Skaftafell and Svinafell Glacier view hike

Skaftafell and Svínafell are two tongues of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier, and extends to the verdant area of Skaftafell Nature Reserve that is known for its lush flora growing between black sands and a white glacier, it is a part of Vatnajökull National Park, the largest protected area in Europe and believed by many to be Iceland's most beautiful area.

On these easy and short hikes, you'll reach the tongues of these glaciers and get a fantastic view of the park, the mountain peaks and the glistening blue glacier stretch that surrounds you
You may go by car from road number 1 to Svinafelljokull Parking (unpaved road) and to Skaftafell Parking (paved road) where you may find the park information centre and a campground.
    
The landscape is very similar to some of the Alps, but it has been formed over thousands of years by different influences of fire and water (the glaciers Skeiðarájökull and Skaftafellsjökull), the rivers Skeiðará, Morsá und Skaftafellsá.
Volcanic eruptions under the ice-cap can give rise to glacial floods which swell the Skeiðará river massively.
The sandy wasteland between the glacier and the sea caused by glacial floods is called Skeiðarársandur, and is a typical outwash plain known locally as a sandur. The last large floods occurred in 1996.
Skaftafell is renowned in Iceland for its agreeable climate and the sunny days in summer, uncommon in the south of Iceland.
There is a natural birch wood, Bæjarstaðarskógur, as well as many species of birds and Arctic foxes

From Skaftafell parking you may go to the near Svartifoss parking (paved road) and walk to Svartifoss waterfall, one of Skaftafell's best known attractions, mainly for the basalt column walls that flank it.
The Svartifoss (Black Fall) flows over a step of about 20 metres. Its name comes from the black basalt columns behind it.
In the Middle Ages there were a number of large farms in this area, but they were abandoned after two volcanic eruptions and the ensuing glacier runs. The two surviving farms now mostly make a living from tourism.The park has also an information centre and a campground. There are many hiking trails crossing the area.

On your way to Skaftafell Nature Reserve you have a glimpse  to Vatnajökull, also known as the Water Glacier in English, is the largest and most voluminous ice cap in Iceland, and one of the largest in area in Europe. It is the second largest glacier in area after Austfonna on Svalbard in Norway but, nevertheless, larger by volume. It covering more than 9 percent of Iceland.