05 Dec 5 Best Iceland Tours for Excursions

Whenever I start to plan a trip somewhere, I always look at their available excursions. Therefore, as I first began to think about planning a trip to Iceland, I googled “best tours in Iceland”. There were SO MANY options from which to choose. It was difficult to balance our interests, available time, and cost to then put them in order of preference. My boyfriend and I ranked our preferred excursions by greatest interest and feasibility, and then we merged our lists together. We ended up booking two excursions: glacier kayaking and silfra snorkeling.

Additionally, we relaxed in the waters of the Blue Lagoon and Myvatn Nature Baths. However, I am not counting geothermal pools within this list of the five best Iceland tours for excursions. 

Contents:

1) Glacier Kayaking 

2) Dog Sledding

3) Glacier Hiking and Ice Climbing 

4) Silfra Diving

5) Snowmobiling

6) Honorable Mentions

1) Glacier Kayaking – Best Iceland Tours

When researching and ranking the best Iceland tours, glacier kayaking shot up to my number one position as soon as I saw it as an option. I love kayaking and even own an Intex Challenger inflatable kayak so I can easily go kayaking by myself on lakes and rivers near home. 

Furthermore, glacier kayaking was my second favorite activity in Iceland. Want to learn about my other favorite activities? Check out my article on my top three things to do in Iceland.  

Location

We kayaked in the Glacier Lagoon, which is also known as Jökulsárlón. It is located on the eastern coast, and you pass right by it as you drive on Route 1 around the country. For reference, it is approximately two and a half hours northeast of Vík on the southern coast. 

There are other places to book a glacier lagoon kayaking tour in Iceland, but I think THE Glacier Lagoon is the best. Why? It tends to have larger icebergs floating in the waters than other lagoons, which makes it an ideal spot for kayaking. Heck, it is nicknamed Glacier Lagoon after all. 

Background

The lagoon first formed in the mid 1930s through the melting of Breiðamerkurjökull, which is an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull. Moreover, Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Iceland. The lagoon continues to increase in size as the years pass on due to the fact the glacier continues to melt. Therefore, the Glacier Lagoon is currently around seven square miles (~18 square kilometers) large. 

For additional information on the Glacier Lagoon (as well as Diamond Beach across the street), check out my article: Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach for Iceland.

Iceberg in the Glacier Lagoon

Description of the Tour – Best Iceland Tours

The kayaking tour lasts approximately two hours. The first hour will include instructions from the tour guide as well as getting dressed in the appropriate gear. The second hour includes kayaking all around the lagoon. The guide will direct you around the lagoon, highlighting the largest icebergs of the day. They will offer some fun facts about glaciers and Iceland in general as well as include time to stop and take pictures. If you are lucky, you might see a couple of seals swimming nearby. 

For reference, the estimated price of a glacier kayaking tour is $150 to $200 (~21,200 to 28,300 ISK) for a tandem kayak. On the other hand, the price is around $85 to $120 (~12,000 to 17,000 ISK) for a single kayak.

Tour Options 

There are only a few tour companies that offer kayaking on Jökulsárlón, aka the Glacier Lagoon. We booked a tour with Arctic Adventures and absolutely loved our experience. For more detailed information, check out this article: Glacier Kayaking in Jökulsárlón, Iceland.

If you are not heading to the Glacier Lagoon but still want to book a kayaking tour, then do not fear! You still have a few options. For example, you can book a kayaking tour on Sólheimajökull Glacier Lagoon, which is conveniently located in southern Iceland.

Other Excursions Offered on Glacier Lagoons

Boat tours are also offered on the Glacier Lagoon as well as on other lagoons across Iceland. There are generally two boat tour options: 1) Amphibian (2) Zodiac. The amphibian boat is larger – think similar to a small ferry. The zodiac is a much smaller boat that zips through the water faster than the amphibian boat.

For a tour that includes a boat ride on Jökulsárlón, aka the Glacier Lagoon, I recommend the South Coast + Glacier Lagoon Day Tour from Reykjavík. If you have a bit more time, then I recommend the 3 Day Tour Around the Golden Circle, South Coast, and Glacier Lagoon. It also includes a boat tour on the lagoon.

Kayaking around the Glacier Lagoon on a tour

2) Dog Sledding 

Next up on the list of the five best Iceland tours is dog sledding. I absolutely adore dogs, so of course this made it on my list of the best Iceland tours for excursions.

Location – Best Iceland Tours

One unique thing about this excursion is you can choose between snow and dry land. The dry land tours tend to be cheaper, starting around $190 (~27,000 ISK) per person. They are also more readily available in the spring and summer months. The snow tours are on the more expensive side, starting around $230 (~32,500 ISK). If you want to guide the sled yourself, a couple of companies offer such a tour. 

The main areas of Iceland in which you can book such a tour are Akureyri (in the north), Mývatn (in the northeast), and Reykjavík (in the southwest).

Why not book a dog sledding tour in Mývatn in the morning and then relax in the geothermal waters of the Mývatn Nature Baths in the evening?

Description of the Tour

Imagine this. You are sitting in a sled pulled by majestic huskies. Snow is flying through the air as you glide along. Everywhere you turn there is another beautiful mountain. Sounds perfect, right? Before the tour begins you will have time to meet the dogs. A lot of them have been on a sled dog team for many years. That’s right – they are pros. The guides will take care of directing the dogs so you can just sit back and relax.

The price for a dog sledding excursion can range from around $190 to $350 (~27,000 to 48,550 ISK) per person. Moreover, the tour lasts approximately 45 minutes to two hours. 

Tour Options – Best Iceland Tours

There are a fair amount of tour companies and options for dog sledding in Iceland since it is so popular. However, you will find a lot more options in the winter months compared to the summer months.

If you are looking for a tour near the capital city of Reykavjík, I recommend the Husky Sledding Tour from Reykjavík. As a bonus, this tour operates in the summer on dry land as well as in the winter on snow. On the other hand, I recommend the Husky Private Sledding Tour from Akureyri if you are looking for a tour in the north.

Other Excursions Offered with Sled Dogs

If you do not have the time for dog sledding or it is a little too expensive, you can consider a couple of other options. Many of the companies listed above also offer a booking in which you can pet the huskies and take pictures with them. Additionally, some companies offer visits to their farms on which they raise the dogs. These experiences generally cost around $40 (~5,700 ISK).

For example, you can book a Hiking with Huskies Tour in Akureyri.

3) Glacier Hiking and Ice Climbing – Best Iceland Tours

Third on the list of the five best tours in Iceland is glacier hiking and ice climbing. While we did not participate in this excursion during our time in Iceland, we did consider it. Ultimately we had to make some tough decisions and thus did not book this tour. However, one of our friends went on this excursion the day before we met up in Iceland. She said it was a must-have for an Iceland itinerary, as it was one of her favorite things of her entire trip. Moreover, Wallflower in Wanderland includes “touch a glacier in Iceland” as one of their Ultimate Travel Bucketlist items.

Location

There are three main locations for glacier hiking and ice climbing tours: (1) Sólheimajökull (2) Skaftafell (3) Vatnajökull. However, you might still be able to find a tour outside of these three locations. Just keep in mind that tours in other locations might be less common.

If you book a tour in Skaftafell, make sure you also plan some time in your itinerary to visit the nearby Svartifoss waterfall.

Description of the Tour – Best Iceland Tours

A glacier hiking and ice climbing excursion is the perfect way to get up close and personal with a glacier. The tour company provides you with all of the technical equipment necessary. The main thing you need to do to prepare is dress warmly and wear gloves. During the tour you will see cracks in the glacier, vertical shafts, and possibly even an ice tunnel or two. Also, what is better than getting to walk on top of a glacier? At some points it might feel like you are standing on the top of the world.

The cost for the tour ranges from around $120 to $200 (~17,000 to 28,000 ISK) per person. Additionally, the tour lasts approximately four or more hours.

If you are looking for something a bit less challenging / adventurous, then check out the best ice cave tours from Reykjavík.

Solheimajokull Glacier in Iceland

Tours Offered

Similar to the two excursions mentioned above, there are a fair amount of tour companies as well as tours offered for glacier hiking and ice climbing.

If you are looking for a tour on the Sólheimajökull Glacier, then I recommend the Glacier Hiking + Ice Climbing Combo Tour on Sólheimajökull. Please keep in mind this is the best option for those of you looking for a tour from Reykjavík. Sólheimajökull is the closest glacier with these kinds of tours to the capital city.

On the other hand, I recommend the Skaftafell Ice Climb and Glacier Hike Tour if you are looking for a tour in the southeastern or eastern portion of Iceland. Skaftafell is an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull. Therefore, there are additional tours offered on Vatnajökull.

Other Excursions Offered on Glaciers

If you prefer not to include climbing in your experience, you can book a glacier hiking tour. A tour with only hiking is much cheaper, starting at approximately $70 (~10,000 ISK). There are also tours that combine glacier hiking with exploring an ice cave. You can truly find a tour that fits your best interest as there are so many options. I recommend the Skaftafell Ice Cave and Glacier Hike Combo Tour.

4) Silfra Diving

Fourth up on the list of the five best tours in Iceland is Silfra diving. You have two options for this excursion: (1) snorkeling (2) scuba diving. The snorkeling tour will take less time and will also be less expensive. We booked the snorkeling tour, and thus the information I provide here will highlight primarily the snorkeling tour. 

Furthermore, Silfra snorkeling was my eighth favorite activity in Iceland. Interested in learning about all of the other activities/attractions in my top 10? Then check out the article of my Top 10 Things to Do in Iceland.

Location – Best Iceland Tours

The Silfra fissure is located within Thingvellir National Park. Moreover, it is within the Golden Circle, which is a popular circular drive in the southwestern region of Iceland. Therefore, it is easy to plan for Silfra snorkeling if you are visiting Iceland for only a couple of days, a week, or an entire month. 

For reference, the Silfra fissure in Thingvellir National Park is approximately 45 minutes northeast of Reykjavík and two hours southeast from the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Check out my articles on the top attractions in Reykjanes as well as the top attractions in Snaefellsnes if you plan to visit those regions during your trip. 

Silfra fissure in Thingvellir National Park

Background

The Silfra fissure formed as the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates drifted apart over the years. It continues to widen as the plates continue to drift apart, though it does so at a slow pace. What does this mean for you? It means you will be snorkeling in between tectonic plates! It is truly a unique experience you cannot find anywhere else in the world. While diving, you can see up to approximately 328 feet (~100 meters) in the water. The water is incredibly clear, and it is also pure. It runs from a glacier, so go ahead and take a sip if you get thirsty. 

Description of the Snorkeling Tour – Best Iceland Tours

We booked the snorkeling excursion, and it was actually the first thing we did after arriving at the airport. What a way to start off our Iceland trip. The tour was approximately two hours long. For the first hour, the tour guide offered general instructions, and then everyone got dressed in a drysuit. The second hour was the fun part – snorkeling. The guide led us through the water at a slow pace, allowing us ample time to enjoy everything. The water is COLD, but the experience is worth the chill. On the other hand, plan for three or more hours for a scuba diving tour.

Furthermore, the estimated price for a snorkeling tour is $115 to $150 (~16,000 to 21,000 ISK). The estimated price for a scuba diving tour is $215 to $270 (~30,000 to 38,000 ISK).

For more information on Silfra snorkeling: Silfra Snorkeling in Iceland: Everything to Know.

Tour Options

For our snorkeling tour, we booked the Silfra Snorkeling Tour with Dive. I will say that we had an incredible experience, and I have only positive things to say. Therefore, I would definitely recommend you book the same tour as well! However, if you need transportation to the snorkeling site, then I recommend the Silfra Snorkeling Tour with Dive with Pickup from Reykjavík.

If you prefer a scuba diving tour, then I recommend the Silfra Diving Tour with Dive. Dive is one of the best companies offering tours in the Silfra fissure, so they have my personal recommendation.

Snorkeling in the Silfra Fissure in Thingvellir National Park

5) Snowmobiling – Best Iceland Tours

Last on the list of the five best Iceland tours is snowmobiling. Maybe you have gone snowmobiling before, but have you ever gone snowmobiling on a GLACIER?

Location

Whether you are in the south, west, east, or north of Iceland, there is a tour available. However, the four main locations for snowmobiling include: (1) Langjökull (2) Eyjafjallajökull (3) Mýrdalsjökull (4) Mývatn.

Description of the Tour

The company will provide any necessary gear and appropriate instruction before you begin your adventure. As you drive along, you will be in awe at the beauty of the mountains and valleys of the glacier. What is even better than seeing such beautiful scenery. Well, getting to snowmobile across it, of course! 

You should estimate around $190 to $310 (~27,000 to 44,000 ISK) per person for the tour. Additionally, the tour lasts approximately one to three hours. 

Walking around the edge of Svínafellsjökull Glacier Lagoon

Snowmobiling Restrictions – Best Iceland Tours

To drive a snowmobile, you must have a valid driver’s license. However, children can be passengers on a snowmobile with an accompanying adult. The minimum age is around six to eight years old, but the exact age depends on the tour company’s requirements. Most companies also offer the option to book a snowmobile individually or for two people. 

Tour Options

First, for a tour on Langjökull, I recommend the Langjökull Glacier Snowmobile Tour. Keep in mind that this will probably be the most convenient tour if you are in Reykjavík.

Second, I recommend the Eyjafjallajökull Glacier Snowmobile Tour or the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier Snowmobile Tour if you are in southern Iceland.

Lastly, I recommend the Lake Mývatn Snowmobile Tour if you are in northern Iceland.

Other Excursions Offered with Snowmobiling

Additionally, you can choose a full day tour, which usually includes a combination of glacier snowmobiling and one other activity. For example, there is a Langjökull Glacier Ice Cave + Snowmobile Combo Tour.

6) Honorable Mentions – Best Iceland Tours

While the following did not make it within the five best Iceland tours, they definitely deserve an honorable mention. Also, it is possible one of these might interest you more than the five listed above. When (not if) I go back to Iceland, I would love to put some of these excursions as well as those listed above that I have not yet experienced on my itinerary.

• Whale watching tour
• Ice cave tour
• Lava cave tour
• Horseback riding tour
• ATV riding tour

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Be sure to stop at the best waterfalls in Iceland: The 4 Best Waterfalls in Iceland. 

Check out our Iceland itinerary: 9 Day Road Trip Itinerary for Iceland.