Ice Cave & Glacier Hike with South Coast Waterfalls

by Glaciers and Waterfalls · Glacier hiking · Ice caves · Hiking & trekking · Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón

  • Fine on your own

from €219.17 per person

No published departures in the coming months — ask us

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Ice Cave & Glacier Hike with South Coast Waterfalls — Glaciers and Waterfalls
Ice Cave & Glacier Hike with South Coast Waterfalls, photo 2
People walking in a single file line on the glacier.
A waterfall plunges from cliffs
Ice Cave & Glacier Hike with South Coast Waterfalls, photo 5
Ice Cave & Glacier Hike with South Coast Waterfalls, photo 6
A woman staning in front of a waterfall and a rainbow
Ice Cave & Glacier Hike with South Coast Waterfalls, photo 8
People standing if front of the wall of ice.
Ice Cave & Glacier Hike with South Coast Waterfalls, photo 10
Ice Cave & Glacier Hike with South Coast Waterfalls, photo 11

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  • Duration

    11 hours

  • Difficulty

    Challenging

  • Season

    Sep – Apr

  • Starts in

    Reykjavík

  • Pickup

    Hotel pickup included

  • Guide

    Guided in English

  • Departs

    08:00

  • Minimum age

    12

  • Cancellation

    Free until 24 hours before

About this experience

Step into a world of ice and wonder
Your adventure begins on Sólheimajökull, an outlet glacier of mighty Mýrdalsjökull, Iceland’s fourth-largest ice cap. After gearing up with crampons, harness, helmet, and ice axe, you’ll set foot on the glacier and explore crevasses, ridges, and ever-changing ice formations.

The highlight of the day awaits as you venture inside a natural ice cave, where shimmering blue walls and frozen sculptures reveal the glacier’s hidden heart. Standing within this otherworldly cathedral of ice is an unforgettable experience.

After the glacier adventure, the journey continues with visits to two of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls. Skógafoss, thundering 65 meters down from ancient sea cliffs, is both breathtaking and steeped in legend. Further west lies Seljalandsfoss, where you can walk behind the falling curtain of water for a magical perspective.

This full-day tour combines glacier hiking, ice cave exploration, and stunning waterfalls for an adventure that captures the very essence of Iceland’s natural beauty.

Itinerary
Glacier Hike & Natural Ice Cave on Sólheimajökull
Sólheimajökull, an outlet glacier of Mýrdalsjökull, Iceland’s fourth-largest glacier, graces the South Coast with its presence. Located just 158 kilometers (98 miles) from Reykjavík, it offers a unique opportunity to explore striking glacial features and gain insight into their formation. This icy realm is a living testament to the powerful, ever-changing forces that shape Iceland’s landscape.

At the Sólheimajökull parking lot, you gear up with crampons, helmet, harness and ice axe, and step onto the ice. Hike across ridges, crevasses, and a glacier lagoon while learning how these formations are created. Then venture into the glacier’s ice cave—an otherworldly chamber of vivid blue ice and natural wonder.

Skogafoss waterfall
Skogafoss, one of Iceland’s classic waterfalls, stands as a magnificent testament to the power of nature. Soaring to a height of 65 meters and spanning 25 meters in width, it ranks among the country’s largest waterfalls. Local legend weaves tales of a hidden chest of gold behind the falls, a challenge that would require the strength and bravery of a Viking to pursue.

Seljalandsfoss waterfalls
Seljalandsfoss, another of Iceland’s classic waterfalls, offers a unique twist on the traditional waterfall experience. While not among the country’s largest falls, what sets Seljalandsfoss apart is the rare opportunity to walk behind the cascading water for most of the year. This immersive encounter transports you into a world of mist and magic, revealing a different perspective of nature’s beauty.

Description from the operator, Glaciers and Waterfalls. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

  1. Glacier hike
  2. Skógarfoss waterfall
  3. Seljalandsfoss waterfall

Included

  • Transfer to/from Reykjavik in a Minibus
  • English speaking certified glacier guide
  • All glacier safety equipment
  • Free WiFi on the Bus

Not included

Meals

Good to know

  • Warm outdoor clothing
  • Hat and gloves or mittens
  • Rain gear
  • Good hiking boots
  • Backpack
  • Water bottle
  • Camera/Phone
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • No public transportation nearby
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • Not recommended for people with heart conditions

Cancellation for this tour

Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.

If the weather cancels this tour

Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is high wind or rain on the ice — the guide decides at the meeting point, sometimes after you have set off. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

  1. 1Glaciers and Waterfalls decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
  2. 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
  3. 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.

What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.

Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →

Why this one and not the cheaper one?

The nearest cheaper Glacier Explorer from Arctic Adventures is €144 — €75 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

Glaciers and Waterfalls · €219Arctic Adventures · €144
How long it runs11 hours5.5 hours
Getting therePicks you upYou make your own way
How hard it isChallengingModerate

The €75 buys you 5.5 more hours out and hotel pickup. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.

Who this is not for

  • Not for families with children under 12 — the operator will not take them, even with a parent.
  • Not for anyone unsure on their feet or carrying an injury — the operator rates this as physically demanding, and there is no easy version of the day.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

Glaciers and Waterfalls is one of 207 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →

Read before you book

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Glacier hiking — questions people ask

Which glacier is best for a first glacier hike?

Sólheimajökull on the South Coast, about two and a half hours from Reykjavík. It is the most accessible glacier tongue, the walk from the car park is short and the three-to-four-hour tours (/experience/6853/ or /experience/914990/) suit beginners. Skaftafell in the southeast has bigger ice and fewer people, with tours like Glacier Wonders (/experience/17340/), but it is a five-hour drive each way, so it only works if you are staying out there.

Can you hike on a glacier in Iceland in summer?

Yes. Glacier hiking runs all year. In June to August the ice is grey and gritty on the surface with blue crevasses and meltwater channels, and the weather is milder. In November to March the ice is whiter and you may see ice formations, but daylight is short and the wind bites. Neither is better; summer is easier, winter is prettier. The one thing you cannot do in summer is visit a natural blue ice cave.

How fit do I need to be for a glacier hike?

Moderately. You walk two to three hours on uneven ice in crampons, with some short steep sections. Anyone who can manage a hilly day walk will be fine; the pace is slow because the guide is checking the route. It is not for anyone with knee or balance problems, and most operators set a minimum age of eight to ten. Check the tour page. Longer tours like Glacier Explorer (/experience/17338/) push further onto the ice and need more stamina.

What do I need to bring on a glacier hike?

Sturdy boots with ankle support, waterproof jacket and trousers, warm layers, gloves and a hat, plus water and a snack. The operator provides crampons, a harness, a helmet and an ice axe. Jeans and trainers are not allowed on the ice, and guides do turn people away. Most meeting points rent boots and rain gear for a small fee; check the tour page and book them in advance in summer.

Hotels

Where to stay for this tour

From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Reykjavík, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

All hotels in Reykjavík →

  • One checkout, any number of operators

  • Rankings are not for sale

  • 206 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted

  • If it falls short, we fix it

Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €11 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.

from

€219.17 per person

Check dates & book