Glacier hikes in Skaftafell
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrive at Skaftafell
Today you’ll most likely be heading to Skaftafell from Vik, driving past the moss-lined lava fields of Eldhraun and beautiful panoramic views at the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon. You are now on your way to the largest glacier in Europe: Vatnajökull. You’ll spend your first night here in a comfortable hotel just outside of the national park. Once you’ve checked in, take a hike from the nearby visitors center to the Svartifoss waterfall. It’s about an hour’s walk, as you climb through a serene green environment to a surprisingly beautiful waterfall, where you can look out on the ice cap and the sea.
Day 2 – Glacier hike
After a good night’s sleep and once you’ve got your hiking boots on, you will drive today with your experienced guide from Skaftafell to the starting point of the glacier walk. During the hike you will use a pickaxe to keep your balance on steep sections, as you walk over crevices and bumpy pieces of ice. The glacier tongue is up to 50 meters thick here and the ice mass moves up to two meters per day. Your guide knows where to find a number of ice caves where you can see into the deep blue ice well. Having conquered the glacier hike, you will have worked up an appetite and you can have a bite to eat in the visitors centre. This afternoon the choice is yours: relax at the hotel or explore the area further.
Day 3 – Departure from Skaftafell
Today is your last day at Skaftafell and after breakfast it is time for the next adventure. Depending on your route you choose, you can continue your journey west to Vík or head east to find puffins at the Eastern Fjords. As you leave the glaciers behind you’ll see a completely different face of Iceland: green fjords, mountain ridges and colourful fishing villages.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Skaftafell – Amphibian boat tour
Take a 45-minute boat trip on a peaceful glacial lake among the huge icebergs in the picturesque scenery of Jökulsárlón. Your guide will tell you about the origin of the lake, where you can see ice blocks crumble and spot swimming seals up close. This special location has been used as a film set several times, for example the James bond film “Die another day” was filmed here. Enjoy unimaginable shades of blue and fascinating ice formations.
