Glacier hiking – ultimate adventure in Vatnajökull

A glacier hiking or ice climbing tour onto Falljökull begins from Freysnes gas station, located just a 5 minute drive from the glacier carpark. You catch your first glimpse of the glacier after heading past the Svínafell settlement, and can watch the tallest peak of Iceland, Hvannadalshnjúkur rising up at 2,110m tall, right until we dip deeper into the Falljökull valley.
We drive as far as we can into the valley along an old sheep track that was put in by the local farmers, before the area was made into a national park. The track is still in use today to round up all the sheep that call the valley home during the summer, during the annual réttir. Our super jeep makes light work of the rough terrain, and within just 15 short minutes we´ve made it from the meeting point to the terminal face of the glacier.

Before putting on our crampons and stepping onto the hard glacier ice, we need to ascend one of the many hills of ´dead ice´at the end of the glacier. These hills are made of hard glacier ice, and due to being covered by a thick layer of ash and rocky debris, they are protected from melting away in the sun. We reach the edge of the ice, have a quick lesson in walking in crampons, a small safety briefing, and then we´re off. 

Taking your first, crunching steps on a glacier is a vivid sensory memory to store away for decades to come. The crunch, crunch, crunch of crampons biting into crusty white ice, the trickle of the refreshingly cold glacier melt water flowing over the surface and the feeling of the cool wind coming off the ice cap.

Vatnajökull is not just one glacier – it’s a vast, living ice cap feeding dozens of outlet glaciers that stretch down into the surrounding valleys. Each outlet has its own personality, shaped by weather, landscape, and time. One of the most visited is Skaftafellsjökull, easily accessible from Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park. Its stunning views and dramatic ice formations make it a favorite for day hikes and glacier walks. Nearby, Falljökull (the “Falling Glacier”) offers a more rugged and dynamic experience, with icefalls cascading down from the high plateau. For those seeking less-crowded adventures, Breiðamerkurjökull is especially known for feeding the famous Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where icebergs drift out to sea – a sight you won’t forget. Another spectacular outlet is Svínafellsjökull, where striking crevasses and deep blue ice attract photographers and glacier enthusiasts. These glacier tongues are constantly changing, revealing new ice caves and formations each year. Exploring these outlets gives visitors a deeper appreciation for Vatnajökull’s scale and power. Whether you’re hiking, joining a guided tour, or simply enjoying the view, each outlet glacier offers a different window into the icy world of Europe’s largest glacier. Respect for nature and safety are essential, and traveling with experienced local guides is highly recommended for deeper exploration. Discovering Vatnajökull’s outlets is not only about ice – it’s about stepping into the story of Iceland’s geology, shaped over thousands of years by fire and ice.