Skaftafell 3-Hour Easy Level Glacier Hike
Frozen Bonus included: Book now and receive a promo code with a 23% discount on your second glacier hike or ice cave booking (go to FAQ for more info).Tour Description
Embark on a guided hiking adventure across Vatnajökull, Europe's largest ice cap, and immerse yourself in one of Iceland's most spectacular natural landscapes. Your certified glacier guide will lead you onto this ancient ice field, interpreting unique glacial formations and sharing insights about the geology and historical evolution of this massive frozen expanse.
This journey offers more than just a visual feast—it's a precious opportunity to witness these natural wonders up close during an era of accelerated glacial retreat. As you traverse Vatnajökull, you'll glimpse what our planet looked like 12,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age. This icy wilderness may become a vanished legacy for future generations.
The tour begins in the village of Hof, where you'll meet your guide at the gathering point 20 minutes before departure. Here, you'll be equipped with full professional safety gear: protective helmet, safety harness, crampons, and ice axe. Once prepared, the group will board the "Troll Bus" heading toward the glacier.
After disembarking, approximately 20 minutes of hiking will bring you to the glacier's edge. Due to persistent ice melt, this access path transforms year after year. Along the way, your guide will point out striking natural landmarks: bedrock exposed by glacial movement, moss lines on slopes marking historical ice heights, and moraine lakes gathering melting ice fragments.
At the glacier's edge, your guide will demonstrate safe crampon techniques and explain essential safety procedures. Then your hiking adventure officially begins as you step onto one of Vatnajökull's most dynamic and scenic outlet glaciers—Falljökull.
Throughout the tour, you'll explore various glacial wonders: deep crevasses, mysterious moulins, adorable "glacier mice" (moss-covered ice formations), and spectacular icefalls. This ever-changing frozen realm will vividly reveal both the majestic power and delicate fragility of Iceland's glaciers.
Skaftafell
All Year
3 Hours
Meet on location
Easy to moderate
Highlight Of The Tour
What’s Included
Available Add-ons
Rent shoes for keeping your ankles safe to prevent injuries
Rent a jacket to keep you dry
Rent pants to keep you dry
Buy our Troll Beanie and Gloves to feel part of our winter Trolls and keep you warm in the Icelandic cold
Buy our Troll Neck-warmer to feel part of our winter Trolls and and protect your face from cold wind
Buy our Troll Summer-Cap to feel part of our summer Trolls and protect yourself from the sun
Frequently Asked Questions
Glaciers form when loads of snow collects on the mountains within many years, and not enough of it melts. Snow becomes incredibly heavy over time, therefore starts compressing on its own weight – eventually becoming glacier ice. Roughly, 50 meters of snow compresses into 1 meter of ice.
Individual glacier outlets have already seen 15-50% of ice loss since the year 2000.
Unfortunately Icelandic winters are no longer cold enough for the glaciers to grow. During winter months, glaciers tend to remain the same size since it's not warm enough to grow, while during summer months glaciers melt at a great rate.
No, you don’t! The meeting point is warm, cozy, and conveniently located close to Falljökull. Parking here is free, unlike Skaftafell, where parking fees apply.
Items
- Warm clothes
- Inner layer – Shirt / T-shirt (wool or synthetic)
- Insulating layer – Polyester Sweater / Fleece Sweater / Insulated Down Jacket
- Outer layer – Waterproof jacket and pants (can be rented from Tröll)
- Hiking pants / fleece pants
- Socks (wool / hiking)
- Hiking / Climbing boots (boots need to have an ankle support to protect your ankle from potential sprains while hiking; Tröll has boots rental at location if needed)
- Hat, gloves, sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Small water bottle
- Joy & happiness!
Easy to Moderate Clients must be fit enough for the activity they are participating in. They must be dressed and geared up according to weather conditions
8 years old, and the minimum shoe size to be able to participate in the tour is EU 33/34
📍Meeting Point – Google Maps Search:Troll Expeditions Skaftafell
Hof (next to Route 1, approx. 5 hours from Reykjavík in good road conditions)
Meeting point is a short distance from the Skaftafell Visitor Centre in Southeast Iceland.
We highly recommend that you arrive at our meeting point 20 minutes before the departure time stated on your ticket. Please note that if you arrive after departure time, your place on the tour cannot be guaranteed or refunded.
Jeans are not recommended for glacier activities. Once it gets wet, it takes a long time to dry, leaving you cold.
Select extras (shoes, waterproof jacket, waterproof pants) during checkout, or rent them out at the meeting point directly with our guides.
The temperature on the glacier is just a few degrees colder than at the Skaftafell Terminal, however much more windy due to a higher elevation.
Find the weather information here
Feel free to contact Iceguide customer service for any questions on info@iceguide .is or call+354 519 5544
Wish you a magical hike!
• All day tours can be cancelled 24 hours before the departure time by sending a written email to info@iceguide.is. You will receive a full refund except the 3% card fee. All cancellations requested less than 24 hours from the departure time are non refundable. • In the case of cancellation of the tour by the operator because of extreme weather, road conditions, or other factors, we will assist you with rebooking to another date or booking other activities when possible or provide a full refund.
When you book this product, you will receive a follow up email with a promo code. The promo code will give you a discount on you second glacier activity that you book with Troll.is.
The following products are included in the Frozen Bonus rewards:
- Crystal Blue Ice Cave Tour
- Skaftafell Blue Ice Cave & Glacier Hike
- Skaftafell 3 hours Easy Level Glacier Hike
- Skaftafell 5 hours Adventure Glacier Hike
- Skaftafell Ice Climbing & Glacier Hike
- Katla Volcano Ice Cave Super Jeep Tour
- Katla Ice Cave Extended 4-hour Super Jeep Tour
- Solheimajokull 3h Easy Level Glacier Hike
- Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike & Ice Climbing
- Solheimajokull Blue Ice Cave & Glacier Hike (temporarily closed)
The offer is valid for all travel dates until the 15th of December, 2025.
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Skaftafell
Meet on location
Easy to moderate
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