5-Day Vatnajökull Wilderness Trek

In summer, you’ll see the most crowds in Vatnajökull National Park, but this is the best time of year to visit. Some activities, such as hiking Iceland’s tallest peak, are limited to summer only and glacier hikes operate year-round with clearer days for a better view in summer. However, if visiting a natural ice cave is the one thing on your bucket list, it is best to visit in winter as ice caves are often inaccessible due to meltwater in summer. The shoulder months of May or September are a good option if you still want to take advantage of the long hours of daylight but avoid the biggest crowds.

Vatnajökull ice cap is one of the most popular spots in Iceland for glacier hikes. Guided walks run from several different places and take place on a few different glacial outlets, so you can choose a tour depending on what you want to see – ice caves, chasms, or a view from the top. As the frozen surface of Iceland’s glaciers can hide ravines and sinkholes, the only way to experience hiking on an ice cap is by joining an organised, guided tour. Equipment such as helmets, ice picks and crampons are provided for you.

Vatnajökull is a huge ice cap that covers a vast area of Iceland’s mainland. It is mainly in the southeast of the island, but the boundaries of the national park stretch as far as the centre of Iceland. Its southern border sits just off the Route One ring road that loops around the island.

If you’re taking a glacier hike on Vatnajökull, you’ll want to bring layers no matter the time of year. The beginning of the hike can be cold with a chill wind whipping off the ice, so you’ll want a fleece or woolly jumper to keep warm. As you walk upwards, it can get a lot warmer. Sturdy walking boots that can fit crampons are essential and a woolly hat that can fit under a helmet is a good idea – especially in winter – along with insulated gloves. A waterproof jacket can keep the biting wind at bay, but once you’ve started the hike, you’ll soon warm up, especially if the sun is shining. You’ll be peeling off layers as you climb, which is why layering up at the bottom is essential.

There are a number of points along the southern coast Route One road where you can turn off to access Vatnajökull. The most popular point to enter the national park from is Skaftafell, which lies 230 kilometres (around 143 miles) from Reykjavík – around a four-and-a-half-hour drive. Some visitors access Vatnajökull glacier from Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, which sits along the south coast, 380 kilometres (around 236 miles) from Reykjavík – approximately five hour’s drive.