Glacier Grand Slam - Glacier hike & Boat ride

zodiac rubber boat on the Jokulsarlon glacier lake

Icebergs in Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon, Iceland

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Top Attractions:

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Vatnajökull Glacier National Park

Overview

This extraordinary combination tour is ideal for anyone who wants to understand glaciers, experience them up close and personal, and admire the incredible landscapes they have helped shape.

This tour includes an exciting Zodiac boat ride across a spectacular Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and a hike on the Falljökull glacier. There is no better way to see these vast bodies of ice that make Iceland so unique. So, buckle up and get ready for an exciting day exploring Iceland’s legendary glacial landscape!

Tour Snapshot

Duration

9 hours

Level

Easy

Availability

may - october

Group

Small (15)

Starting point

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

End point

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Languages

English

Trip style

One-day tours

Minimum age

9 years

What to expect

On Tour

Guided glacier hike
Certified glacier guide
Specialized Glacier Gear
Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride

Transportation

Meet on Location
The meeting point depends on which option is chosen during the booking process. If you have chosen the zodiac boat ride at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon as a first activity, you will need to meet your guide at the Jökulsárlón parking lot no later than 9:45 AM. If you have chosen the glacier hike on Falljökull glacier first, you will need to meet your guide at the base camp in Skaftafell National Park no later than 8:45 AM.
Pick-up & drop-off in Reykjavik

Accommodation & Meals

Meals
Accommodation

Itinerary

Please note: there are two tour versions, and you can select the option you like more in the booking widget. You can choose a different sequence of activities - to do a glacier hike or a boat ride at Jokulsarlon first.

9 hours

Zodiac Boat Ride at Jökulsárlón

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is located at the tip of Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet of the vast Vatnajokull glacier. As the glacier retreats, meltwater fills up the depression it leaves behind. In a process known as “calving,” huge chunks of ice break off the glacier, and the lake fills up with these floating icebergs.

Jökulsárlón is an extraordinary sight. What makes it unique is that Jökulsárlón is connected to the ocean, making it a perfect habitat for seals. The water is also salty and bluer than other glacier lagoons.

Your certified guide will meet you in the parking lot and drive you to the dock. As soon as you arrive, you’ll be given a floatation suit/life vest. We’ll then launch the Zodiac boats and start our exciting hour-long ride. As we set sail, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the glacier with Vatnajökull towering over us on the horizon.

Within no time, the Zodiac boat will carry us into the heart of the lagoon. This dreamy, iceberg-dotted wonderland is filled with glistening chunks of ice that come in all shapes and sizes. Visitors to Jökulsárlón are always amazed by the colors of the icebergs, which light up when the sun hits them. Some icebergs are sapphire blue, while others are crystal-clear, making for some truly remarkable photos.

Zodiac boats are the perfect way to explore Jökulsárlón as their maneuverability means that we can get amazingly close to the icebergs. If you examine the icebergs closely, you’ll see some gray streaks running through them as a memorial to the many volcanic eruptions Iceland has experienced.

Jökulsárlón is also renowned for its incredible wildlife, and our guides will happily point out the friendly family of seals residing in the glacier lagoon. Look up, and you’ll see Arctic terns doing spectacular acrobatics high above our heads, while you may also get the chance to see giant seagulls and Arctic skuas.

Glacier Hike on Falljökull Glacier

Skaftafell National Park is a green oasis surrounded by spectacular glacier tongues. Here, your qualified glacier guide will meet you at the Booking Center. We’ll drive to the foothills of Falljökull glacier, which will be the starting point for your adventure.

From here, we’ll continue on foot. So, once we gear up with crampons and helmets, we’ll start to walk up to the ice! This hike is a thrilling journey across a wondrous glacial landscape that will provide memories that will last a lifetime. You can expect one of the best panoramas in the world, dotted with mountain peaks, other glaciers, and dramatic volcanoes.

Glaciers are constantly moving and generate a remarkable landscape of winding crevasses, deep moulins, dramatic ice sculptures, and ancient icefalls. Look up and see Hvannadalshnúkur, Iceland’s tallest peak, towering above the remarkable scene. We guarantee that you’ll take some great photos and leave a profound sense of awe at just how majestic nature can be!

Your expert guide will point out the fascinating patterns that have been cut into the landscape by the glacier. They’ll also tell you about how glaciers form and warn you about some of the bleak predictions for their future.

This highly-popular trip is called the Glacier Grand Slam for a good reason. It’s a brilliant combination of the most thrilling adventures a glacier can offer: a glacier hike and a scenic boat ride across a glacial lagoon. This epic tour will undoubtedly tick a few boxes on your bucket list! Join us!

Practical Information

Duration: Boat ride: 90 minutes (45 min in the boat); Glacier hike: approximately 3.5 hours.

Shoe Size: Please note that if your shoe size is smaller than 35 EU, our guides will not be able to fit crampons into your shoes for glacier activities.

This is a combination of two separate tours. If one of the tours is cancelled, you will still be able to join the other part.

Meet your operator

At Adventures.com we love transparency, there are operators involved in your booking, we just stay with those we trust. This tour is operated by:

Arctic Adventures

Arctic Adventures is a top Icelandic tour operator known for its small-group experiences. Since 1983, they’ve specialized in guiding travelers through Iceland’s wild terrains, from glaciers to volcanoes. Their tours are all about adventure and sustainability, led by expert guides who make sure every trip is safe, fun, and memorable. Arctic Adventures combines deep local knowledge with a strong commitment to nature, making them a trusted choice for anyone looking to explore Iceland up close and responsibly.

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Packing List

Get ready for your trip, here are some items, you should not forget.

What to bring (Required)

Waterproof jacket
Rent with us, +29 USD per person
Waterproof pants
Warm outdoor clothing
Good hiking boots with ankle support

We're here to answer your questions

Iceland is known for unforeseeable weather. It is likely that you can see all 4 seasons in one day.
Dressing for that kind of weather can always be demanding, so we suggest dressing in layers. 3 or 4 upper layers are highly recommended, for example, 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 are not suitable for the weather conditions, they become very heavy, cold and uncomfortable to wear when they get wet.

Lightweight hiking pants, track pants or long cotton pants are convenient and wear wind/waterproof pants over them. There is high UV and sunlight reflecting off on the glacier so we highly recommend using sunglasses and sunscreen even if it is cloudy.

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 suitable hiking boots as well as a waterproof raincoat and trousers.

It is good to bring your own backpack on our full-day or half-day tours. It’s the best carry-on for a small lunch, extra clothes, and other necessary items.

The scenery on the tour is full of stunning, breathtaking views that you’ll almost definitely want to capture forever, so you should definitely bring your camera along. Your tour guide will also be happy to take your photo.

This is surely a personal choice, we do not deny pregnant women on our glacier trips but we highly recommend you to take a closer look at our trip description and difficulty ratings, they will hopefully give you a better idea. We also recommend you to contact your physician, as pregnant women’s health can be quite different. If you have any further questions or concerns then feel free to contact us.

Lunch is not provided on any of our trips, therefore we recommend you bring your own lunch, snacks, and a bottle of water (you can refill it on the trip). It is especially important to make sure you bring lunch on our longer trips.

Crampons enable you to walk on the glacier ice without slipping. They are metal spikes that we attach to the soles of your hiking shoes.

Yes, we have specially trained and certified glacier guides on every glacier tour that we offer. And for our 3rd party tours we only partner with operators that meet our quality and safety standards.

Yes, we provide you with all the necessary glacier gear for our glacier hiking tours. Ice axes, crampons, harnesses, and helmets are provided. This will help you to complete the tour safely. The minimum shoe size to attach crampons is EU 35.

Iceland is known to have a lot of snow and when the snow stays long enough in one place than it turns to ice. Over long periods of time, the ice layers up becoming huge blocks called glaciers. It forms to create ginormous glaciers that sweep across huge masses of land. Iceland is home of the largest glacier in Europe that is called Vatnajökull. The Glacier Guides can tell you more about and everything you need to know about the Glaciers.

Rain is common in Iceland but we never let the rain be in our way to go forward with our tours.
That’s why we highly recommend appropriate clothing so you can stay warm and dry.
Nature is out of our control and therefore we need to adapt to the weather. Your safety is our priority so if your safety is compromised by going on the tour then we will cancel it and you will get full reimbursement.

Still not convinced?

Customer Care

For Iceland, Scandinavia & Baltic tour

Open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM GMT

Address

Köllunarklettsvegur 2

104 Reykjavík

+354 562 7000

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