Wondering what are the Best Glacier Tours in Iceland? With so many options to choose from it can be consfused to pick the best option for you. It will depend on what area, if you are looking for a short of a long tour, include visiting an ice cave, or only do the glacier hike in Iceland or a combo. Phew! But this guide has the top 15 tours and you can find the right one for you!
Glacier tours in Iceland are one of the best activities to do in the land of fire and Ice. But with so many options and great tours to choose from, it may be confusing to choose the best one for you.
I did a lot of research prior to my Road trip to Iceland, and I also had many questions on what glacier tour in Iceland would be the best one for me. After all my research, plus have done it myself, I am here to share with you now the top 12 Best Glacier Tours in Iceland and make your life easier.
Here you can find VERY USEFUL INFORMATION and have no doubts you will choose the right tour for you, plus, you can read my guide on Everything you need to know about Glacier hiking in Iceland plus check the FAQ before your trip.
During the glacier tour in Iceland, you will have the chance to explore crevasses while walking on the crunchy ice with your crampons, have the exhilarating opportunity to go ice climbing and if you are lucky, explore one of the blue ice caves along the way.
Enjoy this guide and by the end, you should be able to know what is the Best Glacier Tour in Iceland for you!
- LOCATIONS FOR THE BEST GLACIER TOURS IN ICELAND
- HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST GLACIER TOUR IN ICELAND?
- QUICK LOCKDOWN OF THE BEST ICELAND GLACIER TOURS
- OVERALL THE BEST GLACIER TOURS IN ICELAND
- GLACIER TOURS IN ICELAND| BONUS SECTION
- TRAVEL INSURANCE: SIMPLE & FLEXIBLE
- CONCLUSION ON THE BEST GLACIER TOURS IN ICELAND
LOCATIONS FOR THE BEST GLACIER TOURS IN ICELAND
Most ice climbing tours are conducted on Sólheimajökull and Vatnajökull Glaciers. It will depend on weather conditions, and occasionally the glaciers may be temporarily closed.
Sólheimajökull Glacier
This is the most popular choice because it is only 2-hours driving from Reykjavik – which makes it a very convenient location. You can hike Sólheimajökull Glacier as a day trip from Reykjavik or if you are visiting the South Coast of Iceland: Skogafoss Waterfall and Vik Beach. You can book this tour on Sólheimajökull Glacier any time of the year.
Vatnajökull Glacier (Snæfellsjökull)
This is the largest glacier in Europe, and also part of the Vatnajökull National Park, with roughly 30 outlet glaciers. Snæfellsjökull Glacier is a glacier tongue of the huge Vatnajokull glacier where you can go hike. Most of the glacier hikes on Vatnajökull start in Skatafell – located a 4-hours drive from Reykjavik. While here, you can also add on kayaking or cruising Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon – Check availability on this tour here.
Sólheimajökull vs. Vatnajökull Glacier
Both are incredible places to go glacier hiking in Iceland – but it will depend mainly on your preferences and location.
I choose to go hiking on Vatnajökull because I was on the Ring Road road trip, so adding this activity to my itinerary was very convenient.
Also, it is farther from Reykjavik and it tends to have lower crowds at this glacier. Plus, in Vatnajökull there are several outlets glaciers to hike, making the crowds lower and you can hike the largest glacier in Europe!
When to go Glacier Hike in Iceland
The good news is that the tour companies offer Glacier Hike in Iceland all year round.
If you also want to explore an ice cave, the best months are between November and March, it is when the ice caves are open and safe to explore.
If you decide to go hike the Vatnajökull Glacier, you can also add a combination tour with a boat ride on Jokulsárlón Lagoon.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST GLACIER TOUR IN ICELAND?
There are many tour companies that offer Glacier hike Tours in Iceland – it can be hard to choose the best option for you, so I hope this review can help you to make the right decision.
Please keep in mind that Glacier hike in Iceland is very popular and they tend to sell out – therefore, doesn’t matter what season you are visiting Iceland, book your tour in advance.
The prices are pretty much the same everywhere, therefore I recommend booking your tour through GetYourGuide because they work with high-quality tours and offer flexible cancelation policies.
Below you can find a selection of some of the best Glacier Hike Tours in Iceland:
- Find the right location for you based on your Iceland Itinerary – Sólheimajökull or Vatnajökull Glaciers
- Decide if you want to go on a Glacier Hike or on a Combo with Ice Climbing
- Find the best tours for the Ice Cave in Iceland and Glacier Lagoon Tours
Iceland Glacier Tour 
Glacier walk Iceland
QUICK LOCKDOWN OF THE BEST ICELAND GLACIER TOURS
1) Glacier Hike (3-hours tour): Sólheimajökull: Guided Glacier Hike
2) Glacier hike + Ice Climbing Combo Tour (4-hours): SólheimSólheimajökull Ice Climbing Tour
3) South Coast + Glacier Hike (12-hours tour): From Reykjavik: Small-Group South Coast Tour & Glacier Hike
4) Short Glacier Hike Tour (3-hours): Sólheimajökull: 3 Hour Glacier Hike
5) My TOP pick glacier hike + ice climbing combo tour (4-hours): Sólheimajökull Ice Climb and Glacier Hike
6) The most affordable Glacier Hike Tour (3-hours): Skaftafell National Park: 3-Hour Glacier Hike
7) Glacier Hike + Ice Cave Tour Combo (3-hours): Glacier Natural Ice Cave Tour
8) Extra-small group Glacier Hike (12-hours): Skaftafell: Extra-Small Group Glacier Hike
9) Golden-circle + Snow Smobiling Tour Combo (11-hours): From Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Glacier Snowmobile Tour
10) Glacier hike + Glacier Lagoon Combo (14-hours): From Reykjavik: Jokulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
11) Ice Cave and volcano tour (14-hours): Ice Cave by Katla Volcano Super Jeep from Vik
12) Glacier cave + Northern lights Combo (4-8 hours): Húsafell: Langjökulll Glacier Ice Cave & Northern Lights
Ice caving Iceland
OVERALL THE BEST GLACIER TOURS IN ICELAND
1) Sólheimajökull: Guided Glacier Hike
TOUR TYPE: GLACIER HIKE
LOCATION: Sólheimajökull Glacier
DURATION: 3-hours
HIGHLIGHT: This is the most popular glacier hike in Iceland due to its proximity to Reykjavik. It is also conveniently located en-route to the most popular landmarks (Skogafoss and Vike beach) and you can book it any time of the year.
2) SólheimSólheimajökull Ice Climbing Tour
TOUR TYPE: ICE CLIMBING + GLACIER HIKE COMBO
LOCATION: Sólheimajökull glacier
DURATION: 4 hours
HIGHLIGHT: This tour starts at the Sólheimajökull parking lot where you are provided with the glacier gear required for the trip. With this tour, you can learn basic ice climbing skills and also, explore glacier hiking.
3) From Reykjavik: Small-Group South Coast Tour & Glacier Hike
TOUR TYPE: SOUTH COAST + GLACIER HIKE COMBO
LOCATION: Sólheimajökull glacier
DURATION: 12 hours
HIGHLIGHT: This is a great option for a day tour from Reykjavik. You have the chance to go on a Glacier hike plus visit the beautiful waterfalls of Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. You can alk behind a wall of water at the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, and hike the glacier tongue of the Solheimajokull Glacier
4) Sólheimajökull: 3 Hour Glacier Hike
TOUR TYPE: GLACIER HIKE
LOCATION: Sólheimajökull glacier
DURATION: 3-hours
HIGHLIGHT: This hike is for anyone who wants to experience hiking on the beautiful glacier of Mýrdalsjökull. Located underneath the ice cap is one of the largest Volcanoes in Iceland, Katla who erupted last in 1918.
5) Sólheimajökull Ice Climb and Glacier Hike
TOUR TYPE: GLACIER HIKE + ICE CLIMB COMBO
LOCATION: Sólheimajökull glacier
DURATION: 4-hours
HIGHLIGHT: This is the tour I chose to do, and highly recommend. The Glacier hike experience is epic, plus the opportunity to learn basic skills and actually climb an ice wall is a must-do while in Iceland. They offer small groups of no more than 6 people, provide all the glacier equipment, and the guides are very experienced and fun. You can read all my experiences on Ice Climbing & glacier hike tour in Iceland.
6) Skaftafell National Park: 3-Hour Glacier Hike
TOUR TYPE: GLACIER HIKE
LOCATION: Vatnajökull glacier
DURATION: 3-hours
HIGHLIGHT: This tour is very affordable at US$84 per person. Follow the footsteps of James Bond and hike across the Vatnajökull glacier. Get back to nature on the 3-hour hike with an English-speaking guide in the dramatic wilderness of Skaftafell National Park.
7) Glacier Natural Ice Cave Tour
TOUR TYPE: GLACIER HIKE + CAVE TOUR COMBO
LOCATION: Vatnajökull glacier
DURATION: 2.5-3 hours
HIGHLIGHT: You have the opportunity to experience the glacial landscape and the natural ice cave with incredible formations in a cave inside the largest glacier in Europe Make your own way to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon to experience a natural ice cave from the luxury of a huge custom-made super jeep.
8) Skaftafell: Extra-Small Group Glacier Hike
TOUR TYPE: GLACIER HIKE
LOCATION: Skaftafell glacier
DURATION: 3-hours
HIGHLIGHT: This tour is a great option because it offers a very small group tour with a maximum of 8 people. Hike on one of the stunning outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier, and Marvel at Skaftafell and its surrounding mountainous landscapes on a 4×4 drive
GLACIER TOURS IN ICELAND| BONUS SECTION
9) From Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Glacier Snowmobile Tour
TOUR TYPE: GLACIER SNOWMOBILE + GOLDEN CIRCLE TOUR
LOCATION: Golden Circle and Langjökull Glacier
DURATION: 11-hours
HIGHLIGHT: See the spouting geyser and hot springs of Iceland’s Golden Circle. Stand on one of Europe’s biggest glaciers, and follow in the footsteps of Vikings down the lava canyon where the American and European continents drift apart in Þingvellir National Park.
10) From Reykjavik: Jokulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
TOUR TYPE: GLACIER HIKE
LOCATION: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Vik
DURATION: 14-hours
HIGHLIGHT: Go on a full-day tour from Reykjavik and explore the highlights of the south of Iceland on a 14-hour sightseeing tour from Reykjavik. Travel along the impressive southern coast to the Glacier Lagoon at Jökulsárlón. Marvel at the waterfall Seljalandsfoss and much more.
11) Ice Cave by Katla Volcano Super Jeep from Vik
TOUR TYPE: GLACIER HIKE
LOCATION: Reykjavik
DURATION: 14-hours
HIGHLIGHT: From Vík, take a jeep ride to the natural ice cave at Mýrdalsjökull Glacier, situated below the Katla volcano. Equipped with crampons and a helmet, you’ll be ready to explore this natural phenomenon. With this tour, you will learn about the Katla volcano and the ice cave’s formation while you enjoy the natural ice cave tour.
12) Húsafell: Langjökulll Glacier Ice Cave & Northern Lights
TOUR TYPE: GLACIER ICE CAVE + NORTHERN LIGHTS
LOCATION: Húsafell
DURATION: 4-8 hours
HIGHLIGHT: This tour includes a ride to the Langjokull glacier in an especially modified glacier vehicle, and all equipment including snowsuits, protective overshoes, and crampons are included. On this tour, you can experience a huge glacier and man-made ice cave, and take the chance to see the Northern Lights from the glacier
TRAVEL INSURANCE: SIMPLE & FLEXIBLE
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CONCLUSION ON THE BEST GLACIER TOURS IN ICELAND
If you are planning a trip to Iceland, I hope this Best Glacier Tours in Iceland has helped and whether you choose to climb on ice, ride on top of, or go inside, there is an Iceland glacier tour for everyone.
These best glacier tours in Iceland will have you packing your bags and planning your trip! Just don’t forget to wear the right clothing and you will be good to go!
If you are wondering what to pack, how to get around, what age you can go on the tours, and all the other questions, I answer all of them on this Everything you should know before you go on a Glacier Tour in Iceland.
If you still have any questions, just leave me a comment below and I will connect with you. If you are planning a trip to Iceland, you may also enjoy these:
10-day Ring Road itinerary in Iceland
Iceland on Budget + resources to plan your trip cost
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