Description
Summary
Description
Hike across rocky trails, hear the rush of glacial rivers, and stand face-to-face with the icy edge of Sandfellsjokull on this hands-on glacier mapping tour from Vik. This trip is made for travelers who enjoy the outdoors, like to learn new things, and want to be part of real climate research in one of Iceland’s quietest and wildest places.
This 10-hour private tour offers more than just sightseeing. It gives you the chance to step into the role of a Citizen Scientist and contribute to real glacier research alongside experts from Katla Geopark.
With a small group and access to a remote, rarely visited glacier, this tour offers a more personal and unique experience.
Your day begins in Vik, where a local guide picks you up for a full-day journey into the Icelandic Highlands. After a quick safety briefing and gear check, you climb aboard a sturdy 4x4 vehicle and head off-road, bouncing across rough tracks surrounded by black sand and mountain views.
As the road ends, the adventure continues on foot. You'll follow your guide along a 1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) hiking trail that winds through rocky hills, narrow streams, and strange landforms shaped by old lava flows. The sound of rushing water grows louder as you pass iron-rich waterfalls and reach the edge of Sandfellsjokull Glacier.
This glacier is quiet, wild, and far from the usual crowds. You’ll walk across soft patches of moss and jagged ground to reach the ice, where the landscape changes to blue crevasses and smooth, frozen shapes.
With help from your guide, a glacier specialist from Katla Geopark, you begin your role as a Citizen Scientist. You’ll help map the glacier’s edge and monitor water flow from the outlet rivers, collecting simple data that becomes part of an ongoing climate study.
No experience is needed, just a willingness to learn and observe.
After the fieldwork, you stop to eat your packed lunch in the open air. All around you are views of snow-dusted peaks, wide valleys, and the white curve of the glacier in the distance. The quiet and space give you time to take in where you are.
On the hike back, you’ll retrace your steps through the same rugged landscape, taking in the ever-changing views of the glacier and its surroundings.
Once you reach the base, you'll board the 4x4 for a comfortable ride back to Vik, reflecting on the day’s adventure and your contribution to glacier research.
After a few weeks, you’ll receive a digital report from Katla Geopark showing the results of your glacier mapping efforts. You’ll also get a certificate of participation to mark your role in this rare research tour.
Join this glacier mapping tour from Vik to explore Sandfellsjokull Glacier, take part in real climate research, and experience one of Iceland’s most remote and untouched natural areas. Check availability now by choosing a date.
