Svinafellsjokull (Svínafellsjökull) is one of the southern outcrops of Iceland’s largest glacier, the Vatnajökull ice cap. It is part of the Skaftafell Nature Reserve, a place popular with tourists, photographers and lovers of the rugged beauty of Icelandic nature. It is also one of the country’s most popular destinations for glacier hiking due to its incredible formations and stunning views.
From the higher elevations, there are magnificent views of the mountains, the ocean and Vatnajökull National Park with its many other glacier tongues.
Like all glaciers, Svinafellsjokull has a magnificent, almost otherworldly appearance – with deep blue ice, glistening white snow and veins of black ash that remind us of eruptions centuries ago.
There are no marked trails on Svínafellsjökull, but there is usually a trodden path up the glacier that you can walk on the rocks along the edge of the glacier. The intensity of the blue ice can be downright mesmerizing, but if you decide to go up the glacier, use extreme caution here. At the lower part, near the parking lot and around the glacier lagoon, anyone can walk and admire the glacier without any problems.
The beauty of Svínafellsjökull has not only been appreciated by Icelanders and visitors, but like many other places in the country, it has been spotted by the producers of Game of Thrones. Scenes of the dramatic battle from season 7 were filmed there.
How to get to Svínafellsjökull
Svinafellsjokull is located in the Skaftafell region, near the Svartifoss waterfall, about 140 km northeast of Vík í Mýrdal. From road #1, take the terribly pothole-ridden but short (about 2 km) off-road access road leading to the parking area at the glacier itself.
Map: Directions to Svinafellsjokull Glacier.
Photos from Svinafellsjokull Glacier
