Glacier Hike & Ice Climbing in Vatnajokull National Park

Join this adventurous combo tour of both glacier hiking and ice climbing on a majestic outlet glacier of Vatnajökull during a small-group experience within Vatnajökull National Park. If you’re looking for the ice in the land of ice and fire, this is the excursion for you. 

Your adventure begins as you meet your certified glacier guides in Skaftafell, where you’ll check in and receive all the necessary gear for hiking up an ice cap, including crampons, helmet, harness and an ice axe. 

Once you have gone through the safety briefings, you will board a minibus with the rest of your small group of travel companions and drive to the foot of the glacier. 

Then, it’s time to snap on your crampons, sharpen your axes and begin your hike. Glaciers are powerful beasts in constant formation, and experiencing them from afar can never compare to walking across their surface. 

Be prepared to witness a wonderland of ice sculptures, narrow ridges and deep crevasses. Your knowledgeable guide will happily share with you the history and geology of this frozen natural marvel, as they bring you to the best viewpoints to enjoy the magnificent mountainscapes around you, including Iceland’s highest summit of Hvannadalshnúkur. 

What separates this tour from other glacier walks is that your guide will lead you to sturdy ice walls or sinkholes, where you can test your skills in ice climbing. No former experience is needed, and your guide will make sure to match the wall with your skill levels, allowing everyone to have a go at the climb. 

After approximately three hours of hiking and climbing on the ice, you will make your way back to the minibus and be brought back to base camp. 

Don’t hesitate in securing your spot on this fantastic combo tour, walking up an ice sheet and testing your luck at ice climbing. Check availability by choosing a date.