Blue Ice & Black Sands - Glacier Hiking and Sightseeing

Available May 15th - September 1st

Our famous buses depart from Skaftafell at 8:30 a.m. during the summer for the short scenic drive on the ring road that lies at the base of the towering mountains and crevasse riddled glaciers lining the edge of Vatnajökull glacier.

Our adventure begins with an introduction to the enchanting world of Icelandic glaciers, traversing a spectacular but easy track on Virkisjökull glacier. Walking on the glacier ice with crampons, we will see unique ice formations and deep crevasses, learning about how they are formed and how the glacier reshapes it self continuously. We will approach the awe-inspiring icefall, witnessing up close how the ancient ice stoically crushes hundreds of meters off the mountaintops as it crawls in slow motion towards the ocean. 

The adventure continues with a wildlife exploration of the historic Ingólfshöfði cape, an isolated island caught between the black sands of the south coast and the North-Atlantic Ocean. This is where, in the year 874, Ingólfur Arnarson, the first settler of Iceland, jumped ashore and spent his first winter in Iceland. The adorable Puffins, Razorbills, Fulmars, Guilleamots, and Skuas amongst other species now inhabit the cape numbering in the thousands. To get there we will cross six km of waters, marshes and sands in a tractor pulled hay trolley. After arriving at the cape we will go for a short hike (2-3 km) so we can take a closer look at the sea cliffs where the majestic seabirds, so characteristic for Iceland, nest during the very short arctic summer. 

The Blue Ice & Black Sands is an adventure full of stark contrasts, incredible landscapes and unimaginable natural beauty and wildlife…!

Details

Pick up time
08:30 (pick up is provided from Skaftafell and surrounding guesthouses starting at 08:30)
Duration of trip
approx. 5,5 hours
Guaranteed departures
Every Monday - Saturday from May 15th through August 28th
Price
10.990 ISK
Included
Pick up, transport and lunch (for the lunch to be included you'll have to book the previous day).
Equipment needed
We recommend you dress according to weather and wear good hiking boots.
Disclaimer
All trips are undertaken on the responsibility of its participants. Reykjavik Backpackers and/or the tour operator do not assume any responsibility for accidents which are caused by its customers or can be traced to their own actions. Participants have to sign a waiver before undertaking all trips stating that they realize that all outdoor activities carry an inherit risk.