Ice and speed on a real glacier.

What makes this tour special is the mix of comfort and access: you ride up in a modified Super Jeep, then switch to a snowmobile on top of Eyjafjallajökull. The goal isn’t just a quick thrill. You get time to experience the wilderness feel, snap photos from icy viewpoints, and see the sweeping South Iceland view when weather cooperates. If you’re lucky, your guide (like Iggy, mentioned for being great with questions and pacing) keeps the ride fun and organized.

I love that it’s a smart length for first-timers: the ride is long enough to feel like an event, but snowmobiling itself is about 1 hour, so you’re not cooked in cold fatigue. I also like the included warmth: snowsuit, helmet, and a balaclava-style face mask (plus insulated gear to make the cold manageable). One thing to consider: you’ll be on glacier weather, which can mean the drive length changes a lot by season because they have to reach the moving snowline.

Key Points You’ll Care About

• Short, confidence-building snowmobile time: About 1 hour of riding makes it easier to plan your day.
• Comfort-first glacier access: A Super Jeep gets you up the slopes, so you’re not hiking in cold just to reach the action.
• A big South Iceland view when conditions are right: You may see Westman Islands, the full South Coast up toward Ingólfsfjall, and even parts of the highlands.
• Small-group pacing can feel personal: You’ll ride and stop together, and guides can adjust speed to keep everyone happy.
• Gear is built for winter riding: Insulated cover-alls, helmet, and a face mask help a lot more than people expect.

Going Up in a Super Jeep (Why That Matters)

The tour starts at Southcoast Adventure’s Brú Base Camp on Road 249, just five minutes down Seljalandsfoss. That’s a nice setup because it’s convenient to reach, but the real payoff comes from what happens next: you don’t start on the snow and hope for the best. You build up to the glacier experience with a planned Super Jeep ride.

Why I think this is a value move for you: in Iceland, the path to a glacier can be rough, cold, and change quickly. Using a modified SUV instead of a long trek means more of your time is spent where you actually want to be—on the ice and riding.

You’ll get a short briefing first, focused on safety procedures and how to handle the snowmobile ride. Then you dress in the provided snowsuit, helmet, and snowmobile face mask. This is one of those small details that becomes a big deal once you’re exposed to wind on snow.

Stop-by-Stop: What Happens on the Day

Stop 1: Brú Base Camp (Getting Set)

At Brú Base Camp, you’ll meet your guide and group before anything gets icy. This is where the tour shifts from “travel day” into “activity day.” I recommend showing up with extra time in mind. Even if everything runs smoothly, gearing up takes a few minutes, and you’ll want to be calm before the briefing.

Bring the basics they require: a driver’s license if you want to drive, hiking shoes, long sleeves, and weather-appropriate layers. Jeans and open-toed shoes are off the table, and backpacks are not allowed—so plan to travel light.

Stop 2: Super Jeep Drive (About 35 Minutes Each Way)

Next comes the Super Jeep ascent toward Eyjafjallajökull. This drive is about 35 minutes. It’s not a filler section. It’s your warm-up: you’ll watch the terrain change, feel the temperature shift, and get the big-picture orientation for what you’re about to do.

If you’re prone to motion sickness, it can be worth dressing in comfortable layers and keeping your head position steady. The tour doesn’t promise a perfect ride for every body type, but the longer the road gets, the more you’ll appreciate the fact that you’re not hiking it.

Stop 3: Viewpoint + About 1 Hour of Snowmobiling

Once you reach the glacier base where the snowmobiles are kept, the fun part starts. Snowmobiling lasts about 1 hour. The exact amount of total tour time depends on season and snow conditions, but the snowmobile segment itself is the core—built for a first-time-friendly experience without swallowing your whole day.

This is where the view can become the main character. In perfect conditions, the panorama includes Westman Islands, the entire South Coast up toward Ingólfsfjall, and even a big part of the highlands. Even if visibility is less than perfect, being up on the glacier still feels unreal: silent snow texture underfoot, wind shaping the surface, and that sense of being well above normal Iceland travel routes.

One more practical note: the tour uses one snowmobile per two people, with room for two per sled. If you’re traveling as a single person and your booking ends up odd-numbered, the third person may be assigned a single ride (and you may need the single supplement). They also don’t share rides with strangers, which is a comfort factor for a lot of people.

Stop 4: Another 35 Minutes Back (Your Wind-Down)

After the snowmobiling, you head back down by Super Jeep. The ride is about 35 minutes again, and this is a good moment to warm up, take one last set of photos, and mentally reset. Your body will likely feel the cold wind more in the moments right after riding—so I like that the tour has a planned return segment instead of ending abruptly.

Stop 5: Back at Brú Base Camp

You end back at Southcoast Adventure / Brú Base Camp on Road 249. In at least some runs, guides also offer a warm drink afterward—think hot chocolate or coffee—which is exactly what you want after you’ve been outside in icy air.

The Price: Is $250 Worth It?

At $250 per person, this isn’t a “cheap fun” activity. But it also isn’t just a quick photo stop. You’re paying for a full stack of value:

• A guided glacier experience (safety briefing plus time on-site)
• Protected gear: insulated cover-alls, helmet, and face mask
• Transportation to glacier access points via a Super Jeep
• Time on a snowmobile (about 1 hour of riding)

For many people, that combination is the difference between simply seeing Eyjafjallajökull and actually doing something on it. If your day budget allows for one major thrill on the South Coast, this is the kind of tour that can justify the spend because it turns a beautiful region into an all-weather memory.

The main cost-to-value question is the timing. In winter, access is easier and the tour can be around 2 hours. In summer, they may need to drive higher to reach snow, and the tour can stretch up to 4 hours. If your itinerary is tight, plan your day with some breathing room.

Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Should Skip It)

This tour is designed for people who want a fun first glacier ride without committing to a long, technical outing. It’s especially well-suited to you if:

• You’re first-time snowmobile riders
• You want a scenic ride with views over South Iceland
• You prefer a guided, gear-provided experience rather than planning your own glacier route

It might not be the right match if:

• You don’t want to deal with strict clothing rules (no jeans, no open-toed shoes, no sandals)
• You can’t meet the shoe requirement (hiking boots are required but not included)
• You’re sensitive to cold and wind and don’t have good layering habits

What to Wear and Bring (So You’re Comfortable, Not Miserable)

They’re very clear about what’s allowed and what’s not, and you’ll thank them for it once you’re on snow. Here’s the practical version.

Bring

• Driver’s license
• Hiking shoes (appropriate footwear is required, but not provided)
• Long-sleeved shirt and comfortable clothes for layering
• Waterproof, weather-appropriate outer gear
• An ID card (a copy is accepted)

Avoid

• Jeans
• High-heeled shoes
• Sandals or flip-flops
• Backpacks
• Smoking, alcohol, or drugs
• Open-toed shoes
• See-through clothing

If you do nothing else, focus on boots and socks. The gloves and snowsuit help, but cold feet are the fastest way to ruin a good hour on ice.

Timing Tips: Season, Snowline, and How Long You’ll Be Out

The tour length can change by season because you drive up to the ever-changing snowline. The snowmobile portion remains about 1 hour, but the total tour time shifts:

• Winter: easier access, around 2 hours
• Summer: snowline may be higher, and the full tour can run up to 4 hours

So the best planning strategy is simple: treat this as a half-day-ish commitment in summer and a short adventure in winter. If you’re chaining multiple South Coast stops, leave buffer time. Eyjafjallajökull weather can be unpredictable, and the route depends on snow conditions.

Small-Group Feel and Guide Quality

Good glacier days depend on leadership. The tour’s format helps: you follow the guide together, stop at viewpoints for photos, and get a briefing that keeps everyone aligned.

In the kinds of groups that are small, guides can be more flexible with pacing. That can mean extra confidence for first-timers and a smoother ride if someone in the group is hesitant. The guide also answers questions during the drive, which helps you understand what you’re looking at instead of just feeling like you’re along for the ride.

Also, the fact that they emphasize staying together is a big safety plus. On a glacier environment, “fun pace” still needs structure.

Should You Book Snowmobiling on Eyjafjallajökull?

Yes, if you want one standout Iceland experience on a glacier and you’re comfortable meeting the clothing and footwear rules. This tour is built for first-timers, with about an hour of snowmobiling plus a comfortable Super Jeep ride that gets you to Eyjafjallajökull without turning the day into a hiking expedition.

I’d hesitate if you’re very time-crunched in summer (the tour can stretch up to 4 hours) or if you don’t have proper hiking boots. Also, check that your group planning fits the snowmobile setup—two people per sled, and odd bookings can lead to a single ride arrangement.

If you like the idea of seeing South Iceland from above—sometimes with Westman Islands and the South Coast in one big view—this is the kind of tour that makes the region feel different fast.

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