Discover the majestic beauty of the south coast and its glaciers on this panoramic tour.
Enjoy a versatile, scenic hike by the volcano Katla that rewards you with a stunning panoramic glacier view of Eyjafjallajökull, Sólheimajökull and other unique landscapes of the scenic south coast. This guided day tour, which is moderately difficult, gives you a glimpse into the world of Iceland’s geological wonders and how glaciers have shaped the land for thousands of years. A specially modified glacier truck transports you approximately 750 metres to start the hike, which will generally continue downhill. Participants should be in good physical shape with some mountain climbing experience.
Want to connect with nature and embark on a moderately challenging hike? This guided day tour offers an active adventure with about six hours of hiking, offering unrivalled views of glacial and volcanic landscapes. In the morning, your group, consisting of no more than 14 people, will meet the professional guide at the Sólheimajökull parking lot. From there, you will be driven up the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, and on a clear day, you will be able to see the famous Eyjafjallajökull volcano. The glacier truck is an experience in itself as the enormous truck adapts to the icy landscape, with its enormous tyres trudging along.
The hiking route, which lies above and along the Sólheimajökull outlet glacier, is in a region rarely visited by humans, with an occasional sheep roaming around. Embrace the tranquillity of the area and observe the different shapes and colours of the glacial ice. To preserve nature, please stay on the path, and follow your guides’ instructions. Also, ensure you have all the necessary hiking equipment (see the list below).
Please consider that you are going up to 750 metres, so the weather is most likely different from the conditions in the parking lot. The hike is approxomately 9 km / 5.6 mi.
Following the walk, you will return to the original meeting point in the parking lot.
For your well-being and safety, we strongly suggest following the advice of our equipment list; this includes having good quality rain gear, tops and bottoms! Also, respect that cotton clothing is inappropriate for any strenuous outdoor activity, including jeans and t-shirts.
Modern outdoor clothing is far more comfortable and will significantly improve your experience. There are NO shops on the way, so make sure you come prepared!
Note the weather at 750 meters can be very different from the weather in the parking lot at Sólheimajökull. Colder temperatures and wind can sometimes be expected.
- Availability
- Summer & Fall
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 6.5 hours
- Minimum age
- 12
- Meeting Point
- Sólheimajökull Base Camp
- Max elevation
- 750m
- Total distance
- 9 km / 5.6 mi
TourID: AG104
Sólheimajökull Base Camp
Need to know
Accessible to all those in good health, who are doing some sport regularly, and who are used to all-terrain walks. 4-6 hours walk per day, without much carrying.
- Flexible Cancellation
- No Booking Fees
Tour itinerary
What’s included and what to bring on this tour
It’s important to always be prepared for your next adventure in Iceland. See our list of what’s included, and what you should bring or add to your trip
Included
- Experienced and qualified guide
- Transport in a glacier truck
- Group safety equipment carried by guide
Not included
- Rain gear
- Good shoes
- Warm clothing
- Drinks and food
Tour highlights
Are you wondering about something?
If you're planning a trip to Iceland, it's important to be prepared with the right information. Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help you plan your trip
Some meeting points don't have traditional addresses as they are parking lots or or mountain base camps in remote areas or, but you can always find these locations on Google Maps and see directions on the map above.
Before we head to the glacier for the tour, we need to get everyone fitted with the equipment (protective overalls, helmets and goggles for snowmobile tours, crampons and harnesses for glacier hikes, dry suit for kayak touts, etc.). Some equipment needs to be adjusted to each person's, so people must arrive 30 minutes before so everyone is ready at the departure time.
We always recommend booking as soon as you are ready, especially if you have a strict travel schedule or a large group. Changing or cancelling your tour is easy and free of charge until 24 hours before departure by emailing us (info@mountainguides.is). Tours can also be purchased on the day of as long as spaces are available.
The meeting point is at Sólheimajökull Base Camp, where you will leave your car and will hop on to our shuttle that will bring us to the hiking point.
The hike start from the summer base of the snowmobile to traverse kind of horizontally to the cliff above the glacier of Sólheimajökull. After that will basically follow the ridge all the way to the front of the glacier. The view is simply stunning and you get to see the entire glacier tongue, the summit of Eyjafjallajökull and Katla.
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