Located at the southern edge of the Vatnajökull glacier, Skaftafell has captivated travelers for centuries. If you’re looking to plan a visit to Skaftafell Vatnajökull National Park, read on to discover the best activities, where to stay, and drive times from Vik to Skaftafell and Reykjavik to Skaftafell.
Vatnajökull National Park History and Visitor Information
Vatnajökull National Park was established in 1967 and has has since grown to over 14,000 square kilometers. Skaftafell is a former farming area that became a national park in its own right, before merging with Vatnajökull in 2008. For this reason, some people still call it Skaftafell National Park.
The Skaftafell area is home to a national park visitors center that is open year round. This is one of the best places to learn more about the park history, flora and fauna, and pick up maps and trail information to help plan your trip. The region’s history is also intertwined with that of early settlers in Iceland, who attempted to create homesteads on the harsh wilderness.
Visitors to Skaftafell are treated to a tapestry of natural wonders, including dramatic waterfalls and awe-inspiring glacial tongues. If you’ve always wanted to visit a glacier and are worried about glaciers receding in climate change, then you’ll definitely want to leave time to explore Vatnajökull National Park, including Skaftafell.
This is a blog post about how to plan a visit to Skaftafell Vatnajökull National Park.
Upcoming sections describe extraordinary natural attractions that make Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park a must-visit destination for anyone exploring the Land of Fire and Ice and offer suggestions of where to stay when visiting this unique national park.
Use this table of contents to skip ahead, or read on to plan your visit to Skaftafell Vatnajökull National Park:
- How Long Does it Take to Get to Skaftafell Vatnajökull National Park?
- Where to Stay in Skaftafell
- Things to Do in Skaftafell
How Long Does it Take to Get to Skaftafell Vatnajökull National Park?
Driving from Vik, it takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes to reach Skaftafell. The drive time from Reykjavik to Skaftafell is around 4-1/2 hours.
Driving time in Iceland is highly dependent on the weather and on how many times you stop to see waterfalls and Icelandic horses. Always give yourself plenty of extra time, especially if you have booked a tour!
Where to Stay in Skaftafell Vatnajökull National Park
Höfn and Kirkjubæjarklaustur are the biggest towns near Skaftafell with places to stay. You’ll find a range of accommodation options to suit different preferences and budgets, such as:
In Höfn:
- Hotel Höfn: A comfortable and convenient hotel with stunning views of the surrounding glaciers. Rooms are small but well-equipped, and the onsite restaurant offers great breakfasts and dinners.
- Höfn HI Hostel: Hostel lovers will be pleased to know they can stay in a budget-friendly hostel in Höfn. There are kitchenettes, so you can save some money by cooking your own food.
- Fosshotel Vatnajökull: Fosshótel Vatnajökull has an edge over other hotels with its beautiful setting along the harbor. Rooms are in need of a refresh but they are clean and comfortable. The hotel restaurant gets rave reviews too.
In Kirkjubæjarklaustur:
- Klausturhof Guesthouse: A good guesthouse set along the Ring Road. It’s a convenient option, with a tranquil setting.
- Hotel Laki: Beds are comfortable, the bathroom is a good size, and the staff and go the extra step. It’s more expensive than the other options, but you also get a complimentary breakfast.
- Icelandair Hotel Klaustur: A popular pick for Kirkjubæjarklaustur, this hotel has clean and modern rooms that are bigger than average. A stay here puts you walkable to Systrafoss waterfall.
Things to Do Near Skaftafell Vatnajökull National Park
In winter, snow, ice, glaciers, and Northern Lights are the main attractions. Here are five ways to spend a day in Vatnajökull National Park.
Glacier Hiking and Ice Climbing
The Skaftafell side of the park is filled with amazing hiking trails. Summer or winter, you can hike on these glacier trails year round.
Unless you are an expert and have the right hiking gear for a winter glacier hike, your best bet is to find a glacier walking tour.
TIP: Don’t plan your trip to Skaftafell without my Iceland winter packing guide!
On a guided glacier hike, you can discover unique ice formations, ice caves, and crevasses of the glaciers, all while feeling like you are on the top of the world.
Ice Cave Tours of Vatnajökull
Vatnajökull is famous for its ice caves, which are natural wonders that changes from year to year. Ice caving has a short season because it is totally dependent on the natural formations. Every year the guys have to go out and find new routes into the ice caves. As the ice melts toward the end of winter, ice caving is officially over for the season.
I had been on glacier walks in Canada and wanted a different sort of experience that hiking on the top of the glacier, even though that I loved my visit to the Columbia icefields. So I booked an ice cave tour of Iceland, and am 100% happy I did!
There was something so mesmerizing about being deep inside the ice caves.
The ice takes on a glittery blue look, and the different natural formations caused by freezing temperatures created chambers, nooks, and crannies that just beckoned for us to explore. It was an enchanting and otherworldly experience.
If you get the opportunity to go ice caving in Iceland I strongly recommend it.
You have to go with a company because they know the routes, and they check to make sure that the ice formations are stable enough for visitors. Icelandic Mountain Guides and Local Guide are two tour operators I recommend.
Northern Lights Hunting
The days are short in Iceland in winter. There may be as little as 4 hours of daylight depending on when you time your visit.
Sunset and sunrise take a really long time. That’s great from a photographic perspective as you get this really amazing moody light that pants the ice incredible pink and blue colors.
Don’t feel too bad about the lack of sunlight because you can always enjoy Iceland’s famous geothermal spa culture and check on the Northern Lights forecast.
Bundle up and head out on a quest to see this spectacular natural phenomenon.
There are tons of tour operators such as Superjeep offering aurora excursions in Iceland. They’ll be in off-road vehicle and use aurora tracking apps to get you the best chance of spotting the northern lights.
But you can also DIY it – this post has you covered with my best tips for finding northern lights in Iceland, including the northern lights photography gear that I used to take this photo.
Insider’s tip: the northern lights tend to be better in north Iceland because it’s closer to the Arctic Circle. That doesn’t mean you won’t see them in the South of Iceland AT ALL – but, it’s a helpful top to keep in mind for travel planning purposes. Check out my guide to Akureyri and northern Iceland if your primary purpose of visiting Iceland is hunting the aurora borealis.
Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling tours are available on the glacier tongues surrounding Vatnajökull. As you ride across the glacier’s pristine, snow-covered expanses, you’ll be surrounded by breathtaking vistas of ice formations, deep crevasses, and snow-capped peaks.
Snowmobiling in Skaftafell Vatnajökull National Park is typically done as part of guided tours led by experienced and knowledgeable guides. These guides are on the glaciers day to day. They understand the glaciers changing conditions and can ensure your safety. If you have never been on a snowmobile before don’t worry – to our operators will tell you everything you need to know and provide a safety briefing before your adventure begins.
The snowmobile season runs from November to April, or as long as the glacier is covered in snow.
Landscape Photography
In general, Iceland isn’t known for a ton of wildlife. You’ll see Icelandic horses as you drive along the Ring Road, but most of the other animals were eaten by settlers.
There are seals and seabirds in winter, and you may be able to spot some while enjoying Vatnajökull.
What about reindeer? There are reindeer in Iceland. However, they are in East Iceland. This means that you will not be able to see reindeer in Vatnajökull.
Vatnajökull’s most unique feature is its landcsape. From glaciers and geothermal rivers to volcanic activity and icebergs in nearby Jökulsárlón, on the edge of the national park, there are incredible natural features. Spend a day wandering around taking photos of these features in the soft winter light and you will not be disappointed.
Glacier Horseback Rides
Icelandic horses are so adorable. But did you know that you can take a glacier ride on an Icelandic horse? Glacier Horses offers short riding tours suitable for beginner writers. The horse farm is located 6.4 km east of Skaftafell National Park. Tours explore Öræfajökull glacier and Hvannadalshnjúkur (Iceland’s tallest peak).
When you find yourself in Iceland, don’t miss the opportunity to explore the timeless allure of Skaftafell. Whether you choose a snowmobile tour, horseback ride, glacier hike, or ice cave tour, the experience is sure to be one you’ll treasure forever. Plan your visit to Skaftafell and the best of South Iceland with my ring road itinerary guide.
