True to its name, Iceland has a LOT of glaciers and ice caps—it’s estimated that about 10% of the country is covered with ice. If you want to get an up close and personal look at these ancient hunks of ice for yourself, one of the most popular options is the Sólheimajökull Glacier, thanks to its easy accessibility and proximity to other popular attractions along the country’s southwestern coastline.
My husband, Justin, and I have visited Iceland twice and have made a point to have adventures on this glacier both times. So, if you’re interested in visiting this 44 square kilometer behemoth for yourself, here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Sólheimajökull Glacier, from how to get to it to what it’s like hiking on its ancient ice.
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What is the Sólheimajökull Glacier?
The Sólheimajökull Glacier serves as an outlet for Mýrdalsjökull, the fourth largest ice cap in Iceland that formed during the last ice age.
Sprawling at 44 square kilometers, Sólheimajökull definitely isn’t the biggest glacier in Iceland, but it is one of the most popular for travelers.
The glacier is renowned for its unique appearance, thanks to its swirling streaks of volcanic ash from the nearby Katla and Eyjafjallajökull volcano. It’s also conveniently located right off the Ring Road, a popular route that travelers take that circumnavigates the entire country.
It’s also known for its moderate weather conditions, in part, due to its location in the southern part of Iceland (it’s actually the southernmost glacier in the country!) and with its location protected by the surrounding green mountains. In fact. Sólheimajökull means the “Home of the Sun Glacier.”
Where is the Sólheimajökull Glacier?
The Sólheimajökull Glacier is located here, about two hours and 20 minutes southeast of the capital city of Reykjavik, half an hour northwest of the popular town of Vik, and just a short detour off the Ring Road of Iceland.
It’s also located a short distance from some of the most popular attractions along the southwestern coastline, like the Solheimasandur plane wreck (which was featured in a Justin Bieber video, y’all!); Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, two of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland; and the Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool, which is recognized as one of the oldest swimming pools in the country.
How to get to the Sólheimajökull Glacier
There’s no public transit that goes to the Sólheimajökull Glacier, so the only way to get there is driving there yourself in a rental car or by joining a tour.
Driving
If you opt to drive yourself, it’s an easy drive from Reykjavik along Route 1 for 157 kilometers. Not only is this drive along a well-maintained and paved road, it’s also absolutely BEAUTIFUL, passing stunning waterfalls, sprawling farmland with adorable sheep and Icelandic horses, and dramatic volcanic cliffsides, streaked with neon green moss.
Eventually, you’ll turn left on Route 221, which snakes for four kilometers through a series of beautiful green hillsides until you reach the parking lot for the glacier.
Visiting the glacier is free, but parking costs 750 ISK.
Be aware that the parking lot is small and can get pretty wild, especially during busy periods for tourism, like the summertime. We last visited Iceland in early September, which isn’t even considered peak tourist season, and, by the time we left our parking spot (around 11 AM), the lot was totally full and people were aggressively trying to steal spots from one another.
Accordingly, I’d recommend getting here on the earlier side and giving yourself way more time than you think you need, especially if you’re meeting up with a tour group here—they’re not going to wait for you if you can’t find a parking spot!
Tours from Reykjavik
If you don’t want to mess around with a rental car while you’re in Iceland, there are a few tours that you can take from Reykjavik to the Sólheimajökull Glacier and other stops along the southeastern coastline.
For example, this tour from Reykjavik includes a hike on the glacier, plus stops at some of the most beautiful waterfalls along the southern coastline and Reynisfjara, the most famous beach in Iceland. Alternatively, if you’re not up for hiking on the glacier, this tour takes you to a beautiful viewpoint over the glacier, to admire its icy blue and volcanic black spires and the milky glacial lagoon at its base.
Things to do at the Sólheimajökull Glacier
So, once you’re at the Sólheimajökull Glacier, what exactly is there to do? I’m so glad you asked!
1. Admire it from its viewpoint
If you’re short on time or not particularly interested in exploring the glacier itself, you can simply walk for about 15 minutes from the parking lot to this viewpoint, which offers a jaw-dropping vista over the glacier’s icy cracks and spires.
While the trail isn’t too challenging, it does gain a few hundred feet of elevation, along loose volcanic ash. So, this may not be the best option for travelers with mobility issues.
Insider tip: There is a sign along the trail, where the pathway transitions from being volcanic sand to glacial ice, that warns hikers from going any further without a knowledgeable guide. Please abide by this sign—our guide told us that dozens of people are injured and have to be rescued from the glacier each year, because they decide to hike on it by themselves, without the appropriate gear.
2. Glacier hike
If you’re looking to kick the adventure up a notch, you can join a guided tour where you actually hike on the glacier, using fun gear, like an ice axe and crampons.
Hiking on the glacier itself feels like you’re on another planet, with huge crevices, icy spires, and pools of electric blue water. Plus you get incredible views of the surrounding scenery, like the striking green mountains and the snow-capped Eyjafjallajökull Volcano.
Most glacier tours typically meet in the parking lot of Sólheimajökull and last for about three to four hours, giving you plenty of time to get away from the crowds at the glacier’s viewpoint and, instead, enjoy the stunning sights and eerie sounds of this massive hunk of ice.
For example, this three hour glacier hiking tour is an excellent option to explore along Sólheimajökull’s hills and valleys, while learning about its history and how it’s been impacted by climate change from your knowledgeable guides.
Alternatively, this three and a half hour tour not only includes hiking across Sólheimajökull, but ALSO exploring a naturally formed cave of swirling blue glacial ice—the perfect way to squeeze in two bucketlist-worthy experiences in one activity!
3. Ice climbing
For something even MORE adventurous, why not try your hand at ice climbing at the Sólheimajökull glacier?
That’s exactly what we did during our most recent trip to Sólheimajökull and had SO much fun.
During our tour, we were equipped with special crampons, harnesses, helmets, and ice axes and then trekked to a section of the glacier, with a short icy cliff. Here, after our guides set up an ice screw and our belay system, we each tried our hand at ice climbing, using our crampons and ice axes to work our way up the wall.
After we got the hang of it, we moved from this wall to a HUGE crevice that we rappelled down into and then climbed our way out of.
It was QUITE the workout and my arms were useless noodles by the end of it—but it was one of the most adventurous and fun things we’ve ever done!
This is the exact four hour tour that we did with Icelandic Mountain Guides and REALLY enjoyed it. Our guides were super nice, patient, and even happily volunteered to take us on an additional (free!) glacier hike after our climbing session was over.
Alternatively, this four hour option is with the popular operator, Troll.is, who are recognized for using top-notch gear and having incredible guides, who make sure you have a blast while still staying safe on the glacier. We haven’t gone ice climbing with them, but we did go on a tour with them to snorkel Sifra, the famous fissure between two tectonic plates, in Thingvellir National Park, and were so impressed by their friendly staff.
4. Kayaking in the Sólheimajökull Glacial Lagoon
For a unique perspective of the glacier, you can alternatively paddle around its glacial lagoon, getting an up-close-and-personal view of icebergs and a unique perspective of the glacier, towering above you.
During this experience, you’ll be fitted with a drysuit, which you’ll wear over your jacket and other normal clothes, just in case you accidentally fall in. After walking to the glacial lagoon, you’ll get in your kayaks and get the chance to weave around icebergs, all while learning about the constantly changing glacier.
Unfortunately, because the glacier is melting at an unprecedented rate, its lagoon is also growing every year from the meltwater—so, if you ever come back to Iceland, the lagoon that you’re kayaking in today will likely be wildly different from the one that you might see in five or ten years.
If you’re new to kayaking, this experience is also more approachable than some other paddling opportunities in Iceland, like the Jökulsárlón Glacier, which is connected to the Atlantic and, therefore, can experience gnarly waves and choppier conditions (take my word, as a girl whose kayaking tour was cancelled here two days in a row, due to bad weather). The glacier lagoon is protected from the wind and basically has no other boat traffic in it, so it’s the perfect place to try out paddling for the first time.
Here’s a three hour tour that has really positive reviews and is operated by the same company as the ice climbing tour we did.
What to bring when visiting the Sólheimajökull Glacier
Here are some items that I’d suggest bringing along if you’re stopping at the Sólheimajökull Glacier:
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Warm layers. Hiking around and on the glacier is a pretty aerobic activity, but, given you’re RIGHT by a massive hunk of ice, it unsurprisingly can get quite cold here. Layers are key!
- Rainjacket. We’re still in Iceland, after all, Here’s an option for men and here’s an option for women)
- Credit card to pay for parking, the fee to use the bathroom, and for snacks and drinks from the food truck in the parking lot
Here are items that you should bring if you’re going on a glacier trekking or ice climbing tour:
- Waterproof pants (here’s an option for men and here’s an option for women)
- Waterproof gloves. These were required on our tour to protect our hands against the climbing rope. As far as I know, they didn’t offer glove rentals, so I think if you show up without gloves, you might just be out of luck. Here’s an option for women and here’s an option for men.
- Proper hiking boots. Most companies require that you wear hiking boots if you’re going on a glacier trekking or ice climbing tour, but some have them available for rent, if you didn’t bring a pair of your own. Here are the hiking boots I’ve used for years and love and here’s the pair that Justin uses.
There you have it—everything you need to know about visiting the Sólheimajökull Glacier in Iceland. Do you have any questions about exploring this unique corner of the country? Let us know in the comments below!
