Skeftafell ice of Iceland

Skaftafell, Iceland

Skaftafell National Park was a national park, situated between Kirkjubæjarklaustur, typically referred to as Klaustur, and Höfn in the south of Iceland.

Later it became a part of the larger Vatnajökull National Park.

The centuries old ice coming down the slopes of Öræfajökull via Svínafellsjökull glacier has had almost all of the air pressed out of the ice. Once air has been pressed out the ice turns into this magically blue crystal like ice. The outer surface of this ice (the surface of the glacier) gets bombarded by weather, sun-rays, dust and other things and it transforms the crystal blue ice white. Hidden under the white surface is blue ice.

Blue Ice of Skeftafell

The cave is accessible through a 22-foot entrance on the shoreline. At the end it tapers to a tight squeeze no more than four feet high. Ice caves are in general unstable things and can collapse at any time. They are safe to enter only in winter when the cold temperatures harden the ice. Even so one could hear constant cracking sounds inside the cave. It was not because it was going to collapse but because the cave was moving along with the glacier itself. Each time the glacier moved a millimeter loud sounds could be heard.

There are many ways to experience the wonders of the Skaftafell park.

You can hike from your campsite or hotel, drive to the glacier lagoon, hike up to the Kristínartindar peaks for an amazing view, watch the documentary of the 1996 eruption in the Skaftafell Visitor Center and much more.

If you would like to experience a glacier walk or do some mountain climbing, you'll want the help of the local expert mountain guides.

We run three different glacier walks on the Svínafellsjökull Glacier along with ice climbing for all levels. On the high mountains that encompass the park we do mountain climbs up to the high glaciated mountains of Hrútsfjallstindar and the highest summit of Iceland, Hvannadalshnúkur.