Icelandia (Icelandic Mountain Guides) · Base camp, glacier car park
A five-hour day from the Icelandic Mountain Guides base camp: a guided hike through ridges and crevasses, then a short, moderately difficult introduction to ice climbing on a wall your guide rigs. Pick it if you drive yourself and want more than a walk, in a group of six at most.
Be at the base camp in the Sólheimajökull car park at least 20 minutes before the start. The guide runs the safety briefing and kits you out with an ice axe, crampons and a harness, and then you walk to the ice; Icelandic Mountain Guides now describes that access hike as roughly an hour. On the glacier you work through ice ridges, water cauldrons and deep crevasses, about 3.5 hours on the ice in all, per Icelandia. Then the guide looks for a good spot, rigs the ropes, and everyone gets a turn on the wall.
It is an introduction. If you have climbed ice before, it will feel basic, and that is by design: the point is a first climb with a guide watching every move. Icelandia rates the day challenging and says it suits people who can manage 4 to 6 hours of walking over rough ground. The minimum age is 14, and the trip is not suitable for pregnant women or people with heart problems. Groups are six people at most, which leaves more time on the rope.
Read the exclusions. The listing puts hiking boots, rain gear, warm clothing and lunch under not included; Icelandic Mountain Guides rents boots at the base camp, so ask when you book, and bring the rest. Tea, coffee, water and restrooms at the base camp are included, and Icelandia lists the trip all year. Parking at the glacier costs ISK 750 (2026, paid through the Parka app within 24 hours). Guests rated it five stars in October 2026. Since the Icelandic Met Office warned on 22 July 2026 of a thinning ice ridge and rockfall at the glacier edge, operators decide each day which route is safe, and they have paused or rerouted tours when conditions demanded it. Check your booking the day before; every tour here cancels free up to 24 hours before.
Arrive at the Icelandic Mountain Guides base camp in the glacier car park.
Safety talk, then ice axe, crampons and harness.
The walk from the base camp to the ice, longer now than in past years.
Ridges, water cauldrons and crevasses with your guide.
The guide rigs ropes at a suitable spot and everyone climbs: short and moderately difficult.
Down off the ice and back to the car park, about five hours after the start.
★★★★★This activity was the highlight of my 4-month stay in Iceland! The day was amazing as we explored the different areas of the glacier and improved our glacier climbing abilities. The group was small (4 people), which gave us more time to do lots of climbing. Our guide was the best, as he always checked in with us and was so encouraging.
★★★★★As first-time climbers, we had tons of fun! Our guides, Bart and Carla, made us feel safe at all times. They were very knowledgeable and, not to mention, fun to hang out with, too. Climbing up and down the beautiful blue crevasses of Sólheimajökull was one of the most amazing experiences of our trip.
★★★★★It was wonderful [...] professional care from an experienced guide combined with knowledge. We had a wonderful time. [...] I recommend it.
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Fourteen on this trip. It is not suitable for pregnant women or people with heart problems.
No. The climb is a short, moderately difficult introduction, and the guide rigs the ropes and coaches each person on the wall.
No. The listing puts boots under not included. Icelandic Mountain Guides rents boots at the base camp, so ask when you book.
About 3.5 hours of the five, per Icelandia, including the climbing. The walk from the base camp to the ice takes roughly an hour.
Ready to book
A glacier hike and an ice wall at the glacier itself, for self-drivers aged 14 and up.
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