Langjökull Glacier: Day Trips and Tours from Reykjavík

The massive Langjökull is the second biggest of Iceland’s glaciers. It is a comfortable traveling distance from Reykjavik and this makes it a popular destination for visitors to the area.

Langjökull Glacier day tours from Reykjavik is the ideal destination for adventure seekers. Trips by specially modified all-terrain vehicle, 4x4 and snowmobile are offered from the base to the top of this remarkable natural landmark.

A man-made ice tunnel gives visitors the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to walk inside the mesmerizing blue-ice heart of Langjökull. Naturally created ice caves form and disappear as the ever-shifting ice river moves, making each Langjökull glacier visit a truly unique experience.

Here's all you need to know about Langjökull Glacier, one of the most exciting day trips from Reykjavik.

How to get to the Langjökull Glacier from Reykjavik?

Langjökull is located in the western part of the Icelandic interior and can easily be reached via the well-known Golden Circle route which also passes Gullfoss, Geysir and Thingvellir.

From Reykjavik to Langjökull Glacier by car

The Langjökull ice cap is the closest major ice cap to Reykjavik and is about a 100 kilometer, 2-hour drive. During the winter, the meeting point for glacier tours is Húsafell.

In the summer months, the meeting point for tours up Langjökull is the Klaki base camp. Access roads to the glacier are 4x4 only with specially adapted vehicles being used in the winter. Do not attempt the routes in a standard motor vehicle.

Guided tours to Langjökull Glacier from Reykjavik

To gain access to Langjökull Glacier, it is necessary to join a guided tour. For convenience, the best tour is one that includes return transfers from Reykjavik.

Small-group and private tours are available and you will either be collected from your hotel or asked to meet at a central point for the transfer to the glacier.

Depending on the tour you book, you‘ll either explore Langjökull by snowmobile or 4x4 vehicle.

Other full-day tours that include a visit to Langjökull Glacier also typically include sightseeing along the Golden Route before returning to the city.

What is the typical itinerary?

Langjökull Glacier tours typically starts in Reykjavik in the early morning. You will be collected from your hotel or meet your guide at a central meeting place and travel by coach or private vehicle to the glacier access point.

Before you head onto the glacier, you will be provided with the necessary safety equipment and receive a comprehensive safety briefing. After a few hours exploring by snowmobile, jeep or specially modified all-terrain vehicle you will return to the base camp for your onward journey.

On a full-day Golden Circle tour, you will also stop at other natural attractions on your route and your guide will tell you more about nature sculpts this volcanic island.

Although lunch is not normally included in the tour price, there will be a lunch stop on full-day excursions. The tour ends on arrival back in Reykjavik.

What kinds of tours are available?

If you are planning a day trip to Langjökull Glacier, you can choose between snowmobile and 4x4 excursions on the glacier itself. Full-day tours of the Golden Circle route from Reykjavik also include an excursion sat Langjökull.

Small-group Langjökull Glacier snowmobile tours from Reykjavik

Join a group of no more than 10 participants for a snowmobile tour to Langjökull from Reyjkavik. Your guide will share stories about the country’s unique geology and point out sites of interest on the way.

On arrival at Langjökull , you will be kitted out in the necessary outerwear and safety gear and receive a briefing and some snowmobile instruction.

You will follow your guide across some of the glacier’s breath-taking terrain with stops for photos and to admire the spectacular landscapes. After your exhilarating activity, your tour will stop at a popular local restaurant for lunch.

Some small-group trips also include a stop at the village of Flúðir where there is the option of a quick swim at the Secret Lagoon thermal spring.

Small-group Golden Circle and Langjökull Glacier jeep tours from Reykjavik

The Golden Circle route travels past some of Iceland’s most magnificent natural wonders.

In a group of not more than 10 people, this jeep day tour travels in comfortable 4-wheel drive vehilcles from Reykjavik to the shifting techtonic plates at Thingvellir National Park, the geysers and springs of the Haukadalur geothermal area and the iconic Gullfoss Waterfall in the Hvítá river canyon.

After lunch, the tour heads off-road to Langjökull and stops at the exquisite Faxi waterfall before returning to Reykjavik.

Private jeep tour of the Golden Circle and Langjökull Glacier from Reykjavik

For a more personal experience, you can experience the Golden Circle and Langjökull with your own private vehicle and guide. This private tour is available for a maximum of 3 people per vehicle.

The route and sightseeing is similar to the small-group guided day trips, but you will have some flexibility and can also pre-book additional activities such as a snowmobile ride on the Langjökull glacier if you want a bit more action or adventure on your tour.

Private full-day Borgarfjordur and Langjökull tour from Reykjavik

You and up to 4 other people can book a private full-day tour of Borgarfjordur and Langjökull glaciers from Reykjavik. At Langjökull there is time to visit the man-mad ice tunnel, and at Borganes you might recognise familiar scenes from the film “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”.

The historic town of Reykholt, the Deildartunguhver hot spring and the Hraunfossar lava waterfalls are also places of interest that are included in the itinerary.

Your experienced and knowledgeable guide will keep you entertained and informed on your tour.

Multi-day private Golden Circle tours including Langjökull Glacier from Reykjavik

A private 3-day tour of Iceland is an ideal option for travelers that are short on time but want to experience this magnificent Nordic landscape. The first day of the tour includes an excursion to the Langjökull glacier and the amazing waterfalls of the Hvítá river.

Thingvellir National Park is the destination on the second day of the tour and on the last day, your tour will travel along the dramatic southern coastline to sites such as the Hekla volcano, Seljlandsfoss waterfall and Dyrholaey with its beautiful black beaches.

The tour also includes three nights of accommodation which makes it the perfect hassle-free package.

How much does a day trip to the Langjökull Glacier from Reykjavik cost?

A small-group Langjökull Glacier snowmobile tours from Reykjavik costs from US$250 per person. For tours that include a visit to the Secret Lagoon, expect to pay from US$360 per person.

Small-group Golden Circle and Langjökull Glacier jeep tours from Reykjavik start from US$360 per person.

A Private jeep tour of the Golden Circle and Langjökull Glacier from Reykjavik for up to 3 people costs from US$1,400 per tour.

A Private full-day Borgarfjordur and Langjökull tour from Reykjavik costs around US$370 per person for 2 people, with the price dropping to around US$160 per person if 5 guests book the vehicle. For an additional US$160 per person, a tour of the ice tunnel can be included in the tour.

Multi-day private Golden Circle tours including Langjökull Glacier from Reykjavik start from US$2,500 per person for a minimum of two and maximum of seven travellers including accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, private guide and private vehicle.

What will you see and do?

On a visit to Langjökull, you will be able to traverse some of the glacier’s surface by snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle. You also have the option of entering the glacier itself through a specially carved 500 meter long ice tunnel that leads to separate ice caves.

Naturally formed and ever-changing ice caves and formations are also exposed from time to time and under the supervision of your guide, you may be able to venture into some of these surreal spaces.

When is the best time to visit the Langjökull Glacier?

The Langjökull glacier is suitable for visits throughout the year. Snowmobile and off-road tours take place year-round.

Hiking from Reykjavik and cross-country skiing are also year-round activities but are subject to more stringent weather condition regulations. Even the world’s largest man-made ice-tunnel is accessible throughout the year.

It is important to remember that glacier weather and surface conditions can be dangerous and unpredictable, and no activities should be attempted at any time of year without expert guides.

Travel tips

• Wear waterproof and warm clothes are a requirement on a glacier trip.
• Sturdy boots are recommended.
• Only a few tours are family friendly. Check the age restrictions before making your booking.
• Do not venture onto the glacier without a guide.