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Vatnajökull National Park Glacier exploration

Our most recommended Vatnajökull National Park Glacier exploration

Vatnajokull Glacier: Ice Caving and Glacier Hiking

1. Vatnajokull Glacier: Ice Caving and Glacier Hiking

Begin in Skaftafell before heading to the Falljökull glacier tongue. Gear up and get safety instructions from your skilled guide before setting foot on the ice. Start by hiking to the ice cave while soaking up the magnificent scenery and spend approximately 30 minutes exploring. Afterwards, hike back over the glacier through an adventurous landscape of rugged ice. Ice caves are only accessible during winter when the temperature drops well below zero –  the water from the rivers that run underneath the glacier freezes and leaves this phenomena to explore. Each year new caves are formed in different locations.

From Jökulsárlón: Crystal Ice Cave Day Tour

2. From Jökulsárlón: Crystal Ice Cave Day Tour

Experience the majestic beauty of a natural ice cave on a tour of Vatnajökull Glacier. Meet your certified glacier guide at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and then take a 20-30 minute scenic drive to the ice cave.  Get ready to see a magical world of blue ice as you enter the ice cave. Your guide will ensure that you are safe and secure once inside the cave. Gear up with all necessary glacier gear, provided for your safety. Cast your eyes on the heavenly shades of blue ice once you are inside the cave. Take stunning photos of the ice as you spend approximately 40 minutes exploring this miracle of Mother Nature. Discover all that the ice cave has to offer before heading back to Jökulsarlón Glacier Lagoon.

Skaftafell National Park: Glacier Hike

3. Skaftafell National Park: Glacier Hike

Discover what it feels like to walk on impacted ice on an amazing hike across the outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier. Get breathtaking views of the ice-covered peaks of Skaftafell National Park in the epic wilderness of Iceland. Meet your guide at the meeting point to pick up your crampons, ice axes, harnesses, and helmets. Then, drive by bus to the start of your hike and put on your crampons and steel frames tied to your hiking boots for the amazing adventure ahead. Spend around 60 to 90 minutes on the ice to see crevasses and deep cracks on the surface. Learn about the vertical shafts known as moulins, formed when melting water finds its way into the fissures and cracks. Look into small ice tunnels and capture the beautiful blue heart of the ice in the winter. Learn the history of the glacier from your English-speaking guide.

From Jökulsárlón: Crystal Blue Ice Cave Super Jeep Tour

4. From Jökulsárlón: Crystal Blue Ice Cave Super Jeep Tour

Jump onboard a Super Jeep to witness one of the worlds rarest natural phenomenons: a blue Ice Cave. Enjoy this fantastic winter experience in Vatnajökull National Park in Southern Iceland, departing from Jökulsárlón, the glacier lagoon.  The tour starts at the famous Jökulsárlón - Glacier Lagoon. There you will jump on a Super Jeep that will take you up to the glacier. From there you will be able to walk inside one of the amazing Blue Ice Caves. Standing inside an ancient glacier and witnessing the blue ice all around you is a truly unique experience. This stunning phenomenon is a must see for anyone visiting Iceland during wintertime and one of Iceland's most famous tours.

Skaftafell: Ice Cave Tour and Glacier Hike

5. Skaftafell: Ice Cave Tour and Glacier Hike

Explore breathtaking ice formations and glacier mills on this guided tour in Skaftafell. Marvel at a naturally-formed, blue ice cave and learn how glaciers are formed. A professional hiking guide will take you to the base of Falljökull, an outlet glacier of the Vatnajökull ice cap, and lead you up to the cave. On a clear day, be sure to look out for Hvannadalshnúkur in the distance.

From Reykjavik: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Full-Day Trip

6. From Reykjavik: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Full-Day Trip

Explore the dramatic landscapes of the south of Iceland on a full-day sightseeing tour by bus. Go to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon outlet of the largest glacier in Europe, leaning about its history and formation from your local guide. Following a pickup from your hotel in Reykjavik, transfer to the southern coast and the dramatic Glacier Lagoon. Enjoy plenty of time to see the floating icebergs and enjoy the stunning scenery. During the season, make sure to reserve your ticket to the boat cruise on the Jökulsárlón and experience the unique Glacier Lagoon spectacle up close. When you prebook, your place is guaranteed. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is Iceland’s largest and deepest glacier lagoon. It branches from Breidamerkurjokull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier. Return to Reykjavik, stopping at the gorgeous waterfall Seljalandsfoss. You will visit the Diamond beach with black sand, and there will be an additional stop in Iceland's southernmost village at Vík for dinner.

Skaftafell: Blue Ice Experience with 2.5-Hour Glacier Walk

7. Skaftafell: Blue Ice Experience with 2.5-Hour Glacier Walk

You will meet your qualified glacier guide in Skaftafell National Park, where you will be outfitted with crampons and an ice ax. When everyone is ready, a short bus ride will take us to the foot of the glacier. During the tour, you will explore one of Vatnajökull National Park's many outlet glaciers, extending from the mighty Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe. After a short lesson on how to use the crampons and ice ax, you will step onto the glacier and be transported to an icy, foreign planet. The unique landscape truly seems out of this world, with white, clear and deep blue ice, deep crevasses, ice ridges and stunning scenery as far as the eye can see. We will take our time and make sure there are plenty of photo opportunities while your guide explains the inner workings of these white giants. Glacier walks are one of the most popular outdoor activities in Iceland and this is where it all started. Operating since 1994, this easy and safe tour made the Icelandic glaciers accessible to everyone, and today, you can't really visit Iceland without going on a glacier walk.

Skaftafell: Extra-Small Group Glacier Hike

8. Skaftafell: Extra-Small Group Glacier Hike

Embark on a small-group tour of Vatnajökull glacier and benefit from an intimate experience with a maximum of 8 participants. After meeting your guide at the meeting point in Skaftatell Airport, get geared up and prepare for your 20-minute 4x4 drive to the base of the Falljökull outlet glacier. At the base, step onto the glacier and listen to a quick briefing on how to wear your ice crampons. Then, it's time to begin your glacier hike. Follow your experienced guide through stunning ice formations, moulins, crevasses, and crystal-clear blue pools. Spend up to 120 minutes exploring the unique landscape of the glacier. Witness breathtaking views, listen to interest local anecdotes, and have your photo taken against this stunning natural landscape before heading back to the 4x4. Get dropped off back at the meeting point at the end of your hike.

Skaftafell: Vatnajökull Glacier Explorer Tour

9. Skaftafell: Vatnajökull Glacier Explorer Tour

Take a walking tour of the Vatnajökull Glacier, the largest in Europe, with a certified guide. Head with your group to the ice fall on a scenic and exhilarating walk and enjoy artful ice sculptures formed by the frozen waters of Falljokul Glacier along the way. Follow your guide on a scenic walk, during which you can appreciate the dramatic landscape carved by the glacier. Once at the tongue of the glacier, put crampons on, undergo a safety briefing, and then make your way to the real adventure. Head up towards the incredible ice fall (from which Falljokull derives its name), where you will explore a dramatic terrain, full of frozen ice formations and ice sculptures. Get plenty of photo opportunities while witnessing the rugged and majestic ice fall. Learn how the glacier was formed and how it keeps changing its shape day after day from your guide.

Vatnajökull Glacier: Ice Cave Tour

10. Vatnajökull Glacier: Ice Cave Tour

Seize the opportunity to experience one of the stunning blue ice caves within Vatnajökull Glacier, the largest glacier in Europe. This tour is rated as easy, as the Superjeeps allow participants to get very close to the entrance of the cave without exerting much effort. Head into the more easily accessed ice caves for an encounter with the stunning blue ice and the beautiful views for which Vatnajökull is famous. In the warmer summer months, the glacier melts and forms holes and crevasses. After they freeze, get an up-close look at what nature has created. The winter months are all different and the glacier and caves are constantly evolving, making the sites extra interesting. Each season, the best available cave is chosen for this tour. The tour begins from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in Southeast Iceland. Meet your professional glacier guide and climb on board a 4x4 Superjeep to begin the rugged journey towards the glacier. The drive is an experience in and of itself. Once there, you will have plenty of time to enjoy the beauty and splendor of the icy blue caves of Vatnajökull.

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What people are saying about Vatnajökull National Park

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 322 reviews

AMAZING tour. One of the highlights of my trip. Our guide, Albert, was so fun and knowledgable, and even stopped some extra times to show us even more sights! We even got to see the Northern Lights on our night at the hotel. A fantastic way to see the south coast, and the ice cave tour was awesome. Would recommend bringing some power bars/snacks, as we didn't stop for lunch/dinner until 5pm the second day. But the bus made lots of bathroom stops and you could buy snacks there too. The hotel was great that they had booked us in. All around a well planned and super fun tour! (our tour bus didn't have outlets unfortunately, so I would definitely recommend a portable charger)

Our guide was fantastic and shared his adventures and the history of the glacier and ice caves. We were in a group of about 13 people including ourselves. The van ride was very crowded but getting to the ice caves relieved that experience. The hike to the caves was about 30 minutes and beautiful rocky and icy scenery. The ice caves were stunning. There were other groups but it wasn’t overly crowded. We were able to get photos with just the two of us and no one else in the background. I’d do it again, it was a great experience!

Wonderful experience to walk on this beautiful glacier. The ice cave is not very big, but still impressive! It was great. The guides speak very good English.

The tour was amazing! Guna (not sure how to spell their name) was upbeat and so informative. If you have a chance to go on this adventure, don’t miss it!

Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and we could tell how much he loved his job. The views and caves were spectacular and the hike was great!