Inside the Glacier - Blue Ice & Glacier Hike Tour in Skaftafell

Top Attractions:

Vatnajökull Glacier National Park

Overview

On this tour, we will go on an awe-inspiring adventure: scaling the heights and exploring the depths of Icelandic glaciers. This tour is a magical combination of ice-caving and glacier hiking making it the perfect choice for adrenaline junkies and nature enthusiasts alike.

Tour Snapshot

Duration

4 hours

Level

Easy

Availability

january - april, october - december

Starting point

Skaftafell Nature Reserve

End point

Skaftafell Nature Reserve

Languages

English

Trip style

One-day tours

Minimum age

8 years

What to expect

On Tour

Ice Caving Adventure
English Speaking Licensed Adventure Guide
Crampons and Other Necessary Glacier Gear
All Required Safety Equipment

Transportation

Meet on Location
Arctic Adventures booking house in Skaftafell (wooden house with Arctic Adventures logo), located next to the Vatnajokull/Skaftafell Visitor Center
Pick-up & drop-off in Reykjavik

Accommodation & Meals

Meals
Accommodation

Itinerary

4 hours

Tour Itinerary Overview

The glacier hiking and ice cave adventure will start at the booking office in Skaftafell, located at the parking lot in Skaftafell National Park.

The journey will start with a 20-min drive over rugged terrain followed by a short walk through the valley towards the glacier. Before stepping onto the surface of the ice, our certified glacier guide will give you a safety talk and an introduction to all the equipment you will be using.

Your safety is, of course, paramount, and our experts will ensure that you are always safe on the ice. After the safety briefing, your magical glacier experience will begin! We strap on our crampons and head for an exciting glacier hike to a natural ice cave.

he hike takes place on Falljokull, an outlet glacier of the mighty Vatnajokull Glacier, Europe's largest ice cap. As we make our way to the ice cave, we will traverse the ever-evolving glacial landscapes, taking in the deep crevices and the incredible ice formations. Falljokull is known as one of the most beautiful outlet glaciers in Iceland. Its surface is wildly rugged and decorated with millions of sharp ice sculptures. Walking on this terrain is an absolutely surreal experience!

The ice cave we visit is selected based on actual conditions each time. We will spend about 1.5-2 hours on the ice, including the glacier hike and the ice cave exploration. This tour is suitable for individuals who are comfortable walking for 2 hours outdoors across easy but rugged terrain. There is no special skill or experience needed for this tour.

Visit a Natural Ice Cave Inside the Glacier

Iceland is full of nature's marvels, but ice caves are particularly special. They are formed when the temperature drops each winter and then disappear when it gets warm again in the spring. Each year, new caves are formed at new locations, and each time we select the best one that we visit on this tour. Even during the wintertime, the ice cave is constantly changing as the weather conditions change, meaning you won't likely see the same ice cave twice!

Being inside the glacier is an experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Thanks to the special characteristics of glacial ice, these ice caves are incredibly blue and transparent. Words can't describe just how amazing it is to see one in real-life and be inside it.

We will spend some time in the ice cave exploring all the magic it offers, giving you ample opportunity to snap a few photos of this awe-inspiring natural phenomenon. Then, we will hike back over the remarkable glacier: the perfect end to the perfect day.

This tour really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the perfect choice for winter visitors to Iceland. So, book today, and you most definitely won't regret it!

Notable Information

Please note that due to limited daylight, our afternoon departures may be done partly in the dark during the darkest months of the year. However, you will be provided with torches and the necessary gear to make it back to our booking center safely.

Please keep in mind that ice caves are ever-changing natural phenomena that are often only accessible during winter when the temperature drops well below zero so the water from the rivers that run underneath the glacier freezes and leaves us with this amazing natural wonder to explore. Each year new caves are formed in different locations. We will visit one naturally formed ice cave during this tour and the cave we visit is chosen based on conditions and safety each time.

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.

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)

Warm clothes
Waterproof and breathable pants and jacket
Good hiking boots with ankle support
Headwear
Gloves

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, scenic views that are photographable so you should definitely bring your camera along.

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 to bring your own lunch especially for the longer trips, snacks and a bottle of water (you can refill it on the trip).

Crampons make you enable 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 guide 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 axe, crampons, harness, 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 be warm and dry on the tours.
Nature is out of our control and therefore we need to adapt to the weather. Your safety is our first 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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