Easy Hike on Sólheimajökull Glacier near Vik: Closest glacier to Reykjavík

Crampons on ice, volcanic ash underfoot, and a plateau of glacial walls ahead.

An easy 3-hour glacier hike on Sólheimajökull near Vik, led by a certified guide in English, with all gear provided. You walk about 20 minutes to the glacier terminus, then traverse the ice with crampons and ice axe, passing crevasses and moulins to reach the upper plateau. The guide covers glacier formation and geology throughout, and you can taste fresh glacial water unless the glacier is fully frozen. Suitable for all fitness levels. Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

Step-by-step itinerary

Glacier hike and exploration

• Receive gear from guide
• Walk 20 minutes to glacier
• Learn about glacier formation
• Get safety instructions and gear training
• Hike on glacier with guide
• Explore ice walls and volcanic ash
• Take scenic walk on glacier plateau
• Observe crevasses and moulins
• Try fresh glacial water (seasonal)

The experience

How close can you get to a glacier without mountaineering skills? Sólheimajökull is the closest and most easily reachable glacier from Reykjavík, and this tour puts you on the ice itself with none of the technical climbing. Your guide meets you with crampons, helmet, harness and ice axe. Everything fitted and explained before you step onto the frozen surface. The walk to the glacier terminus takes about 20 minutes across the otherworldly landscape. Your guide introduces the formation of glaciers and answers questions as you go.

Once on the ice, you meander through walls of ice and volcanic ash toward the upper plateau, moving slowly enough to absorb the scale of the place. The guide points out crevasses, moulins and other features shaped by ice and time, sharing knowledge of geology and glaciology in a way that teaches and entertains at once. You'll have time to stop for photographs and to observe the details that make each glacier unique. Unless everything is frozen solid in deep winter, you also get to drink fresh glacial water straight from the source.

Safety is built into every step: your guide is certified by the Association of Icelandic Mountain Guides and trained in glacier hazards. The gear keeps you secure, the instruction is thorough, and the pace is designed so that no athlete's fitness is required: only a willingness to walk for three hours and step onto ice.

What’s included

• Certified glacier guide in English.
• crampons, helmet, harness and ice axe.
• instruction on glacier safety and gear use.
• walk to the glacier terminus and traverse of the upper plateau with stops for geology and photography.
• access to fresh glacial water (seasonal).

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 13 Sep 2027

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Under 8: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Your guide will be waiting for you at the parking lot wearing a yellow Ice Walkers Tours jacket. We will also send you a message the night before with detailed instructions as to what car you will be looking for.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for heart conditions

Operated by icewalkers.tours

Is this one for you?The 3-hour pace is steady but not strenuous, so you experience the glacier without needing mountaineering training or extreme fitness. Just a willingness to walk and stand on ice with proper gear and guidance.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What gear do I need to bring for the glacier hike?

Bring hiking shoes and rain gear. The tour provides crampons, helmet, harness and ice axe, all fitted by your guide before you step onto the ice.

How far is the walk from the meeting point to the glacier?

The walk to the glacier terminus is about 20 minutes, during which your guide introduces the landscape and explains how glaciers form.

What are crevasses and moulins, and will I see them on the hike?

Crevasses are deep cracks in the ice. Moulins are vertical shafts where meltwater drains through the glacier. You'll observe both on the upper plateau, and your guide explains how they form and what they reveal about the glacier's movement.

Can I drink the glacial water on the hike?

Yes, unless the glacier is completely frozen in deep winter, you can taste fresh glacial water during the hike.

Is this hike suitable for someone who is not very fit?

The hike is designed for all fitness levels and does not require athletic ability, though it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.