Easy Hike on Sólheimajökull glacier

Experience the beauty of a glacier and all of its hidden treasures in a safe way accompanied by a certified glacier guide on our easy 3 hour hike designed for all travelers – you don’t have to be an athlete to experience unique Icelandic nature and the sense of adventure. Put on your crampons and head into the icy wonderland!

Our guides are all skilled and trained professionals, certified by the Association of Icelandic Mountain Guides. They have vast knowledge of geology and glaciology which they share with you in an entertaining way. Our goal is to educate and have fun on our tours at the same time, so that your experience will be both memorable and rewarding. Of course the safety of our guests is always our highest priority.

Highlights of the tour

No trip to Iceland is complete without seeing a glacier. It is after all a land of ice, isn’t it? And for those willing to experience it first hand we have prepared this tour on the glacier which is the closest and easily reachable from Reykjavík.

Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier, also called a glacial tongue of a larger Mýrdalsjökull ice cap, located in the very south of Iceland, roughly 2 hours driving from Reykjavík and half an hour from the town of Vík. It is not only the largest glacier in that area (and the 4th largest in Iceland), but also the most easily accessible one being located right on the coast and next to the main road number 1. Although the name of Sólheimajökull translates to Home of the Sun Glacier, it is in fact a marvelous site in every weather. Among its most spectacular features are towering walls of ice collapsing straight into an iceberg lagoon, dramatic blue crevasses as well as deep gorges and wells called moulins, into which streams of sparkling purest water (drinkable!) find their way. All of them you can see close-by if you embark on a guided glacier hike.

But that’s not everything yet. Being located at the foot of Katla volcano – one of Iceland’s largest and most notorious ones, Sólheimajökull features an unique combination of glacier ice and volcanic ash forming a mosaic of  black stripes and ash cones, which can only be seen in Iceland. What might look just like dirt to an unaware observer reveals itself as a true wonder of nature to an educated traveler. Unfortunately due to its proximity to an active volcano as well as rapidly progressing climate change Sólheimajökull glacier is shrinking fast and the changes happen almost daily depending on the season. Frequent visitors get to experience and lament its impending doom, while once-in-a-lifetime guests get a chance to see it before it disappears.

Itinerary

Your trip will begin at the meeting point located at the main car park of Sólheimajökull. Look for a sign marked with Ice Walkers logo. Your guide will be waiting for you there to hand you over the gear which you will use on the glacier – a pair of crampons, ice axe, helmet and a safety harness are a must on this tour. After making sure that everyone is well equipped you will walk together for about 20 minutes to the glacier terminus. On the way the guide will introduce you to this otherworldly landscape, by explaining the formation of glaciers and answering any questions you might have.

Before stepping on the ice you will be thoroughly instructed on using the gear and the safety rules on the glacier. This can take up to 15 minutes, because the guide needs to make sure everyone will be safe and comfortable throughout the whole tour. Then your real adventure will begin, when you meander through the walls of ice and piles of volcanic ash towards the upper plateau of the glacier, slowly immersing yourself in the world of ice. There you will take a scenic walk around, surrounded with great photo opportunities as well as points of interest to observe and learn about – crevasses, moulins and much more. Unless in the middle of the winter when everything is frozen, you will also get a chance to try the freshest glacial water.

The way back will take you down the glacier, but this time you will already find it easy, because you’ve mastered the glacier hiking techniques. After around 3 hours from the departure you will be back at the car park saying goodbye to your guide and sharing photos you took with your fellow travelers.

We provide all necessary safety gear, including crampons, ice axe, harness and a helmet.

As it comes to weather-related clothing our motto on the glacier is “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst”. The conditions in Iceland can change really quickly especially on the glacier and the temperature there tends to be lower than on the coast. You should dress in warm and comfortable hiking layers. In the winter expect negative temperatures can be expected with possibility of snow and rain (sometimes both). Therefore rain gear, hat and gloves, are always a must, as well as sunglasses and sunscreen at the same time in case of unexpected, but beloved sunny weather.

You will be wearing crampons, so please make sure you bring  stiff and ankle-covering hiking boots. As much as we try to avoid it, inappropriate footwear may exclude you from participating in the tour if the crampons won’t work well with it.

We’re always happy to advise you, so please contact us if you need assistance with any of the recommended gear.