Glacier Hike & Jökulsárlón Zodiac Boat

About 7 hours with a breakGroup: Small group, up to 15 guests per guideEasyMeet at Jökulsárlón or SkaftafellAge 8+May to October

Zodiac boat next to an iceberg on Jökulsárlón

Hikers on Falljökull below a dark mountain

The two classic ice experiences of the south coast on one day. A Zodiac boat takes you right up to the icebergs of Jökulsárlón, and a guided hike takes you onto Falljökull glacier in Skaftafell. You drive yourself between the two, with time for lunch in between.

Zodiac boat on JökulsárlónDrive to SkaftafellGlacier hike on Falljökull

Zodiac boat on Jökulsárlón
Close to the icebergs and the glacier front
Glacier hike on Falljökull
Seals on the ice

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.

Zodiac boat on JökulsárlónMeet at the Jökulsárlón car park, put on a flotation suit and board a small Zodiac boat.

Meet at the Jökulsárlón car park, put on a flotation suit and board a small Zodiac boat. The boat goes further across the lagoon than the larger amphibian boats, up to the icebergs and towards the front of Breiðamerkurjökull. You spend about 75 minutes on the water, and seals often rest on the ice.

Read our Jökulsárlón guide →

Visitors looking at icebergs on the shore

Free time and lunchBetween the two activities you have free time.

Between the two activities you have free time. Diamond Beach is across the road from Jökulsárlón, and Skaftafell has a café and food trucks. Lunch is not included.

Drive to SkaftafellYou drive yourself about 50 minutes west to the glacier base in Skaftafell.

Glacier hike on FalljökullYour certified guide fits you with crampons, helmet and harness, and a short ride takes you to the glacier tongue.

Your certified guide fits you with crampons, helmet and harness, and a short ride takes you to the glacier tongue. You walk on Falljökull, an outlet of Vatnajökull, past ridges, crevasses and other ice formations, with stops for photos. The hike takes around 4 hours from the base, and you are driven back there at the end.

About the glacier hike and Zodiac boat tour

Jökulsárlón is Iceland's best-known glacier lagoon, full of icebergs that break off Breiðamerkurjökull. The Zodiac boats are small and fast, so they can go further into the lagoon and closer to the ice than the larger amphibian boats.

Skaftafell, about 50 minutes away, is the starting point for walks on Falljökull. This is an introductory glacier hike, suitable for most people in fair condition.

You choose the order when you book: the boat in the morning and the hike in the afternoon, or the other way round. The two are separate tours, so if one is cancelled for weather the other can still run.

Make it your own

Optional extras, at extra cost

Hiking boots
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof trousers

Included

Zodiac boat tour on Jökulsárlón with a guide
Flotation suit or life jacket
Guided glacier hike with a certified glacier guide
Crampons, helmet, harness and ice axe
Vatnajökull National Park fee

Not included

Transport (you drive yourself between Jökulsárlón and Skaftafell)
Lunch
Hiking boots and waterproof clothing (available to rent)

What to bring

Hiking boots with ankle support (or rent them)
Warm layers
Waterproof jacket and trousers (or rent them)
Hat and gloves
Sunglasses and sun cream
Water, snacks and a small backpack

Good to know

Total time about 7 hours including the break and driving
Minimum age 8. Children 8 to 15 pay the child price
Shoe size EU 35 or larger is needed for the crampons
Tours run in rain, but are cancelled with a full refund if it is not safe
Meeting point: Boat: Jökulsárlón car park. Glacier hike: glacier base camp in Skaftafell

Questions people ask

What is the difference between the Zodiac and the amphibian boat?

The Zodiac is a small, fast rubber boat that goes further into the lagoon and closer to the icebergs and the glacier front. The amphibian boat is larger and stays nearer the shore.

Which comes first, the boat or the hike?

You choose when you book.

How do I get between the two?

You drive yourself. Jökulsárlón and Skaftafell are about 50 minutes apart on the Ring Road.

Can children join?

Yes, from age 8, with a shoe size of EU 35 or more.

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From26,990 ISKPer person