The 10 Best Small-Group Hikes in Iceland

1.Glacier Hike and South Coast Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 827 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $205Our pick

Set out from Reykjavik in a minibus for Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara, and a guided hike on Sólheimajökull. Your English-speaking driver and glacier guide provide the gear and instruction you need. Expect a full day, moderate walking, about 18 people, and a long but rewarding return ride.

“Your day starts off by your driver picking you up at your stop, which went perfectly. Our driver Sveinbjorn was excellent. Right from the start he makes you feel welcome, nice calm icleandic music in the background and talking about Iceland. Since everything is based on a schedule during the day, Sveinbjorn made sure that we had plenty of time at each stop all the while keeping us on schedule. When you get to the Glacier Hike he introduces you to your guide and makes sure you have all your equipment. They wait for you on their bus while you are doing the tours so there is no need to…”

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2.Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike – Adventure in a Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 799 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $115Best value

You’ll walk from Sólheimajökull Base Camp onto a blue-white outlet glacier with a certified Icelandic Mountain Guide. Expect safety training, crampons, an ice axe, glacier formations, crevasses, photo stops, and perhaps a small ice tunnel. Guides such as Sam, Sophia, Oskar, and Heini are praised for clear instruction and careful pacing.

“The whole experience was amazing. The views are incredible and our guide Oscar was very good. Would highly recommend”

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3.Skaftafell Glacier Hike 3-Hour Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 580 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $117

Meet Troll Expeditions in Skaftafell for a three-hour guided walk on Vatnajökull. After a short ride, you hike to the glacier, learn to use crampons and an ice axe, and explore ice formations and moulins with a group capped at 12. Guides such as Maria, Martin, Anna, and Atilla have earned praise for calm, careful instruction.

“Our guide Maria was fantastic - she was extremely patient with the people struggling with equipment, and with one member of our party who was in a bad mood and less than polite. She was a saint! The glacier hike was stunning, with gorgeous ice formations and beautiful views back down to the coast.”

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4.Skaftafell: Extra-Small Group Glacier Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 501 reviews · 3 hours · from $162

Meet Melrakki Adventures in Skaftafell for a three-hour glacier hike on Falljökull, an outlet of Vatnajökull. Your English-speaking guide provides crampons, safety instruction, and a 15-minute 4x4 ride to the ice. Expect up to two hours among blue pools, moulins, crevasses, and striking ice formations, with groups capped at eight.

“Great tour with Jose! We were a group of 5 and were the first to arrive to the glacier in the morning, which was great for the pictures! Jose was very friendly and his explanations were clear. He also took some photos for us! We really enjoyed it!”

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5.Solheimajokull Glacier 3-Hour Small-Group Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 501 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $125

Meet your English-speaking guide at Sólheimajökull parking lot for a three-hour glacier hike. Guides such as Edgar, Anna, Lilly, and Wojtec help with crampons, pace, and safety while explaining the glacier’s ice, volcanic ash, changing shape, and nearby Eyjafjallajökull.

“Be prepared to hike. It is a beautiful and informative hike. Our guide was great. The advertising photo shows an ice cave, nope, no cave.”

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6.Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike – Small Group Blue Ice Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 497 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $117

Join Arctic Adventures for an easy-to-moderate three-hour hike on Sólheimajökull, about 35 minutes from Vík. Your certified guide supplies crampons, helmet, harness, and ice axe, then leads you across blue ice, ridges, moulins, and crevasses. Guides such as Steve, Daniel, Francesco, and Candelaria are praised for clear safety advice and patient pacing.

“The staff were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. They explained the entire process of glaciers, stopped for breaks and pictures, and helped when needed. It was beautiful, a good workout, run by great people.”

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7.Glacier Hike from Skaftafell – Extra Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 473 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $156

Walk across Falljökull in Vatnajökull National Park with a certified English-speaking guide and a group of no more than eight. A 4x4 ride takes you close to the ice, leaving about 90 minutes for crevasses, moulins, glacier views, and safe hands-on instruction. Guides such as Javi, Kate, and Kallia are praised for clear coaching and personal attention.

“What an amazing experience we had! Our guide, Javi, was a wonderful guide. He made sure that we feel safe, was knowledgeable, engaging, passionate, fun and kind. What a great tour we had! Thank you, Melrakki Adventures!”

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8.Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike – Small Group with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 338 reviews · 4 - 6 hours · from $148

Walk about 8 kilometers across Fagradalsfjall’s young lava fields with a certified local guide from Grindavík or Keflavík. Expect geology, eruption stories, steaming ground, and broad views rather than a quick photo stop. Choose Reykjavík pickup, or meet in Grindavík with your rental car. Groups are limited to eight.

“It was an awesome experience overall. And the tourist guide took care and guided well.Highly recommended!”

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9.Skaftafell: Small-Group Vatnajökull Glacier Hike (Moderate)

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 327 reviews · 5 hours · from $170

Walk across Vatnajökull to Falljökull’s jagged icefall with a certified English-speaking guide. You’ll ride a 4x4 bus, fit crampons, learn how glaciers shift, and spend about four hours on the ice. Guides such as Sara, Lucy, Josh, and Kristian have earned praise for safety, humor, and excellent photo stops.

“Really loved our guide, Sara, she was great! The ice climbing part was a cool surprise.”

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10.Reykjavik: South Coast, Waterfalls & Glacier Hike Small-Group

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 322 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $200

Spend a full day on Iceland’s South Coast with a certified glacier guide, visiting Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, and Reynisfjara black-sand beach. The main event is an easy-rated Sólheimajökull hike with crampons, helmet, harness, and ice axe. Guides may include Josh, Gulli, Rob, or others, and the group can include up to 19 people.

“Was the best experience and trip we had on the whole week here in Iceland The hiking on the glacier was magnificent and cannot be recommended enough it was breathtaking and a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to do this (before they go altogether) Danielle’s was a really impressive guide and highly informative and knowledgeable Franklin our driver for the day made us laugh and he had a wicked sense of humour making the journey there and back effortless A seat broke on our bus and there was a spare so no issues but did make the journey memorable”

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