Skaftafell Falljökull Glacier Discovery Hike
- Guided glacier hike on the breathtaking Falljökull outlet glacier
- A memorable mix of adventure, education, and natural wonder
- Learn about glacier movement and understand how glaciers change and retreat with expert insights
- Explore glacial features by observing crevasses, moulins, and icefalls up close
What to expect
Begin your glacier adventure at our hut in Skaftafell National Park, where your certified guide welcomes you before a scenic 4x4 drive through breathtaking landscapes toward the mighty Falljökull glacier. You’ll strap on crampons, receive essential safety instructions, and step onto the glacier itself. As you explore crevasses, moulins, and striking ice formations, your guide shares insights into glacial movement and the changing climate. Witness firsthand how these powerful ice giants shape the land. This is an unforgettable experience combining discovery, education, and awe. Beginner-friendly with no previous experience required. The total guided tour is 4 hours long.




























Reviews
Reviews summaryWe did the glacier hike at Fláajökull with Arctic Adventures and it was amazing! Our guide Neil was super knowledgeable, funny, and made the whole experience feel really safe while still adventurous. He explained so much about the glacier and pointed out cool details that I never would’ve noticed on my own. The pace was just right—enough time to enjoy the views, take photos, and really soak it all in without feeling rushed. Walking on the glacier itself was surreal, with the crevasses and blue ice around us… definitely a highlight of my trip to Iceland.
We were very lucky that we could start the group the next day when many groups were cancelled because of the strong wind yesterday. If you don't want to spend money to rent shoes, you can wear slightly high-top shoes so that the claw shoes can be fixed on your feet. If the weather is good on the day, you don't need to wear too much clothes inside, because you will sweat during the climb, but you must wear a windproof jacket. After putting on the equipment, you will take a 15-minute bus to the destination. After that, you have to walk to the glacier and hike for about an hour. The leader is very professional and will distinguish between groups that want to walk faster and groups that walk slowly. We chose the appreciation group. There are many photo opportunities during the process. The leader will also care about everyone's status. If you find that you are slower, she will ask you to walk beside her. On the way, she will introduce that this glacier is the largest in Europe. We are also lucky enough to have the opportunity to walk on the glacier. She will also lead us to drink or pack glacier haha. It doesn't taste good (not sweet). Our group is 5 hours and we won't climb to the top. If you want to climb to the top to see the icicles, you have to join the 6-hour group, but after listening to the participants, they said that they were super tired and their feet didn't feel like their own. It is recommended that people with more physical strength participate. The 5-hour tour is relatively relaxing with plenty of opportunities to take photos and rest, so overall it won’t be too tiring. It is recommended for those with elders or who want a relaxing photo experience.
Everything was clearly explained and prepared by the guides before we boarded the bus to embark on the hike. Each person gets a harness, helmet, crampon, and ice pick after they checked that you have the right pants and shoes. Our large group was split into smaller groups of about 12 people and Thomas was our guide. As you hike, you will feel warmer so definitely wear lesser layers. One of my friends fell and injured his arm during the descent. Thomas was super quick to respond and admister first aid. He radioed the news through his walkie talkie and 2 other guides quickly appeared to help my friend and to lead the rest of my group down the glacier. All of them were super professional and calm despite what happened. We are very thankful for their quick thinking and we definitely felt that my friend, and the rest of us in the group, were in safe hands. Also, a big thank you to the female doctor who extended her expertise to assist my friend even though she was with her family on a tour!
Guide is very passionate about this job! Safety was emphasized throughout the trip so that everyone could enjoy the beauty of the glacier with peace of mind. There was a small incident during the trip when we were taking the bus back, but due to heavy snow and ice, the bus could not climb up the slope and kept going backwards. The guide said it was like a roller coaster. It’s so high to raise our hands and party together! In the end, it was the driver and the tour guide who personally dug the snow and shoveled the ice so that we could get back to the camp smoothly. The tour guide said that he could sing and imitate Manny from Ice Age, which is really unforgettable for me. Highly recommended!
Such an amazing experience. The guide is friendly, helpful and has a lot of information to tell. We enjoyed the activity so much. The route is easy even elderly can join the tour. (healthy ones, anyway) However this tour is kind of Glacier Hike 101. So we did not go that far into the glacier due to time limit.
Provided Equipment: Harness, Crampons, Ice Axe, Helmet Guide: Josh is a geological scientist who explained how the glacial lagoon was formed and the rapid rate of glacial retreat. He also explained how to use crampons and safety precautions. Don't drop your phone into the crevasse, and the melted glacier water is drinkable. He's very humorous. Itinerary: Hike Difficulty: The hike wasn't too difficult. I think it could have been more challenging, or perhaps a blue ice cave could have been included. The guide had his reasons, so I won't say more. Scenery: Scenery that you can't see in low-latitude countries, highly recommended.
An absolutely fantastic glacier hike! Our professional guide provided detailed explanations of glacier knowledge and the potential dangers hidden within. Having an experienced guide is crucial, especially when global warming is impacting everyone's lives. You can see the effects even more profoundly in a country like Iceland. We could clearly observe the glacier's retreat. The entire tour was very informative and delivered with humor. Entering the glacier crevasse and seeing the blue ice was truly stunning. I highly recommend this experience to anyone traveling to Iceland.
Amazing glacier hike experience in Iceland! The guide was super friendly and professional, explained everything clearly, and made the whole trip safe and fun. The view on the glacier was breathtaking — definitely a must-do activity in Iceland!
Easy administration and registration. Sara was a lovely guide who is always attentive of our safety and shared her wealth of knowledge as we hike. Crampons and ice axe/pick were provided as part of the package, and boots are available for rent at affordable price. Recommebded!
With the proper guidelines and clear instructions given by the company guide, we were able to have a safe and enjoyable glacier walk.
Good to know
Please note: the meeting point for this tour is our wooden hut in Skaftafell National Park. Skaftafell is located 327km (203 miles) from Reykjavík. The nearest towns to Skaftafell are Kirkjubæjarklaustur, 69km to the west and Höfn, 130km to the east.
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