Take a front-row seat on top of a glacier – there is no better place in Iceland to watch the sun refuse to set.
The climb
We meet at the trailhead in Arnarstapi for a short briefing. You’ll learn how to use crampons and an ice axe, how to move safely on ice and what it feels like to walk roped together as a team. Then we drive to the starting point and begin our ascent of the glacier.
The route gains about 1,000 m, but the climb is steady and gradual, at a pace that works for everyone. Your guide doubles as your photographer, so you can enjoy the experience without worrying about your camera. Reaching the summit is never guaranteed – your safety comes first and the mountain has the final say – but we’ll do everything we can to get you there.
Midnight sun on the summit
This is what makes the trip special. Around the summer solstice, you stand on top of Snæfellsjökull at the one time of year when the Arctic sun barely touches the horizon before rising again, and the sky glows gold and pink for hours instead of minutes.
The midnight sun spreads long, soft light across the glacier and the coastline far below, and for a while day and night stop being different things. It’s quiet, otherworldly and a little disorienting in the best way – light you won’t find anywhere else, at any other time of year.
Few people ever see the solstice sun from a glacier summit, and fewer still at midnight from one of Iceland’s most iconic peaks. It’s easy to describe and hard to believe until you’re standing in it – and it stays with you long after the trip.
You won’t need many layers at the start, but it gets colder as we climb. Bring several thin layers you can add or remove. Icelandic weather is famously unpredictable, and strong wind can appear out of nowhere, so extra clothing is always a good idea.
High hiking boots are essential. Bring sandwiches, snacks and a spare layer. Some hiking experience helps but isn’t required – your guide takes care of safety, and we’re roped together for most of the time on the glacier.
We take a few short snack breaks and a longer stop at the summit to enjoy the midnight sun. We strongly recommend preparing with a few hikes beforehand, ideally on snow.
