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About Tour

On this tour, we will go on an awe-inspiring adventure: scaling the heights and exploring the depths of Icelandic glaciers. This tour is a magical combination of ice-caving and glacier hiking making it the perfect choice for adrenaline junkies and nature enthusiasts alike.

Highlights

  • Vatnajokull - Largest glacier in Europe
  • A Visit to a Natural Ice Cave
  • Guided Glacier Hike

Included

  • Ice Caving Adventure
  • English Speaking Licensed Adventure Guide
  • Crampons and Other Necessary Glacier Gear
  • All Required Safety Equipment

What to bring

  • Warm clothing
  • Waterproof jacket and pants
  • Hiking boots
  • Head-wear
  • Gloves

Tour Snapshot

Availability Oct-April
Duration ~4 hours
Departs From Skaftafell
Difficulty Moderate
Minimum age 8 years
Ratio 1:12 Guide to client ratio
Meet on Location Yes
Pick Up No

From

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  • Best Seller
  • Small Group Experience
  • Expert Guides
  • Operated by Arctic Adventures
  • No Booking Fees
  • Free Cancellation

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Itinerary

The glacier hiking and ice cave adventure will start at the booking office in Skaftafell, located at the parking lot in Skaftafell National Park.

The journey will start with a 20-min drive over rugged terrain followed by a short walk through the valley towards the glacier. Before stepping onto the surface of the ice, our certified glacier guide will give you a safety talk and an introduction to all the equipment you will be using.

Your safety is, of course, paramount, and our experts will ensure that you are always safe on the ice. After the safety briefing, your magical glacier experience will begin! We strap on our crampons and head for an exciting glacier hike to a natural ice cave.

he hike takes place on Falljokull, an outlet glacier of the mighty Vatnajokull Glacier, Europe's largest ice cap. As we make our way to the ice cave, we will traverse the ever-evolving glacial landscapes, taking in the deep crevices and the incredible ice formations. Falljokull is known as one of the most beautiful outlet glaciers in Iceland. Its surface is wildly rugged and decorated with millions of sharp ice sculptures. Walking on this terrain is an absolutely surreal experience!

The ice cave we visit is selected based on actual conditions each time. We will spend about 1.5-2 hours on the ice, including the glacier hike and the ice cave exploration. This tour is suitable for individuals who are comfortable walking for 2 hours outdoors across easy but rugged terrain. There is no special skill or experience needed for this tour.

Guide In Ice Cave on Glacier

Iceland is full of nature's marvels, but ice caves are particularly special. They are formed when the temperature drops each winter and then disappear when it gets warm again in the spring. Each year, new caves are formed at new locations, and each time we select the best one that we visit on this tour. Even during the wintertime, the ice cave is constantly changing as the weather conditions change, meaning you won't likely see the same ice cave twice!

Being inside the glacier is an experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Thanks to the special characteristics of glacial ice, these ice caves are incredibly blue and transparent. Words can't describe just how amazing it is to see one in real-life and be inside it.

We will spend some time in the ice cave exploring all the magic it offers, giving you ample opportunity to snap a few photos of this awe-inspiring natural phenomenon. Then, we will hike back over the remarkable glacier: the perfect end to the perfect day.

This tour really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the perfect choice for winter visitors to Iceland. So, book today, and you most definitely won't regret it!

Arctic Adventures booking house in Skaftafell (wooden house with Arctic Adventures logo), located next to the Vatnajokull/Skaftafell Visitor Center

Please note that due to limited daylight, our afternoon departures may be done partly in the dark during the darkest months of the year. However, you will be provided with torches and the necessary gear to make it back to our booking center safely.

Please keep in mind that ice caves are ever-changing natural phenomena that are often only accessible during winter when the temperature drops well below zero so the water from the rivers that run underneath the glacier freezes and leaves us with this amazing natural wonder to explore. Each year new caves are formed in different locations. We will visit one naturally formed ice cave during this tour and the cave we visit is chosen based on conditions and safety each time.

What our Travelers are saying about Inside the glacier tour

5
Based on 9 reviews

Inside the Glacier - Blue Ice & Glacier Hike Tour in Skaftafell

1- of 9 reviews

Great experience "inside the glacier and ice cave hike"

Reviewed on November 12, 2021 by Kevin C Review from Tripadvisor

We had an unforgettable experience starting from Skaftafell Base camp. After putting on all the safety gear, we were driven to the start of the tour at the foot of the glacier. We were able to have a hands on experience inside the ice cave and afterwards, took a good hike throughout the crevasses in between tiny pathways. Our guides Alex, who was mainly making sure everything was safe, and Gaia, who told us everything we wanted to know about the ice, did a great job. Thanks, that was awesome!

Put this on your bucket list!

Reviewed on March 30, 2018 by Scott Sexton From our post-trip system

When I signed up for this, I was a little concerned about the cost. Now that I've been on the Into the Cave tour with Arctic Adventures, I'm EXTREMELY happy with our decision. The guide was not only informative, but also extremely friendly and added some silly jokes into his patter, making the day a wonderful light hearted adventure for all of us. Thanks for the amazing learning experience, it is a memory that will live with me for a long time!

Very Friendly Company

Reviewed on March 15, 2018 by Rebecca From our post-trip system

My step-daughter and I enjoyed a glacial walk with this company. They are very friendly and the walk was good for all levels. They know what they’re doing and we felt very safe with them. They brought us to a beautiful spot and we got a great feel for crampons and walking on ice. Thanks for a great time!

Awesome Time!

Reviewed on March 15, 2018 by Tessa From our post-trip system

Great tour! I went with a friend and we had an amazing tour guide. We learned all about the area and detailed information about the glaciers and volcanos of Iceland. Super fun and I would recommend it to everyone

Must do tour!

Reviewed on March 14, 2018 by Samantha Martin From our post-trip system

The ice cave and views we saw on this tour topped anything else seen in Iceland! Scenic views paired with a friendly, knowledgeable tour guide, this tour quickly became a must do trip for anybody else I know that will be visiting Iceland!

Great Experience at the ''Into the Glacier'' Tour

Reviewed on March 06, 2018 by Tyler Piotrowski From our post-trip system

My wife and I had an excellent experience at the "Into the Glacier" tour while in Iceland. Our tour leader Marcus was great and informative on all levels. The glacier and ice cave itself was awesome and very beautiful to see. We also got to ride in a sweet Mercedes van. Great overall experience.

Excellent

Reviewed on March 04, 2018 by Radver Lee From our post-trip system

Staff was friendly and trip was well organised. Saw what I wanted and more. A wonderful experience to be treasured...

Into the glacier tour

Reviewed on March 01, 2018 by Holly From our post-trip system

Our guide Bryony was fantastic. She was really friendly and knowledgeable and we felt in safe hands. There were bad storms whilst we were there and it seemed like they put safety first and adjusted plans with as minimal impact to customers as possible. The tour was fab, great scenery and just a small group. The guide was in communication with other groups on the glacier to avoid overlapping at any spots which was an added bonus. Would highly recommend this trip to anyone visiting Iceland.

Amazing time in the ice cave!

Reviewed on by Charles From our post-trip system

I had a fantastic time on the tour. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable and did his best to make sure everyone had a good time. The tour moved at a good pace for a large group and everyone had ample opportunity to see everything, take plenty of pictures and have fun!

FAQ

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.

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.

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.

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).

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

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.

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.

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