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Vik
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Solheimajokull Glacier
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Solheimajokull Glacier

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Solheimajokull Glacier
4.5
About
Lying just off the Ring Road, Solheimajokull is one of Iceland’s most accessible glaciers. It's just a short five-minute walk from the carpark to the glacier lagoon, and another 10 minutes to reach the glacier wall itself. Admire the otherworldly glaciers, but note that you shouldn't venture onto the glacier without the proper equipment and a guide. The best way to explore the glacier is on a guided hike or even on an ice-climbing tour. Solheimajokull can be seen and hiked all year round; visit from November to March when you'll be able to venture into an ice cave. – Tripadvisor
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
802 reviews
Excellent
608
Very good
154
Average
38
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Rodders
Sunderland, UK316 contributions
Favourite part of tour.
Mar 2023
Unique experience on Golden Circle tour, size of this thing is unbelievable. Looks are deceiving, doesn't look large until you spot a few people walking on it like ants. Its a short stony walk from car park to the Glacier
Written 24 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Prabir G
Kolkata (Calcutta), India2,701 contributions
A must visit spot in Iceland
Mar 2023 • Couples
A. Opening Hours : Open always
B. Entry Ticket: Free entry
C. Location : 165 km from Reykjavik, about 2
                        and half hours drive. 20 minutes
                        walk from the bus stop to the
                        Glacier
D. Travel mode : Part of Southern Iceland tour
   
        Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier of the larger Mýrdalsjökull ice cap which lies atop the Katla caldera. It sits near the town of Vík í Mýrdal, a popular tourist location . The glacier is melting rapidly owing to warmer annual temperatures due to climate change. The glacier is about 15 km long.
        I visited this on 20th Mar'23 as part of our Southern Iclsnds Tour from Reykjavik.  Fir tourists, this is the only option, since Iceland is notoriously for its almost absent public transport system. It was very windy and cold day. With temperatures at -2° and wind speed of 50 to 60 km per hour, it was quite a challenge. The view is absolutely stunning. In winter month , you can't walk on glacier or climb up the highlands on the side , since icy steps are dangerous and you need special shoes and gears for handling this. At the end of the 15mibutes walk we reached the glacier mouth. There is a viewing deck there, where you get a complete view of the glacier and the stream that is created at its mouth.
A must visit spit in Iceland

                     
                       
     
Written 22 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Heli K
Lappeenranta, Finland1,497 contributions
Easy to reach all year round
Mar 2023
We visited Solheimajökull - an 11 km long outlet glacier - on our South Coast private tour. Here you can really understand what the climate change does to our globe.
The snout of the glacier was located 1794 m further from its point today compared to the first recorded measurement in 1930. There is also a possibility to go to walk on glacier or hiking or canoeing. We did not do that.
Written 10 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mdc979
Boston, MA43 contributions
Cool experience walking up to a glacier
Mar 2023
This was an amazing experience. The walk to the glacier was about 20-25 minutes and we were able to do it with regular winter boots (no special hiking gear). We walked from the parking area to the glacial lagoon and glacier itself. There was a large free parking lot, but you had to pay to use the WC there. The WCs also closed at 5 pm, so keep that in mind if you're going later in your day. We visited this as part of our South Coast drive, on the way back from the Black Sand Beach.
Written 5 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
dbinhou7511
Houston, TX1,322 contributions
Go walk on a glacier!
Jul 2022
Incredible hike on the Solheimajokull Glacier. Had guides which were very good about having the right equipment and keeping the group safe. Incredible to climb onto the face of a glacier and walk on the glacier itself. The glacier seemed dirty only because of the volcanic ash on the top. While you can walk to the face without any problem, hire a guide and actually walk on the glacier (safely).
Written 23 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
SWH100
Cardiff, UK1,005 contributions
Ice glacier hike - the BEST Icelandic experience
Feb 2023 • Couples
We did the ice hike with our guide (Julian) on the sólheimajökull glacier. It was absolutely incredible. I have never seen a blue colour like it in my life. It was so beautiful. We learnt lots about the glacier before we suited ourselves up with our crampons ready for the hike. I was a little nervous but really didn’t need to be. Hiking on the ice was just awesome. Julian was a great guide and made sure we were all safe and knew what to avoid. Very interesting to learn that the black bits on the glacier was ash from volcanic eruptions over time. There was nothing like taking a drink from the crystal clear water at the top. This was my favourite experience in Iceland. It was just amazing and I am so glad we did it. Would highly recommend this.
Written 20 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jill S
Chicago13 contributions
Tour with Icelandic Mountain Guides
Jan 2023
We did the Glacier Walk with Icelandic Mountain Guides and this was our favorite activity in Iceland. Sign-in and equipment distribution take place in a warm building. Guides were patient and helpful with suiting up. They were very informative and helpful. (Note that you are not supposed to walk on the glacier without crampons and other equipment, so I would not attempt it without guides). They took photos for groups several times throughout the experience. The glacier is BEAUTIFUL. The information shared by the guides about its movement and changes throughout the year and over time was interesting (and alarming). A winter visit was spectacular!
Written 18 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
senglish0410
Milwaukee, WI50 contributions
One of the best spots in iceland!
Oct 2022 • Couples
This Glacier is hidden until you are right there. It's magnificent and unfortunately due to global warming its melting away. I recommend doing a tour so that you can actually climb up and walk around on a Glacier.
Written 30 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JrnyJunkie
Cleveland, OH928 contributions
Easy walk to the glacier.
Jul 2022
Another great place to visit in Iceland. The glacier is perhaps not what you expect as the face from the parking lot is kinda of the look of dirty snow...probably due to global warming and a visit in July.
Written 14 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Martin B
2 contributions
Nice glacier, not nice guides.
Sep 2022
A beautiful place, worth a visit and hundreds of photos. But I would caution against tour companies. If you buy a tour it will be great. If you don't and go on your own just to take some photos from the edge of the glacier be careful. We were there on September 17, 2022, with no equipment, just to take a few photos from the first yards of the trail (on gravel, not ice, of course). We are experienced mountaineers, with glaciers on four continents behind us. When we reached those 10 yds and I wanted to take pictures, we were sharply attacked by a young lady, the guide of some group. Yes, she should have warned us. That would have been perfectly fine. I would have thanked her. But the girl did not want to let me take a picture, she whined that I should not be here, that she would be responsible if something happened. I replied that I was not from her tour and the responsibility was mine, that I was not going to go any further anyway. She wouldn't listen and humiliated me in front of a group of tourists. I am better behaved so I did not admonish her, for she should have authority with her group. But the glacier does not belong to her, I know what I'm doing, 20 yds earlier it is written that I go at my own risk and that I have the right to do so. The point was probably that tour companies claim exclusive rights to attractions that belong to Iceland. I emphasize that I'm not crazy, I understand the dangers, if it was just a friendly warning, it would be fine. But hostility is not.
Written 13 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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SOLHEIMAJOKULL GLACIER (Vik) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Solheimajokull Glacier
We recommend booking Solheimajokull Glacier tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 116 Solheimajokull Glacier tours on Tripadvisor