7 Thrilling Adventure Activities in Iceland for Outdoor Enthusiasts!

Is Iceland just a cold, fiery place? Or is it full of thrilling adventures to try? Go beyond the usual and find hidden treasures in this Nordic land. Climb great glaciers and see clear Silfra Fissure. Iceland’s varied lands offer much for adventurers. Get ready for a journey that will amaze you in the “Land of Fire and Ice.”

Key Takeaways

• Iceland’s diverse landscape offers a wide range of thrilling outdoor activities, from glacier hiking to snorkeling between tectonic plates.
• Adventure seekers can explore the country’s natural wonders up-close, including the largest glacier in Europe and the famous Eyjafjallajökull Volcano.
• Unique experiences like ice climbing, dog sledding, and horseback riding allow visitors to truly immerse themselves in Iceland’s rugged beauty.
• Adrenaline-fueled activities are available year-round, catering to visitors of all ages and skill levels.
• Helicopter tours and other modes of transportation provide access to remote and hard-to-reach areas, offering a fresh perspective on Iceland’s natural marvels.

From Vatnajökull National Park’s big glaciers to Silfra Fissure’s clear waters, Iceland’s outdoors call to the brave¹. With Langjökull, the second-largest glacier, and Mýrdalsjökull, the fourth, Iceland is perfect for exploring icy lands¹. Get ready for an exciting glacier hike. You’ll see the magic of these huge and icy worlds¹. You can also ice climb up their tall walls. It’s a thrilling adventure you won’t forget¹.

Glacier Hiking and Ice Climbing

Iceland has lots of glaciers, covering over 10% of the country. This makes it a perfect spot for glacier hiking. There are tours for all levels, from easy to hard. You can explore these icy places even if you’re not experienced. Glaciers like Vatnajökull, Europe’s biggest, invite adventurers. On these hikes, you’ll see crevasses, rivers, and changeable ice shapes. Plus, you can even try ice climbing with the right gear provided.

Ice climbing is big in Iceland too. It’s part of many glacier hiking tours, letting you climb big ice walls with ice picks. Since the ice is always moving, there’s always something new to climb. Tours on Vatnajökull offer all the gear and an instructor, even for new climbers.

Ice climbing in Iceland has different ages to start. Some places let kids as young as ten join, while some wait until they’re sixteen. Tours often cost around 220 USD and go for four hours. Tours let you climb about five meters, depending on the glacier².

Ice climbing season in Iceland is usually from late October to early April. This is when the ice is most stable. Safety is a big deal, with people having to wear helmets, harnesses, and use ice axes. Everyone gets a safety talk before they start climbing².

There are both private and group tours for ice climbing. Private tours give you more personalized attention and instruction. Group tours are cheaper and let you climb with friends or others who love climbing²³⁴.

Snorkeling at Silfra

Snorkeling in Iceland? Yes, you can at Silfra. It’s in Thingvellir National Park. This unique spot lets you drift between two continents. The Silfra fissure is 50 kilometers from Reykjavik. It appears as the plates spread about 2 centimeters each year⁵.

The water in Silfra comes from glaciers. It’s very clear, you can see up to 100 meters⁶. The water is cold, around 2-4 degrees Celsius⁶⁵. But don’t worry, with a dry suit, you will be warm and dry. You’ll see amazing sights like bright blue waters and neon green algae⁵.

The Silfra fissure is 200 feet deep and very special for snorkeling. Tours last at least two hours, with 30 to 45 minutes of time in the water⁶. You need to be 14 years old to snorkel here. You might see small fish, but not always⁶.

One special tour at Silfra was 3rd best in 2023 and 5th in 2022 on Tripadvisor⁷. DIVE.IS runs the best tours in Reykjavik. Their Silfra tour is available all year, every day. The experience is about 2.5 hours, or 5 with a ride from Reykjavík⁷. Each snorkel guide takes up to 6 people. A tour needs at least 3 snorkelers and 3 on the bus if you need a ride⁷.

The Silfra Snorkeling Tour costs ISK 20,490. This includes a guide, gear, snacks, and the Silfra entrance⁷. Participants must be 150-200 cm tall, and weigh 45-120 kg. You have to be 12 years or older, speak English, and not be pregnant⁷.

Adventure activities in Iceland

Iceland has a lot to offer for thrill-seekers. You can try glacier hiking, ice climbing, and snorkeling. But there’s more! Visitors can try white water rafting or canoeing on the Hvítá river. There are also beautiful hikes to waterfalls and volcanic craters. Plus, you can explore caves under the lava and ice⁸.

Want to see Iceland from above? Hop on a helicopter⁸. For those who love excitement, try surfing, scuba diving, or skydiving in Iceland⁸. There are so many fun things to do for adventurers here.

The MegaZipline in Hveragerði is one kilometer long and goes up to 120 km/hr. It’s the longest and fastest zipline in Iceland.⁸ Viking Heliskiing and Arctic Heliskiing provide heliskiing in Troll Peninsula. Even new skiers can find fresh slopes there.⁸ Nauthólsvík, a warm geothermal beach near Reykjavik, lets you swim in the North Atlantic. The water is between 5°C and 19°C.⁸⁹

Iceland is full of beautiful waterfalls. Some famous ones are Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, and Godafoss. But try to see the hidden gems like Gljufrafoss and Kvernufoss for a quieter visit¹⁰. Over 100 hot springs and spas are waiting for you. You can also take a seal spotting tour from April to October. It’s a great way to see seals in their natural homes.

Conclusion

Iceland is perfect for those who love the outdoors. It’s filled with amazing places like glaciers, volcanoes, and hot springs. You can also find black sand beaches there¹¹. This article talked about 7 cool things you can do in Iceland. They show off the country’s beautiful nature. For example, you can go glacier hiking or snorkel in Silfra’s clear water¹². Iceland welcomes anyone who wants exciting adventures or peaceful moments among its beauty.

Iceland is home to the Arctic Tern, also known as the Kria¹¹. It has unique foods like fermented shark and horse meat¹¹. The country’s culture and nature are very interesting for those who are adventurous¹¹. You can do things like hike the Laugavegur trail, see puffins and Arctic foxes, or visit the Harpa Concert Hall¹¹. There’s a lot to experience for people who love excitement and nature.

Iceland is loved because of its easy-going spirit. This is shown in the “Petta Reddast” idea¹¹. It also has a lot of clean, fresh water¹¹. This makes it a great place for adventures. You can see beautiful places like Jökulsárlón’s glacial lagoons¹¹. Also, there are chances to watch whales and seals¹³. Iceland’s many sights and animals will amaze you¹¹.