Best Skaftafell Tours in Iceland — Largest Selection & Cheapest Prices Guaranteed

Skaftafell, located in Vatnajokull National Park in Southeast Iceland, is a top destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Known for its stunning glaciers, incredible waterfalls, black sand deserts, and accessible hiking trails, Skaftafell is one of the most visited areas in Iceland, and it's a 4-hour drive from Reykjavik.

One of the most popular activities in the Skaftafell Nature Reserve is exploring the Vatnajokull glacier, the largest ice cap in Europe. There are multiple outlet glaciers in the area, and guided glacier hiking tours are available year-round, as well as ice-caving tours in winter, providing visitors with the opportunity to explore the icy landscapes that have been shaped by centuries of glacial activity.

Best Skaftafell Tours

The top activity in the Skaftafell Nature Reserve is glacier hiking, and there are plenty of experiences to choose from. These are the best Skaftafell tours for a memorable glacier adventure.

1. The Skaftafell Glacier Hiking Tour: A guided hike perfect for beginners and experienced adventurers alike. You’ll explore the breathtaking landscapes of the glacier with all the necessary gear provided.
2. The 5-Hour Skaftafell Glacier Hiking Tour: A longer tour offering more time to discover ice formations, deep crevasses, and stunning views. Ideal for those who want an in-depth experience.
3. The Skaftafell Ice Cave Tour & Glacier Hike: This combination tour lets you explore a stunning natural ice cave and walk on the glacier. It’s a must for photography enthusiasts.
4. Beginner-Friendly Glacier Walk in Skaftafell on Vatnajokull Glacier: A shorter, easy-paced hike designed for first-timers. A great introduction to glacier hiking without being too physically demanding.
5. Challenging 5-Hour Ice Cave and Glacier Hike on Falljokull Glacier: Perfect for those seeking a more adventurous experience, this hike includes exploring ice caves and scaling steeper glacier sections.
6. Guided 4-Hour Glacier Hiking Tour in Skaftafell National Park: A well-rounded 4-hour tour covering the basics of glacier hiking while offering fantastic views of the surrounding natural wonders.
7. Glacier Hike & Ice Climbing from Skaftafell in Vatnajokull National Park: Combine glacier hiking with ice climbing for an adrenaline-filled adventure. This tour is perfect for thrill-seekers!
8. 4-Hour Into the Glacier Experience with Glacier Hiking & Ice Caving with Transfer from Skaftafell: A convenient option that includes both glacier hiking and a visit to an ice cave, providing a magical day out.

Best Airplane Sightseeing Tours from Skaftafell

Skaftafell has a small airport and is the starting point of many airplane sightseeing tours over the incredible Icelandic Highlands. Here are the best sightseeing tours in Skaftafell, which provide unforgettable views over remote landscapes.

1. Sightseeing Flight over Vatnajokull Glacier from Skaftafell: A short flight offering a bird’s-eye view of Europe’s largest glacier, with stunning landscapes stretching as far as the eye can see.
2. Amazing 1-Hour Airplane Tour over Landmannalaugar and Highlands from Skaftafell: Fly over colorful rhyolite mountains, volcanic craters, and highland trails in this unforgettable journey over the Landmannalaugar area.
3. Scenic 45-Minute Airplane Tour over Skeidararjokull Glacier & the Black Sands of Skeidararsandur: Witness the dramatic contrasts of white glaciers and black sands in this compact sightseeing tour.
4. 50-Minute Sightseeing Flight over Laki Craters, Glaciers & Highlands from Skaftafell: Explore the incredible volcanic craters of the Lakagigar and enjoy sweeping views of glaciers and the Icelandic Highlands.

Best Self-Drive Tours to Skaftafell

Renting a car and heading out for an adventure is one of the best ways to experience Iceland. These top self-drive tours make it easy to visit the Skaftafell Nature Reserve and experience all the area offers.

1. 7-Day Northern Lights Self-Drive Tour Through the Golden Circle and South Iceland: Explore top attractions, including Skaftafell, the Golden Circle route, and Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, while chasing the northern lights.
2. 10-Day Self-Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland with Top Attractions & Snaefellsnes: Discover Iceland’s most iconic sights around the Ring Road, from the Snaefellsnes peninsula to Skaftafell and beyond.
3. Incredible 1-week Summer Self-Drive Tour of the Ring Road of Iceland & Golden Circle: Perfect for summer travelers, this week-long tour includes stops at Skaftafell, the Golden Circle, and other amazing landmarks around the Ring Road.
4. One-Week Northern Lights Self-Drive Tour in Winter of South & West Iceland with Ice Caving: A winter adventure featuring the South Coast, Snaefellsnes peninsula, ice caving, and opportunities to see the northern lights.
5. Magical 6-Day Northern Lights Self-Drive Tour in the South Coast of Iceland with Ice Caving: Visit Skaftafell, Jokulsarlon, and other South Coast highlights while chasing the auroras. It's highly rated and includes an ice-caving experience.
6. 5-Day Northern Lights Winter Self-Drive Tour with the Golden Circle & Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: A compact 5-day itinerary that includes must-see attractions along Iceland’s South Coast and the Golden Circle.
7. 7-Day Self-Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland: Cover all the major highlights of Iceland, including Skaftafell, in a week-long self-drive adventure.
8. Epic 2-Week Self-Drive Tour of the Ring Road of Iceland & the Westfjords: For the ultimate Ring Road adventure, this two-week tour includes the best of the Ring Road, the Snaefellsnes peninsula, and the remote beauty of the Westfjords.

Best Things To Do in Skaftafell

Skaftafell offers a variety of activities and attractions, from hiking trails to natural wonders. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful walk or an adventure on the ice, here are the best things to do in Skaftafell.

• Hike to Svartifoss Waterfall - One of Skaftafell’s most famous landmarks, Svartifoss is surrounded by unique basalt columns that resemble a pipe organ. The hiking trail is easy to follow, with inclines that are suitable for most visitors. Along the way, you’ll enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes and see other smaller waterfalls.

• Explore the Skaftafellsheidi Plateau - For those seeking longer hikes, the Skaftafellsheidi plateau offers incredible panoramic views of glaciers, mountains, and the surrounding lowlands. This moderate-to-difficult trail is perfect for experienced hikers who want to escape the crowds.

• Discover the Morsardalur Valley - This peaceful valley is home to scenic trails and small streams, perfect for a relaxing hike. It’s less visited than other parts of Skaftafell, making it an ideal spot for solitude.

• Visit the Skeidara Sandur Black Sand Plains - These vast black sand plains stretch between Skaftafell and the ocean. Formed by glacial floods, the plains offer a dramatic and unique landscape for photography.

• See the Skeidara Bridge Monument - Just a 5-minute drive from Skaftafell, the Skeidara Bridge Monument marks the destruction of part of the Ring Road in a massive glacial flood (jökulhlaup) caused by the Grimsvotn volcano eruption in 1996. The flood brought huge icebergs and chunks of the Vatnajökull Glacier, severely damaging one of Iceland’s longest bridges. Today, you can see the twisted steel and concrete remains, along with signs explaining the event and the area’s powerful natural forces.

Best Things To Do Around Skaftafell

Skaftafell is surrounded by incredible destinations that are easy to reach by car, making it an excellent addition to your South Coast itinerary. Here are some top things to do within driving distance of Skaftafell.

• Explore Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon (45-minute drive East) - The Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon is one of Iceland's most famous attractions. This glacial lagoon is filled with floating icebergs that break off from the Breidamerkurjokull glacier. You can take a Jokulsarlon boat tour in summer or admire the icebergs from the shore year-round.

• Visit Diamond Beach (45-minute drive East) - Just across the road from the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, Diamond Beach is where icebergs from the lagoon wash up on the black sand. The contrast of the sparkling ice against the dark sand makes it one of Iceland's most stunning and unique sights. It's a must-visit for photographers and nature lovers.

• Stokksnes and Vestrahorn Mountain (1-Hour 40-minute drive East) - This area is famous for its dramatic mountain views, black sand beaches, and a Viking Village film set. The Stokksnes peninsula and the towering Vestrahorn mountain are popular spots for photographers and nature lovers.

• Visit Hofn (1-Hour 30-Minute drive East) - Hofn is a small fishing town known for its stunning views of the Vatnajokull glacier and the surrounding mountains. It’s a great place to enjoy fresh seafood, particularly lobster, and explore the nearby Vatnajokull National Park.

• Fjadrargljufur Canyon (50-Minute drive West) - The breathtaking Fjadrargljufur canyon has a hiking trail along its edge, offering stunning views of the winding river below. It’s a great spot for photography and short walks.

• Eldhraun Lava Field (1-Hour drive West) - The Eldhraun lava field is the largest in the world and was formed by a massive volcanic eruption in the late 18th century. Covered in soft green moss, the field looks like a surreal landscape and is a great stop for a quick walk or photo opportunity.

• Kirkjubaejarklaustur (1-Hour West) - The small town of Kirkjubaejarklaustur is known for its peaceful atmosphere and nearby attractions like the Systrafoss waterfall and the basalt columns at Kirkjugolf, which look like a paved church floor but are natural formations.

• Visit Vik (2-Hours West) - Vik is a popular coastal village famous for the nearby Reynisfjara black sand beach. You can also see the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, visit the Dyrholaey peninsula for panoramic views, or go on a Katla ice-caving tour, one of the more popular excursions in Iceland.

Best Places to Stay Near Skaftafell in Iceland

Staying near Skaftafell allows you to fully experience the breathtaking landscapes of Vatnajokull National Park, with easy access to glaciers, waterfalls, and scenic hiking trails. Waking up surrounded by towering mountains, vast black sand plains, and stunning ice formations makes for an unforgettable experience. Whether you're looking for a cozy hotel near the park or more options in nearby towns, there are great accommodations to choose from that suit different preferences.

• Hotel Skaftafell: One of the closest options to Skaftafell National Park, around a 5-minute drive from the park entrance. It's a 3-star hotel offering comfortable rooms and incredible views of the surrounding glaciers and black sands.
• Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon: For a more luxurious stay, this 4-star hotel is located within a 30-minute drive west of Skaftafell and is known for its stylish rooms and fantastic restaurant.
• Fosshotel Nupar: A convenient countryside hotel offering a comfortable stay with incredible views of the surrounding area. It's around a 40-minute drive from Skaftafell National Park.

For more options, you can find great accommodations in Hofn, a small coastal town about 1.5 hours drive east, or book stays in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, an hour's drive west. It offers a convenient location for exploring both Skaftafell and the beautiful South Coast.

If you'd like to fully embrace staying among nature, Skaftafell National Park has a popular campsite equipped with necessary amenities for an enjoyable outdoor adventure. It's a great option for those traveling with a tent or renting a campervan, offering easy access to the park's stunning landscapes and hiking trails.

Plan Your Perfect Skaftafell Adventure

The Skaftafell Nature Reserve is an incredible area to include in your itinerary, offering natural beauty and a variety of exciting activities. From glacier excursions and sightseeing flights to peaceful hikes and nearby attractions, there's something for every traveler. Whether you're seeking adventure, stunning views, or unique experiences, Skaftafell and its surrounding nature will leave you with unforgettable memories. Explore the selection of Skaftafell tours for your adventure in Iceland.