Skaftafell Tours
Glacier Encounter in Iceland
5

Glacier Encounter in Iceland

By Local Guide of Vatnajokull
Recommended by 100% of travelers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 8-99, max of 12 per group
Duration: 2h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Local and Professional Glacier Guide
  • 4x4 Super-Jeep Transport
  • Crampons & Ice Axe
  • Supporting a Small Local Company
  • Carbon Neutralised Tour
What's not included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities


Start:
  • Freysnes, 785, Iceland
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 57360P2

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 57360P2

    From
    $122.00
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • 785, Iceland
    • 1
      Your guide will meet you at our meeting van at Freysnes, before transferring by SuperJeep to Falljökull glacier before heading up on the ice.
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Local Guide of Vatnajokull
      576
      Jokulsarlon, Iceland
      Joined in December 2010
    • 853juliea
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing experience
      We had an amazing experience hiking the beautiful and giant glacier. We did the shorter tour but our guide Sofia did an AMAZING job, showing us every detail, telling us stories, information and guiding us through this wonderful experience. Even though she was sick she did her best and we are very grateful for that. This is definitely one of the best experiences in Iceland. Communication with the company was also easy and fast. We highly recommend it!
      Written October 6, 2024
    • acr356
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great small group tour!
      The small group ice cave tour and glacier walk was amazing! The glacier walk portion was unexpected but a lot of fun. Kish was a fantastic guide!
      Written October 5, 2024
    • sarabW9586CC
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing glacier hike!
      Amazing experience! Our guide, Arnaud, was very informative and also entertaning. Felt very safe during all tour. Highly recommend!
      Written October 1, 2024
    • JANISATL
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fabulous hike on a glacier!
      We thoroughly enjoyed our glacier hike with Local Guide. The scenery was beautiful, and our guide was knowledgeable, informative, and entertaining. She was patient with our slower pace (we are in our 70’s), and as a bonus, took lots of beautiful pictures! The crampons provided by the company were also helpful. I highly recommend this company!
      Written September 27, 2024
    • miletmiranda
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      One of the best experiences in Iceland
      This ice cave tour was an incredible experience that I would happily do again. Our guide identified the best photo spots, helping us capture the cave’s breathtaking beauty from various angles. Additionally, our guide was attentive and accommodating, taking photos for solo travelers as well as group shots. He understood our desire to capture every moment and made sure we never felt rushed or pressured. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Iceland.
      Written September 7, 2024
    • miletmiranda
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      The Best Iceland Experience!
      Coming from a tropical country, I can say that this experience is a major highlight of my Iceland trip. The hike was filled with memorable moments, including a couple of adrenaline-pumping scares. By the end, we all agreed that this adventure was even better than the ice cave tour we did the day before. It felt much more intimate. Shout out to our incredible guide, Asta! I don't think I have ever encountered such an excellent guide before meeting her. She was patient, technically competent, knowledgeable about the glaciers and Iceland, and passionate about her work. Towards the end she made sure that we see amazing features of the glaciers that even she had never seen before. She always made sure everyone was safe and paid close attention to everyone. Thanks a lot, Asta! <3 From your guests from the Philippines. 🇵🇭
      Written September 5, 2024
    • Happiness10272250024
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Must do hiking/glacier experience in Iceland with great company and our guide Barbara.
      This was an amazing hike, with localguide.is the company website was super easy to get the tickets, very efficient web interface and communication. The hike was amazing with the weather cooperating and scenery. one of the highlights was our guide Barbara, amazing great human being, she was extremely knowledgeable, had great conversation during the hike and she is a gem of a person with love for her work and environment. Thanks for a wonderful hike.
      Written August 10, 2024
    • Giovanna-corradin
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Glacier climb tour
      complete glacier climb tour with a very well prepared and passionated guide, with a lot of patience with people not expert like us. It’s really worthy to do it, you should take advantage of these guides to make a real glacier experience
      Written August 6, 2024
    • L8298XIwilliamk
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Hiking on a Glacier
      Epic experience! Helped having a knowledgable guide like Kish who has an extensive knowledge due to his background in geology. Really enhanced the tour to the icefall of the Falljokull
      Written July 24, 2024
    • leighannb952
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      10 out of 10
      We had our family of 5. Ages 19-55. Went with our guide Sam. She was absolutely amazing. She loves what she does and we felt completely safe with her. Highly recommend asking for her. We are adventurous and wanted to climb. She made the trip a dream come true. There were times when the crampons gave us trouble but Sam was attentive helped us fix them, gave us some pointers and we continued to climb. Would do it again 100% liked the small group size and family feel.
      Written July 19, 2024
    • vijaykjoshi
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Must do glacier hike in Iceland
      Damien, our hike guide made the glacier hike such a fun. We hiked the glacier, climbed ropes, abseiled a bit. Nothing dangerous or risky but so much fun.
      Written June 27, 2024
    • stevenpopple
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great day out
      What a great activity, we were pushed out of our comfort zone, but that was what we wanted. The guide (Rocky) was great, he made sure we were all safe and we all enjoyed the trip.
      Written June 7, 2024
    • shsethna
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Glacier Discovery is the ideal way to experience Vatnajokull up close.
      Our Glacier Discovery adventure with guide Barbara was simply incredible. Barbara took great care of us, from outfitting us with crampons, axes, helmets and climbing harnesses, to leading the way through the ice fall and giving us interesting and relevant information along the way. Definitely enjoyed the unique vistas and will likely come back for another visit as the glacier is constantly changing and no two tours are ever the same.
      Written May 26, 2024
    • Q9280DYmarcop
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      positive experience to visit a glacier
      The tour was very exciting. it is a tourist tour, you do not expect extreme sporting activities, but breathtaking views. the fact that there are only a few people is very positive, compared to other tours that host up to 16 people. The guides are all very attentive to people and explain well. the equipment is all quality. the tour does not include visiting ice caves
      Written May 24, 2024
    • 968chandlerf
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      DO THIS TOUR
      Amazing experience!! we were reccomended this tour by some friends and it did not disappoint. Very private and information with a good amount of walking. The ice wall is incredible and you won’t want to miss out on the opportunity. Our guide Helka was the best
      Written May 18, 2024
    See all 576 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles94 reviews
    Excellent
    91
    Very good
    3
    Average
    0
    Poor
    0
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    0

    Emily G
    8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    My family of 5 including 3 boys (13, 11, 8) thoroughly enjoyed this glacier hike. Due to bad weather, they moved our tour to another location. They were very easy to communicate with. 2 of my sons borrowed boots from them which worked very well. We were give crampons and ice picks and helmets for the hike. Katia was our guide and she was so knowledgeable, professional, engaging - she wanted everyone to safely enjoy the experience. Daniel was also very kind and friendly. We met at the glacier lagoon and had a very bumpy 20-25 minute van ride to the location, then walked another 20-25 min to reach the glacier. The guides were all very patient and professional and helpful with everyone getting crampons on. Overall a fascinating and unique experience.
    Written August 3, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for your kind words about our guides and we are so happy to hear you enjoyed the tour with us and that we were able to find a great solution for you away from the storm! We hope to see you again one day :)
    Written August 5, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Ansley
    Reykjavik, Iceland4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Our tour guide, Pat, was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and down to earth. My friend and I were lucky to be the only two people on our afternoon tour. With all of the other tours ranging from 10-30 folks, we got our own unique adventure. Pat made us feel right at home and answered all of our questions with insight only a local could give. Plus, he was very easy to talk to (and very funny!). We are just starting out our trip in Iceland, but I feel confident that this will be one of my favorite memories in this beautiful country. Thank you, Pat and Local Guide, for everything you do!
    Written May 2, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear ansley13, Thank you for sharing your experience from your Glacier Encounter tour. We really appreciate your kind words regarding our guide Pat, as well as our general operations. We make sure to keep our groups small and comfortable for people who go often on the glacier for the very first time. It is great to hear that this exprience made it to your most favourite memories from your time in Iceland. Take care,
    Written July 1, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    sabrinak136
    New Orleans, LA1,499 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Iceland is a beautiful country and the glaciers are spectacular to see.  We took a trip with Hidden Iceland and part of the tour included a glacier walk if you felt comfortable and had the endurance for the journey. We ventured out and tried the Vatnajökull glacier hike.  The one thing I learned about Iceland is that you definitely need to be prepared for the journey and Local Guide Vatnajökull
    is definitely the company to select to deliver a fabulous experience.  
    Hidden Iceland only partners with the best tour guides and our journey revealed just that.  We were provided with an amazing guide who first provided all the safety equipment needed for the glacier hike such as (crampons, helmet, and harness).  In addition, she provided all the instructions that were needed to have a wonderful adventure.  It was an easy hike for our group.  I appreciated the way our guide took the time to make sure everyone was safe as we continued the journey to the glacier.  
    It was summer in Iceland however, it wasn’t very cold however, gloves and a hat were a plus to have.  
    Our guide did an exceptional job of providing us with information regarding the glacier.  I knew she was an expert climber however, she managed to show my son how to create a wonderful photo that gave the illusion that he was an expert climber as well.  Once he returned home he enjoyed sharing that moment with his friends.  We truly appreciate all the wonderful memories that were created by taking this journey.  Indeed Local Guide Vatnajökull is an exceptional and responsible company that desires to show others the beauty of Iceland while still respecting Mother Nature.
    Written April 21, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for taking your time to write us at Local Guide of Vatnajökull and Hidden Iceland such a detailed and amazing review! We appreciate your kind words and are happy to hear about your experience. Hopefully we get to meet again :)
    Written May 12, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Yonnii L
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2024 • Family
    Our guide Barbara was energetic and fun, giving lots of information about the area and glacier. She gave clear instructions during the hike and lead us to some beautiful view points to take pictures. I enjoyed the trip a lot and would definitely recommend it to those who haven't hiked up a glacier before.
    Written August 2, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for your amazing review and the recommendation!! We appreciate it very much and hope to meet you again one day :)
    Written August 5, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    HappyTravBe
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2023 • Family
    We had an excellent Glacier Encounter hike with Asta. She was simply amazing: technically supercompetent, paying great attention to security of all, professional communicator, passionate AND knowledgeable about the Icelandic nature. The best local guide we could imagine. In the end we spent more time on the ice than what is written in the program and we are happy for this unforgettable experience. Thank you Asta!
    Written September 1, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    We truly appreciate you taking the time to write us and Ásta these amazing reviews! Thank you and have an amazing time in Iceland :)
    Written September 2, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Ruud S
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2023 • Family
    A wonderfull experience with the family and one of the top activities during our holiday. The equipment was explained thoroughly and we felt safe during the whole tour. Flo, our guide was excellent, explained the geology and environmental aspects of the glacier, and took our small group of 8 to places separate from the much larger groups. We highly recommend taking a glacier tour and especially with the Local Guide of Vatnajokull.
    Written August 1, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear Ruud, Thank you for this lovely review of our Glacier Encounter trip. We are happy to see you enjoyed our small group tour and you had a great time with our guide Flo. It is amazing to see you had this positive experience and we made it to the highlights of your trip to Iceland. Take care
    Written August 10, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    familyluxurytravel
    Somerset, NJ19 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2024 • Family
    Wow!!! What an amazing experience! Our family (including two kids in college) loved it and Lucas, our guide.

    He built our trust super fast such that we followed his lead and did new things way out of comfort zones. He is very knowledgeable, taught us so much about glaciers and this area. He always kept us safe and did a fabulous job of reading our abilities and comfort level to create a personalized experience.

    We came to learn he is an industrial engineer by education. He applied his intellect and skills so perfectly to being meticulous in caring for our family’s safety while creating such a memorable time for us. This experience will be the one we all talk about the most from our 9 days in Iceland.

    It is worth the money if you want adventure!! we will telling all our friends about Lucas and Glacier Encounters. You won’t regret it!!
    Written August 19, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi, Thank you for leaving us the review. Unfortunately, I am afraid this particular experience and tour was not ours so I would suggest to share your review on the page of the company you are referring to called Glacier Encounter: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g189978-d25232350-Reviews-Glacier_Encounter-Vik_South_Region.html Take care,
    Written August 21, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Nancy B
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2023 • Family
    Walking on top of a glacier was a unique experience and I would highly recommend this tour company. Our guide, Hanka, did a great job. I was reticent about the activity, and nearly chickened out at the last minute, fearing it would be too hard for me to do. Hanka was patient and kind-and made sure even unathlectic, clumsy me could succeed at this adventure. The walking was mostly easy (as long as you are moderately fit), and the views were pretty. The tour company gives you all the equipment you need, and made sure everyone was safe.
    Written September 5, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for telling us and other travellers about your experience on a tour with Local Guide. We value your feedback and are so happy to hear about your recommendation of us :) We hope to meet you again one day!
    Written September 16, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Hoki K
    London, UK12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2024 • Family
    We went on the Glacier Encounter. It was so much fun! Our guide, Asta, was excellent. She was cheery, warm, informative and inspired confidence in her ability to look after us. We felt in safe hands. She was also really great with our 9 year old son.
    The tour itself was very worthwhile. So amazing to get up close to crevasses etc. And crampons are amazing - they really do make it so much easier to walk on the glacier, even though, as novices, we felt it must be impossible!
    Written May 31, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    We're thrilled to hear that you had a great time on the Glacier Encounter tour with Ásta and that you had a memorable experience, especially for your 9-year-old son. We hope to welcoming you and your family back for more adventures soon!
    Written June 7, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Mike D
    Minneapolis, MN118 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2023 • Couples
    On Day 12 of our two-week travel through Iceland, my spouse and I took a shared three-hour glacier hike with "Glacier Encounter." They also offer "private hikes" and "extreme hikes" on the glacier, but for novices like us the three-hour shared tour was ideal–a great introduction to the glaciers in Vatnajökull National Park. You are given complete gear, assisted with properly putting it on, and then take a small bus to the edge of the glacier. There you put on crampons and begin your hike. I am sorry I do not remember the name of the guide who led our group, but I will post a picture of her. She was terrific. She was very attentive to all the members of our group given we were of different ages and experience. Safety was always a primary consideration. Our guide was very knowledgeable and we learned a great deal about Iceland glaciers along our hike. I can highly recommend this experience.
    Written September 30, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you so much for this in dept review of our tour! We are so happy to hear about your experience and hope to meet you again one day :)
    Written October 8, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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