Is the Hvannadalshnúkur hike for everyone?

Not really. This is a very physically challenging hike so we only recommend it for people who are in good shape.

What equipment should I bring?

Please refer to our checklist:
 Alpine Treks Checklist

Do I need to bring food on the hike?

Yes, you do. It is very important to bring enough food and water for the day. Make sure your food is full of energy. Please refer to the equipment list for food you will need.

Do I need to bring a backpack?

Yes you do. For Alpine trips we recommend a 30-50L pack.

Do I get my money back if the weather is bad?

No. Unfortunately, the weather is out of our control. However if we feel that at any point your safety is compromised we will cancel or reschedule the trip and in the case of cancellation we will refund you the trip.

Is the glacier there all year round?

Yes! All year, even in the summertime.

How do I get to Skaftafell, and how do I find you there?

You can get to Skaftafell either by car or by bus.

Driving Directions:

Skaftafell National Park is located 327 km from Reykjavik, it is about 4 hours drive towards the east on main road no 1. After you pass the town of  Kirkjubærklaustur you need to drive for about another hour until you reach a sign on the road to your left that says Skaftafell National Park. If you are arriving from the north, you will find Skaftafell about 130 km after you pass the fishing village of Höfn, on your right hand side. After you get into the National Park you can find us right away in our eco friendly sales office in the parking lot.

Bus Information:

There are two bus companies going to Skaftafell, Iceland Excursions and Reykjavik Excursions. Check out their timetables online.

Do I have to book the tour in advance or is it enough to book it when I arrive in Skaftafell?

You have to book this tour in advance. If you don't, we can not guarantee you will get a place on the trip.

How do I book and what information do you need from me?

There are a few different ways you can book our trips. First of all you can book almost all our trips right here on our website. There is a booking window on each trip page and we do recommend that you book and pay for your trip there with some time to spare as we keep our groups small and frequently sell out.

If the trip you would like to book is not bookable online then you can call us directly at our office, the phone number is +354 571-2100. Another way is to send us an e-mail with an inquiry, our e-mail address is info@glacierguides.is . What we need to have is your name, how many people are in your party, where you are staying and some way of contacting you either an e-mail or a phone number.

How do I pay?

There are three ways in which you can pay for the trips that you book with us.

1. You can pay through the internet, through our booking website. This is by far the easiest, safest and fastest way to reserve and pay for your adventure. If you choose this way then you will receive a voucher via e-mail which you will need to print and bring along on your trips. If you are going on a multi day trip then you will receive one voucher for all of the trips via e-mail and we will make you separate vouchers for each of your trips, which will be waiting your arrival in Iceland at our office at Laugavegur 11.

2. You can pay via phone, the phone number is +354 571-2100. If you choose to pay through phone then your vouchers will be waiting for you when you come to Iceland, either at our office at Laugavegur 11 or at your hotel.

3. Sometimes you can pay when you arrive to start your trip, but this is only possible in special circumstance.

Please Note: However you pay, you will always get a voucher: REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR VOUCHER ALONG FOR YOUR TRIP!

Where is your Reykjavík Office located and when are you open?

Our office is at Laugavegur 11, the main shopping street in Reykjavík, see map here. There you can get all the information that you need, be it about the trips that you want to go to or just general information about Reykjavík. You can also book and pay for various day trips. Over the summer season (June-August) we are open from 08:00-21:00 Monday-Saturday and 10:00-18:00 on Sundays. All other times of year we are open 10:00-18:00 Mondays-Fridays, 11:00-16:00 Saturdays and closed on Sundays. But you can reach on our emergency cell phone line: +354-898-0410.

What currency do you accept?

We only accept the Icelandic króna. Our website presents prices is ISK and in EURO, the EURO price is obtained by converting it with the currency exchange rate of the Icelandic Federal Bank. If you would like to calculate the price of our tours in some other currency you can do so here.

How many people are in each group?

It depends on the trip you are taking. Our guest to guide ratio is based on years of experience with group management, each trip has a set number of guests per guide that we do not exceed under any circumstances and takes into consideration the terrain and general average group ability´s along with satisfaction. Due to ever changing conditions on the glaciers we do take the liberty to change guest to guide ratio without notice only to increase client safety. If and when that has happened we add on to our staff of qualified guides so that no one will miss out on the fun. On this particular tour there are never more than 8 clients per guide.

Do you do private tours?

Yes, we can do private departures. If you are thinking of a private tour please send us an email (info@glacierguides.is) or give us a phone call so we can give you further information as prices and planning are highly dependent on the situation at each time.

Where can I stay overnight in Skaftafell?

Because we know how hard it can be to get information about accommodation in this area we have made a special list of possible accommodations.
Click here for list of accommodation in Skaftafell.

What is the minimum age to participate on this tour?

18 years.

Can I bring my camera on the hike?

Yes, you can and you should! You don’t want to miss the chance to take a bit of your trip´s beauty home in your pictures.

Do I need an insurance before I go on this hike?

We recommend that you have personal health insurance coverage when participating in adventure activities in Iceland, we actually recommend that when ever and wherever you travel you take out a good travel insurance. As world travellers our selves it has saved us money and aggravation many times.