The best glacier hikes from Reykjavík
Iceland, the land of ice and fire and home to Europe's largest national nature park, is where we're taking you to discover the top 5 glacier hikes from Reykjavík. 11% of Iceland is covered in magnificent glaciers, offering visitors spectacular scenery... so glacier hiking is an activity not to be missed during your stay!
Iceland is the ideal place for glacier trekking, which takes place on a glacier, an ice floe or an ice cap. Safety is guaranteed thanks to special equipment and, of course, the instructions of an experienced guide! The capital, Reykjavik, is the perfect base from which to explore Iceland and its breathtaking scenery, with a wide range of day trips available.
We have selected the best glacier hikes in Iceland to discover from Reykjavik.
Discover all the spots on the map of Iceland below!
1 - The Sólheimajökull glacier
Located 150km from Reykjavik, Sólheimajökull is the closest glacier to the capital! Easily accessible by car or bus, it is a popular destination for tourists looking to discover southern Iceland. Sólheimajökull is a glacier tongue attached to the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap, which covers an active and accessible volcano called Katla. Let yourself be tempted by an excursion to the Katla ice cave from Reykjavík!
Some ten kilometres long, the Sólheimajökull glacier offers impressive ice caves, crevasses... and a panoramic, authentic view! You can find out more about the formation of this glacier, as well as the impressive Skógafoss waterfall nearby, on the Sólheimajökull glacier hike!
2 - The Eyjafjallajökull glacier
Eyjafjallajökull, found between Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss, Iceland's 2 most famous waterfalls, is one of the country's most beautiful glaciers.
This ice cap is one of the smallest on the island of fire and ice! All along your hike, you'll find small streams of pure water, so natural that you can drink it along the way! The summit, which rises to 1666m, is the perfect place to take a few photos of the superb scenery you'll discover after the ascent. The eruption of the Eyjafjöll volcano in 2010 has attracted the attention of many tourists looking to explore the scene of the events... Eyjafjallajökull is therefore a must-see for the more curious among you!
3 - The Snaefellsjökull glacier
At the heart of Snæfellsnes National Park lies one of Iceland's most picturesque glaciers. Between ice and lava, Snæfellsjökull offers a view of the fjords and the Reykjanes peninsula from its 1446m summit! Your private hike to the top of the Snæfellsjökull glacier, bookable only in summer, will take you over the layer of ice that covers an impressive stratovolcano dating back almost 700,000 years... Gain altitude and admire the black sand beach as well as several glacial caves and sumptuous hidden waterfalls. Located 120km from Reykjavik as the crow flies, Snæfellsjökull is the ideal glacier for a day's hiking in Iceland!
4 - The Langjoküll glacier
Just a few kilometres from the Golden Circle, Langjoküll is the most accessible glacier for tourists. You can reach it by super jeep, snowmobile, 8x8 vehicle or even helicopter to explore its impressive ice cave! This man-made tunnel can be visited practically all year round, and reveals a fascinating history spanning almost 500 metres... Langjoküll is the country's second largest glacier, and is the ideal place to take a glacier hike and feast your eyes on it!
5 - The Skaftafellsjoküllglacier
Skaftafellsjökull is a glacier located in the south of the country, around a hundred kilometres from Vik.
Along with Svínafellsjökull, a glacier tongue of Vatnajökull, it is Iceland's largest glacier, otherwise known as the water glacier! The breathtaking scenery leaves hikers speechless...
This tour of Iceland's south coast takes you close to some of the country's most famous landscapes, in the heart of Skaftafell National Park. Here you can get close to the not-to-be-missed Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, as well as Diamond Beach, the sparkling beach with its magnificent ice diamonds!
Between glacier trekking and multiple stops at the country's flagship tourist sites, unforgettable memories are guaranteed.
Now you know the top 5 places to hike in Iceland from Reykjavik. Get closer to these magnificent sites and share unforgettable moments with your loved ones... You can book all your glacier hikes from Reykjavik !