Join us for this amazing experience, where you get the chance to walk on a glacier and explore a natural ice cave in the Vatnajökull region!
Duration: ~ 4 hours
Group maximum: 1:12
Available: October - April
Age limit: 8 years (must fit EUR size 35 to fit hiking crampons)
Difficulty: Easy
Tour Highlights:
- Natural ice cave
- Glacier hike
- Vatnajokull National Park
- Skaftafell Nature Reserve
- Certified Glacier Guide
Meeting point: Glacier Guides booking house in Skaftafell, located next to the Vatnajokull/Skaftafell Visitor Center (see map below).
Duration: Approximately 4 hours (1-1,5 hours on ice).
Included: Guided glacier hiking & ice cave tour with a certified Glacier Guide and all necessary safety equipment for the glacier.
Provided glacier gear: All necessary glacier gear will be provided by us. This includes spikes, helmet, ice axe and harness.
Bring with you: Warm outdoor clothing, waterproof jacket & pants, sturdy hiking boots, head-wear and gloves.
Note that you can rent hiking boots, waterproof jacket and waterproof pants in the booking process.
Please note: 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 necessary gear to make it back to our booking center safely.
Note： 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.
Tour Description
We start our adventure with a short drive (around 20 min) to the glacier, this tour departs from the Glacier Guides booking house in Skaftafell. It's a perfect tour for those looking for a normal length but stunning guided glacier walk with a visit to a natural ice cave, a fantastic all-around experience with stunning views along the way. We start our adventure with a hike through the beautiful valley towards glacier outlet, surrounded by the amazing mountains and glaciers of Vatnajokull National Park.
The glacier tongue is quite unique in that it offers everything glaciers are best known for without the need to travel great distances. The cave is selected based on conditions, hiking route, and safety each time. This tour is suitable for the whole family and everyone with a relatively good fitness level and should be on everyone's must-do list in Iceland.
Hiking on the glacier to the ice cave
Natural Ice Caves are only found during the wintertime when the glacial rivers retract and the water freezes. New unique caves are formed in different locations each year. This tour is highly dependent on conditions (including temperature, safety and accessibility). Ice-caves must be treated with the utmost respect in regards to the ceiling being supportive along with other factors. Being inside an Ice Cave provides visitors with unparalleled photographic opportunities while capturing the blue light passing through the glacier ice.
Into the glacier tour in Vatnajokull glacier in Iceland
If you are looking for a more extensive glacier hike in this area then the Glacier Explorer might be more suited for you.
If you are looking for an overnight ice cave tour that includes transportation to/from Reykjavik please have a look at our South Coast Ice Cave and Jokulsarlon Ice Lagoon 2 day tour and Golden Circle, South Coast and Ice Cave 3 day tour.
If you are looking for other day tours that include glacier exploration and transportation to and from Reykjavik please check out the Blue Ice tour or Glaciers & Waterfalls. Please note that these are not ice cave tours.
- Waterproof jacket and pants (We do have rental clothing available)
- Hiking boots (Available for rent, 1000 isk. We advise against runners or any type of shoe that comes up below the ankle bone as the straps on the crampons can get a bit painful during the walk)(Climbing boots are included on the ice climbing tour)
- Light sweater, wool or fleece
- Light synthetic or quick dry pants (Try and stay clear of jeans on the longer trips as they get wet & cold quick and dry slow)
- Thin Gloves
- Hat
- Small Backpack (Can be handy to carry camera, rain gear and all extras)
- Sunglasses and sun protection (It can get quite bright on the ice with the reflection)
- Food and drinks (Lunch is not provided on any of our trips. June - September there is plenty of fresh water on the glacier so bring a bottle)
- Camera (If you forget everything else don´t forget that)
A group of glacier hikers inside the cave
Beautiful view from the glacier
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Map: -
click to enlarge
Disclaimer: This tour is operated by Glacier Guides. All our tours are undertaken on the responsibility of its participants. We do not assume any responsibility for accidents that are caused by its customers or can be traced to their own actions. Participants have to sign a waiver before undertaking all trips stating that they realize that all outdoor activities carry an inherent risk.
