New Glacier Beyond tour gives visitors access to two glacier tongues in one guided hike
Travelers visiting Skaftafell in South Iceland now have a new way to experience one of the most iconic glacier regions. Arctic Adventures has launched Glacier Beyond, a guided two-glacier hike that crosses Falljökull and continues onto the quieter Virkisjökull glacier tongue. The route is the first in Arctic Adventures’ Skaftafell glacier portfolio to link both outlet glaciers in one guided day, and currently the only scheduled day tour in the area to do so.
Skaftafell, located within Vatnajökull National Park, is one of Iceland’s main starting points for glacier hiking. Every existing Arctic Adventures glacier tour from Skaftafell, including Glacier Wonders, Glacier Explorer, and Glacier Xtreme, operates on Falljökull, the “Falling glacier” named for its icefall. Glacier Beyond uses Falljökull as the entry point, then crosses onto Virkisjökull, the “Fortress glacier,” a neighboring tongue that has not been part of a scheduled guided hike from Skaftafell until now.
Many visitors know the area for its dramatic outlet glaciers, mountain views, and access to the southern edge of the Vatnajökull ice cap. Glacier Beyond adds a new route to that landscape by taking guests farther across the ice and onto a neighboring glacier tongue that feels more secluded.
Guests meet at the Arctic Adventures hut in Skaftafell, then take a 25-minute 4×4 bus transfer to the glacier edge. Most of the on-ice section happens on Virkisjökull, where guided traffic is currently absent. Total tour duration is 5.5 hours, with 3.5 to 4 hours on the ice. The route runs beneath icefalls descending from Öræfajökull, the volcano that holds Iceland’s highest peak at 2,110 m (6,923 ft), and past basalt columns rarely seen on a glacier hike anywhere in Iceland.
Group size is capped at 12 guests per certified glacier guide. The route is rated moderately challenging and suitable for travelers in good general fitness, with no previous glacier experience required. Minimum age is 14.
For travelers, the appeal is not luxury or speed. It is access. Glacier Beyond is built around the chance to experience a quieter part of the Skaftafell glacier system in a small guided group, with time to move through changing glacier terrain and take in views of the surrounding icefalls and mountains.
Most travelers who come to Skaftafell only set foot on Falljökull. Stepping across to Virkisjökull changes the day completely. The standard tour traffic drops away, the views open up, and you get a real sense of how an outlet glacier moves. It’s the route I’d recommend to anyone who’s planning a glacier hike and wants something more remote.
— Francesco Li Vigni, Arctic Adventures Glacier Operations Manager and Guide.
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