We love our country for many reasons, and the impressive glaciers are one of them. This extraordinary ice giant has long been a popular destination for both locals and international visitors. Solheimajokull is one of those places you simply can’t miss.
In this article, we go through the ins and outs of what makes Solheimajokull special enough to be part of your next Icelandic holiday. With everything from exciting adventures to finding serenity in its frozen landscape – this is the ultimate guide to Solheimajokull.
The Impressive Solheimajokull: An Overview
When you visit Solheimajokull in Iceland, you shouldn’t feel bad when the words trip over themselves in your mouth. It’s a hard name to say for non-Icelanders, but the easiest way to “break it down” is by pronouncing it as “soul-hey-ma-ji-cut-l,” where the “i” in “ji” is pronounced like the one in “bird.” And then you say that super-fast, so no one hears any mistakes.
Even though we say Solheimajokull Glacier, it is a glacial tongue from the large Mýrdalsjökull. It’s one of the most striking glacial tongues in Iceland since it is very long and thin rather than short and bulky (like many others). This makes it well-suited for adventures and provides many easy access points.
Solheimajokull is roughly 8 kilometers long and just 2 kilometers wide, and shrinking by roughly 50 meters per year. This means any trip to this shrinking marvel should be revered and documented since it will be gone in a couple of decades.
Exciting Activities at Solheimajokull
The shape and location of this glacier make it perfect for some unique experiences. Solheimajokull glacier hiking is one of the most popular, given how easy it is to complete and how amazing the view is from the top.
Along the sides of Solheimajokull, you’ll find plenty of steep ice walls that are popular for adventure-seeking visitors who want to climb them. This can be done with special prongs and ice picks and is a popular way to ascend and descend the glacier.
Solheimajokull is beautiful, but you must be careful on a Solheimajokull glacier hike since the ice sheet has many crevasses and treacherous areas. A guide will know where to go and how to act in an emergency, so we encourage you to take the safe option and explore the glacier with an experienced guide.
Depending on the year, there will be tours to some of the famous Icelandic Ice Caves that form in the glacier, but these are mostly reserved for the colder part of the year.
Where is Solheimajokull Glacier in Iceland?
You will find the Solheimajokull Glacier close to Vík in Iceland on the south coast. It’s just northwest of the town and almost right on the Ring Road, which makes it a popular stop for south coast adventures in Iceland.
How to Get to Solheimajokull
This skinny behemoth is only a 2-hour drive from the capital and can be easily reached from the Ring Road. You can get there by driving yourself or joining a guided tour:
Drive Yourself
With the wind in your hair (it’s always windy in Iceland), there is nothing that spells “adventure” like braving the roads and exploring the country on your own terms. To drive to Solheimajokull from Reykjavik, simply head on the Ring Road, going east, and continue on until you reach the little place Skógar. From there, take Road 221 north and drive for about 4 kilometers. You should reach the Solheimajokull Glacier parking lot, where you can link up with a guide for your next cool adventure.
Join a Guided Tour
Since we’re all about safe adventures, joining a tour will be the only thing we recommend when you step foot on Solheimajokull. If you don’t want to drive yourself, a Solheimajokull Tour from Reykjavik is a good alternative.
When is the Best Time to Visit Solheimajokull?
Since Solheimajokull is a glacier, it is covered in ice all year round, making it accessible to visitors at any point. Depending on what you want to experience on the glacier and in the rest of the country, the best time to visit Solheimajokull is going to vary.
In the Icelandic Summer, the glacier is well-suited for glacier hikes, and you can enjoy the rest of Iceland without becoming too cold. In the winter, on the other hand, you should come for adventure, as this is the time of the year when the ice caves are open, and the entire area turns into an almost otherworldly landscape with white blankets of snow.
What to See and Do Around Solheimajokull
The south coast of Iceland has a lot to offer and is home to many unique attractions. Below are a selected few of the places to visit and things to do in the Solheimajokull Neighborhood:
Visit the (sadly) growing Solheimajokull Glacier Lagoon.
Walk on the stunning Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach.
Explore the Katla Ice Caves on the nearby Mýrdalsjökull.
Take pictures of the floating icebergs at Jökulsarlón Glacier Lagoon.
Promenade on the Diamond Beach next to Jökulsarlón.
Where to Stay Close to Solheimajokull
Since this is an area of opportunity for the adventurous, staying for a night or two is rarely a bad choice. Here are some accommodation options for you if you decide to hang around:
Vík Camping – perfect for parking the campervan and enjoying nature.
Skógafoss Camping – Close by with all the amenities you could need for camping.
Hotel Skógafoss – if you want to make your stay a little more luxurious.
1908 Hostel – a budget-friendly alternative if you want to be indoors.
Visit Solheimajokull on Your Icelandic Holiday
Driving the south coast of Iceland opens up a myriad of things to do and places to visit. Solheimajokull is an absolute must for more than one reason and will produce precious lifelong memories.
If you want to take your holiday to the next level, rent a campervan in Reykjavik and hit the road. You can captain your own Iceland adventure and choose whether to stay at a luxurious hotel or get close to nature at a camping spot near the spectacular Solheimajokull.