Hike the historical Snæfellsjökull glacier in West-Iceland, where Jules Verne once described the entrance to the “Centre of the Earth”!
This famous volcano rises up 1450 meters from the middle of the Snæfellsnes peninsula and is clearly visible more than 100 km away.
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A great hike to the top Iceland’s most famous glacier and volcano. The glacier has crevasses so a mountain guide and the right equipment are essential. Snæfellsjökull glacier is one of the most picturesque mountains in Iceland. This famous volcano rises up 1450 meters from the middle of the Snæfellsnes peninsula and is clearly visible more than a 100 km away. Many have written poems about its grandeur and shining white coat of ice and snow.
The most famous literature about Snæfellsjökull is undoubtedly Jules’s Vernes novel “Journey to the center of the Earth” where the entrance to the center was through a caldera at the top of Snæfellsjökull.
Everything about this trip is an amazing adventure; even the drive to the start of the hike offers breathtaking views only surpassed by the vistas from the slopes and the peak. On clear days the entire Westfjord peninsula is visible, beyond the North Atlantic ocean you can catch a glimpse of the shores of Greenland, and the peninsula itself with its amazing mountains and beaches are sights not soon to be forgotten. This is one of the very best glacier hikes in the world!
Arnarstapi at 8 a.m. in winter and 9 a.m. in summer.)
Arnarstapi at 8 a.m. in winter and 9 a.m. in summer.
Pick-up in Reykjavik is available for groups of 6 more people.)
Pick-up in Reykjavik is available for groups of 6 more people.
Still got questions about the tour? Hopefully you will find the answer here.
Iceland is known for unforeseeable weather. It is likely that you can see all 4 seasons in one day.
Dressing for that kind sort of weather can always be demanding so we always 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. 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 shoes 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.
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.
The scenery on the tour is full of stunning, scenic views that are photographable so you should definitely bring your camera along.
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.
Lunch is not provided on any of our trips, therefore we recommend you to bring your own lunch especially for the longer trips, snacks and a bottle of water (you can refill it on the trip).
Crampons make you enable to walk on the glacier ice without slipping. They are metal spikes that we attach to the soles of your hiking shoes.
Yes, we have specially trained and certified glacier guide 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.
Yes, we provide you with all necessary glacier gear for our glacier hiking tours. Ice axe, harness, and helmets are provided. This will help you to complete the tour safely.
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.
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 be warm and dry on the tours.
Nature is out of our control and therefore we need to adapt to the weather. Your safety is our first priority so if your safety is compromised by going on the tour then we will cancel it and you will get full reimbursement.
The guide on your Glacier Hiking tour will provide you with all the information you might need when preparing for a glacier hike.
