Glacier hiking in winter

How much daylight is there for a glacier hike in winter?

Not much: about 6 h 30 in November, about 4 h 20 on average in December (4 h 07 on 21 December) and about 5 h 35 in January, on Reykjavík figures. The South Coast gets a little more than the north.

The averages below come from timeanddate.com, as published by Arctic Adventures for 2026. Vík and Sólheimajökull sit close to these times. In December the sun rises after 11:00 and sets before 16:00, and it stays low all day, so the light on the ice is gold or blue rather than white.

That matters for the drive more than for the hike. From Reykjavík, most of the morning drive happens before sunrise; the walk back from the ice can end in twilight. Pack a headlamp even on a midday hike. Guests on the late tours rarely complain: Analuisa, on the Katla ice cave tour in Oct 2026, "took the 3PM tour [...] and even got to see the sunset over the ice".

Can you hike Sólheimajökull in winter?

Yes. Arctic Adventures, Icelandic Mountain Guides and Tröll list their standard Sólheimajökull hikes all year. Some longer and water-based trips are seasonal.

The ice does not need summer. Snow can cover the surface and hide crevasses, which is one more reason the guides go first and probe the route. Since July 2026 every operator also decides day by day which access route is safe (see our 2026 conditions post), and wind can stop a tour on its own. Arctic Adventures runs in rain and cancels with a full refund only when safety is compromised.

What drops out in winter: Icelandic Mountain Guides' longer Glacier Exploration runs spring to autumn only, and kayaking on the glacier lagoon is a summer trip. The meet-at-the-glacier hikes and the day trips from Reykjavík carry on.

What should you wear for a glacier hike in winter?

Three or four warm, non-cotton layers on top, a waterproof jacket and trousers, hat, gloves, neck gaiter and stiff hiking boots with ankle support. No jeans.

Arctic Adventures suggests three to four upper layers under the shell and warns against jeans, which get heavy and cold when wet. A thin base layer, a fleece or wool mid layer and a light insulated jacket cover most days; add the shell for wind, which on the ice is the real cold. Bring a spare pair of gloves, water, a snack and sunglasses. Snow and ice reflect what little sun there is.

Boots with ankle support are mandatory, because crampons strap onto them. Arctic Adventures rents boots for ISK 1,500 (EU 36 to 47), Icelandic Mountain Guides rents them at the base camp, and Tröll rents boots and rain gear. The technical kit, crampons, ice axe, harness and helmet, is included on every hike here. Our cost guide lists what is extra on each tour.

Is it safe to drive Route 1 to Sólheimajökull in winter?

Usually, with a winter-ready car and a check of the road status every morning. The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration publishes road conditions and closures on umferdin.is and on phone 1777.

Sólheimajökull is about 160 km from Reykjavík, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours on Route 1, then about 4 km up Road 221 to the car park. The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration says its regional teams aim to clear snow and ice before regular morning traffic on service days. Its 1777 line answers from 06:30 to 22:00, every day of the year.

Wind is the bigger problem on this coast. On 29 October 2026, for example, Safetravel posted an alert for gusts up to 30 m/s on the Reykjavík to Vík route. On days like that, hold the car door with both hands and slow down where the road is exposed. If you would rather not drive in the dark, the day trip from Reykjavík puts the driving on someone else and adds Seljalandsfoss and Reynisfjara.

The hike as an 11-hour minibus day from Reykjavík, with Seljalandsfoss and the black beach at Reynisfjara on the way. No winter driving.

★ 4.8 · 11 hours · from $190

Explore the glacier hike day trip from Reykjavík → Tour details

When is ice cave season in Iceland?

Roughly October to April for the Vatnajökull ice caves in the east, conditions permitting. The Katla ice cave in Kötlujökull, reached by super jeep from Vík, runs all year.

A normal Sólheimajökull hike does not go into an ice cave. The blue caves in photos are mostly in Vatnajökull National Park, about three hours' drive east of Sólheimajökull. After the fatal collapse at Breiðamerkurjökull in August 2024 the park shuts its caves in summer and reopens them in early October; Iceland Review reported in September 2025 that 30 companies hold contracts, with 8 to 16 guests per guide and daily risk checks.

Closer to the glacier hike is the Katla ice cave, on Kötlujökull, another outlet of the same ice cap. Tours leave Vík by super jeep and the cave, black with ash and streaked blue, changes week to week. Monika, in Oct 2026: "I'll definitely do it again on my next winter vacation". Our ice caves guide compares both.

By super jeep from Vík into the ash-striped Katla ice cave, with crampons and a helmet. About 3 hours, from age 6.

★ 4.6 · 3 hours from Vík · from $196

Explore the Katla ice cave tour → Tour details

How do you plan a winter day around a glacier hike?

Put the hike in the middle of the day, add one sight before it and one after, and drive the dark hours on the straight parts of Route 1.

• Pick a late-morning or midday start so the walk to the ice and back happens in daylight.
• Seljalandsfoss, about 40 minutes west: the path behind the fall shuts when it is icy, which in winter is often. The front view still works.
• Skógafoss, about 15 minutes west, is a quick stop on the way in.
• The plane wreck shuttle on Sólheimasandur runs all year, but its last departure depends on daylight.
• Reynisfjara is on the way to Vík. Winter waves are no joke there: read our Reynisfjara safety post first.
• Northern lights are possible on the drive back on a clear night, never something to plan a tour around.

Alicia, after a wet October day on the ice: "We were so glad we went ahead despite the bad weather." Most winter days on the glacier look like that one.

Frequently asked questions