Ice Climbing Tours

Experience the wild with this exhilarating expeditionary hike and ice climbing tour on an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull glacier, one of Skaftafell Nature Reserve's most intriguing wonders. At the car park by the Skaftafell Visitor Center, you will meet your certified glacier guide, who will quickly proceed to teach you the basics of glacier safety, the usage of crampons and ice climbing techniques. Your guide will be quick to distribute all of the necessary equipment for the journey, including crampons, helmets, harnesses, and ice axes. They will also be eager to teach you more details about both the National Park and the glacier itself, its geological makeup and centuries' old formation.  When you're ready to begin the adventure, you will go to a glacier tongue, just one of the many glacier tongues that make up Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier. As soon as you step onto the ice cap, you will have an incredible perspective of the surrounding mountains, including the country's tallest peak, Hvannadalshnúkur, instantly recognisable to fans of HBO's Game of Thrones.  The journey continues on foot, and you will soon be trekking through the majesty of a white blanketed wilderness; the silence is only broken by the sounds of your boots treading the snow and ice.  You will be surrounded by fascinating natural phenomena, such as a glacier moulin—best described as a vertical canyon that cuts deep into the ice cap—and age-old ice sculptures, turned electric blue due to the ancient oxygen trapped inside. Throughout your hike, you will have the opportunity to try climbing with ice axes, adding an extreme edge to this largely picturesque tour. Hurry now and you too can experience the incredible thrill of scaling one of nature's most magnificent giants, the mighty glaciers. Check availability now by choosing a date.

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. 

Get a taste of adventure and feel the chill of ice on this glacier hiking and ice climbing tour. Place your feet on ice for the ultimate Icelandic experience. This four-hour long glacier hike and ice climbing tour is suitable for both the experienced and first-time glacier adventurers alike. Certified and experienced guides will be with you for the duration of your tour to ensure your safety, teach you ice climbing techniques and explain you this mind blowing phenomenon. Ice hiking and ice climbing is a perfect way to get up close and personal with the glacier that formed over 500 years ago. A veritable natural wonder of this earth, a glacier is a place to experience the spirit of this land. Sólheimajökull is a glacial tongue from the larger Mýrdalsjökull glacier and is situated next to the famous Eyjafjallajökull glacier volcano, surrounded by black sand expanses and jagged mountains. This tour starts at the Sólhemajökull parking lot, where you will meet your guides and prepare for the tour. All gear is included so you will get your ice axes, and crampons on site, but please remember to dress warmly, we're voyaging onto an ice-cap after all. It is necessary to bring gloves for the climbing to protect your hands from getting scratched by the hard ice. From the parking lot, there's a 30-minute hike to the glacier roots where you will have plenty of time to marvel at the gigantic mass of ice. Don't worry, as you walk on the glacier, your crampons will give you safe footing on the slippery ice. Once on the glacier, your guide will provide you with climbing gear and assist you with your harness, crampons, ice axe and helmet. Never done ice climbing before? No worries; your experienced guide will teach you all you need to know. You'll learn how to ascend the vertical ice shafts that lead to the heart of the glacier, known as the Moulin, with the assistance of a climbing rope, harness and your trusty ice axe. Deep under the glacier the volcano Katla sleeps, and who knows, you might catch a glimpse of her far below. Gear up, head out on this amazing adventure and feel the ice under your feet. Check booking availability to choosing a date.

Come along on an ice climbing adventure on Sólheimajökull glacier. Bring your favourite people along on this private tour, where you hike across the white expanse to scale a great wall of ice. Those wanting to add an exciting twist to their holiday should not let this fantastic opportunity pass them by.  Located on the beautiful South Coast, Sólheimajökull is a rugged and raw outlet glacier of the larger Mýrdalsjökull. You can meet your guides at the parking lot of the glacier or, if you prefer, request to be picked up from either Reykjavík or various towns on the South Coast.  Because this is a private tour, you get to decide when you depart for your excursion. Should you wish to begin the day early by breathing in the fresh mountain air, you can start in the morning. But if you prefer to visit the cascading waterfalls or black sand beaches of the South Coast before your climb, you can start the tour later. The choice is yours. At the foot of the glacier, your certified glacier guide will give you all gear needed for your adventures, such as crampons, a helmet and an ice axe, as well as teach you how to use the equipment. They will also tell you a little bit about glaciers, from how they are formed to the dangers they face.  Then there is nothing left but to go on the crevasse riddled glacier, with your expert guide leading you past its unusual ice formations, jagged ridges, and sinkholes. As you trek across the ancient ice, you and your guide will be looking for a perfect location for the ice climbing. Once the right spot is found, you’ll get to scale a massive ice wall or descend into a crevasse with the help of your glacier equipment and your guide.  Combine incredible adventure with the beautiful Icelandic nature on this private ice climbing tour. Secure your spot by booking now! Check availability by choosing a date. Minimum 2 people

Reach new and exciting heights with this personalised glacier hiking and ice climbing tour on the staggering Sólheimajökull glacier. This tour boasts a 4:1 customer to guide ratio (the smallest in the country) ensuring the highest levels of safety and a level of intimacy that is bound to make this experience an unforgettable highlight on your travels through Iceland.  You will be picked up early in the morning from your hotel in Reykjavik, before embarking on a two-hour journey down the South Coast of Iceland. If you do not need a pickup, you can meet your guides at Sólheimajökull parking lot on Road 221. Either way, reaching the glacier is a truly majestic drive, with amazing opportunities to see ash mountains, waterfalls and volcanoes. Your driver will make one stop along the way for bathroom breaks and the chance to get a spot for lunch. When you arrive at Sólheimajökull glacier, your guide will take you through the gearing up process. Once you are fully attired, you will begin your hike up the glacier, navigating this new world of ice crevasses and snow. On the lookout for a suitable climbing area, you will finally reach the perfect spot. Here, your guide will take you through the basic principles of ice climbing and offer you feedback on your technique. Between climbing sessions, your guide will also take the time to teach you about the glacier's formation and history, all the while taking you to new and interesting spots for you to continue your practice. After roughly 4 hours ice climbing through the glacier, your guide will lead the group back down. On your trip back to Reykjavík, you will make a short stop at the incredibly beautiful Skógarfoss waterfall.  Don't delay booking this once in a lifetime experience to climb the intricate crevasses waiting for you at  Sólheimajökull glacier. Check the booking availability now by choosing a date.