Glacier Hike and South Coast Tour from Reykjavik: Small Group

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/14

Duration12h

GroupUp to 18

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Walk on top of Sólheimajökull Glacier with crampons and an ice axe in your hands.

This 12-hour glacier hike and South Coast tour from Reykjavik combines a guided walk on Sólheimajökull Glacier with stops at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls and Reynisfjara black sand beach. The small group stays under 18 people, and the minibus picks you up from designated Reykjavik bus stops, so you don't arrange transport or gear yourself. All necessary glacier equipment—harness, ice axe, helmet and crampons—is provided, and an English-speaking guide leads the whole day. Suitable for ages 8 and up; dress in warm layers under waterproof outer clothes and bring hiking boots with ankle support.

The Experience

Sólheimajökull Glacier is the centerpiece. You'll strap on crampons and an ice axe, clip into a harness, and walk across the ice with a guide who knows the route and the conditions. The glacier sits on Iceland's South Coast, so the day builds around it: the minibus collects you from a designated stop in Reykjavik early in the morning and drives south, stopping first at Seljalandsfoss, a waterfall you can walk behind, then at Skógafoss nearby. By the time you reach the glacier, you've already seen two of the coast's most recognizable waterfalls.

The hike itself is the draw. You're not watching from a distance—you're on the ice, moving across it with equipment that makes the walk possible. The guide handles safety and timing; you handle the physical part, which the operator says suits all fitness levels. After the glacier, the day swings to Reynisfjara, the black sand beach where Atlantic waves roll in hard and the sand itself is dark volcanic rock. The whole loop takes 12 hours from pickup to drop-off.

The group maxes out at 18 people, which means the minibus doesn't feel crowded and the guide can keep an eye on everyone on the ice. WiFi is on board during the drive. Pickup is from bus stops around Reykjavik—some hotels don't allow buses to drive in, so you'll find the designated stops at busstop.is or ask your hotel's front desk. The operator asks that you contact them about your specific pickup location before the tour. Bring warm layers as your base and waterproof jacket and pants on top; hiking boots with a hard sole and ankle support are essential, though the operator can arrange rental if you need it.

What’s included

Minibus transport from Reykjavik with WiFi on board.
pickup and drop-off at designated bus stops.
all necessary glacier equipment including harness, ice axe, helmet and crampons.
English-speaking guide for the full 12 hours.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Troll Expeditions

Is this one for you?Most South Coast tours run on a fixed schedule that crowds the stops and leaves little time on the ice. This one builds the whole day around the glacier hike itself—the minibus is transport to and from it, the waterfalls are the stops in between, and the guide stays with the same small group the whole time, so you're not switching vehicles or guides partway through.