Glacier Hike on Sólheimajökull & Horseback Riding in Vík

This 6-hour combo tour pairs a guided glacier hike on Sólheimajökull with a horseback ride along Vikurfjara black beach near the village of Vík, giving you two of South Iceland's most memorable outdoor experiences in a single day. Rated easy (2 out of 5), the tour is suitable for most fitness levels and is operated by Arctic Adventures.

Your day begins at the Sólheimajökull glacier parking lot, where your certified glacier guide introduces the equipment and safety procedures before leading you across volcanic black sands toward the glacier tongue. Walking through the valley that the glacier occupied only years ago, you witness firsthand how dramatically the ice has retreated. At the glacier's edge, crampons are fitted and the real exploration begins — a raw, otherworldly landscape of ancient frozen water sculpted by time.

After the glacier hike, you make your own way to Vík, where the second chapter of the day unfolds. A horse riding guide introduces you to the famously gentle Icelandic horse breed before the group sets out onto Vikurfjara beach. The ride combines stunning coastal scenery with insight into both the horses and the surrounding South Coast landscape.

This is a self-drive, meet-on-location tour. Guests are responsible for driving themselves between the two meeting points. All glacier and riding gear is included.

Part 1 — Glacier Hike at Sólheimajökull: Meet your certified glacier guide at the Sólheimajökull parking lot. After a safety and equipment briefing, the group walks across volcanic ash and black sand to reach the glacier tongue. Crampons are fitted at the ice edge, and the guided hike explores crevasses, ice formations, and the visible retreat zone of this living glacier.

Part 2 — Horseback Riding at Vikurfjara: After the glacier hike, drive yourself to the Vík Horse Adventure meeting point. Your riding guide will introduce you to Icelandic horses and provide a safety briefing before the group heads out onto Vikurfjara black beach for a scenic coastal ride. The guide shares knowledge about the horses and the surrounding South Coast environment throughout the ride.

Total tour duration is 6 hours across both activities. Lunch between the two activities is at your own expense; the Vík village area is recommended.

Few day tours in Iceland combine glacier hiking and horseback riding in a single itinerary. This pairing lets you experience two completely different sides of the South Coast — the raw, icy interior of Sólheimajökull and the wide-open black sand coastline near Vík — without needing to book separately.

All specialist gear for both activities is included, certified guides lead each segment, and the easy difficulty rating means the experience is accessible to a wide range of travellers. The self-drive format also gives you flexibility to explore the South Coast at your own pace between the two meeting points.