Vatnajökull National Park

Tours

Meet at the Café by Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, about 40 minutes east of Skaftafell, for the start of a unique winter activity and look at an extraordinary natural phenomenon. Go inside some of the ice caves that form after water runs beneath the Vatnajökull Glacier during the summer. Every fall, local guides hunt for new ice caves, as their location can change each year. The structure and condition can also vary from year to year, but rest assured your guide will decide which is the best cave to visit, depending on the safety and weather conditions. Drive for approximately 20 to 30 minutes to the ice cave chosen by your guide, and then walk for 5 to 15 minutes to the mouth of the cave. Upon arrival, enjoy between 1 and 1.5 hours to look inside at the miraculous blue ice of the cave, and take in the natural beauty of the surrounding area.

Explore the dramatic landscapes of the south of Iceland on a full-day sightseeing tour by bus. Go to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon outlet of the largest glacier in Europe, leaning about its history and formation from your local guide. Following a pickup from your hotel in Reykjavik, transfer to the southern coast and the dramatic Glacier Lagoon. Enjoy plenty of time to see the floating icebergs and enjoy the stunning scenery. During the season, make sure to reserve your ticket to the boat cruise on the Jökulsárlón and experience the unique Glacier Lagoon spectacle up close. When you prebook, your place is guaranteed. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is Iceland’s largest and deepest glacier lagoon. It branches from Breidamerkurjokull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier. Return to Reykjavik, stopping at the gorgeous waterfall Seljalandsfoss. You will visit the Diamond beach with black sand, and there will be an additional stop in Iceland's southernmost village at Vík for dinner.

Embark on a guided tour from Reykjavik to the Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon. Witness the mighty Hvannadalshnjúkur mountain and black sand desert that sprawls between Skaftafell National Park and the lagoon.  Stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where you can walk behind the cascades to reach the other side. Continue to the majestic Skógafoss waterfall and admire the impressive 60-meter drop. Continue to Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon and stroll along the shores of the lake. Immerse yourself in the tranquility of the area as 1,000- to 1,500-year-old ice breaks away from the Vatnajökull glacier and floats silently on the water. Recognize locations from some of the many movies that have been filmed in the area, such as Batman Begins and Tomb Raider. Stop at the spectacular Diamond Beach and admire the strand of black sand speckled with clumps of ice, giving an appearance of shimmering diamonds. In the warmer months, enjoy an added boat ride around the lagoon and witness the floating icebergs up-close.

Explore breathtaking ice formations and glacier mills on this guided tour in Skaftafell. Marvel at a naturally-formed, blue ice cave and learn how glaciers are formed. A professional hiking guide will take you to the base of Falljökull, an outlet glacier of the Vatnajökull ice cap, and lead you up to the cave. On a clear day, be sure to look out for Hvannadalshnúkur in the distance.

Discover what it feels like to walk on impacted ice on an amazing hike across the outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier. Get breathtaking views of the ice-covered peaks of Skaftafell National Park in the epic wilderness of Iceland. Meet your guide at the meeting point to pick up your crampons, ice axes, harnesses, and helmets. Then, drive by bus to the start of your hike and put on your crampons and steel frames tied to your hiking boots for the amazing adventure ahead. Spend around 60 to 90 minutes on the ice to see crevasses and deep cracks on the surface. Learn about the vertical shafts known as moulins, formed when melting water finds its way into the fissures and cracks. Look into small ice tunnels and capture the beautiful blue heart of the ice in the winter. Learn the history of the glacier from your English-speaking guide.

On the Ice Exploration tour, you will spend approximately 2 hours (4-6 km) hiking on Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull. During the tour, your guide will share their knowledge of how the glaciers form, how they are in constant change and how these changes affect the surrounding area. You will see numerous different natural attractions, from beautiful mountains to ashy ice and if you are lucky, some blue ice. On some days, we will prioritize walking further to cover a larger area of the glacier, while on other days, we will prioritize entering small moulins or crevasses. What we do on the tour depends on the conditions of the day as well as the group itself, but we promise to show you the best attractions available at each time and to make your day an unforgettable one. The tour is rated medium in terms of difficulty because you are required to walk 4-6 km on different types of terrain and in various types of weather conditions. To participate in this tour, you must be in good general health and able to walk 4-6 km. Most of our guests have never been on a glacier before so no previous glacier experience is needed. We provide everyone with crampons, helmets, and a safety harness. The guide will introduce you to the safety equipment and ensure you are ready before the adventure begins. We recommend that you dress according to the weather on the day of departure; the glacier is usually no colder than the meeting point at the Glacier Lagoon. Please wear comfortable, warm, yet breathable clothing and comfortable shoes. We recommend wearing hiking boots that cover your ankles, but in the summer most sturdy shoes will do. The meeting time is the time you see on your ticket; either 08:30, 12:00 or 13:45 – the tour will depart approximately 30 min after that, when everyone is geared up and ready. Tour structure: • We meet at our super jeeps near the WC and café at the Glacier Lagoon. • Gear-up takes approximately 30 minutes. • A 30-minute drive to the glacier is followed by a 15-minute walk. • You'll explore the glacier for about 2 hours. • The return involves walking back to the jeep and driving back to the Glacier Lagoon. Important information: When you book the glacier walk you should be in good health and able to walk 4-6 km in different types of weather. We operate in any type of weather (rain, wind, cold) so please dress appropriately. If you don't think walking 4-6 km on a glacier is something for you, please request a refund at least 24 hours before the tour. It is not possible to receive a refund if you cancel on the same day of the tour, or if you cancel mid-tour. Please read the description carefully, it is your responsibility to know your capacity and limits.

Your journey will begin by meeting your driver guide and the biggest custom-made super jeeps in Iceland! We depart from the Glacier Lagoon and drive for about thirty minutes or as close as possible to Breiðamerkurjökull, the glacial tongue that extends from southern Vatnajökull. During the journey, your guide will explain how ice caves form. They will also share information about the glaciers, volcanoes, and the culture of this area. After arriving, walk for about 15-20 minutes (1 km) until you reach the glacier and the cave’s entry. Before you enter the cave, your guide will go over some safety issues and provide you with helmets and crampons if conditions require them. We spend a minimum of 30 minutes inside the cave, up to 60 minutes. The time inside the cave varies depending on the conditions that day, the weather, the structure of each cave and the traffic (other groups). Please be aware that the ice caves are constantly changing due to natural processes. Old caves may disappear, and new ones form, even within the same season. As a result, the ice caves we visit may differ, and the photos on our website may feature caves that no longer exist. For the most up-to-date images, we recommend following us on Instagram, where we regularly share recent photos from our tours. Our Instagram: ice.explorers.is or see our website: https://explorers.is/gallery/

Experience the majestic beauty of a natural ice cave on a tour of Vatnajökull Glacier. Meet your certified glacier guide at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and then take a 20-30 minute scenic drive to the ice cave.  Get ready to see a magical world of blue ice as you enter the ice cave. Your guide will ensure that you are safe and secure once inside the cave. Gear up with all necessary glacier gear, provided for your safety. Cast your eyes on the heavenly shades of blue ice once you are inside the cave. Take stunning photos of the ice as you spend approximately 40 minutes exploring this miracle of Mother Nature. Discover all that the ice cave has to offer before heading back to Jökulsarlón Glacier Lagoon.

Seize the opportunity to experience one of the stunning blue ice caves within Vatnajökull Glacier, the largest glacier in Europe. This tour is rated as easy, as our modified 4x4 allow participants to get very close to the entrance of the cave without exerting much effort. Head into the more easily accessed ice caves for an encounter with the stunning blue ice and the beautiful views for which Vatnajökull is famous. In the warmer summer months, the glacier melts and forms holes and crevasses. After they freeze, get an up-close look at what nature has created. The winter months are all different and the glaciers and caves are constantly evolving, making the sites extra interesting. Each season, the best available cave is chosen for this tour. The tour begins from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in Southeast Iceland. Meet your professional glacier guide and climb on board a 4x4 Superjeep to begin the rugged journey towards the glacier. The drive is an experience in and of itself. Once there, you will have plenty of time to enjoy the beauty and splendor of the icy blue caves of Vatnajökull.

Enjoy a frozen adventure in the wilderness of Skaftafell and hike across a stunning outlet glacier of Vatnajökull in the company of an expert guide. Get a short safety briefing and collect all the necessary equipment at the meeting point. Then, marvel at the majesty of the landscape on the short hike to the ice cap. Put on your crampons for security out on the ice. See different formations, including deep crevasses and ice sculptures, and get panoramic views over Skaftafell National Park. Learn how glaciers are formed and hear how their future is under threat as a result of global warming. Get an introduction to more advanced stages of glacier hiking before heading back to the meeting point.