Arctic Adventures · Sólheimajökull car park or Reykjavík
Arctic Adventures' Blue Ice trip: the standard Sólheimajökull hike, then a rope, two axes and your first climb up a natural ice wall, no experience needed. Meet at the glacier for a half day, or take the full day from Reykjavík with two waterfalls.
Two options on one listing. Meet on location is a half day of about 5.5 hours from the yellow Arctic Adventures bus in the Sólheimajökull car park. From Reykjavík is a full day of about 13 hours, with pickup in the city and stops at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss on the way. Either way you hike up a moss valley and onto the glacier from above, with the lagoon below, and Arctic Adventures says you spend about 3 hours on the ice, about 1 hour of it climbing.
The climbing is a taster, not a course. The guide sets a top rope on a natural ice wall, shows you how to kick in with the crampons and swing the axes, and belays you. One guest climbed three times, starting on a small wall and moving to a bigger one. It is optional, so a nervous member of the group can just watch. Expect up to 8 km of walking in all, rated moderate.
The minimum age is 14 and crampons fit EU 35 to 50; the tour is not for pregnant women. Boots with ankle support are mandatory and not included, so bring your own or rent at the meeting point. The small-group option caps at 8; the listing also shows a standard group of up to 19, so check which one you pick. Since the Icelandic Met Office warned on 22 July 2026 of a thinning ice ridge between two lagoons and of rockfall from Jökulhaus above the trail, operators decide each morning which route onto the ice is safe, and they have paused or rerouted tours when conditions demanded it. Access to the glacier stays open, and guests were posting 5-star reviews from the ice in October 2026. Check your booking the day before. Every tour on this site cancels free up to 24 hours before the start.
Early pickup in Reykjavík, then about 25 minutes at Seljalandsfoss and 30 at Skógafoss on the drive east.
Meet-on-location guests join at the yellow bus. The guide fits crampons, harness and helmet and runs through the safety rules.
Up a moss-covered valley to reach the ice from above, with views over the glacier and the lagoon before you step on.
Hike among moulins, blue ice and ridges, then the climbing: the guide sets the rope and you take turns on the wall. The listing gives 3.5 hours for the walk in and the ice together.
Back down to the car park. Reykjavík guests have about 2.5 hours on the bus home.
★★★★★Definitely my favourite activity in Iceland and we've done plenty. It was my first time ever climbing, and was 10/10. Guides were great, informative and patient. [...] We hiked to the glacier and we each climbed 3 times, starting with a small wall then moving onto a larger one (which we all did twice). Great fun!
★★★★★I am quite scared of heights (weird for someone doing climbing, I know) so was quite nervous on some of the climbs but wanted to push myself which Daniel did, and he also gave me the option whether or not to do the third one which was a step up, without any pressure.
★★★★★Sunny our driver guide was so lovely. [...] Stephen and Frank our glacier guides were awesome. Very positive and professional and friendly. They assisted everyone in the group so that we all achieved ice wall climbing and glacier hiking. We had an awesome day out.
★★★★★Great fun experience, the guides were very friendly and knowledgeable. Best experience of our trip to Iceland. I would definitely recommend it. Body is feeling tired the next day
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No. The listing says no prior experience is needed, and the guide teaches you to use the axes and crampons on a top rope. The climbing part is optional.
About 5.5 hours if you meet at the glacier, about 13 hours with the Reykjavík option. Arctic Adventures puts about 3 hours on the ice, about 1 hour of it climbing.
14 on this tour, with a shoe size of at least EU 35. Younger children can join a standard glacier hike from 8.
Yes. Guests posted 5-star reviews from the ice wall in October 2026. Operators decide each day which route is safe, so check your booking the day before; it cancels free up to 24 hours before.
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The glacier hike plus your first climb up a natural ice wall on ropes, at the glacier or from Reykjavík.
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