Ice Explorers · Breiðamerkurjökull, from Jökulsárlón
Ice Explorers takes 12 people at most by super jeep from Jökulsárlón to Breiðamerkurjökull, the glacier that feeds the lagoon, for about two hours and 4 to 6 km on the ice. Pick it if you want to walk on the glacier the icebergs come from.
Breiðamerkurjökull is the outlet glacier of Vatnajökull that calves into Jökulsárlón. Ice Explorers meets you next to its super jeeps by the Glacier Lagoon café, teaches you how to walk on ice, and drives you to the glacier. The whole tour takes about 4.5 hours, and roughly two hours of that is on the ice, covering 4 to 6 km.
What you see changes with the season and the group. The listing mentions ashy ice, mountain views, possibly blue ice, and on some days a look into moulins and crevasses. Guests report small ice caves, a drink of meltwater straight from the glacier and a try at ice climbing. Crampons, helmet, harness and an ice axe are supplied, and so is lunch. Groups are 8 to 12.
It's rated medium. You need moderate fitness, no back or heart problems, and you can't be pregnant. The age range on the booking is 10 to 70, the harness fits up to 126 cm around, and the minimum shoe size is 35. Boots matter most: stiff, ankle-high hiking boots, no trainers. If you turn up in the wrong shoes, you rent at the meeting point or, in the worst case, you don't go.
Next to the Glacier Lagoon café at Jökulsárlón.
Crampons, helmet and harness fitted, and how to walk on ice.
A drive across the moraine to the edge of Breiðamerkurjökull.
A 4 to 6 km walk, with stops at crevasses, moulins or small caves when conditions allow.
Return to the café car park, about 4.5 hours after you started.
★★★★★I was skeptical of this being a good day due to the rain, wind, and cold temps. Instead, this turned into the biggest highlight of my Iceland trip. Fantastic outing with a great guide [...]
★★★★★Highly recommend this glacier hike! The entire experience was incredibly well organized, with a strong focus on safety from start to finish.
★★★★★Our tour guide was passionate about teaching us the transitions and changes the glacier goes through. We had the chance of seeing a few beautiful mini ice caves that were formed and drink glacier water.
★★★★★The crampons we connected to our boots made ice walking really easy! There were plenty of stops to make going up the glacier not seem as daunting. Each stop was even more interesting and beautiful than the last.
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About two hours, covering 4 to 6 km. The whole tour from the lagoon takes about 4.5 hours with the briefing and super jeep ride.
Moderately fit. The hike is rated medium, on uneven ice in changing weather. It isn't recommended with back or heart problems or during pregnancy, and the ages on the booking are 10 to 70.
Next to the Ice Explorers super jeeps by the Glacier Lagoon café at Jökulsárlón. There's no pickup from Reykjavík.
In summer, the hike: the big blue caves are a winter thing. In winter, the ice cave tour takes you inside the ice. Our what to wear guide covers clothes for both.
Ready to book
About two hours on Breiðamerkurjökull in crampons, in a group of 12 at most, with lunch.
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