From Reykjavik by bus or meet at the glacier

Two ways to reach the glacier

Only one of the two tours on this site offers a ride from the city. Arctic Adventures' glacier hike and ice climb, from ~$203, has a full-day option from Reykjavík as well as a half day that starts at the glacier.

Tröll Expeditions has no transport at all. Its four-hour climb and Arctic's half day at the car park both need a car or someone to drive you, and our comparison of the two operators covers the other differences.

The 13-hour day from Reykjavík

The Reykjavík option runs about 13 hours from departure to return. It includes round-trip transport and sightseeing stops at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, then the same glacier program as the half day.

That is a long day, and much of it is spent on the road. Expect roughly two hours or a little more each way on Route 1 before the stops, so plan an early night before.

The option costs more than the "from" price, which is the half day at the glacier. Check the listing for the fare on your date, and pick a start time when you book; our price guide lists what the fare leaves out.

Two waterfalls on the way

Seljalandsfoss is the one with a path that loops behind the falling water. The spray soaks the path, so wear your waterproof jacket and watch your footing on the wet rocks.

Skógafoss drops off an old sea cliff a short drive west of the glacier turn-off. Steps climb the side to a viewpoint at the top, which is a good leg warm-up before crampons.

On the bus you stop where the tour stops, for as long as it stops. If you would rather linger or add Vík and the black sand beach, our south coast day plan shows how a car changes the day.

Driving yourself, about two hours each way

By car the route is simple. Follow Route 1 east from Reykjavík for about 160 km (100 miles), then turn onto the short glacier road to the car park, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours in good conditions.

Driving lets you book the shorter tours. Arctic's half day runs about 5.5 hours at the glacier and Tröll's climb about 4, so the whole outing, drive included, can be shorter than the bus day.

The glacier turn-off lies roughly 10 km east of Skógafoss, where road 221 runs about 4 km inland to the car park. In winter that last stretch can be icy, so take it slowly.

You also set your own pace on the way home, with time for the waterfalls or a meal in Vík. Our driving guide covers the turn-off and parking in more detail.

Winter changes the sums

From roughly November to March, daylight in south Iceland shrinks to a few hours around midwinter. Route 1 can be icy, and strong crosswinds hit the open stretches near the mountains.

That is the strongest case for the bus. A driver who knows the road in winter takes that weight off you, and you can sleep on the way back instead of driving tired in the dark.

Winter drivers should check the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration's road map and the Icelandic Met Office forecast the evening before. If the guides call the day off, our weather guide covers refunds and new dates.

Where to meet at the car park

For Arctic Adventures' half day, the meeting point is the yellow Arctic Adventures bus in the Sólheimajökull car park. It is easy to spot, and the guides fit gear and run the briefing from there.

Tröll Expeditions meets at its own base at the glacier, along the same access road. Whichever you book, arrive a little early. Boot fitting and harnesses take time, and the group leaves together.

• Arctic Adventures, half day, at the yellow bus in the car park
• Arctic Adventures, full day, with transport from Reykjavík (details on the listing)
• Tröll Expeditions, at its own base at the glacier, with no transport

Which way suits you

Take the bus if you have no car or would rather not drive Route 1 in winter. It also brings you to the waterfalls without any planning. You accept a 13-hour day and the tour's timetable in return.

Drive if you have a car and a group to share the fuel. You see the coast at your own pace. You gain the choice of both operators and a shorter day on the ice.

Sólheimajökull is an outlet tongue of the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap, which covers the Katla volcano. That makes it one of the easiest glaciers in Iceland to reach from the capital by bus or by car.

Neither way changes the glacier itself. A Solheimajokull ice climbing tour still depends on the weather and the guide's choice of route, and our page on how hard the climb is covers what happens once you reach the ice.