FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Our FAQ covers the most common questions we've received over years of guiding glacier tours.
TRAVEL & LOGISTICS
Summer Glacier Tours:
During the summer months, April – September, our meeting point is at Freysnes gas station. It is located on road number 1, the main „ring road“ highway of Iceland, 320km east of Reykjavík. If coming from Reykjavík, it’s around a 4 hour drive and you will find Freysnes gas station on your right hand side, just a few minutes after passing the sign for Skaftafell nature reserve.
Winter Ice Cave Tours:
During the winter season 2024/2025 we will be meeting you for the ice cave tours at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon main parking lot.
If you are taking a private tour it may be possible to collect you from the hotel in the local area so please ask us about this option.
Read more about directions and our location points on our dedicated page.
We ask you to please arrive promptly 15 minutes before the start time of your tour. In the winter time please be mindful of the storms and arrive even earlier. 20-25 minutes before scheduled departure could be a good idea. There is a cafeteria and public bathrooms in Jökulsárlón (winter meeting location) and a service station (summer meeting point) where you will be able to grab a hot drink and snack, but also use a restroom.
It is important to dress appropriately for the weather so that you will be as comfortable as possible on your trip. Please wear warm layers, waterproof jacket and outdoor trousers or leggings avoiding jeans where possible. We also strongly suggest that you have a hat, scarf and gloves as it can get windy and you will also protect your hands from the ice which can be both cold and sharp.
All of our tours include transfers to and from our base, a qualified local guide, crampons, helmet and ice axe and all safety equipment.
You can rent hiking boots for 1500 isk from our booking office. We are unable to rent clothing so please come well prepared for the tour with warm and waterproof clothing, hat, scarf and gloves.
Our public tours can be cancelled with 24 hours notice.
All other cancellations requested less than 24 hours from the departure time are non refundable. Because of extreme weather, road conditions or other factors, as a tour operator we may need to cancel the tour with a very short notice. In this case, we will assist you with rebooking to another date or provide a full refund.
For our private tours and groups (8+) the our cancellation policy is as follows:
– One month or more – no charge,
– One month to two weeks: 25% fee,
– Two weeks to one week: 50% fee,
– Seven days or less: 100% fee
Feel free to review also our cancellation policy page where we describe it in details.
We do not expect to cancel the tours due to regular rain. Unless the weather make it unsafe to go on the glacier then we cancel the tour and offer a client either to reschedule or refund the tour.
For public departures we approve a full refund 24h prior the departure. After this time you will be charged the full price of the trip.
For private tours and groups (8+) we apply our special cancellation policy created for this type of bookings.
It is important for you to know that we do not provide any drinks or snacks during any of our tours so please make sure you are prepared for the tour according to your personal needs in this matter.
We offer private family glacier hikes in the summer for children as young as 5 years old. Send us an email to info@localguide.is for more information.
As the glacier is changing quickly, we are currently able to accommodate children from the age of 10 years and with the shoe size of at least EU 35 on our winter Ice Cave Tours.
See our private tours site.
We highly advise you to be staying in the area of Vatnajökull before or after the tour. Our recomendation would be to consider the area of Skaftafell, Öræfi, Glacier Lagoon, Höfn as the closest to both of our meeting points.
Unfortunately, we do not offer any pick ups in Reykjavík. Currently, our tours are leaving from Freysnes (summer time) and from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon (winter time) and you are asked to arrive to the meeting location on your own.
We request all of our clients to arrive at the meeting location at least 15 minutes before the tour starts. Please inform us immediately if you are running late by sending us an email or giving us a call. Unfortunately, we are not able to promise you to be able to wait for you as we do have a schedule for a day to follow. We don’t immediately pay the fee if you miss the tour because of arriving late, or when you decide at the last minute not to show up. We simply recommend staying in a hotel or guesthouse east of Skaftafell in Vatnajokull National Park, and west of the town of Höfn so you limit the chance of arriving late to us to a minimum.
HEALTH & SAFETY CONCERNS
Glacier hiking involves walking on uneven, icy terrain with crampons, exposure to cold and changing weather conditions, and some level of physical effort. While our guides prioritize safety and select routes that suit the group’s ability, it’s important to be aware of the following:
- 4×4 Transfer & Rough Terrain: Our tours require a transfer in a 4×4 vehicle on rugged, sometimes bumpy tracks between the meeting point and the glacier. While this may cause mild discomfort for regular travelers, pregnant participants may find it more challenging depending on their stage of pregnancy and individual sensitivity to movement.
- Physical Demand: Tours typically include walking on ice and snow, occasional inclines, and short sections with loose rocks. A moderate level of fitness is required.
- Weather Conditions: Icelandic weather can be unpredictable, with sudden wind, rain, or snow. Proper clothing and layering are essential.
- Safety Equipment: Crampons and helmets are provided, but wearing them comfortably may depend on individual mobility.
Are There Any Restrictions?
As long as you feel fit and physically capable, you may be able to join. However, if you are in later stages of pregnancy or have any medical concerns, we recommend choosing a less physically demanding experience or waiting for a future opportunity.
Final Recommendation
Your safety is our priority. Please discuss your travel plans with a medical professional, consider your comfort level with outdoor activities, and inform our team in advance so we can help assess if the tour is suitable for you
Individuals with asthma can potentially join our ice cave tours and glacier hikes, but there are several important factors to consider before booking. These activities involve moderate to strenuous physical exertion, and participants will be exposed to cold, dry air and potentially higher altitudes. These conditions can sometimes trigger asthma symptoms.
If you have asthma, we recommend the following:
- Consult with your doctor: Please ensure your asthma is well-controlled and that you are physically fit for the activity. Your doctor can help determine whether participating in these tours is safe for you.
- Bring your inhaler or necessary medication: Always carry your rescue inhaler or any prescribed medication during the tour and inform our staff of your condition.
- Know your limits: If you experience any difficulty breathing or discomfort during the tour, please let the guide know right away. Your health and safety are our top priority, and we can make necessary adjustments.
- Cold air precautions: If cold, dry air or exercise triggers your asthma, be mindful of this when deciding to join. Dress warmly, cover your mouth and nose to reduce cold air exposure, and take breaks if needed.
While many individuals with asthma are able to enjoy these tours without issues, it’s important to assess your own condition and take necessary precautions.
While our ice cave tours are generally suitable for most people, they may not be ideal for those with severe claustrophobia. Participants need to stay with the group throughout the tour for safety reasons. However, the caves we visit are usually dome-shaped and spacious, so there’s no need to crawl or bend down significantly to explore.
If you have claustrophobia, we recommend:
- Assessing your comfort with confined spaces before booking.
- Let us know in advance so we can discuss any concerns and ensure you’re as comfortable as possible.
- Being aware that, while the caves are spacious, you will need to stay with the group during the tour.
Your comfort and safety are our top priority, so please feel free to reach out if you have any concerns or need more details.
Our glacier hikes and ice cave tours require stability, good foot and ankle control, and the ability to navigate uneven terrain. These tours involve moderate aerobic exercise and some elevation gain, so participants need to be physically fit and mobile, even though prior experience is not required. Public tours follow a certain pace, which may not be suitable for everyone with mobility concerns. If pace or mobility is a concern, we recommend booking a private tour to accommodate your needs. We suggest consulting with your doctor before booking to ensure you’re able to safely join the tour. Your comfort and safety are our top priority, so please feel free to contact us with any questions.
GLACIER HIKES
The difference between two of our glacier walks is mostly the time we spend on the ice. Both of the tours are operating on Falljökull glacier, which is the outlet of Vatnajökull, the second biggest glacier in Europe.
Our short glacier walk is called Glacier Encounter and is around 3 hours in duration with 1 hour on the glacier.
Please visit a Glacier Encounter page for more information.
The price for this tour is 16 900 ISK for adults and 12 900 ISK for children. The age limit is 8 years old. Kids younger than 8 are welcome on our private tours.
Secondly, our longer glacier walk is called Glacier Discovery and the total time duration is around 4 hours with 2,5 – 3 hours on the glacier.
Please visit a Glacier Discovery page for more information.
This tour is 21 900 ISK per person and the age limit is 16 years old. The availability for this tour is automatically updated on our tour page “Glacier Discovery”.
During this tour we make sure to focus on ice climbing. This is the only public tour we offer the opportunity to try this activity.
This tour is available as a public and private departure so we make sure to always adjust the difficulty to the fitness level of each group and other wishes you may have. Our guide will talk with you before the tour starts to make sure everyone is on board with the plan for this glacier adventure!
Visit the tour page for more detailed information and booking.
As for our glacier hikes we do not expect you to have any previous glacier experience.
Glacier Encounter hike is a great opportunity for everyone who wants to just try to spend some time on the ice and is not able to commit to any longer and more demanding hike. We highly recommend this tour for the family with children.
On the other hand, our Glacier Discovery is a longer hike so it requires more fitness than the Glacier Encounter tour but if you are used to hiking and you are active on every day basis then this tour should be a great adventure for you!
These two tours are relatively long and our Glacier Ice Climbing can last up to 5 hours, so we suggest having a sandwich, or other snack with, as well as water. We do not provide any food or drinks during our tours. Next to our meeting point, there is a gas station where you can purchase anything before the tour or grab a nice lunch right after. In the area, there are also a few places we highly recommend to stop by for a lovely meal after the tour like Hotel Skaftafell, Cafe Vatnajökull and Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon.
Our tours are suitable for anyone who is comfortable walking on the glacier unaided. In our past we had clients as young as 6 and as old as 90.
We are able to provide a private tour for kids younger than 8 years old.
If you are interested in the private tour, please visit the site dedicated to our customised tours.
We would love to welcome you and your family on a glacier with us. We offer a private departure for children as young as 5 years old. Please feel free to send us a message to info@localguide.is . Prior to sending us a request, we encourage you to check our page dedicated to private bookings.
ICE CAVE TOURS
Typically the ice cave season starts in October and ends in March. It is important to remember that the weather plays a huge part in the formation of the caves and we can sometimes access them earlier in the season and sometimes it may not be until later on. We are scouting for caves from late summer so as soon as conditions allow we are able to access these with our groups in winter.
As a tour operator experienced in offering this tour, we always try to schedule our tours in a way to possibly avoid big traffic, but unfortunately we are not able to guarantee an empty ice cave. Even during our private tours we are not able to be 100% sure the ice cave will be without anyone inside. If you are a photographer, we are able to schedule a departure often times early or late in a day to possibly avoid people. Sadly, the weather conditions also change every day, making often a huge impact on our possibilities and availability of the ice cave.
Similarly to all of our glacier hikes, we do not require any previous experience with hiking on the ice. Depending on the weather conditions the hike length can vary from 1-2h. What we see during this trip will also be evaluated by the guide, who decides what would be safe for the group to see and where to go. We believe that as long as you are used to hiking and walking, you should be able to sign up for this winter adventure.
We provide all the glacier equipment for the tour so all you need to bring is warm and waterproof outdoor clothing, hat and gloves. Winter boots or hiking shoes are necessary.
For the kids younger than 10 years old we would usually be able to offer you a private tour, but currently in the winter season 2024/2025 we are not able to accommodate younger kids due to the safety measures. In case you have any quetions regarding this please feel free to send us a request to info@localguide.is or check our page dedicated to private itineraries.
No company operating in the area has the exclusive right to offer a visit to any ice caves in the Vatnajökull National Park. We make sure to schedule our public Ice Cave Tour in a way that we do not overlap as much with other tour operators. We work closely with other companies to make sure we will get enough time and space for the groups to enjoy the time inside the cave and have a good opportunity to photograph this unique area.
Throughout the season, we make sure to keep you up to date with the conditions inside the ice cave and we regularly upload pictures and videos to our instagram account @localguide. With many clients choosing our services, we are often tagged in their stories and pictures which allow you to see how the cave is changing. The weather and the amount of daylight can affect how the ice cave looks inside, so please keep this in mind when setting up your expectations 🙂
Unfortunately, in the areas of Vatnajökull glacier it is not allowed to be visiting the ice caves on your own. There are multiple companies offering the seasonal visits to the ice caves and the experienced team of glacier guides make sure when is safe to visit the caves. At the end of a day it is all about the safety!
We guarantee to visit one ice cave on our ice cave tours.
We typically have one main cave that we visit, but this can sometimes change depending on weather conditions or the state of the cave(s). Since ice caves are constantly evolving, we may need to switch to a different cave on short notice or halfway through the season.
Because both the weather and cave formations are unpredictable, it is difficult for us to guarantee a specific cave in advance.
At the end of every summer, we scout the glacier in search of new caves. Ice caves are formed by water flowing within the ice, making them highly dynamic and ever-changing, even within a single season.
Sometimes we can explore the same cave system for multiple seasons, while other times an ice cave may last only one winter.
Even if we return to the same cave for multiple seasons, the old part of the cave usually melts during the summer, and a new section opens up. As a result, the cave may feel like a completely different one each year.
Unfortunately, these amazing caves don’t exist anymore. They eventually melted out, and today we visit different caves that formed in the meantime.
Ice caves Local Guide visited in the past:
Waterfall Ice Cave
three winter seasons between 2013 – 2016
Created by a stream coming from a side valley Veðurárdalur, melted snow from the mountains carved a cave into the side of the glacier.
Crystal Ice Cave
This was a beautiful cave which we had for a couple of seasons between 2013 and 2018.
It was located on the East side of Breiðamerkurjökull at the edge of the glacier
Sapphire Ice Cave
A cave located on the East side of Breiðamerkurjökull at the edge of the glacier. This cave has been used for guided tours for many seasons since 2015.
Blue Diamond Ice Cave
This was a smaller cave located on the West side of Breiðamerkurjökull that formed during the summer 2023. Blue Diamond was used for the tours in the winter season 2023/24 and it entirely melted the following summer.
Photos you find online often differ from the actual experience, for several reasons. Professional images are typically captured using long exposure, which can enhance the blue tones and make them appear more vivid. Additionally, the caves naturally change in size and shape over time due to seasonal melting. The intensity of the blue color can also vary depending on the sunlight and the thickness of the ice.
PRIVATE TOURS
For a private departure we kindly ask you to arrive on a scheduled time but preferably few minutes before a scheduled departure time.
All of our glacier tours include transfers to and from our base, a qualified guide, crampons, helmet, harness, and ice axe and all safety equipment.
Hiking boots are included in private tours. Unfortunately, we are unable to rent clothing so please come well prepared for the tour with warm and waterproof clothing, hat, scarf and gloves.
For our private tours and groups (8+) the our cancellation policy is as follows:
– One month or more – no charge,
– One month to two weeks: 25% fee,
– Two weeks to one week: 50% fee,
– Seven days or less: 100% fee
Even though this is a private tour we can never guarantee that we will be the only people inside the ice cave. We try our best to schedule a departure time for your tour as best as we can to meet your expectations.
We are able to fully design and adjust the experience to your needs and expectations we can make decisions regarding the complexity of a tour in line with your fitness level.
We are able to offer your family with younger children a private experience. Our minimum age for the private tour is 5 years old.
Unfortuantely, this winter season starting from October 1st 2024 and ending March 31st 2025, we are unable to accomodate kids younger than 10 years old on the private trips due to more difficult glacier hike and conditions on the glacier.
Please send us an email to info@localguide.is for more information.