Solheimajokull Ice Climbing & Glacier Hike

Price from

ISK 19900

Duration

Approx 4 hours

Small Groups

6 people

Days of week

Daily 14.00 pm

Tour Details

hallenge yourself on your trip to Iceland and experience natural wonders that look like they are out of this planet while doing good workout in the fresh air of the Icelandic mountains. Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier of Mýrdalsjökull, the 4th biggest glacier in Iceland and looks like you are walking on the moon. Climb a wall of ice mixed with volcanic ash from eruptions. 

The tour begins when you meet your guide in the Sólheimajökull parking lot and get all necessary equipment for the hike: crampons, ice axes, harnesses, helmets and climbing boots. Then you will hike for about 15 minutes to the glacier where your guide will explain to you how to put on the crampons and the safety rules for the tour.

Since the glacier is impermanent and ever changing your guide often has to scout out each time a new crevasse or moulin for your climbing session, avoiding the potential crowds on the glacier as well. Your guide will install massive ice screw and attach a safety rope before you climb up the ice wall or rappel into a crevasse and climb up again. This will be an adventure of a lifetime.

You will also spend some time hiking on the glacier. See the ice formations in the area such as crevasses, deep cracks in the surface of the glacier, or even so called moulins. These are vertical shafts in the ice which are formed by melting water finding its way into fissures and cracks. In the wintertime, it is often possible to peek into small ice tunnels and capture the beautiful blue heart of the ice.

You will stay about 3 hours on the glacier itself.

 

General Information

Available: All year
Departure: 14:00
Duration: About 4 hours
Difficulty:Moderate
Group size 6
Minimum age: 12 years old
 
Included:

✓ Certified Glacier Guide
✓ Small Group
✓Glacier equipment: hiking boots, helmet, ice axe, headlamp, and crampons

What you need to bring:

• Warm clothes (first layer)
• Waterproof outdoor clothing (second layer)
• Gloves and hat
• Joy and happiness!

Good to know:

• Jeans are not recommended for glacier activities. Once it gets wet, it takes a long time to dry, leaving you cold.

Cancellation policy:

• All day tours can be cancelled up to 24 hours from the departure time with the full price refunded. 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.

Meeting Point

We highly recommend that you arrive at our meeting point 20 minutes before the departure time stated on your ticket at our Minibus marked Tröll Expeditions in the parking lot of Sólheimajökull.    Sólheimajökull is 35 min driving from the Paradise Cave Hostel.

Tour Booking

What should I wear for glacier tours?

Weather in Iceland is very unpredictable. For tours during winter: warm clothing as first layer, waterproof outdoor jacket and pants, hiking boots with high ankle protection, a hat and gloves are ideal. For tours during summer, bringing a light rain jacket and pants is in most cases enough protection. Icelanders often say, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes”. Jeans are not recommended for outdoor trips as they become very heavy and cold when they get wet.

Do I need hiking boots?

We encourage bringing hiking boots for glacier tours. They have to have hard on the sole and be tight around the ankle. If you don’t have them, we have them available for rent in all sizes while booking or at the glacier hike location for ISK 1,500 per pair with cash or card.

How difficult are glacier hikes?

Our tours are considered to be safe for anyone in good physical condition. You have to be able to walk for about an hour up and down on slopes and uneven surface. Longer tours will be more challenging in endurance for some areas of the glacier. We also recommend you remember that we offer all the safety equipment necessary and you will be hiking with a professional and certified glacier guide.

How does weather affect my tour?

Wind and rain are common in Iceland, in addition to snow in the winter, but we do not let challenging weather stop us from going out and enjoy nature. All we need to do is choose our clothing wisely, which is why we recommend wearing waterproof jacket and pants as the second layer. Of course, safety is our #1 priority, in case of extreme weather or road conditions, we will cancel our tours and do our best to reschedule your booking at a further date or provide a full refund.