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There are two distinct sides to taking a holiday in Iceland: the hot-spring-spa-and-chill-side, and then there is the adrenaline junkie take-on-nature side. Today, we’re diving into the adrenaline-seeking side of the country and exploring what it means to snowmobile in Iceland, a land renowned for its dramatic landscapes and extreme weather conditions.
Why Would You Want to Snowmobile in Iceland?
The Land of Fire and Ice offers a myriad of activities for all kinds of people. The hot springs and calm, scenic hiking routes are great if you want to have a quiet time and take a mental break from life.
If you are on the opposite side of the spectrum: fear not! The proverbial cavalry has arrived, and it is in the form of a snowmobile in Iceland. Nothing says adventure like barreling down the snowy side of a dormant volcano in one of the most volcanically active regions in the world. Don’t get us wrong, there are many ways to get an adrenaline kick in this country, but getting on a snowmobile in Iceland is a clear favorite.
If adrenaline isn’t enough for you, you can also lean into the sense of complete freedom you get when you look out over the seemingly endless snowy plains. The revving engine underneath you is growling with the promise of taking you wherever you want to go in this wilderness. The only thing standing in your way is your own common sense and a seasoned tour guide who recognizes the glimmer in your eye.
Snowmobiling in Iceland has been part of the repertoire amongst adventurous Icelanders and visitors for decades. Anything from crossing the snowy lowlands to conquering the majestic glaciers is up for grabs when you straddle 150 horsepower of pure joy. So far, more than 10% of the country is still covered in glaciers, so it comes as no surprise that this sled with an engine quickly gained popularity in Iceland when it hit the commercial market.
Where can You Snowmobile in Iceland?
It doesn’t matter where you are in this country – you will always be close to a large enough patch of snow and ice to be able to jump on a snowmobile in Iceland and have an adventure. The only thing you need to decide on is which one to tackle first.
Langjökull Glacier
Known as one of the most popular glaciers to visit, Langjökull has everything you need as a first stop on your glacier snowmobiling tour in Iceland. It is the second-largest glacier in the country, and is second only to the massive Vatnajökull. It sits on 953 square kilometers of ice and snow that’s half a kilometer thick, so you already know there’s plenty of ground to cover and it’s not melting away anytime soon.
The sheer size is not the only positive aspect of the adventure. Langjökull is the most accessible glacier in western Iceland and is a popular destination along the Golden Circle. To reach the base camp for the tours on Langjökull, you’ll have to get on a Super Jeep from Gullfoss Waterfall and let the experienced drivers navigate the mountain as they take you to your destination. If you book the tour from Reykjavík, you will first have to get on a shuttle to Gullfoss.
In terms of safety, Langjökull has a good reputation, even though it sits on top of two massive volcanic calderas. These volcanoes have only erupted 32 times in the last 10,000 years, making it a dormant volcanic area compared to the rest of Iceland. This means you won’t have to worry about any ominous rumblings from the mountain or sudden Jökulhlaups.
Another upside of taking on Langjökull is that the tours can be paired with other adventures like snorkeling in the Silfra Fissure and exploring the nearby ice caves.
Vatnajökull Glacier
This behemoth of a glacier is responsible for 80% of the glacial coverage of Iceland and offers an unmatched opportunity to see a versatile and beginner-friendly landscape. When the tour takes a break in the middle of the snowy area, you might start to believe that you’ve been secretly teleported to the North Pole. In some areas, the only thing you will see around you is snow, more snow, and snow-covered mountains. Be sure to bring a camera to capture this, as it will be hard to explain to the people back home.
Snowmobile glacier tours in Iceland that focus on Vatnajökull will run between March and October, as you need to access the Icelandic Highlands to explore the area. Tours will often depart from a base camp along Ring Road 1 between the town of Höfn and Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, so it’s easy access from the main road. This puts the tours in the southeastern part of Iceland, at the very end of many south Iceland road trip routes.
Tröllskagi Peninsula
If you find yourself on a road trip around Iceland and you get the urge for adventure in the northern part of the island, Tröllskagi Peninsula offers a wide variety of tour packages. It is one of the very few areas in Iceland that will offer full-day tours, all year round. This means that you might get lucky in Iceland in winter and spot the breathtaking Northern Lights from the back of a snowmobile in Iceland.
In the summer, you will experience less snow in some areas, but the mountainous Tröllskagi region will instead give you the option of driving under the Midnight Sun while getting an unbeatable view of the vibrant flora and fauna. When you snowmobile in Iceland to explore the peninsula, you can expect to see everything from massive stone monoliths to deep gorges. Make sure to pay attention to your guide to avoid any accidents.
A snowmobile tour in Iceland in this area invites you to some casual bird watching in the warmer months since the area is well-known for its many migratory birds. When you’re done with your snowmobile adventure in Iceland, you can explore the surroundings and find activities like whale watching and horseback riding to round off your excursion.
In the winter in Iceland, you can pair this activity with a couple of runs down the ski slopes on the peninsula for an extra serving of adrenaline. Skiing or snowboarding here gives you another sensation of braving the elements, as many areas allow you to not only go down the slopes in a traditional sense but also be dropped from a helicopter onto the powdery off-piste areas.
Akureyri
The capital of the north does not disappoint when it comes to adventure. The lowland areas surrounding Akureyri are all well-suited for snowmobile tours in Iceland and the Súlumýrar area just southwest of the town is especially popular. Here, the topography is very flat and safe compared to the areas in the south, which means you can hit some impressive top speeds on the snow without jeopardizing your safety.
A favorite activity when driving a snowmobile in Iceland is to catch small jumps and get some air between you and the ground. Súlumýrar is an exceptionally well-suited area for this, since there are many small “bumps” across the snow-covered plains.
The area around Akureyri offers a wider range of options than the Iceland snowmobile tours from Reykjavik. If you’re visiting Iceland in winter for the sake of adventure, you should make it a point to spend a couple of days in this area.
Myrdalsjökull Glacier
If you are looking for an extra kick when it comes to adventure, hopping on a snowmobile glacier tour in Iceland on top of an active volcano is nothing short of a must. Katla, which sits under Mýrdalsjökull, is one of the most active volcanoes in Iceland and even has the town below it in constant preparation for a possible eruption.
Straddling a 150-horsepower machine and exploring the icy surface of this volcano is an adventure that will connect with your very basic survival instincts. The president of Iceland stated that it’s just a matter of time before Katla erupts and devastates the area. Luckily, the three latest eruptions (1955, 1999, and 2011) didn’t break through the ice, but it’s a unique feeling knowing that the only thing that separates you from an involuntary volcanic sacrifice is a thick layer of ice.
With that in mind, you won’t have to travel to the depths of the country to visit this area, since Mýrdalsjökull is the southernmost glacier in Iceland and offers plenty of entry points from Ring Road 1. The most common starting point when you snowmobile in Iceland around Mýrdalsjökull is going to be the Sólheimaknot farm at the base of the mountain. As usual, a Super Jeep will take you from the farm and up to the snow-covered glacier where a seasoned guide and a handful of snowmobiles are waiting for you.
Well up on the glacier, you will catch stunning views of the south coast and the North Atlantic Ocean. A quick stop here means that it’s time to arm yourself with a camera and save the view of a lifetime, for a lifetime.
Eyjafjallajökull Glacier
The little sibling of Mýrdalsjökull is responsible for the latest eruption connected to Katla. This is the volcano (with the same name as the glacier) that grounded air flights in Northern Europe back in 2010. As can be expected after the violent volcanic eruption, the area has grown in popularity among adventurous visitors and locals.
Since the area is internationally known for the eruption, tour guides will often take you to where the eruption took place and give a good presentation about what happened and how it affected the area.
The landscape on Eyjafjallajökull is perfect for a ride on a snowmobile in Iceland, since the rugged landscape will give you more than just white plains and flat surfaces. There is a myriad of naturally formed ice sculptures and rock formations. Even if you probably won’t match the speed and length of the tours in Tröllskagi and Akureyri, adrenaline-fueled glacier snowmobiling in Iceland peaks on top of Eyjafjallajökull.
How to Get on a Snowmobile in Iceland
Depending on where you are in the country, you have two main options: get on a tour or rent a snowmobile.
Snowmobile Tours in Iceland
In most cases, you will be part of a tour when you snowmobile in Iceland. The areas you will explore can be dangerous if you’re not familiar with them or have adequate experience of trailblazing in the snow. These include every glacier and most of the lowlands of the north.
Rent a Snowmobile in Iceland
Due to safety concerns, snowmobile rental in Iceland has become more and more uncommon. There are very few places left that allow you to rent a snowmobile to explore the snowy areas by yourself. You will only find them in areas where there are trails marked up specifically for snowmobiles and where there is a slim-to-no chance of you getting lost or damaging the equipment.
You might be able to contact some private owners or tour companies and rent a snowmobile in Iceland, but it’s unlikely that they will agree to it unless they have a good sense of who you are and how much experience you have.
When Should I Snowmobile in Iceland?
Getting on a snowmobile in Iceland might seem like it’s exclusively a winter activity, but since Iceland has an abundance of glaciers, you can do it all year round. In areas like Vatnajökull, you only have the option of snowmobiling in the summer, as you need to access the Icelandic Highlands to get there. Other areas, like Langjökull and Tröllskagi, offer snowmobiling every month of the year.
It really comes down to what type of adventure you’re looking for. If you want to be riding with the sun to light your path, the summer in Iceland will be the season for you, and you might want to take on the behemoth glacier Vatnajökull.
If you rather want to bask in the magic Northern Lights, mid-winter is the only option, and you should try your luck in the far north around Akureyri and Tröllskagi.
Plan Your Adventure to Snowmobile in Iceland
Now that you have a good grasp of the main areas to catch a snowmobile in Iceland, consider booking with reputable tour operators like Tourdesk, which offer a variety of packages tailored to different skill levels and interests. It’s time to go over the different types of tours to choose from. They generally come in packages as listed below:
- Single-day tours that focus only on snowmobiling for an hour or two.
- Single-day tours that combine the thrill of snowmobile in Iceland with other activities like glacier hiking, ice caves in Iceland, and hot spring dips.
- Multi-day tours that offer many different activities, accommodations, and guided tours all over the country.
Safety First!
To snowmobile in Iceland is adventure enough as it is without taking unnecessary risks. Ensure you're well-prepared for the extreme weather conditions, which can change rapidly. It's also crucial to have travel insurance that covers adventure activities, providing an extra layer of security during your expedition.
When you take on a glacier in Iceland, you will get safety instructions from your tour guide, and it’s incredibly important to listen to them throughout the tour. You will also be provided with all the necessary gear and equipment. Just ensure that this includes essential safety gear and that you are well-versed in what to do in case of an emergency.
The vehicles they let you drive are powerful, but made for beginners, so they are easy to operate and have only one main rule: keep one hand on the throttle and the other hand on the brake. If you feel like things are going too fast, simply ease up on the gas. If you get spooked: hit the brake and come to a halt. The worst thing that can happen is that you get bucked – or thrown off as we also call it.
The guides will be there to help in any emergency, and the snow is often soft enough to not hurt when you land, so just keep your eyes and ears open for the guides’ instructions.
Snowmobiling and the Environment
In Iceland, we take our responsibility towards the environment and the potential impact we can have on it very seriously. That’s why most tour operators today use electrical powered snowmobiles, drastically reducing CO2 emissions. Tour groups are also encouraged to stay on designated trails and paths and ensure that they clean up after themselves to minimize the impact on the environment as far as possible.
Snowmobile in Iceland FAQ
Below, you will find the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions:
Do I Need a License to Snowmobile in Iceland?
The person driving must have a valid driver’s license to snowmobile in Iceland. Passengers don’t need a license.
Can I Snowmobile in Iceland Without any Experience?
Yes, snowmobile tours in Iceland will often give easy and understandable instructions for operating the vehicle.
Will Clothes be Provided on my Snowmobile Tour in Iceland?
The necessary snowmobile suit and helmet will be provided by the tour, but you should still dress warm as if you would go glacier hiking in Iceland.
What Does “Motoneige Islande” Mean?
It’s simply French for “snowmobile Iceland”. You might see it in some places where the tours cater specifically to French-speaking visitors.
Can I Snowmobile in Reykjavik?
Luckily for the inhabitants of the city, snowmobiles in Reykjavik are not allowed. You can, however, be picked up in Reykjavik to be driven to your snowmobile adventure in Iceland.
Which is the Best Snowmobile Tour in Iceland?
This depends on what you’re looking for. There is a wide variety of snowmobile tours in Iceland that will suit everyone differently.
Brave the Ice on a Snowmobile in Iceland
Now, there isn’t much more to say. You know about the areas, you know about the risks, and you know which types of tours are available. All you have to do now is rent a car in Reykjavik and head out on your snowmobile adventure!
