Svinafellsjokull Glacier
Svinafellsjokull Glacier
4.5
Points of Interest & Landmarks
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • jjluke
    Calgary, Canada2,047 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interstellar and Batman Begins filmed here!
    Sadly we did not have an opportunity to spend more time here, but the glaciers are the largest ice cap in Europe. You can see how Christopher Nolan loved this spot as they are truly unique formations. During the day we arrived, it was also gloomy which set a similar tone to Interstellar! Quick tip: a few ways to get here include the west road which is bumpy and slow to the parking space and a 5-10 minute walk to glacier, or the smoother east road but a 20 minute walk. If you walk past the lake towards the left, you will be rewarded with spectacular views. Please consider a thanks if you found this helpful :)
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 21 July 2024
  • Jacqueline G
    Fort Mill, South Carolina27 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing Tour
    We booked the Explorer tour with Arctic Adventures. I was looking forward to the glacier tour as a highlight to our trip to Iceland. It exceeded my expectations. We saw such awesome landscapes explained by Jill our wonderful guide. Even with the standard Icelandic weather this was a thoroughly enjoyable trip. This is a very active tour so I would only recommend to those in good health and athletic shape.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 21 September 2024
  • 6_Speed_Automatic
    Covington, Louisiana299 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A bit of a walk from the parking lot, but well worth your effort
    There is a bit of a walk from the parking lot (free parking) to the glacier. However, well worth the effort. Once you walk over a ridge, the entire glacier is in view. Further down the incline, able to get close and to appreciate the force of Mother Nature. One of many glaciers to see while traveling the southern highway in Iceland.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 28 September 2024
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Tom J
London, UK1,792 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
The Svinafellsjikull glacier is one of those sights that has to be seen to truly be believed. Thankfully not as busy as the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, this one feels personal and really is breaathtaking.

Located quite close to the main road (route 1) this is only a relatively short detour but could keep you mesmerised for hours.

Definitely recommended!
Written 13 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tom J
London, UK1,792 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Couples
On our drive between Vik and Jokulsarlon we decided to stop by Svinasfelljokull having not visited it last year on our trip.

A short 5 minute drive from the main road, located right near a gas station, the road to Svinasfelljokull is a quick and easy one to navigate. Once at the car park there is a short 5-10 minute walk before you are at the glacial lagoon.

One thing is for sure, Svinasfelljokull is a very unique experience. Whilst you get more ice floating around the lagoon at Jokulsarlon, you are way closer to the tongue of the glacier here, seeing the deep dark blues of the ice alone with the ridges in the shelves.

There is a brilliant vantage point at the top of the hill before walking down to the waters edge and on a clear day you can see right up the mountain pass above the lagoon.

Whilst it’s not typically as “touristy” as Jokulsarlon it’s definitely a must do stop!
Written 20 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

D D
Samarate, Italy8,521 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
From the SS1 turn towards Svinafellsjokull glacier and follow the dirt road that extends for 1 km towards the glacier. From the (free) car park, a non-steep climb takes you in 10 minutes to the panoramic point from which you can admire the glacier that stands out in front of you. If you want to walk a few more minutes you can go down to the edge of the lake below. The seracs and moraines that stand out on the right clearly show the signs of the retreat of the glacier.
Google
Written 7 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Maria Solange O
Farroupilha, RS30,731 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Family
Getting to Svinafellsjokull is very easy as access is located near the Ring Road. This glacier is incredibly beautiful and is part of the Skaftafell Natural Reservation. There is parking and a visitor centre. To get to the glacier one has to make a short walk. Wear clothes and shoes suitable for trekking.
Automatically translated
Written 5 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jacqueline G
Fort Mill, SC27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Couples
We booked the Explorer tour with Arctic Adventures. I was looking forward to the glacier tour as a highlight to our trip to Iceland. It exceeded my expectations. We saw such awesome landscapes explained by Jill our wonderful guide. Even with the standard Icelandic weather this was a thoroughly enjoyable trip. This is a very active tour so I would only recommend to those in good health and athletic shape.
Written 21 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AnSe1979
De Pinte, Belgium325 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Family
At the end of a beautiful but tiring day we stopped here. Not knowing what to really expect. But what was this worth? So close that you can get to the glacier. There are signs stating that you are certainly not allowed to climb it without suitable equipment, but of course there were some daredevils who were probably tired of their lives on it. With basketball shoes on... Stupid tourists!
Google
Written 22 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

alisei-net
Bologna, Italy943 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Friends
Svínafellsjökull is an outlet glacier of the large ice cap represented by Vatnajökull. The ease with which it can be reached makes this glacier very popular both for the local population and for tourists who love these natural sceneries and mountain excursions. In fact, the scenery that presents itself after reaching its feet is remarkable, a small lagoon with slightly dark water is the basis for the very long strip that extends until it disappears among the surrounding mountains. This glacier is made up of many sharp ridges which are not passable but are still beautiful to look at although there are many dark streaks which are a sign of volcanic ash which was deposited following eruptions which occurred in the past.
Google
Written 10 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

6_Speed_Automatic
Covington, LA299 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Friends
There is a bit of a walk from the parking lot (free parking) to the glacier. However, well worth the effort. Once you walk over a ridge, the entire glacier is in view. Further down the incline, able to get close and to appreciate the force of Mother Nature. One of many glaciers to see while traveling the southern highway in Iceland.
Written 28 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tissa.travels
Rotterdam, The Netherlands2,349 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019
While most people directly go to Skaftafell National Park, this glacier is not to be missed. You can get very close to the steep glacier, and touch the huge ice cubes on the edge of the glacial lagoon. Absolutely stunning, and there is hardly anyone around.
Written 20 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Califdan69
Palo Alto, CA965 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2015 • Couples
GETTING THERE

The Svinafell Glacier (Svinafellsjokull) in Iceland sits along the southern edge of Skaftafell Nataionall Park. This Glacier is one tongue of the massive Vatnajökull glacier which makes up a large portion of the National Park. If you only have a short period of time or are not an avid hiker, this is a good stop on your tour. If you’re on RT-1 (Golden Circle), heading East (from Reykjavik) the turn off onto a dirt road is 138 km NE of VIK (800 m past the junction of RT-998) or if you’re coming the other way it will be on your right, 17.4 km from Hof. There is a wide spot in the road (just east of a bridge over a river) with a parking area on the north side of RT-1. This is where you turn Northeast onto a dirt road. This well maintained dirt road leads you 2.6 km (6 min) to the parking lot right at the foot of the Svinafell glacier.

SEEING IT

You can see the glacier right from the parking lot, but if you’re able you should take a walk up the trail to the left. This trail is on land and goes up along the hillside beside the glacier along a well used pathway. If it’s been raining it can be a bit slippery so a little caution is wise. The trail near the parking lot is pretty much level and easy. From this section you can see the foot of the glacier where it melts into a glacial lagoon. Here you’ll see the foot (face) of the glacier as well as icebergs floating in the lagoon. In addition to the traditional blue-ice one sees in many glaciers, this one also has what I call “zebra ice”. This is where the ice has alternating layers of blue ice and dark brown or black ice caused by volcanic pumice and ash. As chunks break off the glacier to become icebergs they usually float at angles different than they had while in the glacier. This causes the stripes to go in all sorts of different directions.

As you continue on the trail, it climbs a bit but is generally not too difficult. About a quarter to half mile in there are some rocks you need to ascend. Again, we’re only talking 5 or 10 ft “climbs” with plenty of foot holds. I’m 67 years old and a bit overweight and carrying 25 pounds of camera gear and I was able to “walk” up these areas without using my hands. Look around and choose the route you want to take. Most people who can walk OK can manage these little sections.

As you go farther and farther these little scrambles over rock ledges become more difficult to negotiate. So when you get to one that seems too much for you, that’s a good place to stop, make some photographs and then turn around and return to your vehicle. We spent about an hour (including photographic stops) here and walked up over 3 or 4 of these ledges before turning around – more because we needed to be back to the bus at a certain time than reaching our limit.

PHOTOGRAPHING IT

As in most cases how you photograph in nature depends on the light and that, in turn depends on the time of day as well as the weather. It was pretty cloudy when we were there so the blue ice was not as impressive to photograph as it would have been on a sunny day. However, in post processing you can bring most of that blue back. A tripod, while useful is not a necessity here.

Unless you have interesting cloud formations try to keep the sky mostly or completely out of the shot. As you are above the glacier on this trail this is quite easy to do. There are several types of shots you can take of the glacier and lagoon One is of floating icebergs. Try to find individual bergs which have an interesting shape or that zebra striping. Zoom in to fill the frame with a single iceberg in order to show it’s details. If there are good reflections of the icebergs or clouds in the water try to incorporate those reflections in the shot – otherwise the water in the lagoon is not interesting (just brown water). Most of the bergs are bus size and you’re not all that far from them, so on a typical APS-C DSLR camera (e.g. a Canon Rebel or Nikon D5xxx series) with a 60 to 100 mm lens will work well

A second type of shot is one that shows a larger portion of the lagoon with several bergs. Don’t try to get the entire lagoon in one shot as each berg will be too small. Rather try to find interesting groupings of bergs, Three in a shot works well. For this 40 to 60 mm on an APS-C should give good results and you can include the shore on the far side of the lagoon to add a bit of color (green) to the shot.

The third kind of shot is the top surface of the glacier itself. This is a jumble of ice with dirt streaks going every which way. These shots are better further up the trail. Depending on where you shoot from anything from a moderate wide angle (28mm) up to a short telephoto (100mm) could work. With longer lenses it will compress the scene so the distance between ice clumps will look smaller.

Then the 4th type of shot you should try for is a more overview of the scene. This would include the glacier and perhaps part of the lagoon along with the sides of the canyon it’s flowing down.

If you found this information useful in your decision making process, you gleaned information you may not have otherwise discovered, or you just enjoyed reading it and appreciate the time I put into writing it, please give me a "helpful" vote. You’re welcome to contact me through the “Ask Caifdan69 about .........” button at the bottom of this review
Written 5 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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SVINAFELLSJOKULL GLACIER (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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