Compare 10 guided tours on Falljökull and other outlets of Vatnajökull, from 3-hour small-group hikes to 5-hour expeditions and ice cave adventures. All tours include a certified glacier guide, the necessary gear, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Free Cancellation 3.5-hour guided glacier hike on Falljökull, an outlet of Vatnajökull, with all gear provided. No experience needed.
Free Cancellation Three-hour guided hike on a Vatnajökull outlet glacier, capped at 14 hikers, with gear and coffee included.
Free Cancellation 3-hour glacier hike from Skaftafell, capped at 8 people, with a 4x4 drive to the ice.
Free Cancellation 4.5-hour small-group glacier hike (max 8) from Skaftafell Base Camp, with gear and guide included.
Free Cancellation 4-hour small-group glacier hike on a Vatnajökull outlet with entry into a blue ice cave, from Skaftafell.
Free Cancellation 5-hour glacier hike on Falljökull with a guide, safety gear, coffee and chocolates included.
Free Cancellation 5-hour small-group guided glacier hike on Falljökull with 4x4 transfer and full gear included.
Free Cancellation 4-hour small-group hike on Falljökull with a certified guide, 4x4 transfer and all glacier gear included.
Free Cancellation 4-hour small-group glacier hike and blue ice cave visit on Vatnajökull, with 4x4 transport from Skaftafell.
Free Cancellation 4.5-hour small-group glacier hike (max 8) to the Falljökull ice fall, with 4x4 drop-off at the ice.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Skaftafell Glacier — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Every glacier tour from Skaftafell puts you on Falljökull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, since Skaftafellsjökull itself has retreated too far to walk on. A 4x4 or minibus drives you from the meeting point near the visitor centre to the ice edge, where a certified guide fits your crampons and leads you up past crevasses, moulins and old blue ice. Most tours run 3-5 hours, in groups of 8-14, with all technical gear included.
Three to five hours on an outlet glacier flowing from Vatnajökull, Europe's largest ice cap. The tongue drops over an icefall, so you climb past deep crevasses and vertical meltwater shafts. Guides are certified by the Association of Icelandic Mountain Guides.
Harness, helmet, ice axe and crampons come with every tour, and guides teach you to use them before you step on the ice. Crampons fit shoe sizes 35-50 EU only — smaller or larger feet can't join. Boots and rain gear rent for about 1,000-1,500 ISK per item.
From October 1 to April 30, four-hour combo tours add a natural blue ice cave to the hike. The current cave is canyon-style with no roof, which makes it the best option in Iceland if tight spaces bother you. Caves reform in a new spot each autumn.
The 5-hour treks go where shorter tours turn back, pushing up toward Falljökull's ice fall using more advanced techniques. Expect roughly 8 km of walking over uneven terrain and a moderate rating. Minimum age is 14.
Before and after the ice, you cross a glacial foreland that reads like a textbook: composite push moraines from the 1960s-1990s, metre-high sawtooth ridges, and rare hairpin moraines. Numbered markers on the S1 trail explain the retreat — 53 m a year since 1999.
Groups cap at 14 on standard tours and 8 on the premium options, some guided in both English and Czech. Most operators throw in coffee and chocolates at the turnaround point. Arrive 20 minutes early — latecomers lose their spot with no refund.
All glacier travel at Skaftafell is guided — there's no self-guided or audio option, and no tour actually sets foot on Skaftafellsjökull. Here's what to sort out before you pay.
Every option from Skaftafell is a guided group hike on Falljökull, ranging from 3 to 5 hours. There are no private or self-guided glacier tours and no unguided ice access — hidden crevasses make that lethal. The smallest groups are 8 people per guide, the largest 14.
Glacier hikes and ice-cave tours sell out regularly from June to August. Reserve weeks ahead for July, and book winter ice-cave combos early too — the season runs October 1 to April 30 with departures around 9:00, 10:00, 13:30 and 14:00. All ten operators listed here allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
No tour includes the regional parking fee. Pay ISK 1,110 for a passenger car via the Parka app, machines, or online after your plate is photographed — it's valid until midnight. Visit Jökulsárlón the same day and the second fee area is 50% off.
Check the age floor before booking a family trip: most tours take kids from 8, the Blue Ice Discovery from 10, and both 5-hour treks from 14. Each adult may accompany only one child on several tours. Children under 12 ride the Strætó bus to Skaftafell free.
Tours leave from Skaftafell Base Camp by the campsite, the Arctic Adventures Booking Hut on the visitor-centre parking lot, or the Troll Expeditions trailer 150 m from the visitor centre. Some winter ice-cave tours meet in nearby Hof instead. Read your confirmation — 4.5 hours of driving from Reykjavík means no room for error.
Sturdy waterproof boots with hard soles and ankle support are mandatory; jeans are banned on the ice. Bring a waterproof shell, gloves and a hat in layers — the glacier runs a few degrees colder and far windier than the car park. Boots and rain gear rent on site at most meeting points.
Tours operate in all weather, but South Coast storms can force late cancellations — operators email when they do, so check your inbox the night before and the morning of. If you're driving in winter, check road.is before setting out; the Ring Road closes in storms.
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| Classic 3-hour hike | Standard small group (4h) | Extended 5-hour trek | Ice cave + hike combo | Extra-small group premium | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 3h - 3h 30min | 4h | 5h | 4h | 3h - 4h 30min |
| Best for | First-timers and families with kids 8+; rated easy, all fitness levels | Easy pace with 4x4 transport to the ice edge — about 3 km of walking | Fit hikers who want the ice fall and deeper terrain; moderate, ~8 km | Winter visitors (Oct 1 - Apr 30) who want blue ice inside and out | Photographers and anyone who wants fewer people in shot; English or Czech guides |
| Group size | Up to 14 per guide | Small group, 8-14 per guide | Up to 8-14 per guide | Small group | Max 8 per guide |
| Min age | 8 (Blue Ice Discovery: 10) | 8 | 14 | 8 | 8 (4.5h version: 14) |
| Price from | $107 | $104 | $163 | $158 | $156 |
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The park grounds at Skaftafell are open year-round with no gate hours — you can hike the trails at any time, including the midnight-sun hours around the June solstice. The parking fee applies per calendar day and stays valid until midnight.
Most tour operators ask you at the meeting point 20 minutes before departure. Turn up late and your place can't be guaranteed or refunded.
Skaftafell sits 327 km east of Reykjavík on the Ring Road (Route 1), signposted at the end of road no. 998. Driving takes 4-4.5 hours in good weather, crossing the Skeiðarársandur outwash plain past Vík.
Without a car, Strætó route 51 runs Reykjavík to Höfn via Vík and Skaftafell daily in summer — ISK 13,200 one way for adults, ISK 6,600 for ages 12-17, seniors and disabled, free for children 0-11. The trip takes close to 7 hours. Timetables shrink off-season, so check straeto.is first.
Guided South Coast coach tours from Reykjavík also stop here, with glacier-hike add-ons from about ISK 13,126. Tour meeting points cluster at Skaftafell Base Camp, the Arctic Adventures Booking Hut and the Troll Expeditions trailer by the visitor centre.
June through August is prime time: daytime highs of 10-15°C, nearly 24-hour daylight around the June solstice, and clear trails through green birch woodland. July is typically the warmest and most reliable month.
November to February is the hardest window. Temperatures can drop below -10°C, daylight shrinks to 4-5 hours, and ice makes the Svartifoss steps slippery. Storms close high routes like Kristínartindar, and Ring Road driving turns hazardous.
Winter has one trump card though: blue ice cave tours run October 1 - April 30, and aurora chances are real. Off-season also means thinner crowds at the viewpoints and on the trails.
So pick your priority. Ice caves and aurora: January. Long days, green valleys and every tour running: July. Fewer people with decent weather: September or May.
No glacier trail at Skaftafell is barrier-free. The S1 viewpoint path is easy but made of gravel and moraine, and the Svartifoss route has wooden and stone steps. Glacier tours are not wheelchair accessible.
Older visitors who walk reasonably well manage fine. The S1 glacier-viewpoint loop (4.1 km, 1-1.5 hours) and the S7 Gömlutún trail (1.6 km, under an hour) are both rated Easy; Svartifoss (5.8 km return, about 2 hours) is graded Easy+.
Children 16 and under camp free, and tour operators require each adult to accompany no more than one child.
Skaftafellsstofa visitor centre is open all year, with rangers on hand, an exhibition room, a film about the south side of Vatnajökull National Park, maps and trail-condition updates. It's the best first stop before choosing a route. Phone 470 8300.
Sleeping in a vehicle outside the designated campsite is prohibited, and ranger authorisation is unlikely to be granted. Campsite electricity hook-ups can't be used to charge vehicles.
Never step onto a glacier, enter an ice cave or approach the ice margin without a certified guide. Skaftafellsjökull now ends in a proglacial lake, and hidden crevasses and moulins are lethal without crampons, rope and a guide. All guided tours have a minimum age of 8.
Glacial rivers and the ice-margin lake are off-limits — this is the region where a 1996 jökulhlaup peaked near 50,000 m³/s and tore apart an 880 m bridge. Stay on marked trails and obey every closure sign.
No. Skaftafellsjökull has retreated so far that it now ends in a proglacial lake, and tour companies no longer take clients onto it. Guided hikes run on nearby Falljökull instead, departing from Skaftafell Base Camp with crampons, ice axe and harness provided. You can still view Skaftafellsjökull's snout across the lake from the S1 viewpoint trail.
The 3-hour small-group tours or the 4-hour Blue Ice Glacier Hike are rated easy and suit all fitness levels — expect about 3 km of walking on uneven terrain. The 5-hour treks are moderate, cover roughly 8 km, and require a minimum age of 14. If you want fewer people around, the extra-small-group tours cap at 8 per guide for around $156.
Prices range from about $104 for the 4-hour Blue Ice Glacier Hike to $230 for the 4.5-hour Glacier Adventure with minibus transport, with most 3-hour hikes at $107-112. Ice cave and hike combinations run about $158-162. All technical gear — helmet, harness, crampons and ice axe — is included, but parking (ISK 1,110 per car) is not.
Most tours accept children from 8 years old, including the ice cave combos. The Blue Ice Discovery requires a minimum age of 10, and both 5-hour extended treks set it at 14. Several operators allow each adult to accompany only one child, so check if you're travelling with a bigger family group.
Yes, regularly from June to August, and winter ice-cave tours fill up too. Book weeks ahead for July. All tours listed here offer a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure, so there's little downside to reserving early.
The ice cave season runs roughly October 1 to April 30, when 4-hour combination tours visit a natural blue ice cave plus the glacier, with departures around 9:00, 10:00, 13:30 and 14:00. The caves reform in a new location each autumn, so exact openings depend on the ice. The current canyon-style cave has no roof, which suits visitors who dread tight spaces.
Waterproof hiking boots with hard soles and ankle support are mandatory — crampons need them — and jeans are banned on the ice. Wear layers with a waterproof jacket and trousers, gloves and a hat, and bring sunglasses and sunscreen for the glare. The glacier runs a few degrees colder and much windier than the car park. Boots rent for 1,500 ISK and rain gear for 1,000 ISK per item at most meeting points.
Most tours meet at Skaftafell Base Camp by the campsite, the Arctic Adventures Booking Hut on the visitor-centre parking lot, or the Troll Expeditions trailer 150 m from the visitor centre. Some winter ice-cave tours meet in the village of Hof instead. Arrive 20 minutes early — latecomers lose their spot with no refund.
It's a stretch. Skaftafell is 327 km east of Reykjavík, about 4.5 hours of driving each way in good weather, so a self-drive day trip means 9 hours behind the wheel plus the tour. Better options: book a South Coast coach tour with a glacier-hike add-on, take Strætó route 51 (about 7 hours, ISK 13,200 one way), or overnight at the Skaftafell campsite or in Höfn.
Yes. South Coast weather changes in minutes, and operators occasionally cancel late when storms hit — they'll email you, so check your inbox the night before and the morning of your tour. For a full refund you can cancel yourself up to 24 hours ahead. In winter, check road.is before driving, since the Ring Road can close.
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A 3.5-hour guided walk on Falljökull, an outlet glacier flowing from Vatnajökull. The full 180 minutes is spent on the ice, moving through crevasses and blue ice formations with a certified English-speaking glacier guide. It's rated easy and requires no prior experience. All glacier gear is included — crampons, helmet, and ice axe — so you only need to bring warm clothing, gloves, rain gear, and hiking boots. Boots and rain trousers can be rented on site if you don't have your own. Along the way the guide covers how the glacier formed and how volcanic activity underneath keeps reshaping it. Meet your guide in Skaftafell 20 minutes before departure. Minimum age is 10, and each adult can bring only one child. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund. Gratuities are not included.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
Three hours on an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, in a group capped at 14 people. A short drive from the meeting point gets you to the glacier tongue, then a certified guide leads you up onto the ice, past crevasses and ice formations. English is the only guide language. Helmets, harness, and ice axe are all provided — you don't need any equipment of your own beyond sturdy boots and warm layers. Coffee and chocolates are handed out along the way. Meet at Troll Expeditions Skaftafell (find it on Maps) 20 minutes before departure. Late arrivals can lose their spot without a refund, so don't cut it close. If you're driving from Reykjavik, allow about four and a half hours in good weather. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
Three hours on and around the ice, in a group that never exceeds 8 people. A 4x4 takes you all the way to the glacier edge, which means less walking on gravel and more time actually on the ice. Guides are certified by AIMG (the Association of Icelandic Mountain Guides) and lead trips in English and Czech. Helmets, harness, crampons and an ice axe are all included, so you only need to bring clothing and sturdy boots. From June through August there's an evening departure — a good pick if you'd rather have the glacier quiet than share it with the midday crowds. Cancellations are free up to 24 hours before departure; after that, no refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Czech, English
The tour runs 4 hours 30 minutes total, capped at 8 participants per guide, and departs from Skaftafell Base Camp on the campsite next to the visitor center. You meet your guide 20 minutes before departure, get fitted with crampons and an ice axe, and learn to use them before stepping onto the ice. A short minibus ride takes you to the trailhead, followed by a brief hike up to the glacier's edge. On the ice, you hike about 4 hours through crevasses, ice sculptures, and zones of different glacial formations on one of Vatnajökull's outlet glaciers. Difficulty is moderate. The guide speaks English. Gear, transport, and the certified guide are all included; gratuities aren't. Minimum age is 14, and each adult may bring only one child. Bring warm clothing, rain gear, gloves, and hiking boots — or rent them (boots 1,500 ISK, rain gear 1,000 ISK per item). Departure times: 9:00, 9:30, 13:00, and 13:30. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
Four hours on foot, split between hiking an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull and going inside a blue ice cave — a formation that barely exists outside Iceland. Certified glacier guides lead the way in small groups and explain the ice formations as you go. Guiding is in English. All technical gear is provided: harness, helmet, crampons, and ice axe. You bring sturdy boots and warm layers. Parking at the meeting point is free, and there's coffee and chocolate at the end. Meet at Troll Expeditions Skaftafell 20 minutes before departure — arrive late and your spot can't be guaranteed or refunded. From Reykjavik, the drive is about four and a half hours in good weather, so most people stay overnight nearby. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
Five hours on Falljökull — the "Falling Glacier," an outlet of Vatnajökull — makes this the long hike option among Skaftafell tours. Where shorter tours turn back, this one pushes deeper onto the ice, using different techniques to reach the ice fall itself. A professional English-speaking guide leads the way, and all safety gear for the glacier hike is included, along with the activities themselves. Mid-tour, you get coffee and chocolates. Everything else you might need is on you. Meet at the Tröll Expeditions trailer, 150 meters in front of the Skaftafell Visitor Center — search "Tröll Expeditions Skaftafell" on Google Maps for the exact spot. Arrive 20 minutes before departure. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
Five hours on Falljökull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, with a certified guide and a small group — this is the extended version of the standard hike, built for people who want more time on the ice rather than a quick taster. It runs like this: a 4x4 bus takes you from the meeting point at the Arctic Adventures Booking Hut (on the Skaftafell National Park parking lot, just off the ring road on road #998) to the foot of the glacier. From there you put on the provided glacier gear — crampons, ice pick, helmet, and harness — and spend the bulk of the day hiking Falljökull while the guide, in English, covers how the glacier formed and its history. Nothing to eat or drink is included, so bring snacks, lunch, and water. Getting there: Skaftafell is roughly 4.5–5 hours east of Reykjavík and 1.5 hours west of Höfn, so it's a long drive if you're based in the capital. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
Four hours on Falljökull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, with a certified glacier guide leading a small group. A 4x4 bus drives you from Skaftafell to the glacier's edge, which cuts the walking approach and leaves more of the tour time on the ice itself. Guides run the tour in English. Crampons, ice pick, harness, and helmet are all provided — you show up in sturdy boots and warm layers. The route suits first-timers and families as well as returning hikers, since the pace and terrain stay accessible throughout. There's no strict technical climbing involved. Meet at the Arctic Adventures Booking Hut in Skaftafell National Park, next to the Visitor Center. Skaftafell sits just off the ring road on road #998, roughly 4.5–5 hours east of Reykjavík and 1.5 hours west of Höfn. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
A 4x4 bus takes you from the meeting point at the Arctic Adventures Booking Hut in Skaftafell National Park to the foot of the glacier, cutting out the long approach walk. From there a certified guide leads you across the ice to a natural blue ice cave, past crevasses and ice ridges. The whole tour runs about 4 hours and is conducted in English. All the glacier gear is included: crampons, a walking ice axe, harness, and helmet. Groups are kept small, so you're not strung out in a line of thirty. The ice cave itself is a natural formation, so its shape and exact color change with the season. Park at the Skaftafell Parking Lot (fees apply). Skaftafell is roughly 327 km from Reykjavík — about 4.5 hours of driving in good weather, so it's a long day if you're based in the capital. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
A 4.5-hour small-group hike onto Vatnajökull with a maximum of 8 people per guide. A 4x4 vehicle drives the group all the way to the glacier edge, so the full four hours on the itinerary go to walking on ice rather than the approach. The route pushes further onto the glacier than most tours in the area, aiming to reach the ice fall of Falljökull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull. Nearly the whole excursion — about 240 minutes — takes place inside Vatnajökull National Park. All technical gear is provided: helmet, harness, crampons and ice axe, plus a certified guide. Guides hold AIMG certification (Association of Icelandic Mountain Guides), and tours run in English and Czech. From June through August there's an evening departure, timed for the quieter hours on the ice. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Czech, English