Skaftafell: Blue Ice Cave & Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull
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Skaftafell, Iceland
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
The Vatnajökull glacier is widely considered the jewel in Skaftafell National Park’s crown, but the icy terrain holds hidden dangers. On this ice-caving tour, hike around and beneath the Vatnajökull glacier with your certified guide, and explore millions of years of natural geology. With crampons and safety equipment included, enjoy uninterrupted views over the icy landscapes for which Iceland is famous.
- Explore the Vatnajökull glacier caves with your guide: The icy terrain make the caves potentially hazardous
- Up-close views over the icy formations and subterranean terrain
- Gain insight into millions of years of natural history
- Safety equipment included
What's Included
- Small group experience
- Glacier hike & natural ice cave visit
- Certified glacier guide
- Specialized glacier equipment (glacier crampons, walking ice axe, harness, helmet)
- 4x4 bus transport from Skaftafell to the foot of the glacier
- Food and drinks
- Clothing. Waterproof pants, jacket and hiking boots available to rent for a small fee
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Arctic Adventures (Skaftafell Base Camp)228J+CPM, 785 Skaftafell, Iceland
The meeting point for this tour is at the Arctic Adventures Booking Hut in Skaftafell National park. Skaftafell is located in approx 327km (203 miles) distance from Reykjavik.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
1
Skaftafell National Park
2
Vatnajokull Glacier
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Operates in cold weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Minimum age is 8 years old and minimum shoe size is 35 EU
- We provide all safety gear. Please note that our specialized glacier crampons are only available for shoe sizes 35-50 EU. Those with a shoe size beyond these are unfortunately unable to participate.
- Hiking boots with ankle support are mandatory for this adventure (rentals available for a fee)
- This tour is rated as easy, but guests should be prepared to hike ~3km over uneven terrain.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Jaznae_S
After two weeks in Iceland, this is my number one highlight. The experience was amazing and was priced well. It was a little challenging physically but the tour guide was very patient and helpful. He was also very knowledgeable, funny, and let us crawl through some ice windows!
I don't recall his name but he is the Polish tour guide and was partnered with Ola.
Safety is taken seriously while still making sure everyone is having fun
Reviews
4.4
based on 149 reviews
Thrasivoulos_S, Apr 2026
Very good.
Also very good tutor.
Strict and direct where is needed (safety reasons).
Remove the minimum characters needed in the text. Is annoying
Blakelee_E, Apr 2026
Highly recommend!! All the guides were amazing and made the trip very enjoyable! They made sure we were safe at all times, but also had fun and enjoyed the glacier.
Cristian_G, Mar 2026
This was so awesome! The staff were great and made it a bunch of fun! The sights and experience was amazing! Definitely recommend!
Janie_J, Mar 2026
This was a once in a lifetime experience on a glacier. Our guide, Radic (sp?), was great at making sure we were safe as well as providing a lot of knowledge about the glacier.
We started in groups and learned how to put on equipment. After about 20 min. drive from the camp to the hike start site, we separated into groups on 12 to a guide and headed up a steep climb (~20 min) to where we could see the glacier and put on our crampons. The tour spends about 3.5 hours on the glacier exploring an ice cave and a few crevasses.
Would definitely recommend. We were in the last days of the excursion offering before the weather made access to the cave inaccessible due to Spring melt.
Martha_W, Mar 2026
A once in a lifetime adventure, we went March 17 and the weather was perfect. Our guide had a great attitude and was very knowledgeable.
Jaznae_S, Mar 2026
After two weeks in Iceland, this is my number one highlight. The experience was amazing and was priced well. It was a little challenging physically but the tour guide was very patient and helpful. He was also very knowledgeable, funny, and let us crawl through some ice windows!
I don't recall his name but he is the Polish tour guide and was partnered with Ola.
Safety is taken seriously while still making sure everyone is having fun
PANAGIOTA_A, Mar 2026
Unique experience!! I recommend it!! The view is amazing from the glacier . If we come back to Iceland we will try it again and again
Tracy_O, Mar 2025
We had a great experience, start to finish. We loved our guide Thomas and would recommend this glacier tour to anyone visiting Iceland.
Sofia_L, Feb 2025
Staff was amazing and the ice bergs were also very nice to see and walk on. As for the cave, Do NOT have high expectations because it’s not like in the photos. Apparently they are melting and once they are not accessible anymore (stop to exist) the tour company need to find new caves, therefore the cave you se in the picture is from April and DoES not exist anymore. The experience will always depend on timing, since the location keeps changing.
Morgan_B, Oct 2024
The ice cave/tunnel and glacier walk were fantastic. Amazing views the entire way. Our guide, Lucy, was very patient and informative. She made us feel very safe. Our favorite thing we did in Iceland!
Jennifer_T, Oct 2024
Annie and Maija were amazing! They were very helpful and went very slow for all of our group to enjoy. They did great with showing us all of the different locations on the glacier. Very highly recommend this tour group.
Natasha_G, Nov 2023
We loved this tour, it was excellent! There were 12 in our group but when we got to the glacier the guides split us in to two groups of 6 which was better for getting around the glacier and into the ice cave. The glacier is absolutely beautiful, we had a great amount of time there, we went to the ice cave first, then hiked up the glacier for a couple of hours, the pace was nice. The guides were great, would highly recommend!
Saaket_P, Mar 2023
Highly recommended experience and it's not as strenuous as we thought. Fantastic guides! Enjoy the sunset by taking the evening hike.
neeraj_b, Jan 2023
The tour company Arctic does not specify the exact glacier hike and is not flexible at all to switch to different tour on the same day without charging the cancellation fees. I took the glacier hike with other company a day before and given Arctic adventures advertised the glacier hike trip without much details I booked it. Visiting there I was told I will be hiking the same glacier without much different experience. I was asked to talk to customer service and advised switch to crystal cave tour with Arctic scheduled in next 1 hr which was more expensive by Arctic guides. I am disappointed that customer service charged me 100% cancellation fees within for first tour after making tons of pleas and charged me second tour.
Worst customer experience ever. They are Not all flexible as I still went with their second tour. I hope they can refund first tour charges.
Charlie_W, Dec 2022
Climbing the stairs to the cave and the hike it self was incredible. Everyone in the group enjoyed the trip and our guide did a fantastic job.
Jenna_S, Nov 2022
Tour overall was great but an extraordinary let down for what we thought we were getting. Definite misrepresentation from the photo they use to what you actually see. We saw one “cave” that was pretty much a hole in the ice. Like I said it was cool, we were just expecting WAY more for the price.
John_C, Oct 2021
I was unable to go. We had a group of five. The other 4 went. Due to a COVID concern (I wasn’t feeling well) I didn’t go. The website says there are exceptions to refunds on this. The incredibly arrogant guide refused to even reconsider giving me a refund. My colleagues said said he was a Nazi arrogant jerk. I would never recommend such a company. I might not ever use Viator again after this trip. Very disappointed. I paid for being responsible
Response from Host, Oct 2021
Dear Discover20898779125,
Thank you for your feedback!
As any tour operator in the world, we do strongly recommend having travel insurance to cover any emergencies that might occur. We are deeply sorry you were not able to participate and missed out on the opportunity to explore Iceland, but keep in mind we had a seat reserved for you on the tour, therefore a refund is not being offered. If you would have advised us 24 hours prior to the tour, there would have not been any problem.
We do however would like to get more information about the guide and pass this on to the relevant team, so we would appreciate if you could send us an email with your ticket number and we could investigate internally.
Would be highly appreciated!
Kathryn K, Nov 2017
The highlight of our trip. Great small group experience. We booked the earliest departure and it was worth it! It felt like we had the glacier to ourselves. Our guide, Bronwyn, was fantastic. Very knowledgeable, funny, and she took some wonderful group photos of us.
I will note, that we had originally not booked this tour. I had booked another tour via Viator for the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon hike. Unfortunately, the operator cancelled and I never got a notification from Viator. I didn't find out until I was in Iceland the night before when I logged in to look at the parking details, etc. Viator's customer service did work with me and they re-booked us for the Vatnajokull Glacier tour. While I was not happy with the situation, it all worked out in the end. We really did have a great time on this tour and I would recommend it. Just double and triple check that status of your bookings.
Philip D, Jan 2017
Absolutely amazing experience. The guides were great, very accommodating, and provided lots of interesting information.
The title of this tour is a little misleading as this was fundamentally a glacier hike/climb with a relatively quick stop-off into a small-ish ice cave. That being said, we weren't the least bit disappointed. The hiking was amazing and unlike anything we'd ever done.
You will absolutely want waterproof boots, waterproof pants e.g. snow pants and jacket as you're out in the snow/rain/elements for a few hours straight. Additional gear is available from the company to borrow/purchase on-site if you show up underprepared.
Activity level was moderate. Anyone who is able to walk for a few hours straight should have no problem whatsoever keeping up, and the guides do a great job of keeping everyone together.
Sungeun J, Jan 2017
was really amazing. but if you just want to enjoy with not too much walk. you should not. but anyway highly recommended.
sandrine_L, Mar 2026
A little disappointed with this experience because we saw only one ice cave and still it was small that we could barely get back. Hiking was bof except the crevices which were beautiful. The explanations lasted longer than the activity. I find the price exaggerated for the performance. To choose I would take a real visit in a cave.
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Lea_R, Nov 2025
Great experience, with a small group of 8 people, due to the period (November). The guide was very friendly, smiling, welcoming, good advice. The weather was good. Hiking in incredible crevices. The ice cellar was a small one, but it depends on the nature, how the glacier shapes as the ice melts.
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NOELIA_H, Mar 2025
Me encantó! Una experiencia increíble. El monitor nos explicó todo muy bien y fue muy amable con todos. Repitiria sin dudarlo!
Andrea_O, Feb 2025
Esperienza stupenda, la guida Pavel fantastico!
Piovuto tutto il tempo ma ne è valsa la pena!
Il ghiacciaio è in via di scongelamento, dobbiamo davvero fare attenzione perché il nostro pianeta è a rischio.
Maik_B, Nov 2024
Eine außergewöhnliche Erfahrung. Alles sehr gut organisiert, sehr nettes Staff. Nur die Eishöhle ist nicht so groß wie erwartert. Dennoch war es so toll, dass es 5 Sterne verdient hat.
IsaacAgustin_H, Oct 2023
Sinceramente, no mereció la pena. La cueva súper pequeña y el trekking por el glaciar fue de risa porque no subimos casi nada, sin embargo, los demás grupos (de la misma empresa y de otra) si que subieron. Para mi gusto el monitor habló demasiado.
marco_m, Dec 2022
Il momento più memorabile è stato quando mi hanno detto che una tempesta di neve che ha bloccato tutte le strade islandesi per due giorni non è motivo di rimboroso.
Ho scritto 5 mail e chiamato l'operatore al telefono nei 2 giorni precedenti spiegando la situazione e se, vista l'eccezionalità e che l'apertura era prevista in tempo per poter arrivare, si potesse attendere prima di disdire e per avere l'eventuale rimborso. Mi hanno risposto solo 1 volta dicendo che non c'erano problemi e che mi avrebbero fatto sapere di eventuali modifiche. Purtroppo però, le strade sono state aperte troppo tardi, ho avvisato subito (prima dell'orario stabilito, come da accordi) ma mi hanno risposto che ormai era tardi e che la tempesta di neve non è motivo di rimborso in quanto è affar mio il fatto di riuscire a recarmi sul posto in tempo. Ho fatto ricorso sul sito paypal per bloccare il pagamento, vedremo cosa diranno.
State attenti a prenotare nel sito perchè non sono per nulla bravi a risolvere i problemi.
Jose_B, Feb 2022
Le cadre était magnifique,le temps exceptionnel,l’organisation au top,le guide compétent et de bon conseil et plein d’humour.
From $172.67
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Skaftafell: Blue Ice Cave & Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull
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