Arctic Adventures or Tröll Expeditions on Solheimajokull
Both tours climb the same glacier, and both say beginners need no experience. They differ in the length of the day and in how many people share a guide, and the age limits are not the same. This page sets them side by side and says who suits which.
The two tours side by side
Arctic Adventures and Tröll Expeditions are the two operators on this site, and both meet at the Sólheimajökull car park. The table lines up what each listing states, at the regular "from" price per person on GetYourGuide.
| Arctic Adventures (our pick) | Tröll Expeditions | |
|---|---|---|
| From | ~$203 | ~$229 |
| Length | About 5.5 h at the glacier, 13 h from Reykjavík | 4 h |
| Group | Up to 8 (up to 19 on some options) | Up to 6 |
| Minimum age | 14 | 12 |
| Boots | Bring hiking boots with ankle support or rent a pair | Climbing boots included |
| Climbing | Optional intro on a natural ice wall | Guide rigs ropes, you climb the walls |
| From Reykjavík | Yes, on the full-day option | No |
| GetYourGuide | 4.8 from 400+ reviews | 4.9 from 69 reviews |
| Viator | 4.8 from 100+ reviews | 4.9 from 100+ reviews |
Both can be cancelled at no cost until a day before, and GetYourGuide also lets you book now and pay nearer the date. The price difference is small, so the shape of the day should decide, and our price guide covers the extras on top.
Arctic Adventures, a longer day with a valley hike
Arctic Adventures' glacier hike and ice climbing intro, from ~$203, is the tour we put first. You meet at the yellow Arctic Adventures bus in the car park, get fitted with gear after a safety briefing, then hike up a moss-covered valley.
That approach brings you onto the glacier from above, with views down over the ice and the lagoon at its snout. On the surface the guide leads you among ridges and moulins, with patches of blue ice, though what you see depends on how the glacier looks that week.
The climbing is described as an intro, and it is optional. The guide shows you how to use the ice axe and how to go up a natural ice wall, and anyone who would rather keep walking can stay on the hike.
Arctic is also the only one of the two with a full-day option from Reykjavík, which includes transport plus stops at two waterfalls. Our page on going from Reykjavík or meeting at the glacier compares that 13-hour day with driving yourself.
Four hours and six people with Tröll Expeditions
Tröll Expeditions' ice climb and glacier hike, from ~$229, starts at Tröll's own base at the glacier car park. From there it is about 30 minutes on foot to the ice, followed by a safety briefing of roughly the same length.
The time on the glacier runs to about an hour of hiking and climbing. The guide sets up the rope system on an ice wall and you take turns going up, then you walk back to the base, hearing on the way how the glacier formed.
Climbing boots come with the fare, as does every piece of technical gear from helmet to ice axe. Coffee and chocolates are included too, and the listing mentions that the glacier appears in the documentary Chasing Ice.
A small group and boots in the fare
Tröll Expeditions' four hours on Sólheimajökull, with a rope system set up by the guide and no more than six people. The price includes climbing boots and glacier gear. There is coffee and chocolate as well.
Group size and waiting at the wall
Tröll caps its group at six. On a rope session only one person climbs at a time, so a small group means more turns each and less standing around on cold ice.
Arctic's small-group option holds up to eight, which is still modest. The listing also shows a standard group of up to 19 on some options, so check which one you are booking if group size matters to you.
Age limits and boots decide who can come
Arctic Adventures takes climbers from 14 with a minimum shoe size of EU 35, and it is not suitable for pregnant travelers or people with mobility impairments. Tröll takes children from 12, which makes it the one to book with younger teens.
Boots are the other practical split. Arctic asks for sturdy hiking boots with ankle support and rents them for a small fee, while Tröll hands out climbing boots. Our page on what to wear on the ice covers the rest of the clothing.
Both say beginners are welcome and the guide fits all the technical gear. If you worry about fitness or heights, read how hard the climb is before you choose.
What the reviews say in numbers
Arctic Adventures has by far the larger pile of reviews, 4.8 from 400+ on GetYourGuide and 4.8 from 100+ on Viator. A big sample at that score tells you the day works reliably for most people.
Tröll scores a little higher, 4.9 from 69 reviews on GetYourGuide and 4.9 from 100+ on Viator. The sample is smaller, so the extra tenth of a point says less, but nothing in the numbers suggests a weaker tour.
Who should pick which
- Pick Arctic Adventures if you have no car, want the longer day with the valley approach, or travel with someone who would rather hike than climb
- Pick Tröll Expeditions if you want the smallest group or have a 12 or 13 year old with you; it also lends climbing boots
- Pick Arctic if you want the lowest fare and the most reviews behind it
- Pick Tröll if you have a car and a tight schedule, since four hours leaves room for the waterfalls on the same day
Either way, Solheimajokull ice climbing depends on the weather, and the guide picks the route on the day. Our climb or hike page helps if you are still unsure whether you want the rope at all.