Snowmobiling on Langjökull with Mountaineers of Iceland – Our Experience from Gullfoss
There are some Iceland experiences where the journey is almost as memorable as the activity itself. Our snowmobile trip onto Langjökull with Mountaineers of Iceland was definitely one of them.
We did the tour on a beautiful December day, starting from Gullfoss. Our departure was scheduled for 2:00 PM, which meant that if everything went according to plan, we would be riding snowmobiles across Langjökull as the short winter day faded into sunset.
That was exactly what we had hoped for.
Gullfoss
Meeting Mountaineers of Iceland at Gullfoss
We drove ourselves to Gullfoss, although transport from Reykjavík was also available.
There was something exciting about arriving at Gullfoss knowing that this wasn't going to be a normal sightseeing stop. Instead of simply walking down to the waterfall, taking a few photos and heading back to Reykjavík, we were about to continue much farther into Iceland's winter landscape.
At the meeting point we met the Mountaineers of Iceland team and were directed towards our transport.
And calling it a bus doesn't really do it justice.
Bus
This was a proper modified Super Truck bus — a huge vehicle built to travel into Iceland's highlands and across terrain that an ordinary bus wouldn't have a chance of handling.
We climbed aboard, and almost immediately the experience changed from a snowmobile tour into something more.
We were already on a 4x4 adventure.
Leaving Gullfoss Behind
From Gullfoss we headed towards the highlands.
As the normal roads disappeared behind us, the landscape became increasingly remote. The huge modified vehicle made its way across the winter terrain towards Langjökull.
This part of the trip was much more fun than I had expected.
You aren't simply being transferred from point A to point B. Sitting high inside a massive Icelandic mountain vehicle while it works its way through the terrain is an experience in itself.
The further we travelled, the more isolated everything felt.
Eventually we arrived at Geldingafell Base Camp, close to the edge of Langjökull.
Geldingafell Base Camp
The base camp feels like the point where the real expedition begins.
We went inside and the team prepared us for the conditions on the glacier. We were provided with the necessary clothing and helmets before heading farther into the mountains.
And there was one particularly welcome surprise.
Hot coffee.
Standing at a remote base camp in the Icelandic highlands in December, surrounded by winter and preparing to head onto a glacier, a steaming cup of coffee tastes considerably better than it does back in Reykjavík.
Once everyone was dressed and ready, we climbed back into the mountain vehicle.
We still weren't at the snowmobiles.
Langjökull was waiting above us.
The Drive Onto Langjökull
The next section took us farther up towards the glacier.
This is where the terrain really begins to show why these enormous modified vehicles are necessary.
We climbed higher through the winter landscape until eventually we reached the snowmobile area on Langjökull itself.
Stepping out onto the glacier was one of those moments where everyone seemed to stop for a second and look around.
White landscape stretched away in every direction.
The light was beginning to change.
And lined up in front of us were the snowmobiles.
This was what we had come for.
Getting Ready to Ride
Before anyone starts riding, the guides go through the snowmobiles and the safety procedures.
They explain how the machines operate, how the group will travel and the rules everyone needs to follow on the glacier.
The atmosphere was relaxed, but the safety briefing was taken seriously. Langjökull is a glacier and conditions can be very different from those lower down.
Once the briefing was finished and everyone was ready, there wasn't much left to do except start the engines.
Snowmobiling Into the December Sunset
We set off in a line across Langjökull.
And this is where the whole experience came together.
There is something very different about being high on an Icelandic glacier in winter. The huge open landscape, the cold air, the sound of the snowmobiles and the feeling of being far away from towns and normal roads create an atmosphere that is difficult to describe until you've experienced it.
Our timing made it even better.
Because we had chosen the 2:00 PM departure in December, the sun was already dropping towards the horizon while we were riding.
The light across the glacier began to change.
Instead of simply riding across a white landscape in daylight, we were driving towards the winter sunset.
Everyone was clearly enjoying themselves. There were moments to stop, look around and take in just how enormous Langjökull really is.
From a distance, Iceland's glaciers can look almost static.
Standing on one is completely different.
Up there, you begin to understand the scale.
More Than Just a Snowmobile Tour
One of the things that surprised us most was that the snowmobiling was only part of the experience.
The day had several distinct stages:
Gullfoss.
The Super Truck journey.
Geldingafell Base Camp.
The climb onto Langjökull.
And finally the snowmobile ride itself.
That progression makes the experience feel like a small expedition rather than simply arriving somewhere, riding a snowmobile and leaving again.
For us, the winter timing made it particularly memorable.
Driving a snowmobile across Langjökull while the December sun disappeared towards the horizon was something we won't forget quickly.
What to Expect
If you're considering this experience, expect more than just time on a snowmobile.
You are travelling from the Gullfoss area into Iceland's highland environment and onto one of the country's largest glaciers.
Warm clothing and safety equipment are provided as part of the glacier preparation, and the guides explain how to operate the snowmobiles before the group departs.
Weather and glacier conditions are naturally an important part of any winter experience in Iceland, so the exact experience can vary from day to day.
That's also part of what makes it special.
Our Verdict
This was one of those Iceland experiences where everything worked together: the Super Truck, the remote base camp, the glacier, the snowmobiles and finally the December sunset.
If you're already visiting the Golden Circle and want to turn the day into something considerably more adventurous, continuing from Gullfoss towards Langjökull changes the character of the day completely.
Gullfoss may be where you meet the team.
But the real adventure begins when you leave the normal road behind.
