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Add an exciting twist to your winter holiday with this action-packed tour where you’ll jump aboard a super jeep to travel up Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull, for a glacier hike followed by a visit to an authentic ice cave. Those looking for a unique and rare experience in Iceland need to look no further.
A stop at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is a must when travelling the famed South Coast of Iceland. It is a stunning location where enormous icebergs which have fallen off the nearby Vatnajökull glacier, float on an aquamarine lagoon. It is here where you will meet your guides for today’s adventure.
By the glacier lagoon, you will board a large vehicle known as a super jeep. These cars have been custom built to handle Iceland’s rough terrain. Your guide will take you up the slopes of Vatnajökull glacier, through a beautiful world of ice and snow.
After some time in the super jeep, it is time to strap on crampons, leave the car behind and start the 1.5-hour glacier hike. You’ll be lead through the frosty wilderness of the glacier, past breathtaking ice formations and moulins while the guide tells you all about glaciers, from how they are formed to how they constantly change. Please note that the difficulty level for this tour is set to 'moderate' as the hike to and from the cave is quite long.
You will then reach the entrance to the ice cave, here you will be given plenty of time to explore and photograph this stunning natural feature. Inside the cave, you’ll find walls of sapphire blue filled with millions of tiny bubbles from air frozen inside the ice, and strange ice sculptures, formed by the changing of the seasons.
Come along on this fantastic tour where you’ll ride a super jeep, hike up a glacier and explore inside a blue ice cave on top of Vatnajökull glacier. Book now to secure your spot on this great adventure. Check availability by choosing a date.
Jökulsárlón is Iceland’s most famous glacier lagoon. Conveniently located in the southeast by Route 1, about halfway between the Skaftafell Nature Reserve and Höfn, it is a popular stop for those travelling along the South Coast or around the Ring Road of the country.
This beautiful location is the highlight of many self-drive tours and guided packages; both this 10-Day Summer Road Trip and 6-Day Summer Vacation feature it. Those renting a car can also access it in the south-east of the country. Alternatively, take a tour of Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.
As a glacier lagoon, Jökulsárlón is a lake that is filled with the meltwater from an outlet glacier. In this case, it is Breiðamerkurjökull, a tongue of Europe’s largest ice cap, Vatnajökull.
It stands out, however, due to the fact that it also fills with icebergs breaking from the glacier, some of which tower several stories high.
These icebergs, other than their scale, are notable for their colouration. Although they are, as expected, largely white, most are also dyed electric blue in part, with black streaks of ash from eruptions centuries past.
When the icebergs finally make it across the lagoon, they either drift out to sea or wash up on the nearby shore. Because of the way they glisten against the black sands of Breiðamerkursandur, this area has been nicknamed ‘the Diamond Beach’.
In spite of being a rather recent formation, Jökulsárlón is the deepest lake in the country, with depths of 248 metres (814 feet). With a surface area of 18 square kilometres (7 square miles), it is also growing to be one of the largest.
Jökulsárlón has not been around since Iceland’s settlement; it only formed around 1935. This was due to rapidly rising temperatures in the country from the turn of the twentieth century; since 1920, Breiðamerkurjökull has been shrinking at a dramatic rate, and the lagoon has begun to fill its space.
Today, the expansion of Jökulsárlón is accelerating. In 1975, it had less than half its current surface area.
In the relatively near future, it is expected that the lagoon will continue to grow until it becomes a large, deep fjord.
Though a dark omen for Iceland’s glaciers and ice caps in general, the retreat of Breiðamerkurjökull has resulted in an incredibly beautiful, if temporary, site. This has not been overlooked by Hollywood.
Jökulsárlón has been featured in the James Bond films A View to Kill in 1985 and Die Another Day in 2002, 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and 2005’s Batman Begins.
In 2017, Jökulsárlón was enveloped into the Vatnajökull National Park, thus it is now fully protected by Icelandic law.
Because of the wealth of herring and capelin that the tides bring into the lagoon, Jökulsárlón is somewhat of a hot-spot for Iceland’s wildlife.
In summer, it is a nesting site for Arctic Terns; stay well away from their nesting area, as these birds are notorious for the fierceness with which they protect their eggs, dive-bombing the heads of any they see as a threat. Skuas also nest on the lake’s shores in this season.
Seals can be reliably spotted here throughout the year, swimming amongst or else hauling out on the icebergs. Jökulsárlón provides them with a safe haven to rest and socialise, especially considering the waters of southeast Iceland are renowned for their population of orcas.
Vatnajökull glacier is the largest glacier in Europe, covering 8% of Iceland’s landmass.
Due to its enormous size, parts of it are visited on countless self drive tours, guided packages and tours of the South Coast. This 10-Day Summer Self-Drive and 6-Day Summer Vacation are examples that provide opportunities to visit many of its corners. It can also be explored by those who rent a car.
The glacier is the central feature of the Vatnajökull National park, found in the south west of Iceland, a popular spot for activities like glacier hiking from Skaftafell, boat tours in the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, and ice caving tours between November and March.
Vatnajökull has a surface area of approximately 8,100 square kilometres (3127 square miles); though it is rapidly shrinking due to climate change, its recession is not quite as advanced as at other glaciers, such as Langjökull and Mýrdalsjökull. In parts, it is a kilometre deep (over three thousand feet), and its average thickness is around half of that.
Vatnajökull also holds the tallest peak in Iceland beneath its ice; Hvannadalshnjúkur is 2,200 metres tall (7,218 feet). It also conceals some of the most active volcanoes in the country, the most notable being Grímsvötn, Öræfajökull and Bárðarbunga.
Volcanic activity in the region has occurred on and off throughout the centuries, and many geologists believe that several eruptions are overdue. If their calculations are correct, it would mean significant volcanic activity for Vatnajökull over the scope of the next half-century.
Depending on winds, this could result in worldwide consequences in terms of air-travel, agriculture and the general climate.
The glacier boasts over 30 outlet glaciers, which are channels of ice that flow out of ice caps but remain constrained on the sides of the valley. The major outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull include Dyngjujökull in the north, Breiðamerkurjökull, and Skeiðarárjökull to the south. To the west, one can find the outlet glaciers Síðujökull, Skaftárjökull and Tungnaárjökull.
Numerous rivers run out of Vatnajökull, making up some of the greatest glacial rivers in Iceland. The most notable are:
Tungnaá (west)
Köldukvísl (west)
Þjórsá (west)
Jökulsá á Fjöllum (north)
Skjálfandafljót (north)
Jökulsá á Brú (northeast)
Jökulsá í Fljótsdal (northeast)
Jökulsá í Lóni (south)
Hornafjarðarfljót (south)
Jökulsá á Breiðamerkursandi (south)
Skeiðará (south)
Núpsvötn (south)
Hverfisfljót (south)
Skaftá (south)
Vatnajökull National Park was established in June 2008 and has slowly grown to include more and more areas. The park now covers an area of 14,141 square kilometres (5,460 square miles), 14% of the country. It is the second largest national park in Europe.
Rivers divide the highland plateau to the north of the park. The volcanic table mountain Herðubreið towers over this particular region, along with volcanoes Askja, Snæfell and Kverkfjöll.
The canyon Jökulsárgljúfur was carved out by glacial floods centuries ago. At the upper end of the canyon, you'll find Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Further north, the horseshoe-shaped canyon Ásbyrgi is believed to have formed when Óðinn's eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, stepped his foot down from the heavens.
East around Snæfell, one can find wetlands and ranges, home to roaming herds of wild reindeer and abundant birdlife. Steep mountain ridges make up the south side of Vatnajökull, where outlet glaciers crawl onto the lowlands. The sandy plains of Skeiðarársandur also lie to the south, and the glacial river Skeiðará runs through this vast desert.
One of Iceland's most visited landmarks in the National Park is the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, which sits at the base of the outlet glacier Breiðamerkurjökull. Here, large icebergs that have broken off the glacier float across a vast lake before ending up in the Atlantic Ocean, or washed ashore on the nearby Diamond Beach.
This is one of the best seal-watching spots in the country.
The volume of Vatnajökull reached its peak around 1930 but has since been in a steady process of decline. Because of rising levels of global temperature, Vatnajökull has on average lost about a metre (three feet) of its thickness annually over the past 15 years.
If temperature levels continue to rise, the glacier could be all but gone nearing the end of the next century, leaving only small ice caps on top of the highest mountain summits.
Efforts are being made to prevent what some say is the inevitable, with reforestation projects going on all around the glacier, a proven method of cooling the area. Time will tell how successful they are.
The beauty of Vatnajökull National Park has not gone unnoticed by those in film or television. Many famous scenes have been shot here, starting with James Bond: A View to Kill in 1985. Other notable films with scenes here include Batman Begins, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and James Bond: Die Another Day.
Most famously, however, many places in Vatnajökull have been used in the HBO Series Game of Thrones, north of the Wall. The Wall itself is constructed with CGI using shots of the glacier.
Please be at our meeting point 15 minutes before departure time.
Participants should be in good hiking condition.
We always try to help travellers fulfil their dream vacation. If you need to change the details of your trip, you can do so by pressing the ‘Click here to edit booking’ button that will be on your electronic voucher. This electronic voucher will arrive to you via email upon booking.
Please bear in mind that Iceland has limited service availability and the best services with the best price and highest ratings get fully booked quickly. Completing your booking will ensure the best availability and pricing for your trip. Please find a summary of our cancellation policy and terms of service below. For further information, please see our Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation Due to COVID-19 Related Reasons
If you purchase a day tour, multi-day tour or rent a car on Guide to Iceland, but test positive on arrival to Iceland or if your flight to Iceland is cancelled due to COVID-19, you will get a full refund. If you purchase a self-drive tour or guided tour package along with the cancellation insurance, you will also get a full refund. The cancellation insurance is available for purchase during the booking process while you book your trip.
Alternatively, you can choose to reschedule your trip to another date.
If you test positive on arrival, to get the full refund after arrival, please contact us via email with your booking details and your test result within 4 hours after you receive the test result.
If your flight gets cancelled due to COVID, to get the full refund, please contact us via email with your booking details and your flight cancellation confirmation prior to your scheduled flight departure time.
Cancellations of Day Tours, Combo Deals and Multi-Day tours from independent operators
Day Tours and Combo Deals which only include day tours booked on the Guide to Iceland webpage that are serviced by independent operators can be cancelled up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. This can be done via the ‘Edit Booking’ button in your electronic voucher email.
All tours, regardless of operator, which last for two days or more (Multi-Day tours and Combos that are inclusive of any Multi-Day tours) can be cancelled up to 7 days before departure date notice for an 85% refund. The 15% service fee is to cover the operator cost of planning and arrangement. Please note that changing the number of people in a booking to a smaller number is considered cancellation for the change in the number of pax. No refund is given if tours are cancelled within 7 days notice.
In case of partial cancellations, e.g. an activity portion of a multi-day tour is cancelled by the operator, or a tour layout is changed due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances, a partial refund is due. If an activity is changed, the price difference between activities will be refunded, or a percentage stated by the tour operator as the standard refund due to changes in the program of the tour.
Cancellations of car rentals
Car rentals reservations can be cancelled up to 24 hours before departure and receive a full refund. This can be done via the ‘Edit Booking’ button in your electronic voucher email.
Cancellations of accommodation
The details of available refunds are dealt with on an individual basis depending on the accommodation provider. To cancel accommodation, select the ‘Click here to edit booking’ button in your electronic voucher email. Please note that if your accommodation booking is a part of an All-In-One Self Drive or Holiday package serviced by Guide to Iceland, you will not be able to cancel it via the button in the electronic voucher, you will need to contact us via info@guidetoiceland.is with the relevant information.
Cancellations of flights
Scheduled international and domestic flights are non-refundable, be they a part of an All-In-One Self Drive or Holiday package, multi-day tour, or any other service purchasable on the Guide to Iceland website, unless the Cancellation insurance is purchased. If a cancellation insurance is purchased, a full refund is given.
If flights are a part of a tour listed as a Day-Tour, standard terms of cancellations of day tours apply to a full refund. For cancelling and refunding of private flights (flights specifically arranged and scheduled for you personally or your group in specific), please contact your service agent.
Cancellations due to weather conditions
If your tour is cancelled by the tour provider due to weather conditions or any other environmental circumstances you will always receive a full refund. Exempt from this are any rescheduled second tries of tours which already have been serviced as a first departure. In the case of a volcanic eruption taking place on Icelandic soil stopping you from getting to Iceland, you will also receive a full refund on All products booked on Guide to Iceland.
Cancellation of All-In-One Self Drives and Holiday Packages arranged by Guide to Iceland
You can cancel your All-In-One Self Drive or Holiday package arranged by Guide to Iceland up to 7 days before departure and receive an 85% refund. The 15% service fee is to cover our cost of planning and arrangement. No refund is issued if there are less than 7 days to the starting date of the All-In-One Self Drive or Holiday package.
If a cancellation is made less than 24 hours after booking, Guide to Iceland will refund the tour fully, unless non-refundable separate booking has been made for said All-In-One Self Drive or Holiday package. In such cases, an amount to cover said object will be held, while the remaining amount will be refunded.
It is not possible to cancel or alter any individual services within a package within 7 days of Self Drive or package starting date. Please note that this includes reducing the number of participants within a self-drive or a package.
In cases where an All-In-One Self Drive or a Holiday Package is disrupted due to official road closure or Act of God, Guide to Iceland will reroute and or rearrange to the best of their abilities and assist with cancellations, making partial refunds when applicable and full refunds when applicable.
Clients who have purchased a Cancellation Insurance to accompany their Self Drive or Holiday package can request a full refund up to 48 hours before arrival. Please note that a Cancellation Insurance can only be purchased upon the time of booking or added to a product within 24 hours of booking. Please see Terms and Conditions for further information.
How to cancel or change a booking
All cancellations and changes must be made through the voucher that you receive on your email after booking. It will have an edit booking button that allows you to modify and cancel your bookings. After clicking the button you will be taken to a modification page where you can amend your booking details. There will be buttons available both to confirm changes and to cancel your booking. If you can not cancel or modify your booking then the time to do so has expired.
Refunds of past services need to be submitted within 15 days after the completion of the tour/package services. All refund requests must be made through email to booking@guidetoiceland.is with the email subject as: Refund Request - [Order number]. We do not charge anything for helping you change or make simple rearrangements to your booking for day tours, multi-day tours serviced by independent operators, and car rentals as long as they are requested within the window allowed for changes to a product, but costs can change accordingly with your new details. Please be advised that though we always try our best, due to high demand and low availability, rearrangements are not always possible.
For All-In-One Self-drives and Holiday Packages arranged by Guide to Iceland, please contact your travel planner for any changes needed. We do not charge anything for helping you change or make simple rearrangements to your All-In-One Self drive or Holiday Package, but please note that costs can change accordingly, depending on hotel rates, car rentals, change of included products etc. In that case, we will either notify you about the increased costs or refund you the difference. In cases where changes reach a form that require rebookings and tailoring of travel, a service fee of 15% of total tour price might apply. Please see full Terms and Conditions for further details.
Please note that changing the number of people in a booking to a smaller number is considered cancellation for the change in the number of pax.
Terms for accommodation in All-In-One Holiday packages and Self-Drives booked with Guide to Iceland
If you are booking an All-In-One Holiday Package or Self-Drive with Guide to Iceland, accommodation will be arranged as follows:
Super Budget level accommodation is set in hostel dormitories or rooms with shared facilities, regardless of the number of participants.
Budget, Comfort and Quality level accommodation will be arranged as follows: A single traveller will receive a single bedroom. Even number groups will receive twin/double rooms and odd-numbered groups of travellers will be booked into triple rooms.
Accommodation for children and teens is arranged so that they lodge with their guardians, either in a baby cot or on an additional bed in the room. Should the number of children and teens exceed the number of adults travelling with them, the exceeding number of children/teens will be subject to full adult prices.
Please note that you can contact us at any time to make changes to your accommodation level. Additional charges may apply.
Pickups
During the booking process you will be able to choose a pickup location and starting time. If you do not show up for the scheduled pickup time and location stated on your booking, your reservation is non-refundable.
If you do not know your pickup location at the time of booking, you can choose to update your pickup location later, up to 24 hours before tour departure. Click on the link in your voucher email to update your pickup location and other details. Please call the number listed on your voucher if you do not receive a confirmation of your pickup location update.
Terms of payment
When you reserve online a full payment is charged to your credit card. To reserve for group bookings and packages of more than 15 people, you can also contact us by email and make a 15% down payment. We will then start reserving your trip to secure you the best price. The rest of your payment must reach us 30 days before your arrival. Please contact info@guidetoiceland.is for this service.
All charges are made in Icelandic krona. On our website you can view an estimate of prices in a number of currencies. This is only to help you understand the approximate price in your preferred currency. Final payment is always conducted in ISK. We also refund in ISK. As Guide to Iceland does not charge any booking or transaction fees we can not be held liable to any loss in currency exchange during transactions, nor any third party transaction fees that may occur at the time of payment and/or refund.
Car rental terms
All drivers must be a minimum of 20 years of age and have had a driver’s license for at least 1 year. For certain vehicles, the minimum age might be 23 or higher. It is the responsibility of the client to understand and honour the driver minimum age. Please note that rentals are not obliged to honour a rental should the driver not meet the age requirements. Upon receiving the rental vehicle, a valid driver's license in the Latin alphabet and a credit card must be presented. You will be asked to sign a contract with the car rental. We advise you read this contract carefully and make sure that you are aware of the different insurances that you choose; what you are insured for, self-risk and more. Please note that security deposit from a valid credit card of attending traveller might be required upon pick up. The amount may vary depending on car rental and car model. Please contact the rental agency directly for further information. Upon return of the car, the deposit will be returned to you, provided the conditions of the car is the same as when picked-up. Please note that the car rental agreement will be between the renter and the car rental agency, and any disputes regarding damages etc. will need to be resolved between the two parties. Guide to Iceland cannot be liable for what you have agreed upon with the car rental company.
Guide to Iceland cannot be liable to any loss, damages, injuries, accidents, death or sickness during your stay in Iceland. All matters related to damages to the car are dealt with directly with the car rental. If you have any complaints about one of our car rental partners please send us an email to info@guidetoiceland.is and we will help you protect your rights.
General terms
Guide to Iceland cannot be liable to any loss, damage, accidents, injuries, death or sickness during your tour. The same applies for any changes in tour schedule due to weather, strikes or any other force majeure. Tour operators reserve the right to change routes, schedules and itineraries if needed because of weather, road conditions or should the necessity arise because of unforeseen reasons or circumstances.
We advise all travellers to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance to minimize possible losses due to unforeseeable situations during your travel. Guide to Iceland does not offer any travel insurance, so please contact your preferred private travel insurance company.
If you have a complaint about any of our partners please contact us at info@guidetoiceland.is and we will protect your rights.
This trip was so my fun! We made memories we will never be able to top. The views are breathtaking. The colors in the glacier are amazing. I without a doubt recommend this excursion. I would 100% do it again. Our tour guide was awesome and super knowledgeable.
We had a great tour with Blue Iceland was spectacular and the highlight of our trip. Our guide Tom was fantastic - very personable and knowledgeable and his background in Geology was a great asset in answering our many questions. The initial group of 21 split into two once we got to the glacier and the smaller group made it a more personal experience. I would highly recommend this tour for anyone planning their trip to Iceland!
It is a wonderful experience for this trip. The professional guide does a great job. We have a great time!
Met the Jeep at sunrise at glacier lagoon which was incredible! Momir was an awesome guide who pushed us to explore but kept us safe at the same time. Amazing experience wont be disappointed!
6h "Blue Iceland" tour: We had a breathtaking and beatiful day on the glacier and in multiple ice caves with our guide Tom, who really knows how to manage a group and give interesting information on the nature while cleverly helping participants, who might have some problems moving on the glacier. Definitely recommended!
This tour is stunning and I will definitely recommended. Hiking experience on glacier was amazing and it is beautiful when we were in the cave. It’s amazing tour and our tour Guide Tom was very nice and knowledgeable.
Great moment with our guide Tom. The glacia is wonderful.
Tom was friendly, knowledgeable, insightful, and helped us make the most of our adventure at Vatnajökull! Would highly recommend this tour over the regular ice cave experience
Tom was very professional and he showed us a great beauty and grandeur route .This six-hour hike was really worth it. In fact, this tour was the very highlight of our trip during Iceland! The gracier and ice lagoon were so amazing! Thanks to Tom, again!
INCREDIBLE excursion. Our guide was Mimir and he did a wonderful job throughout the day. Our favorite part of this tour was journeying down into various parts of the glacier and exploring tunnels and valleys that were naturally carved throughout the glacier. Because our group was so small he even set up an area we could try ice wall climbing which was such a great addition to our day. I can’t rave enough about this activity. Five stars for both the tour and the tour guide.