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Skaftafell National Park, Iceland

The Skaftafell National Park was established in 1967, but became part of the newly created Vatnajokull National Park in 2008. Skaftafell, which began at about 500 square kilometres and was enlarged twice before the merger, now forms part of the park’s southern territory. The Vatnajokull National Park stretches across more than 1,400,000 hectares of volcanic and glacial land, nearly 14% of Iceland’s territory. It is one of the largest national parks in Europe. Two of ten volcanoes within the park are among the most active in Iceland. The park contains Iceland’s natural treasures and incredibly varied landscapes. Its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019 signals the need for its conservation, as the glaciers are in a steady process of decline due to climate change. Odyssey Traveller visits Skaftafell on Day 13 of our 17-day Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour, walking among the glaciers after a boat ride on the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.

Small Group Tour

Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour

17-Day Tour · Round trip from Reykjavík · Small group, up to 16 travellers, solo travellers welcome

On Day 13 we take a short boat ride among the icebergs of the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, then spend time walking among the glaciers of Skaftafell National Park before driving over the sands to Kirkjubaejarklaustur.

View the Tour

Inside a glacier ice cave in Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland

Located in southeast Iceland, Skaftafell is a good base for exploring the south, from Fjadrargljufur Canyon, the nearest, to Solheimajokull Glacier, Skogafoss Waterfall, Seljalandsfoss Waterfall and other sights a longer drive west. You can go further, west to Snaefellsnes Peninsula and the black basalt and black sand beaches, or north to Lake Myvatn. East of Skaftafell, and part of Vatnajokull National Park since 2017, you will find the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon, formed from the melting glacier.

Prior to being a national park, Skaftafell was a major farm established not long after the settlement of Iceland in the 9th century. However, in 1362, a disastrous eruption destroyed the community, turning it into a wasteland. When settlers tried to re-establish the farms, the climate was starting to cool, detrimental to farming. In addition, the area continued to be threatened by volcanic eruptions and ashfall. In 1988, farming in Skaftafell was officially discontinued.

There are no roads into the park’s interior, but there are several trails for hiking. On your visit to Skaftafell National Park, the Skaftafell Visitor Centre is a good resource to find out more about recreational activities in the area. The visitor centre can also give you information about the Skaftafell hiking trails, as some hikes use the visitor centre as the starting point. Make sure to wear good hiking boots! The rugged terrain, dramatic scenery and beautiful ice landscapes of the nature reserve have much to offer.

You can go on a hiking tour or an ice cave tour, go ice climbing, or do a glacier walk among the ice formations. Skaftafell has beautiful waterfalls, such as the otherworldly Svartifoss waterfall, framed by black basalt columns.

Svartifoss waterfall in Skaftafell national park, Iceland.

Summer at the Svartifoss Waterfall in Skaftafell National Park, South Iceland.

Seeing Skaftafell on our Iceland tour

On our Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour, Skaftafell is part of Day 13. The day begins at the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon with a short boat ride among the icebergs, then continues to Skaftafell National Park, where we spend some time walking among the glaciers before driving over the sands to the Kirkjubaejarklaustur area. The day before, on the way down to Hofn, we catch a view of Vatnajokull, the largest glacier in Iceland, and explore the ice cap by special jeep. On Day 14 we head west over the black sands of Myrdalssandur to the village of Vik, the cliffs at Dyrholaey and Skogafoss. The full route is in our Iceland ring road itinerary.