Glacier Experience

Solheimajokull glacier is located about 28 km west of Vík and 6 km east of Skógar. From Reykjavík, it is about 160 km and the driving time is about 2 hours. You drive 4,5 km on road 221 to the guiding base from the main road, the Ring Road. 

The glacier is approximately 11 km long, and it advances from the Myrdalsjokull glacier down a one to two km wide valley. The glacier falls from a height of 1,300 m down to 100 m, and because of the location and shape of the glacier, it is extremely sensitive to climate change.

The climate is warm and humid in the lowlands, with average temperatures above 5 °C and precipitation of 1,810 mm per year. However, rainfall on the Myrdalsjokull glacier is much higher, or up to 7,000 mm per year, and the average temperature is much lower.

From 1930 to 1969, the glacier retreated in total around 977 m. Then the weather cooled, and the glacier advanced about 495 m until 1995 and thickened by up to 100 m.

After that, the glacier started to retreat again, and in 2010 it was almost one kilometer further up the valley than in 1930 and was 120 to 150 m thinner than in 1960.

If the climate continues to warm, there is a possibility that the glaciers will have virtually disappeared in 100 to 200 years.

If you select the Classic tour From Solheimajokull, please show up at our glacier base (see the map) at the advertised departure time (see in the booking widget).

Our glacier base is by the Sólheimajökull glacier parking lot, about 28 km west of Vik and about 6 km east of Skógar. From Reykjavík, it's about 160 km, and the driving time is about 2,5 hours. From the main road is a 4.5 km drive by road 221 to the base.

Note that weather and road conditions can affect the driving duration, so please allow extra time in winter.

GPS: 63.530431, -19.370416 (See map for directions)

Pickup information

• You can choose to be picked up from Reykjavik or meet us on location. If you decide to meet on-site, please meet your guide at the Sólheimajökull parking lot. Keep in mind that in good weather conditions, it takes over two hours to drive from Reykjavik to Sólheimajökull Glacier without stopping. Give yourself plenty of time in poor weather as the journey might take much longer.
   
• If you choose to be picked up from Reykjavik, the pick-up starts at 8 a.m. and takes up to 30 minutes.

Practical information

• Please bring warm outdoor clothing, waterproof pants, and a waterproof jacket. We recommend you wear good hiking boots. You can rent sturdy hiking boots and waterproof pants and jackets from us. Simply add these items when booking the tour.

Please note

• The stops at the Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss Waterfalls are only available with pick-up from Reykjavik.

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.

If you select a tour option with a pickup from Reykjavik, our tour guide will meet you at your chosen pickup location in the capital city. After pickup, we'll drive in an easterly direction along the South Coast to the glacier. On our way to and back from the glacier, we stop at a few of the most famous natural attractions in Iceland: Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss.

Seljalandsfoss waterfall

Seljalandsfoss is a waterfall with its origin in the famous trouble maker Eyjafjallajokull volcano glacier. Seljalandsfoss is about 60 m high and can be inspected from many angles. When it's not frozen, you can even walk behind it, freshen up your face from the glacier drizzle while enjoying it from another perspective!

Skogafoss waterfall

30 km further up the south coast, another majestic waterfall, Skogafoss. It's a phenomenon that won't disappoint you for sure! Skogafoss is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland, and on a sunny day, you can be sure of catching a rainbow. It is possible to hike up to the top and view it from above.