Top Skaftafell Tours: Glacier Hikes & Ice Cave Adventures

So, you are planning a trip to Iceland, and Skaftafell is very high on your list, is that right? Excellent choice, that is because this stunning corner of Vatnajökull National Park seriously packs a punch when it comes to epic landscapes, like breathtaking glaciers, shimmering ice caves, plus hikes that’ll make you feel absolutely alive. Yet, with a bunch of tour choices out there, you might be thinking about how you pick the absolute best adventure. Anyway, that’s where I can potentially come in. I have put together a roundup of the top five Skaftafell tours. That way, it doesn’t matter if you’re up for ice climbing, or checking out glacial lagoons, and hiking across ice caps. There’s something here for everyone.

Skaftafell Glacier Hike Adventure

First up is arguably a Skaftafell classic: a glacier hike. Literally, this is like stepping onto another planet, so trust me. These tours normally kick off with a super easy briefing, and, as a matter of fact, you’ll get all kitted out with crampons as well, plus an ice ax. This is arguably for sure so you can grip the ice. As a matter of fact, the guides really know the glacier, and as a matter of fact, they will lead you very safely to all sorts of pretty amazing spots. Actually, we are talking blue ice tunnels as well, ice sculptures as well, and just super big views that extend seemingly for miles. That’s what I loved about my hike – feeling a million miles from it all, still surrounded by like nothing but amazing Icelandic wilderness. Definitely consider this tour if you have ever dreamed of just walking on a glacier, I am serious.

You know, something that adds to the amazing nature of these hikes is that they are actually adaptable to almost all ability levels. Pretty much that means it really doesn’t matter if you are a first timer just wanting a nice stroll on the ice, you see, or if you’re, you know, someone looking for a somewhat challenging climb, still you could potentially find the version that’s very suitable for your ambitions. Also, as a matter of fact, they range usually from, I don’t know, 2-3 hours. So basically, plenty of time to completely take it all in, is that right?

Ice Cave Expedition from Skaftafell

Honestly, have you ever actually been inside an ice cave? Really, that is almost an experience you seriously will remember forever. Still, they only form over the winter when the glacial meltwater is freezing, and naturally, they look really unbelievable because of the light that does shine through the super clear ice. These ice cave expeditions starting out from Skaftafell generally provide you with everything for your needs to visit safely, you know, so that does include helmets too it’s almost, or headlamps of course. Okay, the tour guides tend to know all those caves super well, naturally, still they tend to select routes that tend to be like safe, or provide some great views as a matter of fact. The thing with ice caves, is that basically it feels as though the walls are really alive, so anyway, the ice is like, you know, a deep shade of blue, actually twisting, or turning that in a way forms like something unreal.

And of course, going on this expedition can also teach you something about just how glaciers act, as a matter of fact as the guides almost, talk about like the constant forming as well, still the changes the landscape does actually undergo. Basically, I would argue that makes the trip quite special, because after all you have great photos, but still then there is a sense that the tour might have taught you so very much. Anyway, these tours really get booked solid, typically, so it may be prudent to like book way ahead just to like make sure you will get a spot.

Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour (Jökulsárlón)

Arguably, close to Skaftafell is Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, actually famous for its icebergs that do gently float in the water slowly headed to the sea. Obviously, to get up very close or have a seat in a boat tour and feel, you know, those gigantic icebergs, seriously get super close as well. Those tours usually are run utilizing amphibious boats, still that way they manage easily like to get launched right from land on water. You see you will also get like some amazing viewpoints as well that make it really so simple to capture incredible photos, I would say.

By the way, you can too watch very closely, so maybe some seals too! Really they’re always like laying there, literally on these floating icebergs. Honestly, every tour gives different looks since arguably icebergs do often change form quite fast, or do turn to all sorts of amazing sorts. As I was saying you do get the opportunity like to be so very near that really adds like to an adventure too it’s almost like that. As I was saying it might just teach that glacier lagoon a really valuable one like when actually seeing like with personal adventure.

Sólheimajökull Glacier Walk and Ice Climbing

By the way, would like trying something a bit almost, you know, adventurous actually like trying out rock climbing on ice glaciers so what! I guess these experiences like offer climbing up frozen cliffs assisted in all cases utilizing axes also as well safety gear clearly in every tour! I would suggest not to go climbing all of your own you are not experienced, so I am serious.

Yet a very safe atmosphere makes the challenge truly just awesome too it’s almost that I tried really climbing I almost dropped so maybe that will become part, that even I climbed so very high then got back, honestly, safe without falls, wow. Generally, a trainer, he makes, by the way, clear it feels good while really moving and the fun really like adds that much excitement almost! These adventure style things really build skills it can make this just absolutely that you simply are someone to never ever let any climbing stuff like phase it by. Literally that thing does almost help when other activities you do start.

Skaftafell Hiking Tour to Svartifoss Waterfall

Naturally are really more of the trekking enthusiast who tends to love land? Alright, you just cannot really visit places located somewhere in Vatnajökull not including seeing such spectacular landscapes right close by such spectacular spots! By the way hiking really to Svartifoss (the waterfall) truly almost stands as amazing destination for doing quick easy hikes close to Skaftafell. Now the waterfalls come through actually as unusual geometric style shapes as rocks or basalt material almost. They seem naturally beautiful as I remember and really I feel absolutely that the photo is too almost never fully true for what, it kind of means to do and see actually close!

Typically hikes generally require several quick times and the paths truly wind thru absolutely great vista vantage or stunning vantage! Literally, while trekking to actually come to waterfalls it offers seeing very unique perspectives also getting closer. The paths and walking areas and well the landscapes really get so incredibly spectacular really and one will almost, you realize that while taking that photo like I literally wish someone could view this like it felt also to literally trek! Also, visit and stay on tour!