Skaftafell: Blue Ice Cave & Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull

Through GetYourGuide we booked this family/beginner glacier hike for ourselves and our 12yr old grandson. We hiked the nearby Fjalljakoll glacier and it was absolutely amazing. Our guide was brilliant. We explored many aspects of the glacier and the views were jaw-dropping throughout. Its not cheap, but we felt it was worth every penny. We booked onsite at Skaftafell campground. The company was in the left of the two Experience cabins as you face them. Think the company was called Icelandia

My fiancé and I did the extreme glacier hike and ice climb with Ivo as our guide. It was an absolutely incredible experience. Ivo was the best guide ever. He safely led our group to so many other-worldly areas of the glacier and was such a great ice climbing instructor, we were able to scale a 25ft ice wall! It was an unforgettable experience and truly an extreme adventure!

The excursion was truly amazing. We spent 6 hours in the mountains between hiking and climbing on the glacier. Thank you to Ivo, who accompanied us all day! And who introduced us to this glacier.

It was an excellent experience. Stunning and awe inspiring. Definitely an experience to remember.

I booked the wrong date/tour, which arctic adventures promptly helped us fix. We ended up doing the extreme glacier tour. It was absolutely amazing. The pace was great, even though it is quite a hike, our guide Ivo took regular breaks to explain about our surroundings. He was very helpful and patient with me as a first time ice climber. He consulted with the group about which/how many climbs to do but also gave expert advice. He even found 2 ice tunnels! Made some cool pictures of us which he shared afterwards. 10/10, would recommend.

Great guide Ivo who taught us the basics of ice climbing and took us on 4 climbs on the Vatnajōkull glacier. Very kind and competent, fun and witty with great knowledge of climbing, glacial terrain and experience of the area. Also a paramedic so felt very safe

The guy Kevin is insane He took us to explore many places He also teach good technique

We had a great time on this hike. It was well organized with great employees. I had to rent the hiking boots, and they were fine. We bussed to a lot, walked 20 minutes to the glacier, walked up to the top of the glacier base, then put on the provided crampons. We explored crevaces, ridges, and the ice cave. Our group was experienced hikers, so our pace was good. There was another group of less experienced hikers or those with movement issues, and their guide did an excellent job of pacing, aiding, and adjusting. Our guide provided excellent facts about glaciers and the region. The entire trip was 4 hours. This was well worth the price and time to get to hike on a glacier like this. The bonus was being able to go into the ice cave.

I participated in the Skaftafell Blue Ice Cave & Glacier Hike Tour on April 2, and unfortunately, my experience raises significant concerns regarding both safety and overall organisation. The tour was originally scheduled for 10:20 but was rescheduled to 15:00 the day prior due to adverse weather conditions. I accepted this change in good faith, trusting that conditions would be suitable at the revised time. This did not prove to be the case. From the outset, the organisation was inadequate. There were more participants than available seats on the buses, resulting in delays and confusion. The situation was handled in a manner that appeared unprofessional and did not inspire confidence. Despite the previously acknowledged weather concerns, the tour proceeded. Upon arrival at the glacier, participants were exposed to heavy rain, strong winds, and freezing temperatures. Within minutes, everyone was thoroughly soaked. Despite wearing technical, waterproof clothing, the intensity of the rain and the continuous flow of water rendered it ineffective. In my case, I was drenched through all layers and experienced significant discomfort, with legitimate concerns about the risk of hypothermia. The return to the buses did not improve the situation. We were asked to sit in a bus without heating, while a roof window remained open, allowing cold air and rain inside. Subsequently, participants were required to disembark and change buses, forcing everyone back into the adverse weather conditions and to walk again through snow, ice, and water. In addition, equipment such as ice picks was distributed without adequate explanation, while instructions for fitting crampons were delivered under extreme weather conditions. With freezing hands and limited visibility, it was difficult to follow these instructions effectively, indicating insufficient preparation and guidance. During the hike, I encountered a particularly hazardous situation when my leg sank into the snow up to my knee in an area with flowing water beneath the surface. At that moment, the guide was positioned significantly ahead and did not notice, leaving me without immediate assistance. The “blue ice cave” itself did not meet expectations and differed substantially from what had been advertised. Furthermore, conditions inside the cave raised safety concerns, with water dripping from above and flowing across the ground, creating unstable footing. The tour was advertised as lasting approximately four hours. In reality, the experience lasted closer to two hours, the majority of which was spent on transportation rather than the activity itself. Overall, the tour was not at all what was advertised, poorly managed, and, most importantly, conducted in conditions that I believe posed unnecessary risks. It would have been more appropriate to cancel or fully reschedule the activity. Following the experience, I contacted customer service; however, my concerns were dismissed as “normal Icelandic weather.” Based on what was experienced, I do not consider this to be an accurate or acceptable characterisation. For these reasons, I cannot recommend this tour.

Our guide was amazing, the knowledge was incredible and the tour was overwhelming to see mother nature 🙏🏾