Quick answers to questions you may have. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Use the contact form.
All our tours and outdoor activities are highly dependent on weather and natural conditions. At Ice Pic Journeys, your safety is our top priority.
In the event of an Orange Weather Alert, we will contact our clients at least 48 hours in advance. If we determine that the alert may escalate to a Red Alert, we reserve the right to cancel the tour to ensure everyone’s safety. If a tour is canceled due to severe weather or unsafe conditions, a full refund will be provided.
Please note, Icelandic weather can be extremely unpredictable and dangerous. During severe alerts, travel can be life-threatening. This includes hiking, glacier visits, or being near the sea and beaches. Attempting to travel during extreme weather can result in significant damage, rescue costs, or even loss of life.
We strongly recommend that participants stay in a hotel or guesthouse near Hali the night before the tour, as roads may be closed or unsafe, requiring advance travel arrangements.
If a client is late or fails to show up for a tour — even if the weather is bad but the tour is still operable — no refund will be issued.
Ice Pic Journeys reserves the right to modify routes, itineraries, departure times, or cancel trips without prior notice if necessary for safety reasons.
For our Ice Cave, Glacier Hike, Ice Climbing tours (unless of course you have specifically arranged a tour starting in Reykjavík), you will meet your guide at the Glacier Lagoon parking lot in Vatnajokull National Park. The official address for this location is: í Hornafirði, Jökulsárlón, Glacier Lagoon, 781 Höfn or you can simply type in ‘Ice Pic Journeys’ in Google Maps and we will come up.
It is important to be aware that this is a 5-hour drive from Reykjavik so it is always recommended to stay at an accommodation closer to this meeting point.
For the Zipline tours we meet on Sólheimajökull Glacier parking lot.
It is best to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour so you can use the restrooms since there will be none at the glacier. Your guide will be right across from the restrooms in the bus parking lot. You can look for the ‘Ice Pic Journeys’ logo on our 4×4 vehicle amongst the other companies.
Departure will be precisely at the scheduled time so it is important to arrive on time or you may miss the tour.
In collaboration with the Vatnajokull National Park, we are providing two links which give ample information about climate change and glacier melt cycles.
The first link goes directly to the VJP website: icepicjourneys.is/education
The second link is a PDF that is a great digest of information about glacial melt: icepicjourneys.is/glacierbook
Pregnant individuals are not permitted on tours.
Participants must be in reasonably good health to embark on the tour they have booked. People with conditions such as serious high blood pressure, seizure disorders, pulmonary problems (including severe asthma), coronary disease, muscle-skeletal problems, back/neck/shoulder pain, problems with balance, some psychological (Ex. panic to altitudes), and psychiatric problems should avoid booking and going on our tours.
Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour so you can use the restrooms. Note- There will be no restrooms at the glacier.
Departure will be precisely at the scheduled time so it is important to arrive on time or you may miss the tour.
The weather in Iceland can be challenging so we suggest to dress in layers. For example, a good base layer underneath hiking clothes. Your outerwear should ideally be waterproof. Top your Iceland glacier look off with a pair of your favorite hiking boots!
Our Ice Pic Journeys team offers rentals (rain gear, hiking boots, etc) as well if you need them. But we need the items (with size requests) to be added and paid for 24 hours before the tour time.
Lastly, having a small backpack with a hat, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, snacks, and other accessories can be nice to have as well. Feel free to check out What to Wear for Glacier Tours blog post our Amazon Storefront for more ideas!
Generally, where we hike on the glacier has very little difference in temperature then the surrounding area. However, sometimes moderate winds can come down from higher up the glacier, and will cause you to feel a few degrees colder. Always bring an extra layer of clothing in case the weather changes.
Throughout the summer season old ice caves will melt away and new ice caves will form in different locations. Therefore every year we find new caves of different sizes and shapes. That means that every trip to the glacier provides you with unique experience.
You have a plethora of options!
If your tour is canceled because the weather is making it impossible to safely hike on the glacier, you will be entitled to a full refund or rescheduling to a different date. Need more info? Check out our Terms & Conditions page.
Our gear is stored in the town of Höfn. Therefore, if interested in adding any of our rental gear, you need to order 24-48 hours in advance. Ideally, you add on at the time of booking your tour to ensure the best availability. However, closer to your date we may still be able to accommodate. Feel free to contact us with your list of desired rentals (with size requests) and we can see what is a possibility.
However, please be aware, we do not offer refunds on booked rentals that are provided by our team as it takes time to prep and have ready. Refunds are not possible for unused gear.
Our standard age requirement for our Ice Cave tours is 8 years old. For our Glacier Hikes and Glacier Ziplines, the minimum age is 10 in the winter and 8 in the summer, and for our private ice climbing tours, it is 10.
Note:
For people of moderate fitness the hike is very easy. On the hike we will stop to make many breaks for photos. Our pace will always be adjusted to the comfort of the clients. Total round trip distance on average is 5-10 km (3.1-6.2 miles) with the gradual elevation gain of 85-130 meters (275-425 feet) depending on the tour.
A few days after your tour, you’ll receive all your photos through our easy-to-use software. Simply browse, pick your favorites – up to the number included in your package – and add any extra shots you’d like. Once you’ve made your selection, we’ll work our magic to edit your photos and send them straight to you, ready to download and enjoy on your device.
You can learn more about the process HERE.
Once your tour is complete, you’ll receive all your photos with a watermark to review. You’ll have 7 days to take your time and select your favorites – and don’t worry, we’ll gently remind you twice to help keep things on track. If you prefer not to make the selection yourself, you can simply click the button in the email to let us handle it for you.
If we don’t hear from you within those 7 days, we’ll happily choose the best shots for you, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
Our team is dedicated to editing your photos as quickly as possible. While the timing can vary depending on the season and how many customers we’re working with, we aim to deliver your edited images within 14 days.
Thrilled to offer you some recommendations on places to eat lunch or dinner after one of our fabulous tours from the famed Glacier Lagoon! Checkout of our list favorites below by direction you might be headed:
At the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon:
Town of Höfn (East of Glacier Lagoon):
Make sure you check out our Travel Guide to Hofn Iceland too!
Unfortunately, we do not offer refunds for missing a tour however we will do our best to reschedule you for another tour if available.
Happy to provide some recommendations for you as this is one of Ice Pic Journeys FAQ! First, the closest town/village is Höfn. Second, there are many choices to consider that are in close proximity to the Glacier Lagoon. Third, here are a few of our favorites:
Also, feel free to check out our Guide to Hofn!
Absolutely! We can fully customize or alter any tour to a private adventure for you / your group. Please contact us directly for a private tour quote.
For half day tours we do not stop for lunch, although you can bring a snack if you prefer. Full day tours we will make a stop for a lunch break but the food is not provided so you will need to bring your own. Water is always recommended to bring, and you may also be able to fill up your bottle with fresh glacier water.
The weight limit is 110 kg. Our largest harness is a 50″ waist and you need to be able to walk 10km over some uneven ground and inclines at a normal pace.
Pro Tip: If you wish for iconic photos in center of the Glacier Zip Line…. You need to be able to have enough upper body strength to pull yourself to the middle.
If weather conditions for the the Zip Line become unsafe during your tour then your guide we alter your tour to a Glacier Hike (and Ice Cave- winter only) tour to maximise your experience. To find out more please read our Terms and Conditions.
Special Notes:
Ice Pic Journeys driver guides are professional photographers. Therefore, just like any professional photographer in this industry, we do not sell or give away our copyrighted unedited files. But please do enjoy your edited photos!
Images seen on our social media accounts or website are not exact representations of what you will receive as deliverables. Additionally, Ice Pic Journeys cannot guarantee that specific poses will be taken during the tour as light, photographer style and angles, weather, colors of clothing, and willingness of subjects always vary. The images on our website are examples of what you could receive in regards to editing style and example poses.
However, if you have a pose specifically in mind, you need to make it known to your guide or email us in advance. Also be aware that glaciers and ice caves are within an ever changing environment so recreating exact images may not be possible.
There are times when we require a 2-slot minimum at to run our tours. So you can either wait closer to the day to see if anyone else books or you can buy 2 slots to make the tour happen.
Furthermore, solo travelers have also found people on travel FB groups or Reddit. Therefore we encourage you to see if you can find another traveler there if you need.
Also for further help… Recently we started a Facebook group specific to folks looking for others to join our tours or ride share with. It’s growing and we are hopeful it can be useful to solo travelers going forward. You can see and join the group here: https://www.facebook.
Of course! We would love to be a part of your milestone moment!
However, we strongly advise that you book a private tour so that you can maximize your special experience. Unfortunately, if you book a standard “open” tour our guide will have to ensure all guests receive an equal experience.
If you’re interested in proposing in Iceland or a glacier wedding, read more about our offerings here!
Heck yes! Review our Sustainability Policy to understand what areas we focus on.
The volcano system that has been erupting in the Reykjanes Peninsula is not effecting air traffic to/from Iceland. See more on that topic here.
The weight limit is 110 kg. Our largest harness is a 50″ waist and you need to be able to walk 10km over some uneven ground and inclines at a normal pace.