Join us for a glacier hike on Sólheimajökull, which flows down on the southern side of the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap on the south coast of Iceland. This ice cap hides the infamous and destructive Katla volcano, which last erupted over 100 years ago. The glaciers are rapidly changing and have been affecting Iceland’s landscapes thousands of years, as you will learn all about on this hike. Our guide will safely take you onto this unique landscape, ensuring you learn all about the glaciers formation and effects on surrounding landscapes as it moves and changes. A glacier hike on Sólheimajökull glacier gives you a great insight into one of nature’s wonders. This is an experience you’ll never forget from your trip to the land of Fire & Ice!
The glacier that we hike on is Sólheimajökull glacier, an outlet glacier of the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap, which covers one of the country’s most active volcanoes, Katla. This sits beside a more famous peak, Eyjafjallajökull, which famously erupted in 2010.
You will meet our guide in a bus marked Hidden Iceland in the parking lot at Sólheimajökull glacier (drive up road 221). There you will see the Hidden Iceland marked vehicle and meet your wonderful glacier guide. Here you will be fitted for all the necessary safety equipment needed for the hike (helmet, ice axe, harness and crampons). If hiking boots or waterproofs are needed then these can also be chosen in the booking process, and fitted here. Once all geared up we’ll leave the car park and walk up the glacier valley to the front of the glacier, each step taking us closer to the icy giant.
Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike. South Coast: Fire & Ice Tour. Hidden Iceland. Photo Danny Mcgee
Sólheimajökull Glacier. South Coast: Fire Tour. Hidden Iceland. Photo by Paul Fencaros
Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike. South Coast: Fire & Ice Tour. Hidden Iceland. Photo Rachel Keenan Photography Feature
Before taking the first steps on the ice your glacier guide will go through important safety and technical points of walking with crampons before setting off. Then, with crampons on our hiking boots, a harness around the waist and an ice axe in hand, we continue our hike and take our first steps on the glacier to explore it’s ever-changing glacier landscape. The glacier hike is always a highlight, both with our guests and guides, as the glacier is always changing and exciting as we pass it’s crevasses, ridges, moulins and the views from the top out to the south coast.
The glacier hike on the tour is around 2.5 hours in total with around 1 hour spent on the glacier ice itself. We hike for around 3-4 kilometres (approx. 2 miles) in total at a medium pace with lots of stops. The hike requires a moderate fitness level with good knee and ankle mobility, where you will hike up and over uneven terrain.
Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike. Hidden Iceland | Photo by Berglind Jóhannsdóttir
Sólheimajökull Glacier. South Coast: Fire & Ice Tour. Hidden Iceland. Photo by Norris Niman. Feature
Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike. South Coast: Fire & Ice Tour. Hidden Iceland. Photo Danny Mcgee
Meeting point and time
Sólheimajökull Glacier Parking Lot
GPS point: N 63.532833 W 19.369675
Make sure to be at location at least 15 minutes prior to tour departure time.
Look for minibus with Hidden Iceland logos on the sides.
Driving time from Reykjavík: 2.5 hours in good weather and driving conditions
Driving time from Vík: 45 min in good weather and driving conditions
Not self driving? If you are not driving and want to do a glacier hike then join our South Coast: Fire and Ice tour or our Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Two Day tour, which both include glacier hikes and depart from Reykjavík.
Tour highlights
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Included: Harness, helmet, axe, crampons, guide
Optional Add-ons: Hiking Boots, Waterproof Jackets & Waterproof pants (choose during booking)
Excluded: Waterproof clothing, hiking boots, meals
Departure time: This tour is private to your group so departure time can be flexible. Get in touch with Hidden Iceland and we will find the best time for you.
Keen to try out ice climbing, and explore the glacier even more!? Then join us for a Private Ice Climbing Tour.
Glacier Hike Details
The glacier hike on our scheduled trips are aimed for first timers. However, the ice can be steep and uneven in sections. If you struggle with walking for one hour at a good pace and don’t enjoy walking on uneven and sloped ground then the glacier hike may not be for you. The steepest sections involve stair like features and slopes. You will be wearing crampons (spikes) on your feet and full mobility of your ankles and knees is necessary. The glacier hike on this tour is around 2.5 hours in total with around 1 hour spent on the glacier ice. The hike covers around 3-4 kilometres (approx. 2 miles). The hike requires a moderate fitness level where you will hike up and over uneven terrain.
Each guide on the trip will make the final decision at the time of the hike. If they refuse to let you on the ice please know it is purely for the safety of not just you, but also for the rest of the group. To learn more about the glacier hike you can check out our Glacier Hike Guide.
Good to know
The glacier can sometimes be unsafe or inaccessible due to weather or conditions at the glacier. This can often be as a result of high levels of rainfall, strong winds or heavy snow. Hidden Iceland consider safety to be our number one priority. If we are unable to do the glacier hike then we try and reschedule for another day or cancel and provide you with a full refund.
All tours are charged in Icelandic Krona (ISK). Other currencies shown on the website are only indicative and are subject to currency fluctuations.
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