Which glacier you will walk on
Almost every glacier hike from Skaftafell is on Falljökull. The park describes it as a creeping glacier that comes down from the caldera of Öræfajökull, whose edge is 1,800 m high. It splits into two tongues around Rauðikambur, and the northern tongue is called Virkisjökull. Arctic Adventures runs a 5.5 hour hike that crosses Falljökull and carries on to Virkisjökull.
Operators meet you at a base and take you to the ice. Troll Expeditions meets at its base in Hof, then a 15-minute ride and a 15-minute walk reach the glacier. Icelandic Mountain Guides meets at its base in the Skaftafell campsite, next to the service centre, and uses a modified vehicle. Arctic Adventures meets at its Skaftafell booking centre, drives 25 minutes (11 km) and walks about 30 minutes.
A few neighbouring glaciers matter for planning:
- Svínafellsjökull. Do not expect a hike here. A 2018 Civil Protection warning advised against travel on this glacier because of rockslide risk, and Icelandia says guided activities are suspended. The park’s 2025 to 2027 contracts for glacier walks do not include it. Look at it from the viewpoint instead.
- Skaftafellsjökull. The park has an easy 4.1 km visitor trail that explains the glacier’s retreat and takes 1 to 1.5 hours. It is a walking trail, not a glacier tour.
- Breiðamerkurjökull. The glacier behind Jökulsárlón, where the ice cave tours from the lagoon operate. See the ice caves guide.
The park gives contracts to companies for glacier walks and ice cave trips on Breiðamerkurjökull, Falljökull and Virkisjökull, and Skeiðarárjökull, valid until 30 September 2027. Its list is on the park’s contracts page, and it is worth checking before you pay a company you do not know.
Easy or advanced
Easy (about three hours). You are fitted with crampons, a helmet and a harness, ride a short distance, and walk to the ice. Time on the ice is about one to two hours: 1 to 1.5 hours on Troll’s three-hour hike and 1.5 to 2 hours on Icelandic Mountain Guides’ Blue Ice Experience. Icelandic Mountain Guides rates that tour “easy”, a grade that assumes good health and about three hours on rough ground. Expect a gentle pace, with the guide keeping the group together and pausing often.
Advanced (about five hours). The advanced hike goes higher and further. Troll’s five-hour hike spends three and a half to four hours on Falljökull and is rated medium. Icelandic Mountain Guides’ 4.5-hour Glacier Adventure is rated moderate, spends about 3.5 hours on the ice and takes no more than eight people per guide. Arctic Adventures’ Glacier Explorer runs 5.5 hours with about three hours on the ice. None of this is mountaineering. It means more time on slopes and rough ground, and Troll says you should be able to manage about an hour of walking up and down uneven surfaces.
Hike plus ice cave. In winter you can add a natural cave to a Falljökull hike. These tours are covered on the ice caves page.
Ages, fitness and shoe size
Minimum ages differ by operator, so check the tour you book:
- Troll Expeditions: 8 for the three-hour easy hike, 12 for the five-hour hike.
- Icelandic Mountain Guides: 10 for the Blue Ice Experience, 14 for the 4.5-hour Glacier Adventure.
- Arctic Adventures: 8 for the ice cave and glacier hike.
Crampons must fit your boots, so there is a minimum shoe size. Troll lists EU 33 or 34, depending on the tour. Arctic Adventures lists EU 35, and Icelandic Mountain Guides lists EU 34 on its ice cave tour.
Pregnancy rules vary. Troll does not allow guests who are seven months pregnant or more. Icelandic Mountain Guides decides on the day, using the guide’s assessment of conditions. Check with the operator before you book. If you have a medical condition or limited mobility, ask the operator rather than guessing.
What is provided and what to bring
The operators we checked provide crampons, a helmet, a harness and an ice axe, and show you how to use them. Icelandic Mountain Guides does not include rain gear, boots or warm clothing, and rents boots and waterproofs. Troll rents boots and waterproofs too, and Arctic Adventures rents boots.
Bring or rent:
- Waterproof hiking boots with ankle support, not trainers. Leave the jeans at the hotel: Ice Explorers does not allow them on glacier walks.
- Layers: a thermal base, a fleece or wool middle layer, and a waterproof jacket and trousers.
- A warm hat that fits under the helmet, gloves, sunglasses and lip balm.
- A small backpack with water and snacks.
Icelandic Mountain Guides says glacier temperatures can fall below freezing in winter and reach about 12°C in summer. Troll adds that the glacier is only a few degrees colder than Skaftafell but much windier.
Seasons and what you will see
| Activity | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy three-hour hikesTroll Expeditions and Icelandic Mountain Guides list them as all year | Runs in January | Runs in February | Runs in March | Runs in April | Runs in May | Runs in June | Runs in July | Runs in August | Runs in September | Runs in October | Runs in November | Runs in December |
| Five-hour advanced hike (Troll)Listed as all year | Runs in January | Runs in February | Runs in March | Runs in April | Runs in May | Runs in June | Runs in July | Runs in August | Runs in September | Runs in October | Runs in November | Runs in December |
| 4.5-hour Glacier Adventure (Icelandic Mountain Guides)May to September | Not in January | Not in February | Not in March | Not in April | Runs in May | Runs in June | Runs in July | Runs in August | Runs in September | Not in October | Not in November | Not in December |
| Hike plus ice caveTroll and Arctic Adventures say October to April | Runs in January | Runs in February | Runs in March | Runs in April | Not in May | Not in June | Not in July | Not in August | Not in September | Runs in October | Runs in November | Runs in December |
Summer tours see exposed blue ice, open crevasses and meltwater streams, with long days from late May to August, according to Icelandic Mountain Guides. In winter the days are short and the glacier feels quieter. Winter tours also need more flexibility, because weather and access are assessed day by day.
Cost and booking
The lowest prices we saw in October 2026 were about €92 for an easy hike, about €142 for the advanced hike and €139 to €140 for a hike with an ice cave. The cards above show current prices for your date. A few extras can add to the bill: boot and waterproof rental, and parking at Skaftafell. Icelandic Mountain Guides says its tour price excludes the Skaftafell parking fee, while Troll says parking at its base is free.
Operators sell direct too, and tours with similar names can differ in time on the ice, group size and vehicle transfer. Compare those details rather than the headline price. You can see every type side by side on the tours page.
Weather and cancellations
Glacier hikes go ahead in ordinary bad weather, so pack for it. Troll says it does not let challenging weather stop its tours, but cancels for extreme weather or road conditions and then reschedules or refunds. Icelandic Mountain Guides says tours can be cancelled at short notice for weather or safety, and it offers an alternative if conditions allow.
Free cancellation is normally available up to 24 hours before departure, though the exact terms depend on the operator and where you book. Leave a spare day in your plans if you can, so a cancelled hike can be rebooked.
Safety
Never walk on a glacier without a certified guide. Crevasses can be hidden and can open with little warning, according to SafeTravel, and the park advises going with a guide who has experience of glacier walks. The Grapevine’s report on the park’s contracts says each guide may lead only 8 to 16 guests. Our safety page covers weather, road conditions and what to check before you set out. For the area as a whole, start at the home page.
