This Tour Takes You Into Part of Europe's Largest Glacier That Most Visitors Don't Get to See

Travel + Leisure

21-06-2025

In the southeast corner of Iceland, black volcanic sand gives way to the gleaming expanse of Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe. Each year, throngs of visitors strap on crampons to experience the icy wilderness firsthand, and the well-trodden paths can sometimes feel more crowded than remote—but that may soon change.
On June 15, Iceland's largest tour operator Arctic Adventures unveiled a new route through Vatnajökull's frozen interior—a path known only to its local guides. Sited far from the familiar trails, the tour, dubbed 'Crevasse Labyrinth: A Glacier Maze in Skaftafell,' leads small groups through a maze of narrow crevasses, towering ice walls, and glowing blue ice passages. It is an untouched and rarely seen world that's been shaped by centuries of shifting ice.
The four-hour excursion ventures deep into parts of Vatnajökull that most visitors only get to see from afar. On this newly scouted route, travelers step directly into the glacier's frozen architecture, hiking along a serpentine path carved by time and through crevasses that rise like icy canyons. Open year-round, including during the depths of Icelandic winter, the Crevasse Labyrinth runs twice daily from Skaftafell, a nature reserve on the south side of the glacier that serves as a gateway to Vatnajökull National Park.
Led by an English-speaking guide, the small-group tour includes access to all the necessary glacier gear (helmets, crampons, and ice axes) you'll need. The tour also has a strict 12-to-1 guest-to-guide ratio to ensure an intimate, immersive experience. Arctic Adventures limits departures to just two per day, one at 9:20 a.m. and another at 1:40 p.m., to eliminate the chance of overlapping groups. Despite the dramatic and sometimes dangerous terrain, the hike is classified as easy and beginner-friendly, and is open to travelers aged 8 and up.
In a May 2025 press release shared with Travel + Leisure , Arctic Adventures described the new route as 'a safe and accessible way to step into a frozen world that feels almost otherworldly. It also said that while Vatnajökull's trails are well known, this icy labyrinth is a 'hidden gem.'
Skaftafell is just over four hours by car from Reykjavík, and the tour departs from Arctic Adventures' local base there. Tickets are typically priced at $137 per person, though travelers who book before June 30 can get 15 percent off with the code Icebreaker 15. Book a reservation on Arctic Adventure's website.