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Glacier Xtreme - Glacier Hiking & Ice Climbing Tour

Hike, Climb, And Explore Falljökull, Part Of Europe’s Largest Glacier!

Product-ID: GG-XT

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Close up of male using ice picks to ice climb on Vatnajokull.

Small group tour hiking towards glacier crevasses at Vatnajokull.

Tourist standing in between huge blue ice crevasse at Vatnajokull.

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About Tour

Step into Iceland’s icy heart and explore Falljökull, one of the country’s most dramatic outlet glaciers. Traverse crevasses, climb frozen walls, and witness glacial landscapes you won’t find anywhere else. Small group, expert guide, real adventure!

Highlights

Vatnajökull (‘’Water Glacier’’)
Falljökull ("Falling Glacier")
Guided glacier hiking
Ice climbing with expert support

Included

Guided glacier tour
Certified expert
English-speaking guide
All necessary safety equipment
Specialized glacier gear: ice-climbing boots, crampons, ice axe, helmet, harness

What to Bring

Waterproof jacket & pants (rentals available)
Small backpack
Reusable water bottle
Light synthetic quick-dry pants
Light sweater (wool or fleece)
Hat
Thin gloves, hat
Sunglasses
Food & drinks
Camera

Tour Snapshot

Availability All Year

Duration 7-7.5 hours

Departs From Skaftafell

Difficulty Challenging

Ratio 1:6 Guide to client ratio

Meet on Location Yes

Pick Up No

Minimum age 14 years

Shoe Size Min. 35 EU (No crampons for shoes smaller than 35 EU.)

From

233

Per

Adult

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Expert Guides
Small Group Experience
Free Cancellation
No Booking Fees
Fast & Secure Payment
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From 274 USD

233

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Itinerary

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure on one of Iceland’s most thrilling natural wonders—Falljökull, the legendary “falling glacier.” This small-group experience is designed for adventure-seekers who want to go beyond hiking and get hands-on with the ice.

The day kicks off at the Skaftafell Booking Center, where you’ll meet your certified glacier guide, gear up with crampons, helmet, harness, and ice axe, and get briefed on safety before heading out.

After a 20-minute drive (12 km / 7.5 mi) to the glacier’s edge, the journey begins. You’ll hike across rugged, constantly shifting ice terrain—expect towering ice walls, deep crevasses, and unreal shades of blue. The guide will share stories of glacial power, Iceland’s geology, and how climate is reshaping these landscapes in real time. You will even get to drink glacier meltwater—icy, fresh, and straight from the source!

Then, the adventure ramps up: it’s time to climb. Your guide will choose a suitable ice wall or crevasse based on conditions, and you’ll get the chance to try your hand (and crampons) at vertical ice climbing. No experience needed—just bring your courage.

The full experience should cover approximately 8 km (5 mi) of hiking distance and 350–400 m (1,150–1,300 ft) of elevation gain total over the course of the tour.

FALLJÖKULL GLACIER

Falljokull (known as ' the Falling Glacier') is an outlet of the largest glacier in Europe - Vatnajokull. Falljokull gets its name because of the massive icefall that seems like it is crashing into the ocean.

When hiking on Falljokull, you will move through dramatic ice formations, and get a fantastic view of the surrounding mountains and crevasses. This is not a view to miss out on!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Meeting point

Skaftafell Booking Center - Wooden hut with the Arctic Adventures logo

Address: 785 Skaftafell, Iceland

Your adventure starts at our Skaftafell Booking Center, located about 327 km (203 mi) east of Reykjavík. The closest towns are Kirkjubæjarklaustur (69 km / 43 mi west) and Höfn (130 km / 81 mi east).

Clothing and gear

Please bring warm outdoor clothing, waterproof pants, and a waterproof jacket. Ice-climbing boots are included in the tour, so you don't need special hiking boots. You can rent waterproof pants and jackets when booking the tour.

Shoe Size

For safety reasons, crampons are not available for shoe sizes below 35 EU, as they cannot be securely attached to smaller footwear.

Children aged 14 and above must be accompanied by an adult throughout both the transfer and the tour. Safety and supervision are essential when planning the tour for young participants.

FAQ

What is best to wear on our Iceland glacier trips?

Iceland is known for unforeseeable weather. It is likely that you can see all 4 seasons in one day.

Dressing for that kind of weather can always be demanding, so we suggest dressing in layers. 3 or 4 upper layers are highly recommended, for example, a light t-shirt (preferably wool) next to the skin, then a fleece or heavy wool garment topped off with a waterproof windbreaker.

Jeans are not recommended for our trips as they are not suitable for the weather conditions, they become very heavy, cold and uncomfortable to wear when they get wet.

Lightweight hiking pants, track pants or long cotton pants are convenient and wear wind/waterproof pants over them. There is high UV and sunlight reflecting off on the glacier so we highly recommend using sunglasses and sunscreen even if it is cloudy.

You will need sturdy hiking boots that fit crampons for the glacier hiking tours. If you do not own a pair then we rent out suitable hiking boots as well as a waterproof raincoat and trousers.

Is a backpack necessary on a glacier trip in Iceland?

It is good to bring your own backpack on our full-day or half-day tours. It’s the best carry-on for a small lunch, extra clothes, and other necessary items.

Is a camera allowed on a glacier trip?

The scenery on the tour is full of stunning, breathtaking views that you’ll almost definitely want to capture forever, so you should definitely bring your camera along. Your tour guide will also be happy to take your photo.

Are you allowed to join a glacier hike if you are pregnant?

This is surely a personal choice, we do not deny pregnant women on our glacier trips but we highly recommend you to take a closer look at our trip description and difficulty ratings, they will hopefully give you a better idea. We also recommend you to contact your physician, as pregnant women’s health can be quite different. If you have any further questions or concerns then feel free to contact us.

Is lunch provided on the glacier tours?

Lunch is not provided on any of our trips, therefore we recommend you bring your own lunch, snacks, and a bottle of water (you can refill it on the trip). It is especially important to make sure you bring lunch on our longer trips.

What are crampons?

Crampons enable you to walk on the glacier ice without slipping. They are metal spikes that we attach to the soles of your hiking shoes.

Does Adventures.com have a guide on all of their tours?

Yes, we have specially trained and certified glacier guides on every glacier tour that we offer. And for our 3rd party tours we only partner with operators that meet our quality and safety standards.

Do you provide equipment when taking part in your glacier tours?

Yes, we provide you with all the necessary glacier gear for our glacier hiking tours. Ice axes, crampons, harnesses, and helmets are provided. This will help you to complete the tour safely. The minimum shoe size to attach crampons is EU 35.

Why do we have glaciers in Iceland?

Iceland is known to have a lot of snow and when the snow stays long enough in one place than it turns to ice. Over long periods of time, the ice layers up becoming huge blocks called glaciers. It forms to create ginormous glaciers that sweep across huge masses of land. Iceland is home of the largest glacier in Europe that is called Vatnajökull. The Glacier Guides can tell you more about and everything you need to know about the Glaciers.

What happens if it is raining?

Rain is common in Iceland but we never let the rain be in our way to go forward with our tours.
That’s why we highly recommend appropriate clothing so you can stay warm and dry.
Nature is out of our control and therefore we need to adapt to the weather. Your safety is our priority so if your safety is compromised by going on the tour then we will cancel it and you will get full reimbursement.

Can I find more information about how to prepare for my Glacier Hiking tour?

The guide on your glacier hiking tour will provide you with all the information you might need when preparing for a glacier hike.

Is any parking fee in Skaftafell?

Yes, the parking fee depends on your car category.

Category A - Passenger car, 5 seats or less: ISK 750

Category B - Passenger car, 6-9 seats: ISK 1,000

Motorcycles: ISK 300

You can always check the newest fees here.

Will I need crampons for this tour?

Crampons are metal spikes that fasten to the soles of your hiking boots to provide a reliable grip on icy surfaces and help prevent slipping. For our glacier tours involving walking on ice, specialized glacier crampons are provided. These are stronger and more durable than standard ice spikes, designed specifically for challenging glacier conditions. Your guide will assist you in putting them on before you step onto the glacier, and they will be collected at the end of the tour.