Snowmobiling in Iceland on a Glacier: A complete guide

two people sitting on Snowmobile in Iceland

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If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be snowmobiling in Iceland across a glacier with approximately zero experience, I would have laughed. But that’s the thing about Iceland. It has a way of making you do things you never even imagined.

Iceland is a country that has endless adventures. You can hike into an ice cave, snorkel between two tectonic plates, try fermented shark (brave of you), and yes, ride a snowmobile across a glacier. If Iceland isn’t on your bucket list yet, consider this your sign.

When the idea of snowmobiling was brought up to me, I was unsure of my feelings about it. I had never been on a snowmobile. I didn’t really know what being “on a glacier” meant. In my head, a glacier was a big chunk of ice floating in the ocean. And I was very worried about how cold it would be.

Now that I’ve done it, I think glacier snowmobiling belongs on every Iceland must-do list. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.

Related post: 6 Iceland tours worth booking

Choosing a Glacier Snowmobiling Tour in Iceland

We booked with Mountaineers of Iceland on Langjökull, Iceland’s second largest glacier and one of the most accessible for visitors. A few companies offer similar tours, but Mountaineers stood out for one main reason: the tour departs from the visitor center at Gullfoss waterfall. We were already spending the day on the Golden Circle, so it fit right into our itinerary.

One thing to know up front: this is a guided experience. You can’t rent a snowmobile and head out onto a glacier on your own, so booking a tour is the way to do it.

Getting to Langjökull Glacier From Gullfoss

The meeting point for this activity was in the parking lot of Gulfoss waterfall. Gullfoss is located along the Golden Circle and about 1 hour 45 minutes from Reykjavik. This makes this tour easily accessible whether you are staying in Reykjavik, along the south coast or along the golden circle.

After checking in with the guide, we boarded the monster ice truck with about 20 other people and set off on the journey. Now I will warn you, this drive is not for the faint of heart. It starts out as a simple drive on pavement. As you go further up, the road becomes snowier and snowier until you’re driving over feet of snow. This caused the ride to be quite bumpy and uneven. We were all holding on as we bounced along.

The views make up for it. As you go up, civilization slowly disappears until there is nothing outside the window but snow. It is a surreal experience looking out the window of the vehicle and seeing nothing but white snow and snow covered mountains.

What to Wear Snowmobiling in Iceland

When you arrive at the base camp, you will be unloaded from the bus and taken into the shop. Here you will get into all of your warm clothing. They provide you with a full snow suit, gloves, and a helmet with a face shield.

While all of this is warm, I recommend dressing warm underneath. I wore a sweater and fleece lined leggings along with my long parka. I had my own gloves underneath the provided gloves as well as my own beanie under the helmet.

My number one tip: bring a scarf. This helped to keep my neck as well as my chin warm since the face shield does not cover the whole face.

Related post: What to wear in Iceland

The Safety Briefing

Once we were all dressed, we headed outside for the safety demonstration. I made sure to pay extra close attention, as I had never ridden a snowmobile before and may have been a little scared! The safety briefing was about 10-15 minutes and went over everything we needed to know about how to drive a snowmobile and how to be safe!

What Snowmobiling on a Glacier Is Really Like

Finally, it was time for the moment we have been waiting for! We were on a two-person snowmobile, so my boyfriend Joey drove first. I loved being on the back! Everywhere you looked, it was just mountains and snow. It felt unreal to be so high up.

After about 20 minutes, we stopped to take some pictures. The views were incredible. The snow was so perfect to play in so naturally we made snow angels.

Then it was my turn to drive. I hopped to the front and off we went…barely. The speed of the snowmobile really freaked me out, so I was driving soooo slowly. After about 5 minutes and falling all the way to the back of the line, I decided driving was not for me. Joey and I quickly switched spots and I happily accepted my role as passenger princess.

Joey drove the rest of the way, and I soaked in every view from the back.

The Ride Back (and an Unexpected Detour)

Once we were all back at base camp and peeled off our warm layers, we reboarded the monster ice truck for the journey back. We figured the ride back would be easy as we were already accustomed to driving over the mounds of snow and bumpiness. About 15 minutes into the journey, we came upon another tour company’s truck that was stuck, blocking the path the trucks had carved that day. They were waiting for another vehicle to come pick up their passengers.

We sat around for maybe 20 minutes, hopping out to take pictures in the snow while our driver tried to help them get unstuck. With no success and no other vehicle in sight, our driver decided to go around them. That meant driving over fresh, untouched snow, which was extra bumpy. We safely made it around the truck and back to Gulfoss!

My Advisor Take: Is This Tour Right for You?

Here’s what I’d tell anyone considering this tour:

Pair it with your Golden Circle day. Since it departs from Gullfoss, it fits naturally into the route without needing a separate day.
Only one of you has to drive. On a two-person snowmobile, one person drives and the other rides. If one of you is more adventurous than the other, you both still get the full experience.
Expect a bumpy ride. The truck ride to and from the glacier is part of the adventure, but it’s rough. Go in knowing that.
Dress in layers you control. The provided gear is warm, but what you wear underneath makes the difference.

Where to stay in Iceland: My top 3 hotel recommendations for your trip to Iceland

Reykjavik: The Reykjavik Edition
Hveragerdi: Frost and Fire Boutique hotel
Vik: Hotel Vik I Myrdal

Looking to book one of these hotels? Fill out my Hotel Only Booking Form and I’d be happy to get these hotels booked for you!

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Final Thoughts

This tour will go down as one of the coolest experiences I have ever had! The drivers and guides were amazing and ensured we were safe at all times. If you’re heading to Iceland and love an active adventure, put glacier snowmobiling on your list.

Looking to book this tour? BOOK HERE!

Planning a trip to Iceland and want adventures like this built into an itinerary that actually flows? That’s exactly what I do. Take a look at my services HERE and let’s start planning yours.

Frequently asked questions:

Yes. The guides made sure everyone knew how to drive the snowmobile and understood the safety rules before we set off. There was also more than one guide, so if you prefer a slower pace, one guide hangs back with you.

Our tour did not require a license. Requirements vary by company, so check with your tour operator before you book.

Every tour operator has their own pricing. The tour I experienced was about $250 per person.

Layers are everything. The tour provides a snowsuit, helmet, and gloves, which go over your own clothes. Underneath, I recommend a thermal shirt, thermal pants, a warm jacket, your own gloves, a beanie, a scarf, and snow boots.

It varies by company, but ours took about 4 hours. That’s roughly an hour each way in the truck and about 2 hours at the top suiting up and snowmobiling.

Yes. Langjökull stays snow-covered year-round, so tours run in every season .

I recommend booking 1 to 2 months ahead to get the day and time you want. Last-minute spots can open up, but I wouldn’t count on it.

YES, 100%! This will go down as one of my favorite experiences world wide! I would recommend this tour to any active people heading to Iceland!