9 Ice Climbing Trips on the South Coast That Are Worth the Daylight

1.Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike & Ice Climbing Intro

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 380 reviews · 4.5 - 11 hours · from $203Our pick

Choose a half-day glacier hike from Sólheimajökull parking lot or a full-day trip from Reykjavík. Your certified guide fits crampons, helmet, harness, and ice axe, then leads you across crevasses and ridges before teaching basic ice climbing. Guides such as Monica, Daniel, Steve, and Francesco are praised for patient instruction and careful safety work.

“The actual ice climbing was awesome. It does take a while to get to the specific ice climbing and doesn’t last all that long, but we thought it was well worth doing. The guides made it fun and enjoyable. The bus ride stops at the waterfalls were great for us as we weren’t getting to those waterfalls any other time during our trip.”

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2.Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike & Ice Climbing Intro – Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 151 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $211

Walk across Sólheimajökull Glacier, explore crevasses and ice formations, and try introductory ice climbing with a certified English-speaking guide. Groups are limited to eight per guide. Hiking boots with ankle support are required, and Reykjavík departures also stop at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss.

“Everything we hoped it would be: adventure of climbing ice, walking a glacier, scenic views and a skilled and informative guide. The only reason for 4 (vs 5) stars is that we were charged for hiking boots. When we arrived we were told that hiking boots with ankle support is *required*. I don’t recall that being in the Viator description, but that’s fine, just provide the boots for us. The boots were available, and for a small enough charge, but it just feels deceptive to charge us extra. Again, it was a great tour, 5 stars in every other way, but please, just charge a tad more for the general…”

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3.Sólheimajökull Ice Climbing and Glacier Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 132 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $246Top rated

Meet your certified Troll Expeditions guide at Sólheimajökull parking lot at 2 p.m. You’ll receive crampons, boots, helmet, harness, and ice axes, then hike about 15 minutes to the ice for glacier walking and beginner-friendly climbing. Guides such as Maria, Lilly, Boris, and Joao have helped first-timers feel safe while still offering a real challenge.

“Lilly was a wonderful guide and did a great job explaining how to ice climb. We enjoyed the experience and the glacier walk.”

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4.Sólheimajökull Ice Climb and Glacier Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 67 reviews · 4 hours · from $241

Spend four hours on Sólheimajökull with a certified English-speaking guide and a group limited to six. You’ll learn crampon travel and basic ice-climbing technique, then climb a secured ice wall among crevasses, tunnels, and changing blue ice. Guides such as Maria, Adam, and Kevin have earned praise for patient, safety-first instruction.

“Fantastic! Our guide Adam was wonderful. Lots of patience. Very safety conscious! Great fun! Beautiful views”

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5.Sólheimajökull Ice Climbing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 49 reviews · 4 hours · from $294

Meet your guide at Sólheimajökull’s parking lot for a four-hour beginner ice-climbing outing. Bergur and the North Ice team provide crampons, helmet, harness, and ice axe, then teach you to climb two or three glacier routes, including a possible moulin. You drive yourself, and the group is limited to five.

“I have had an awesome first time ice climbing experience. Customized to my level. Safe and professional. Amazing location, very informative.”

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6.Small-Group Ice Climbing and Glacier Hiking in Solheimajokull

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 21 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $258

Meet North Ice at Solheimajokull for a 4.5-hour glacier hike and ice-climbing lesson. Your guide, including Bergur or Saga on some departures, teaches crampon work and climbing technique before taking you to three climbing spots. The small group, listed at a maximum of six, gives you more time on the ice.

“So much fun! We had a great guide who explained things well and always made sure we were being safe. The group size was small (about 7 people) so we were able to do three climbs at different locations. He started us on a smaller part to help explain things to us and then we gradually went to more challenging places. We had a good group and we were out there a little longer than the 4.5 hour suggested time limit. It was a lot of fun and we highly recommend!!”

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7.Micro group – Ice climbing at Sólheimajökull

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $260

Join Hyperborea Tours for a four-hour ice-climbing outing on Sólheimajökull, near Vik. After a 15-minute walk from the parking area, your small group receives a safety briefing, gears up with crampons, harnesses, a climbing belt, and ice axes, then crosses glacier ice to climb a suitable crevasse or moulin. Bring your own boots and clothing.

“Fantastic experience! Great guide, super knowledgeable and very accommodating, would 100% recommend to anyone looking to do some climbing on the glacier!”

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8.Exclusive Ice Climbing Experience on Sólheimajökull

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 5 hours · from $432

You’ll spend about three hours on Sólheimajökull with an English- or Icelandic-speaking guide, learning safe ice-climbing skills among crevasses and blue ice. The private five-hour outing also includes Dyrhóley Peninsula and Skógarfoss. Bring warm layers and proper hiking boots, since footwear is not provided.

“Fantastic experience, guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Views are gorgeous. Highly recommend if you like more unusual activities to do on a glacier.”

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9.Private Ice Climbing on Sólheimajökull

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $429

Spend about five hours on Sólheimajökull with a private Southcoast Adventure guide. You’ll walk from the glacier parking area, learn to use crampons and an ice axe, cross changing ice formations, and practice several ice-climbing techniques. Guides such as Erik, David, and Alberto bring strong climbing and glacier experience to groups ranging from beginners to active mountaineers.

“We had a private guided glacier walk for 3 active senior friends with Alberto Marini who is an Italian born mountain/rock climber. Though cautious by nature, I felt completely comfortable with Alberto who apparently trained many of the other Read more”

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