11/25/2025 | 3:30 PM
Iceland's landscapes are like no other. Alongside the volcanic formations, fjords, and black beaches, the country is also home to some of the world's most stunning glaciers. This makes it the ideal playground for adventure-seekers, and for travelers who want to experience nature at its finest.
With so many glaciers to discover, it can be hard to know where to start. While these marvels of nature are a sight to behold from afar, that’s not the only way you can experience them. There are a range of activities that you can do to get the full, immersive experience these icy giants have to offer.
In this guide, we'll walk you through the most thrilling (and chilliest) glacier activities Iceland has to offer. Whether you’ve got your heart set on snowmobiling or want to see glorious glaciers from above with a helicopter tour, we've got you covered.
If you want to know more about Iceland's glaciers, such as how they were formed and where you can find them, our glacier guide provides you with everything you may want to know.
Glaciers aren't just a frozen backdrop. In Iceland, they're the main event. These surreal, shifting glaciers offer a thrill you can experience in few other places.
Whether you're after adrenaline or awe, glacier activities in Iceland offer something for every kind of explorer. From hiking across ice fields to kayaking between icebergs, there are plenty of experiences that bring you up close to nature's dramatic forces.
To make sure you're staying safe and respecting nature, choose glacier activities that are led by experienced, certified guides who know the terrain, monitor conditions, and provide essential safety gear.
It’s also good to pack for the cold, with plenty of layers, and water and snacks if you're taking on something more active like a hike.
From trekking across ancient ice to boating around icebergs, here are our picks for the top glacier activities in Iceland.
Prime locations: Sólheimajökull (an outlet glacier of Mýrdalsjökull in South Iceland), Vatnajökull outlet glaciers in southeast Iceland – good access from the Skaftafell area
Travel period: Year-round (best in summer)
Group size: Small to medium groups
Overall experience: Active, scenic, immersed in glacial terrain
A glacier hike is one of the most iconic ways to experience Iceland's icy wonders. These treks take you across ever-shifting landscapes, deep crevices, shimmering blue ridges, and dramatic ice formations – all under the supervision of expert guides.
This is an activity that offers a unique perspective on the island’s geological power, and gives you a chance to get up close to some of Iceland's most famous natural highlights.
There are routes to suit every ability, from first-time hikers and families to seasoned explorers, plus technical hikes that include ice climbing.
For families, it's useful to know that the minimum age for a glacier hike is usually around 12 years, although some family-focused tours have a minimum age of eight.
Hiking a glacier in Iceland is usually possible year-round, but the conditions can vary by season. In summer, longer daylight hours make it easier to fit hikes into your itinerary, but in winter the ice becomes more compact and reveals vivid blue crevasses. Ice cave visits are also possible (and popular) in winter.
Numerous tour companies offer combo day tours that combine glacier hikes with a boat ride in an ice lagoon, or kayaking, or an ATV buggy ride in nearby areas.
Tour companies provide safety gear such as crampons, ice axes, harnesses, and helmets. You should wear sturdy boots (ankle protection is recommended, so high-top boots are best), and warm, waterproof gear (layers are key).
Wondering which is the best glacier hike in Iceland for your list? The most popular hubs for glacier hiking are on the south coast:
Prime locations: Skaftafellsjökull, Svínafellsjökull, Jökulsárlón, Fjállsárlón, and access points in Iceland's southeast
Travel period: Year-round
Overall experience: Free access, no tour booking required, brilliant viewpoints
You don't have to go to the effort of strapping on crampons to see a glacier up close. There are loads of scenic viewpoints and walking trails at the edge of glaciers and glacial lagoons that offer sensational views. Many of the best spots have easy access from the Ring Road in Iceland's southeast. Even without leaving your vehicle, the glacier views are spectacular as you drive along Highway 1 (the Ring Road) between the towns of Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Höfn.
Easy and moderate walking trails skirt the shorelines of lagoons such as Jökulsárlón and Fjállsárlón, and there's even a 9.5-mile (15km) hiking trail between the two lagoons that's known as the Breiðármörk trail and should take about five hours to complete. For something simpler and equally photogenic: walk between chunks of glacial ice that have drifted from Jökulsárlón to Diamond Beach on their way to the sea.
At Vatnajökull National Park, a flat and easy 2.5-mile (4km) interpretive trail starts next to Skaftafell visitor center and ends in close proximity of Skaftafellsjökull glacier. Nearby, a turn off the Ring Road leads to a parking lot by Svínafellsjökull, and a walking trail leads to the glacier tongue.
A reminder: Please don't go on the ice without the appropriate equipment and a qualified guide.
Prime locations: Jökulsárlón, Fjallsárlón
Travel period: April–November
Group size: Small to large groups
Overall experience: Relaxed, scenic, opportunities for wildlife spotting
For those seeking a slower, more serene way to experience Iceland's glacial landscapes, a boat ride offers the perfect opportunity to pause and take it all in. Drifting quietly among icebergs, you'll gain a unique perspective of the sheer scale of these ancient formations – and with a bit of luck, spot seals basking on the ice or seabirds wheeling overhead.
The most iconic destination for glacier boat tours is Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, but also popular is its neighbor, Fjallsárlón.
When you opt for a boat tour, you can expect two types of boats that offer very different experiences:
Either way, it's an unforgettable way to admire the icy reach as you glide across the waters.
Prime locations: Jökulsárlón, Fjallsárlón, Heinabergslón (at the base of Heinabergsjökull), Sólheimajökull
Travel period: May/June–September
Group size: Small groups
Overall experience: Peaceful, environmentally friendly and close to nature, unique perspective
If you want to see what the view looks like when you’re on the water, glacier kayaking in Iceland should be your first port of call. This is sightseeing at its most peaceful and immersive – no roaring engines or big crowds, just you, a paddle, and surreal otherworldly scenery.
This activity is something you can only do with an expert tour guide and tours typically run in summer (May or June to September, weather permitting). Kayaking is suitable for most fitness levels, making this a memorable experience even if you’ve never handled a paddle before.
Tours are generally done on sit-on-top kayaks, with two people to a vessel. The minimum age varies, from 10 to 14 years old. Tour operators provide full safety gear including drysuit and life jacket, so all you have to do is show up and glide.
When it comes to the best glacier kayaking in Iceland, it really depends on what kind of experience you’re after.
Jökulsárlón is the showstopper. The largest and most dramatic of the lagoons, it's filled with massive icebergs and sweeping views across Vatnajökull glacier. It’s a must-see destination and understandably popular, with the chance to spot seals and seabirds. The water here is a blue hue, whereas other lagoons hold meltwater that appears more brown in color.
Fjallsárlón, a short distance from Jökulsárlón, offers a quieter, more intimate kayaking experience. The icebergs are often smaller but closer, and the crowds fewer – ideal if you’re after a more serene paddle. A great, lesser-known option is at Heinabergslón, about halfway between Jökulsárlón and the town of Höfn. This option includes a fun short walk on the glacier. Kayaking is also possible at the lagoon at the base of Sólheimajökull, which is the closest option to Reykjavík. Tour companies offer a kayaking tour followed by a glacier walk atop Sólheimajökull.
Prime locations: Langjökull (west and east sides), Sólheimajökull, Vatnajökull outlets
Travel period: Year-round
Group size: Small to medium groups
Overall experience: Fast-paced, panoramic, accessible
Snowmobiling on a glacier in Iceland is as exhilarating as it sounds. Expect to skim and skirt across vast, snowy expanses at high speed, with views that stretch across icy domes and volcanic peaks.
Top spots for glacier snowmobiling include Langjökull – Iceland’s second-largest glacier – as well as Sólheimajökull (an outlet of Mýrdalsjökull), and a couple of outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull in the country's southeast.
Pick-up locations for such activities are generally at places you can reach in a regular car. You'll then enjoy a super-jeep adventure to the elevated icy spot where you board your snowmobile.
Langjökull is especially popular thanks to year-round access and relative proximity to Reykjavík. Snowmobiling can be done from both the west side and the east side of the glacier. Pick-up is done in Húsafell (for the western part of the glacier), or from Gullfoss waterfall on the Golden Circle. Snowmobile tours can be combined with visits to the Golden Circle or the 'Into the Glacier' man-made ice cave, making it easy to pack a lot into one adventure.
Prime locations: Vatnajökull (natural), Langjökull (man-made)
Travel period: Winter (natural), year-round (man-made)
Group size: Small to medium groups
Overall experience: Surreal, photogenic, once-in-a-lifetime
Exploring glacier ice caves in Iceland feels like wandering through a frozen cathedral, not just for their towering ceilings that are sculpted by nature, but also for the way the light dances through the blue ice. These natural formations are typically found on the edges of glaciers, carved by glacial rivers, geothermal water, or volcanic activity.
Iceland's best ice caves are most often found in Vatnajökull outlets and are usually only accessible between November and March, when the ice is stable. Due to glacial movement, the caves change from year to year, so no two tours are ever the same – and that’s part of the magic.
For a year-round option, the 'Into the Glacier' tour takes you into a man-made ice tunnel carved inside Langjökull in West Iceland. Accessible from Húsafell, it’s a great alternative if you’re visiting outside the winter season.
Prime locations: South coast, Highlands, Vatnajökull access routes, Langjökull
Travel period: Year-round (weather-dependent)
Group size: Private or small groups
Overall experience: Off-road adventure, remote access, flexible itineraries
Another unique, high-adrenaline way to take in the wonder of Iceland’s glaciers is on a super-jeep ride across the rugged terrain. These modified 4x4s are built to handle the wildest trails, taking you to glacier edges, remote ice caves, or highland viewpoints that standard vehicles or snowmobiles simply can’t reach.
Tours often include hiking, sightseeing, or photography stops, making them ideal for travelers who want to combine exploration with off-the-beaten-track thrills. No matter when you plan your trip, super-jeep excursions are available year-round, but it does depend on weather and road conditions.
Super-jeep tours are popular on Langjökull and along the southeast coast of Iceland, accessing parts of Vatnajökull glacier. In West Iceland, you can take a 'snowcat' tour onto Snæfellsjökull glacier, in a vehicle designed to travel over snow and rough terrain.
Prime locations: Vatnajökull, Langjökull, Snæfellsjökull
Travel period: Year-round (weather-dependent)
Group size: Private or small groups
Overall experience: Luxury, aerial views, time-efficient
If you’re short on time but big on scenery, a glacier heli-tour in Iceland offers the ultimate shortcut. Soar above mighty glaciers like Vatnajökull, Langjökull, or Snæfellsjökull, capturing sweeping aerial photos and watching the landscape unfold in cinematic style.
Some tours even include a brief landing on the glacier itself, giving you the chance to step out, feel the crunch of the ice under your feet, and take in a 360° view that few travelers get to see.
From paddling your way through iceberg-filled lagoons to choppering through the sky for unforgettable views, there’s more than one way to experience the very best the glaciers of Iceland have to offer.
We offer glacier-focused holiday packages that include guided glacier hikes, snowmobiling, and more – all led by passionate local guides.
Book flights to Reykjavik and start planning your icy Icelandic adventure.