the base camp on Langjökull. Once geared up and briefed, you get about an hour of snowmobiling in two rides of twenty-five minutes, with a photo stop on the ice cap in between. Machines are shared by two riders as standard, and a solo-rider option is sold as well. There is no transfer from Reykjavík, so it fits a Golden Circle self-drive day, and food and drink are sold rather than included.

From $217 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Reykjavik: Langjökull Glacier Snowmobiling with transfer

★★★★★ 4.9 (158 reviews · 6 hours)

Snowmobile on LangjökullReykjavík bus-stop pickup1 hour of snowmobilingMax 14 guests

Pickup from Reykjavík bus stops runs in the morning, for the 10:30 or the 13:00 departure, and the drive to the snowmobile base takes about an hour and forty minutes. Warm overalls, a helmet and gloves are issued there before a transfer to the edge of Langjökull. You then ride for an hour with local guides and stops for photographs, in a group of fourteen at most. Food is not included, and a single-rider upgrade is paid on site if you want a machine to yourself.

From $265 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Iceland Glacier Lagoon Boat Tours

Iceland glacier lagoon boat tours take you among the icebergs on the water, by amphibian boat, by kayak, or by boat before a hike on the ice. The boat or the kayak is always part of the fare.

Reykjavik: Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride & Diamond Beach Day Tour

★★★★★ 4.7 (296 reviews · 14 hours)

Lagoon by boat, no walk on iceReykjavík hotel pickup30-minute amphibian boat rideReykjavík transfer included

Collected from your Reykjavík hotel, you spend fourteen hours on the road to the Jökulsárlón lagoon and back. The boat ride among the icebergs is in the fare, thirty minutes on the water within about an hour at the lagoon, followed by half an hour on the black beach across the road. Lunch and dinner stops are built in, but you pay for those meals yourself. This is the amphibian glacier tour Iceland visitors book to see the ice from the water, and it stays off the glacier itself.

From $286 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Glacier hike and Iceberg Boat Tour

★★★★★ 5.0 (27 reviews · 4 hours)

Glacier hike on VatnajökullMeets by Frost RestaurantIceberg boat rideMax 20 guests

Check in at the reception building by a smaller lagoon, 10 km from Jökulsárlón, for four hours that pair a boat among the icebergs with a guided hike on the glacier behind them. A warm flotation jacket and a life vest cover the water, then harness, crampons, helmet and ice axe cover the ice. Groups run to twenty with a certified glacier guide, and you must be fourteen or older. Hiking boots can be rented on location for a small fee, while a waterproof jacket and trousers are yours to bring.

From $244 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Glacier Combo Kayking at Glacier Lagoon and Glacier Hike

★★★★★ 4.9 (8 reviews · 6 hours)

Glacier hike on VatnajökullMeets at JökulsárlónKayak on the lagoonCrampons in the fare

Paddle among the icebergs of the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in a drysuit, then swap the kayak for crampons and hike the glacier with a second certified guide. All the kayak kit is supplied, from life vest and paddle to drysuit, and so is the glacier kit of crampons, harness, helmet and ice axe. Six hours cover both halves, and you need to be at least fourteen. Bottled water and snacks are not included, so pack both for the day.

From $232 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Iceland Glacier Tours from Reykjavík

Iceland glacier tours from Reykjavík collect you in the capital and make the glacier one stop on the South Coast. An Iceland glacier day tour from the city is a long one, and some walk on the ice while others only view it.

Reykjavík: South Coast Waterfalls, Black Sand & Glacier Tour

★★★★★ 4.8 (12,636 reviews · 10 hours)

Views the ice, no walk on itStarts in Reykjavík45 minutes at the snoutGuide included

Choose pickup from a listed hotel or a bus stop in central Reykjavík for ten hours on the South Coast, with a guide throughout. Two waterfalls and a black sand beach share the day with forty-five minutes at the foot of Sólheimajökull, where you see the glacier close up without walking on it. Lunch is a stop in Vík at your own cost, and children can come from the age of two. It is the lowest fare of the day trips that leave the capital.

From $131 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike & Ice Climbing Intro - Small Group

★★★★★ 4.7 (185 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes)

Glacier hike on SólheimajökullMeets at the glacierMax 8 per guideCrampons in the fare

Start at the Sólheimajökull car park by the yellow bus, or pick the Reykjavík option that adds pickup and two waterfall stops on the way. The day pairs a guided Iceland glacier hike with an optional introduction to ice climbing, with harness, helmet, crampons and ice axe supplied. Each certified guide takes eight people at most, and the minimum age is fourteen. The fare shown is for meeting at the glacier, and you bring your own food and drink.

From $211 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Vatnajökull Iceland Glacier Tours

Iceland glacier tours on Vatnajökull start at Skaftafell, where Europe's largest ice cap by volume sends its outlet glaciers down towards the ring road. The bases sit 4.5 to 5 hours' drive from Reykjavík, so plan a night nearby.

Glacier Hiking In Skaftafell

★★★★★ 4.8 (53 reviews · 3 hours)

Glacier hike on VatnajökullMeets at Skaftafell Airport3 hours on the iceCrampons in the fare

Three hours on Vatnajökull from the airfield car park at Skaftafell make this the lowest fare for an Iceland glacier hike here. The kit is all provided, ice axe, harness, helmet and crampons, fitted before a guide leads you onto the ice. Children can join from eight, which suits a family trying glacier walking for the first time. Look for the tour company's logo in the car park at Flugvallarvegur 3 when you arrive.

From $96 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Skaftafell: 4h Small Group Glacier Hike with Guide and Transfer

★★★★★ 4.9 (89 reviews · 4 hours)

Glacier hike on VatnajökullMeets at a gas stationCrampons in the fareGuide included

Look for the black truck to the right of the fuel station on the ring road, where parking is free and a four-wheel-drive transfer takes you out to the glacier. A local glacier guide leads four hours on Vatnajökull ice, with crampons, ice axe, helmet and harness provided. The operator runs the tour as carbon-neutralised, a detail for anyone counting the footprint of a long drive. Boots can be rented on location and rain gear in limited numbers, so bring your own waterproofs if you can.

From $163 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Glacier Xtreme: Vatnajökull Ice Climbing + Hike from Skaftafell

★★★★★ 4.8 (62 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes)

Ice climbing on VatnajökullMeets in Skaftafell parkCrampons in the fareBoots in the fare

Seven and a half hours from the booking hut in the Skaftafell national park car park make this the longest day of ice climbing here. A four-wheel-drive bus reaches the foot of the glacier, and the fare covers crampons, an ice pick, a helmet and proper ice-climbing boots. Expect a guided hike across the glacier and then several climbs before the drive back. Food, warm waterproof clothing and hotel pickup are not included, though you can rent a jacket and trousers for a fee.

From $230 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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The ice

About Iceland Glacier Tours

Vatnajökull is Europe’s largest ice cap by volume, around 7,500 km² of ice over seven central volcanoes, and its national park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 5 July 2019. Join us on the ice at Skaftafell, where its outlet glaciers come down towards the ring road, or on Sólheimajökull and Langjökull within a day of Reykjavík. No glacier sells a ticket: what you book is a guide, the ice kit and a way onto the ice. The ice has lost more than 15% of its volume in a century, one more reason to see it now.

The Glacier Lagoon

Jökulsárlón is the largest and most active glacial lake in Iceland, the mouth of a trough 200 to 300 metres deep carved by the glacier behind it. Icebergs calve into it and strand on the black sand of Diamond Beach across the road. Boat, amphibian and kayak tours all start from its shore, and walking the shore costs nothing but the parking.

Getting to the Ice

No glacier has a gate or a ticket office. The Skaftafell bases sit 4.5 to 5 hours from Reykjavík on the ring road, and Skaftafellsstofa, the visitor centre, is open all year. The only charge is the park’s regional parking fee: cameras read your plate, and you pay online or at the machines.

When the Ice Is Best

Glacier hikes run in every month of the year on both Vatnajökull and Sólheimajökull. Ice caves are visited in the cold months, roughly October to April, when the operators and the park judge them safe. Summer brings the longest days and the mildest weather on the ice; winter brings the blue caves.

Steep blue ice ridges and crevasses, one climber small in the middle of them

Two small boats on the water below a towering crevassed ice front

A vast turquoise ice cave roof over a gravel floor, one visitor small beneath it

What you will see

Named Highlights of an Iceland Glacier Day

What a day on the ice is built around, from the icefalls above Skaftafell to the ice cap you cross by snowmobile.

Icefalls from a volcano's calderaFalljökull creeps down from the caldera of Öræfajökull above Skaftafell, and the park advises walking on it only with a guide who has experience of glacier walks.
Ice that glows blueIce absorbs the red and yellow of the spectrum and reflects the blue, which is why a natural ice cave in Vatnajökull glows the way it does in the cold months.
Icebergs in a deep troughThe Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon fills the mouth of a trough 200 to 300 metres deep and 25 km long, and Fjallsárlón, 10 km away, draws fewer crowds.
Ice on black sandAcross the ring road from the lagoon, Diamond Beach is where icebergs strand on black sand, an easy walk from the car park.
Ash in the iceSólheimajökull, an outlet of Mýrdalsjökull about two hours from Reykjavík, carries dark bands of volcanic ash through its ice.
An ice cap by snowmobileLangjökull, Iceland's second-largest glacier at 820 km² in 2023, is where every snowmobile ride here takes place, two riders to a machine.

Plan your visit

Everything You Need Before You Go

No ticket, one parking feeWhat to wearWhen to goGetting to the ice

No authority sells a ticket to a glacier: the fare is the tour. At Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón the only charge is the park’s regional parking fee, 1,110 ISK for a car of up to five seats, valid until midnight on the day you pay. Cameras read your plate, and you pay online or at the machines in the car park.

Fees, hours and access

Bring a waterproof jacket and trousers, warm layers, gloves, a hat and boots with ankle support. Several operators make those boots mandatory, and the bases at Skaftafell and Sólheimajökull rent them. The crampons, helmet and harness come with the tour.

Questions answered

Glacier hikes run in every month of the year, and ice caves in the cold months, roughly October to April. At Skaftafell September is the wettest month at 190 mm and May the driest at 91 mm, while February is the coldest, with a mean of 0.7 °C nearby.

Month-by-month weather

Sólheimajökull is about two hours from Reykjavík by car, and the Skaftafell bases 4.5 to 5 hours. Höfn, 130 km east of Skaftafell, and Kirkjubæjarklaustur, 70 km west, are the nearest towns to stay in.

Meeting-point map

Straight answer

Do You Need a Tour for an Iceland Glacier?

Yes, to stand on the ice. Iceland glacier tickets do not exist, because no authority sells entry to a glacier, so Iceland glacier ticket prices are simply tour fares: from $96 for three hours on Vatnajökull to $337 for the Golden Circle day with a snowmobile. The park itself advises going onto an outlet glacier only with a guide experienced in glacier walks, and a guided hike brings the crampons, the helmet and someone who reads the ice for a living.

No, to look at one. The glacier trail at Skaftafell and the shore of the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon are free to walk, and the only charge is the park’s regional parking fee of 1,110 ISK per car for the day. When you do want the ice, Iceland glacier booking is done tour by tour for the date you pick, and every Iceland glacier reservation here comes with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

See Top Tours What a tour costs

Book with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, and a change of plan costs you nothing.

Which one is me

Choosing the Right Glacier Tour for You

Start from whether you have a car and which month you travel; the right glacier follows from those two.

No car, staying in Reykjavík

The South Coast hike day collects you at a bus stop in the capital, passes Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, and puts you on Sólheimajökull for the hike. Compare them all: glacier tour Iceland from Reykjavík.

Driving the ring road

Stop at Skaftafell for the three-hour hike, a glacier hike tour Iceland visitors can fit between two driving days. Every departure on the ice cap: Vatnajökull glacier tour.

Winter, and a blue cave

In the cold months, roughly October to April, a hike to a natural ice cave is the reason to come, and the ice cave season explains how the caves are judged safe. Compare them all: glacier cave Iceland tour.

Speed on the ice cap

The Golden Circle snowmobile day adds an hour on Langjökull to the classic loop. Each snowmobile glacier tour Iceland visitors can book here rides the same ice cap, and the base above Húsafell is one of the starts.

The lagoon, from the water

A glacier lagoon boat tour Iceland visitors take from the capital is a fourteen-hour day. Closer in, kayak among the icebergs or take a boat on Fjallsárlón before a hike: the lagoon boat and kayak days.

First time on the ice

A gentle glacier walk tour Iceland visitors of eight and over can join runs three hours from the Skaftafell airfield, from $96. Which Iceland glacier? sets the three glaciers side by side.

Compare

Which Iceland Glacier Tour Is Right for You?

Every Iceland glacier tour gathered here, most reviewed first, from a three-hour hike off the ring road to a fourteen-hour lagoon day from the capital. They differ most in which glacier you reach and where you meet, so read those two columns before you choose on price.

Tour	Rating	On the ice	Meeting point	Fare	Best for
Reykjavík: South Coast Waterfalls, Black Sand & Glacier Tour	4.8 (12,636)	Views the ice, no walk on it	Starts in Reykjavík	From $131 per person	Anyone who wants the glacier in view, without crampons	Book
From Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Glacier Snowmobiling	4.7 (1,491)	Snowmobile on Langjökull	Starts in Reykjavík	From $337 per person	First-timers who want the Golden Circle and some speed	Book
Glacier Hike and South Coast Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik	4.8 (863)	Glacier hike on Sólheimajökull	Reykjavík bus-stop pickup	From $197 per person	Travellers without a car who want a real hike	Book
Skaftafell Glacier Hike 3-Hour Small Group Tour	4.7 (612)	Glacier hike on Vatnajökull	Meets at Hof, in Öræfi	From $112 per person	Ring-road drivers with a morning or afternoon free	Book
From Geysir: Snowmobile Adventure on Langjökull Glacier	4.6 (573)	Snowmobile on Langjökull	Meets at Geysir	From $217 per person	Golden Circle self-drivers who want an hour of speed	Book
Solheimajokull Glacier 4-Hour Small-Group Hike	4.8 (515)	Glacier hike on Sólheimajökull	Meets at the glacier	From $121 per person	Self-drivers on a South Coast day	Book
From Reykjavik: South Coast & Glacier Hike	4.8 (506)	Glacier hike on Sólheimajökull	Collected in Reykjavík	From $194 per person	Reykjavík visitors who want the hike and the coast	Book
Reykjavik: Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride & Diamond Beach Day Tour	4.7 (296)	Lagoon by boat, no walk on ice	Reykjavík hotel pickup	From $286 per person	Travellers without a car who want the icebergs	Book
Skaftafell Ice Caving & Glacier Hike	4.8 (242)	Ice cave in Vatnajökull	Meets at Hof, in Öræfi	From $163 per person	Winter visitors who want a cave near Hof	Book
Skaftafell Glacier Explorer - Extended Small Group Trek	4.8 (205)	Glacier hike on Vatnajökull	Meets in Skaftafell park	From $168 per person	Keen hikers who want longer on the ice	Book
Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike & Ice Climbing Intro - Small Group	4.7 (185)	Glacier hike on Sólheimajökull	Meets at the glacier	From $211 per person	Couples and friends who want a first climb	Book
Reykjavik: Langjökull Glacier Snowmobiling with transfer	4.9 (158)	Snowmobile on Langjökull	Reykjavík bus-stop pickup	From $265 per person	Reykjavík visitors who want the ice cap by snowmobile	Book
Skaftafell: Blue Ice Cave & Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull	4.5 (158)	Ice cave in Vatnajökull	Meets in Skaftafell park	From $159 per person	Winter visitors starting from the Skaftafell car park	Book
Skaftafell Ice Climbing & Glacier Hike	4.9 (130)	Ice climbing on Vatnajökull	Meets at Hof, in Öræfi	From $256 per person	Twelve and over who want to try climbing	Book
Skaftafell Glacier Hike & Natural Ice Cave Tour	5.0 (96)	Ice cave in Vatnajökull	Meets by the visitor centre	From $160 per person	Families with children of ten and over	Book
Skaftafell: 4h Small Group Glacier Hike with Guide and Transfer	4.9 (89)	Glacier hike on Vatnajökull	Meets at a gas station	From $163 per person	Travellers who want a local guide and 4x4 transfer	Book
Jökulsárlón: Blue Ice Cave Tour and Glacier Walk	4.9 (69)	Ice cave in Vatnajökull	Meets at Jökulsárlón	From $242 per person	Fit travellers who want a long walk to a cave	Book
Glacier Xtreme: Vatnajökull Ice Climbing + Hike from Skaftafell	4.8 (62)	Ice climbing on Vatnajökull	Meets in Skaftafell park	From $230 per person	Fit climbers who want a full day on the ice	Book
Glacier Hiking In Skaftafell	4.8 (53)	Glacier hike on Vatnajökull	Meets at Skaftafell Airport	From $96 per person	Families trying the ice for the first time	Book
Glacier hike and Iceberg Boat Tour	5.0 (27)	Glacier hike on Vatnajökull	Meets by Frost Restaurant	From $244 per person	Drivers who want a boat and a hike together	Book
Glacier Combo Kayking at Glacier Lagoon and Glacier Hike	4.9 (8)	Glacier hike on Vatnajökull	Meets at Jökulsárlón	From $232 per person	Active travellers who want to paddle and hike	Book

We are active seniors in our seventies, at the top of the age range for the hike. The glacier guide made it fun and safe, and the driver-guide looked after us all day.Cathie R. · The South Coast day with a glacier hike

Our family, with two teenagers, loved it. Expect about a 20-minute walk from the car park round the lagoon before the ice, moderate going up and slippery coming down.Taana V. · The 3-hour Skaftafell glacier hike

The stops at the geyser and the waterfall were about 30 minutes each and did feel short. The snowmobiling was the highlight, and it was easy to learn.Ella · The Golden Circle and glacier snowmobile day

What to expect

How an Iceland Glacier Tour Runs

Pick your glacier

Vatnajökull, Sólheimajökull or Langjökull: the first chip on each card says which, and what you do there.

Check where you meet

A bus stop in Reykjavík or a base beside the ice. The second chip gives the meeting point.

Dress for the ice

Waterproofs, warm layers and boots with ankle support. The crampons and helmet come with the tour.

Arrive a little early

Several bases ask for twenty minutes before the start, so the gear can be fitted in time.

Keep your plans flexible

Every tour here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, so weather is easy to plan around.

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Traveller reviews

Iceland Glacier Tours Reviews

Travellers’ own words about the hikes, the caves, the snowmobiles and the lagoon, with the stars each of them gave.

★★★★★

An Iceland glacier hike on the South Coast day

I was nervous on the ice at first. The guide's tips on handling the crampons turned it into the fun part of the day.

mollyvarquez13 · Friends · January 2026

★★★★★

The three-hour Iceland glacier hike at Skaftafell

Boots, jackets and trousers are all for rent at the meeting spot. The guide took good care of the whole group, our two children included.

gautampurdue · Family · August 2026

★★★★★

The Golden Circle and an Iceland glacier snowmobile ride

A full day of sightseeing with plenty of commentary from the driver-guide. Then snowmobiling for the first time, which was exhilarating.

Sarah · Friends · United Kingdom · May 2026

★★★★★

An Iceland glacier snowmobile ride from Geysir

None of the 22 riders in our group had driven a snowmobile before. Everyone managed fine and had a great time.

Dale · Couple · United States · September 2026

★★★★★

An Iceland glacier snowmobile day from Reykjavík

We had white-out conditions on the ice. The guides still made sure it was a good day out in the snow.

Joseph · Solo · United States · August 2026

★★★★★

The glacier lagoon boat day from Reykjavík

The boat ride among the icebergs moved me. It is a long day and can feel a little rushed.

Letitia · Solo · Netherlands · August 2026

★★★★★

A lagoon kayak and an Iceland glacier hike

Kayaking between the icebergs was relaxing and close up. The glacier guide on the hike was exceptional.

Gina C. · June 2026

★★★★★

An Iceland glacier walk to a blue ice cave

Hard on the body, and worth every penny. The guide has done this for eleven years, and I felt safe the whole time.

Katie · Couple · United States · April 2026

★★★★★

The longer Iceland glacier trek at Skaftafell

We love hiking, and this went as far up the glacier as you can safely go. Views all the way, and a look down into the ice while clipped in.

Mark M. · Family · July 2026

★★★★★

An Iceland glacier hike at Sólheimajökull

A reasonable level of fitness is needed, but nothing too strenuous. The guide read the group well, and the time on the ice went quickly.

Clare B. · Family · February 2026

★★★★★

An Iceland glacier hike with a climbing intro

Challenging for us at 50 and 57, but doable for anyone who is fairly fit. Our climbing coaches made it an adventure we will not forget.

Tiffany C. · Couple · June 2026

★★☆☆☆

An Iceland glacier hike to an ice cave

The glacier hike was enjoyable, but the cave looked nothing like the pictures. It was so small my husband could not get inside.

Natalie B. · March 2023

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Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a ticket to visit an Iceland glacier?

No. Nobody sells admission to a glacier in Iceland: the tour you book is the ticket, and it buys the guide, the gear and sometimes the drive. The one charge at the door is the national park's parking fee at Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón, 1,110 ISK for a car, paid online or at the machines.

Can I walk on an Iceland glacier without a guide?

The national park tells you to go onto the ice with a guide who has glacier experience. Crevasses can run about 30 metres deep, and the surface changes from week to week. Without a guide you can still walk to the ice edge on the marked trails and look.

Which glacier can I reach on a day trip from Reykjavík?

Sólheimajökull, about two hours away by road, and Langjökull, which the snowmobile days reach. Jökulsárlón is possible too, but it makes a 14-hour day and the boat ride is the only time on the water or ice. Vatnajökull's hikes and ice caves start from bases much further east.

How far is Skaftafell from Reykjavík?

The operators give 4.5 to 5 hours by car, and one puts it at 327 km. Most people who hike there split the ring-road drive or sleep nearby the night before. The tours meet at the base, not in the city.

When is ice cave season in Iceland?

The cold months, roughly October to April, and the operator confirms each cave on the day. The national park has never published fixed dates, and in 2024 it barred visits to ice caves until 30 October because the ice was unsafe. Every dated review of these cave tours falls between October and April.

Can I see an ice cave in summer?

Not on the natural-cave tours here: the caves form and are judged safe in the cold months only. In summer, book a glacier hike instead. Several hikes pass crevasses and small ice channels, which is the nearest thing the season offers.

How old do children have to be for a glacier tour?

It depends on the operator and the activity. The youngest hikes take children from 8, one ice cave from 10, ice climbing from 12 and the longer hikes and caves from 14. Snowmobile passengers start at 5 to 8, and a sightseeing day takes children from 2.

What should I wear on an Iceland glacier hike?

Warm layers under a waterproof jacket and trousers, gloves, a hat and boots with ankle support. Most Skaftafell and Sólheimajökull bases rent boots, jackets and trousers, at 1,750 ISK each on the Tröll hikes. The crampons, harness and helmet come with the fare.

Do I need a driving licence for a snowmobile?

Yes, to drive one: every snowmobile listing asks for a valid driver's licence. Riders share a machine two to one, so a passenger without a licence can still go. A single rider pays a supplement.

Can I cancel an Iceland glacier tour?

Yes. Every tour listed here refunds in full if you cancel at least 24 hours before it starts. Inside 24 hours the fare is usually lost, so check the start time on your confirmation, not the day.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Most glacier operators run in all or most weather and ask you to dress for it. Wind can still stop part of a day: one traveller's kayak leg was called off and the hike moved to the next morning. If the operator cancels, ask for a new date or your money back.

How long are you on the ice on an Iceland glacier tour?

Less than the headline duration suggests. The Crystal Cave hike gives three hours on the ice, the Reykjavík hike days about three, a snowmobile ride one hour. On the three-hour Skaftafell hike, travellers say the walk to and from the ice takes a large share of the time.

Is glacier hiking hard?

The short hikes are easy to moderate: a gentle slope in crampons, with a guide setting the pace. The long treks run up to about 8 km and suit people who hike already. Each operator grades its own tour, and several say they are not for pregnant travellers or anyone with back problems.

Where do Skaftafell glacier tours meet?

At one of several bases in Öræfi: the national park car park at Skaftafell, the visitor centre, Skaftafell airfield, the gas station at Freysnes or the Tröll base at Hof. Each card says which. Arrive 20 minutes early; several operators ask for it.

What is Jökulsárlón?

Iceland's largest and most active glacial lake, at the mouth of a trough 200 to 300 metres deep carved by the glacier. Icebergs calve into it and drift out to the black beach across the road. You can see it from the shore, or go on it by amphibian boat or kayak.

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Photographs

Iceland Glacier Gallery

Three kayaks paddling between icebergs on a still glacier lagoon, seen from above

The rippled blue ceiling of an ice cave over black rocks and running meltwater

A tall ice arch opening onto daylight, a visitor standing in its mouth

A visitor seen from behind in a ringed blue ice tunnel

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Beyond the tour

Beyond the Tour

What else the day holds once you are off the ice, and where the ring road goes from here.

Waterfalls and trails at Skaftafell

Svartifoss falls over black basalt columns on an easy 5.8 km loop trail, and the S1 glacier trail reaches the tongue of Skaftafellsjökull in an hour or an hour and a half.

The South Coast on the way

Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss and the black sand of Reynisfjara all sit on the ring road between Reykjavík and Sólheimajökull, so a self-drive day can take in all three.

Where to base yourself

Höfn sits 130 km east of Skaftafell and Kirkjubæjarklaustur 70 km west, and the campsite at Skaftafell stays open all year, with pitches that cannot be reserved.

Read before you go

Iceland Glacier Travel Guides and Advice

Visitor guide

How to Visit an Iceland Glacier: the Parking Fee, the Bases and a Guide

Nobody sells admission to the ice. What you do pay for is the parking camera, the 20-minute check-in and the boots, and the guide the park tells you to take.

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On the ice

What You See on an Iceland Glacier Hike, Feature by Feature

Crevasses, moulins, blue ice, ash bands and meltwater channels, each explained from the national park's own glaciology notes, in the order you meet them.

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Facts

14 Iceland Glacier Facts That Will Surprise You

Europe's largest ice cap by volume, a lagoon 200 to 300 metres deep that did not exist a century ago, and a volcano that renamed a whole district in 1362.

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Read all posts Planning guides

Where it is

Visitor Information for Iceland Glacier Tours

Skaftafell, Vatnajökull National Park
On Route 1 in Öræfi, south-east Iceland

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Name

Skaftafellsstofa Visitor Centre, the national park’s centre at Skaftafell, where most Vatnajökull glacier tours meet nearby.

Address

Skaftafell, 785 Öræfi, Iceland. Telephone +354 470 8300. Tours meet at bases around the park, in Reykjavík or at the glacier car parks, as each card says.

Hours

The visitor centre is open all year: January and February 10:00 to 17:00; March to May 09:00 to 17:00; June to August 09:00 to 19:00; September and October 09:00 to 18:00; November 09:00 to 17:00; December 10:00 to 17:00. The glaciers themselves have no opening hours and no gate.

Getting there

Skaftafell is on Route 1, 4.5 to 5 hours east of Reykjavík, and Sólheimajökull about two hours from the capital. Every meeting point, from the Freysnes fuel station to the lagoon car parks, is on the Iceland glacier tours map.

Book Your Iceland Glacier Tour

Pick your glacier, then choose your date. Fares here start at $96, you complete your booking at the price shown on each card, and every tour refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead.

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