Skaftafell Travel Guide

Skaftafell is a nature reserve in southeast Iceland, located within Vatnajökull National Park, and is the country’s most popular destination for glacier hiking. This stunning area offers breathtaking landscapes, massive glaciers, and a great camping site. Once a national park in its own right, it features lush valleys, waterfalls, and dramatic ice formations.

While in Iceland, glacier hiking in Skaftafell is a must-do experience. Tours in Skaftafell allow you to explore beautiful ice formations, navigate small ice cave crevasses, and witness the raw beauty of Vatnajökull Glacier. Here are the top 3 glacier hikes in Skaftafell:

• The Skaftfell Glacier Hiking Tour
• The Skaftafell 5-Hour Glacier Hiking Tour
• The Skaftafell Ice Cave Glacier Hike

Skaftafell is also a great hiking and camping destination, with scenic trails leading to sights like the famous Svartifoss waterfall. Its well-maintained facilities and stunning surroundings make it an ideal stop for nature lovers.

Nature of Skaftafell

Skaftafell is notable for its rich flora, growing between sands and glaciers, and for its amazing, contrasting scenery. Visitors will find a wealth of natural attractions, from cascading waterfalls and geological formations to black sand deserts.

The rugged region is known for its fantastic photo opportunities, with many awe-inspiring panoramic views.

Like many areas along the South Coast of Iceland, Skaftafell Nature Reserve is known for its hiking trails, often called a ‘hiking paradise’. But unlike the highlands of Iceland, where hikes tend to go on for multiple days, Skaftafell offers far shorter ones.

The hikes lead to beautiful places such as Svartifoss Waterfall which is surrounded by bizarre and beautiful basalt columns, as well as to Svínafellsjökull Glacier.

With a qualified guide, it is an excellent region to try ice climbing and glacier hiking; both activities are two of the most authentically Icelandic experiences you can partake in whilst in the country.

The nature reserve is also the perfect base camp for those seeking to climb Iceland’s highest peak, Hvannadalshnúkur, or for those wishing to spend several days exploring the region's attractions, including the Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, and nearby Diamond Beach.

Getting to Skaftafell

Just off the Ring Road in the southeast of the country, it takes approximately four hours to reach Skaftafell from Reykjavík. You can use this Google Maps link for directions to the Skaftafell Visitor Centre. 

The South Coast, however, is one of the region's most popular sightseeing routes, so the journey usually takes much longer, as visitors will want to make several stops along the way.

Examples of the beautiful natural features found en route to Skaftafell include the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, the glaciers Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull, the black sand deserts of Sólheimasandur and Skeiðarársandur, as well as the dramatic coastal rock formations at Dyrhólaey and Reynisdrangar. 

The villages of Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur are also along Route 1 if you need to stop and refuel on refreshments.

Skaftafell Visitor Centre

You will find a Visitor Centre at Skaftafell which acts as the main information and meeting point for tour operators and independent travelers. At the Skaftafell Visitor Centre, you will find answers to virtually any questions you might have about the greater Skaftafell area, including its history and geology. The Visitors Centre also contains information about nearby hiking trails, recreational options, and accommodation.  

There is also a hotel at Skaftafell, though it tends to book up very early. Luckily, the southeast is dotted with hotels, cabins, and cottages in which you can stay, and the area is not far from the settlements of Höfn or Kirkjubæklaustur.

Where to Stay Near Skaftafell

If you don't want to stay at the Skaftafell camping site and prefer hotels then Hotel Skaftafell is your best choice. You can also nearby hotels in Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

Whichever option you choose, you'll be perfectly situated to explore the stunning landscapes and glacier adventures that Skaftafell has to offer.