I did a 2-week road trip in the land of fire and ice, and one of my favourite activities was glacier hiking. It was my first time getting this close to a glacier, and I had a lot of questions, which I’ve compiled below. So here’s everything you need to know about hiking a glacier in Iceland, from what to wear to the best season for this activity.
You can enjoy glacier hiking all year round in Iceland, though the experience will differ based on the season you go. Glaciers also shift and move with the seasons, so a glacier that someone hiked a year ago might not look exactly the same as the one you visit.
Going in summer (June to September) means warmer temperatures (usually around 10-15°C or 50-59°C), and you won’t need to wear that many layers.
Insider tip: In summer, the glaciers can sometimes be black rather than blue, due to top layer dirt and ash. It’s not the best time to go if you’re looking for a blue glacier. Also, warmer temperatures mean that the ice is softer, and sometimes ice caves become unstable or shift. This means you won’t be able to enter the caves if conditions are potentially unsafe.
Going glacier hiking in Iceland in winter (November to March) means freezing temperatures, strong winds, and most likely snow and rain. It’s not the best time to visit Iceland, not just for glacier hiking but for other activities as well.
The best time to go glacier hiking in Iceland is in spring (April and May) and autumn (late September and October) because the temperatures are mild (compared to winter), and the spring and autumn rain will have washed away the dirt, making the top layer of the glaciers look cleaner and blue, though this is not guaranteed, if a lot of dirt is trapped in the lower layers.
Regardless of the months you visit, you will need to bring the following items if you’re planning to hike a glacier in Iceland.
Walking and trekking on glaciers is generally safe if you go with a guided group and a licenced tour company and have the right equipment. Climbing with harnesses and ice picks can be a tad less safe, though more exciting, but still safe in a group and with an experienced tour guide. Going alone and in places where glaciers are shifting and moving is NOT safe and not recommended.
On a tour, your guide will equip you with the right tools, including protective headgear and usually a harness. As long as you follow their instructions and don’t attempt anything dangerous, it should be fine.
Snowmobiling is a popular activity, but according to our guide, doing so on glaciers will damage the glaciers as it can cause them to become fragile and break off. Walking or hiking on a glacier with the right equipment is usually fine and has minimal impact.
I did my glacier hiking activity in Iceland in Vatnajökull National Park, as we were staying nearby in a family-owned cabin in Skalafell. We also chose Vatnajökull because it has massive glaciers, including Jökulsárlón, a popular spot with icebergs.
Another reason we chose Vatnajökull is because the glaciers and caves are natural, and I wanted an authentic experience rather than the man-made carved tunnels like at Langjökull Glacier. These are quite spectacular too, and much closer to Reykjavik, but not what I was looking for.
Our activity started right before lunch, and our meeting time was at 11 am at the Jökulsárlón parking lot right by the lagoon with icebergs (there’s a parking fee to pay). We chose this time specifically because I figured there would be fewer people trekking around lunchtime, and I was right — when we were getting ready to start the trek, all the other groups were leaving, and we had the glacier all to ourselves.
We were a bit early, so we had some time to walk around the lagoon and take pictures.
The complete activity from the starting point of driving to the area, putting on your equipment, and heading back to the Jökulsárlón parking lot took a total of 3.5 hours.
We opted for a small group tour of about 10 people total. This is the best option for a more intimate experience, and the caves are also less crowded.
After we parked, paid the parking fee, and explored the lagoon, we went to look for our tour guide. All of them are in the same parking lot, you just need to walk around and look for the company name and logo on the vehicles.
Once everyone had checked in and was in the van, we drove towards the glacier area, specifically towards Breiðamerkurjökull, Europe’s largest glacier, which is the one we explored. Our guide stopped to deflate the tires to avoid getting stuck in small crevasses, and then we continued on until we reached our destination. Note that this part can get a bit bumpy, so pack some ginger candy if you get motion sickness easily.
We got out, he gave us all crampons, a protective hard hat, and a harness. We did not climb the glacier; we simply walked, so we did not really need the harness, but it was still a safety precaution. We also did not use ice picks.
We explored one small cave first, took some pictures, and then walked on to the bigger cave. Our guide talked a bit about glacier formation, Iceland’s geology, and safety protocols. We always stayed close and often walked in a line, and were instructed to not venture off.
The first cave (pictured above) was very small and dark due to a lack of light coming through. There was also a lot of ash and dirt trapped between various layers of ice. It was still incredibly mesmerising though.
The second cave (pictured above) was a lot bigger and bluer. We were able to enter all the way and explore, but just had to wait a bit for the group before us to leave. We spent about 30 minutes exploring and taking photos, and we had the place to ourselves, which was really fun.
Afterwards, we headed back to the car area, removed our crampons and gear, and drove back to Jökulsárlón. The group split up and all went our separate ways. I had lunch there (there are a few food trucks), then explored the lagoon (saw a seal) and Diamond Beach next door.
Insider tip: if you want to visit Diamond Beach, keep your car parked at Jökulsárlón if you’ve already paid for parking there, and walk to Diamond Beach. It takes about 5-10 minutes. If you drive to Diamond Beach, you will need to pay for parking there again.
Iceland has over 260 glaciers as of this date.
Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Iceland, and many consider this the best one to hike. It has natural caves, and it encompasses the popular Jökulsárlón lagoon where you can kayak among icebergs. If you’re lucky you can also see seals in the lagoon, like I did.
Sólheimajökull is also a popular glacier, and is a tad closer to Reykjavik.
Glacier hiking in Iceland is safe if you go on a guided tour. They will equip you with the appropriate safety items like crampons, harnesses, and headgear.
Yes, you can see glaciers all year round in Iceland, but ice caves are more unstable in the summer, and therefore it’s not always possible to enter the caves then.
