Katla Ice Cave Tours
Katla Ice Cave is one of Iceland’s most unique attraction and in my opinion a must visit on your trip. The Katla Ice Cave Tours take you to the only natural ice cave here in Iceland that is accessible all year round and we absolutely love it. The tours are led by local guides that know the glacier inside out. Even though it is different every time we visit it always amazes us. Below you can find our selection of local tours with guide that we can truly recommend. The Katla Ice Cave Tours listed are all personally tried and tested by our local experts for safety, quality, and the best experience.
Whether you have rented a car and are driving along the South Coast, or you want a full day experience from Reykjavik – you can find the tour for you here below. All Katla Ice Cave tour begins in Vík, but you can also get a pick up from other locations, like Reykjavik and Hella. From Vík you will go on a modified Super Jeep up to the Highlands of Iceland and to Mýrdalsjökull glacier. This is a fun ride with unique views and actually one of our favorite parts of the tour, so I hope you will enjoy the ride.
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Best Katla Ice Cave Tours in Iceland
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About the Katla Ice Cave
Katla Ice Cave is a natural ice cave in South Iceland, lying deep beneath the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. This location is what makes it unique: the glacier sits directly atop of Katla Volcano. You will be visiting a natural ice cave that features striking black ashy veins in perfect contrast to the perfectly blue glacial ice. This dramatic blend of fire and ice makes it one of the most compelling and dramatic ice caves in the country.
In my opinion, Katla Ice Cave is one of Iceland’s most popular activities for a very good reason. It is simply a great experience, and I am always so happy after I get back from a tour to Katla Ice Cave.
Unlike most ice caves in Iceland, which can only be visited in winter, the Katla Ice Cave is accessible year-round. Its unique conditions, related to its volcanic base, make it possible to explore even in summer, making it a favorite for travelers who want this unique experience outside of the main winter ice cave season.
All tours to Katla Ice Cave depart from Vík. It is a very convenient location since it is located on the Ring Road and close to many of the most beautiful attractions in Iceland. This also makes it an ideal activity since it is located only a 2 and half hour drive from Reykjavik.
The Katla Ice Cave tours are always operated in small groups, but you can also find private tours where there will be no other people than your group and one of our guides. If you have not rented a car you can also visit Katla Ice Cave on a day tour from Reykjavik or join one of the multi day tours that include Katla Ice Cave.
How to visit Katla Ice Cave
The Katla Ice Cave tour begins in Vík í Mýrdal, a perfectly located village on the South Coast of Iceland. Vík is popular with travelers because it’s a perfect hub, sitting right on the Ring Road and close to glaciers, waterfalls, and black sand beaches. When travelers ask me what the locals do in Vík, I have to be honest: with only about 300 residents, Vík functions primarily as a tourist service hub. If you want to meet a local, your best bet is probably to join them at the town’s swimming pool!
Designing Your South Coast Journey
All Katla Ice Cave tours start in Vík, approximately a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Reykjavík. This makes the ice cave tour the perfect activity if you have rented a car for your South Coast self-driving adventure. We offer tours in the morning, midday, and afternoon.
My Recommendation for Day Trips: If you are driving from Reykjavik and back in one day, I highly recommend booking the midday or afternoon tour. This allows you time to enjoy the incredible attractions on the way, such as:
Famous Highlights: Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, and the iconic Reynisfjara black sand beach.
My Favorites: Here below are also my favorite locations to visit along the South Coast of Iceland. I think you should definitely try to add some of them to your itinerary. Gljúfrabúi waterfall, Íráfoss waterfall, the Dyrhólaey arch, and the unique and less visited Loftsalahellir Cave.
Remember that we also offer a free Iceland itinerary service and can help you plan your trip with our local knowledge and experience.
If you don’t have a rental car, you can choose a specialized and highly recommended South Coast and Katla Ice Cave tour that provides round-trip pickup from Reykjavík. This small-group option allows you to visit the major highlights of South Iceland and, of course, the ice cave itself. One of the best day tours from Reykjavik in my opinion.
For those who wish to include specific attractions (like the ones I listed here above as my favorites) or prefer a more flexible pace, I highly recommend booking a Private Tour to the South Coast and Katla Ice Cave. On this option, you can work directly with your private guide—hopefully, it will be me!—to design the itinerary. You decide whether to fit in as many stops as possible or take a more relaxing pace with fewer, longer visits. This is an fantastic way to explore Iceland, especially if you are traveling in a group or with your family.
Important: Facilities Before Departure
A quick, crucial note: Before you board the Super Jeep, please use the restrooms in Vík! Once we leave, we will be traveling onto the glacier where there are absolutely no facilities, and you cannot use the restroom anywhere.
Since all tour operators meet at the same location, there is often a long line for the toilets (especially the women’s restroom) right before departure. We highly recommend arriving a bit earlier than your scheduled time to use the facilities without stress.
A quick, crucial note: Before you board the Super Jeep, please use the restrooms in Vík! Once we leave, we will be traveling onto the glacier where there are absolutely no facilities, and you cannot use the restroom anywhere.
Since all tour operators meet at the same location, there is often a long line for the toilets (especially the women’s restroom) right before departure. We highly recommend arriving a bit earlier than your scheduled time to use the facilities without stress.
Preparing for the Ice Cave
Upon arrival at the glacier, your guide will provide all the necessary safety equipment for a secure trip into Katla Ice Cave. This includes crampons to secure over your sturdy hiking boots, helmets, and other essential gear.
The walk to the cave entrance takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes. The path is not considered difficult, but the surface can be uneven. Thanks to the crampons, the surface will not feel slippery even though you are walking on the glacier ice. It is necessary to be well dressed before starting the hike to the ice cave. since we are up on a glacier in the Highlands of Iceland, it can be windy and the wind will be cold. Grab your sweaters and outwear, had and gloves and you will be ready to go!
Inside the Katla Ice Cave: The Ash and The Blue
After the short walk to the entrance, you will go into the ice cave itself. This is where the real magic begins and you get to experience what you have been waiting for. I love to see the faces of travelers when they see Katla Ice Cave for the first time. The moment you walk inside, the cave’s unique colors immediately takes over. As we’ve mentioned, the ice cave sits on top of an active volcano, and this is why the colors are so dramatic. The crystal-clear blue color from the glacial ice is strikingly interrupted by thick, dark black ash veins from historical volcanic eruptions. We honestly believe this dramatic contrast makes the Katla Ice Cave so unique and different from any other ice cave in the world.
Once inside, you will usually get around 60 minutes to explore the ice cave, take some great photos of the ice cave, the views of the glaciers and surrounding mountains and of course some of yourself!
This also gives you plenty of time to learn about the geology from your guide, and simply stand in awe of this unique ice cave.
Seasonal Insight (Expert Tip): The experience shifts between seasons. During the winter (November–March), the ice is generally at its deepest, bluest and the structure of the ice cave is more stable. During the summer (April–October), the warmer weather means the cave changes faster, but the incredible contrast between the ash and the clear ice becomes even more pronounced. Either way, I think the ice cave is beautiful all seasons, just a little bit different depending on what time of year you are visiting.
After you spend some time to explore the ice cave it will be time to head back to the Super Jeep that will drive you back to Vík. You can continue your journey along the south coast or head back to Reykjavik. Some people might be spending the night in Vík as there are some great hotel options available there.
I also wanted to recommend a restaurants in Vík that are ideal before or after your tour. My first recommendation is the Black Crust Pizza – yes the pizza is black to make it look like a volcanic pizza. It looks like it is burnt but it simply tastes great!
Whatever you decide is the best way for you to explore Katla Ice Cave, I am certain you will have an amazing and memorable time exploring Katla Ice Cave.
Katla Volcano
The black ash you see is a direct result of Katla’s powerful history, with its last major eruption occurring in 1918. Katla is one of Iceland’s most active and closely monitored volcanic systems. Since over a century has passed since the last major event, Katla is now classified as a high-hazard volcano, as a future eruption poses a significant risk of rapid glacial melting, flooding (Jökulhlaup), and massive ash clouds.
Despite this potential, visiting the ice cave is completely safe because:
Constant Monitoring: The volcano is under constant surveillance by scientists and authorities. Iceland has one of the world’s most robust volcano observation systems, meaning early warning signs are detected long before an eruption occurs.
Certified Experts: All tours are operated by certified glacier experts who are intimately familiar with the glacier and the volcano area.
Strong Protocols: Iceland has very strong, proactive safety and evacuation protocols in place.
Crucial Warning: Due to these inherent risks, never attempt to visit the Katla Ice Cave by yourself. It is unsafe and should only be done with a certified tour operator.
Why You Shouldn’t Miss It
The Katla Ice Cave is a truly unique place in Iceland. Its striking colors, Super Jeep access, and year-round availability make it one of the best glacier experiences in the country. I think it is absolutely worth it to add it to your trip to Iceland!
FAQ - Katla Ice Cave Tours
The main difference between Katla Ice Cave and the Crystal Ice Cave is:
- Katla Ice Cave is accessible all year – making it the only natural ice cave that is available during summer.
- The Katla Ice Cave tour departs from Vík while the Crystal Ice Cave tour in Vatnajökull departs from the Glacier Lagoon in South-East Iceland. While both ice caves depart from the south coast the driving distance between them is 2 hours and 20 minutes.
- Katla Ice Cave is easily reachable on a day tour from Reykjavik. You can either do a self driving trip along the South Coast to Vík, join the Katla Ice Cave tour, and go back to Reykjavik in one day.
The Crystal Ice Cave is located almost 5 hours from Reykjavik so we highly recommend at least 2 days to go back and forth from Reykjavik to the Crystal Ice Cave. - Katla Ice Cave is located in Myrdalsjökull Glacier, which is not only a glacier, but also a volcano. Therefor the color of the Katla Ice Cave is not just blue like in the Crystal Ice Cave. You can see black ashy veins in the glacier in Katla Ice Cave. These black veins are from volcanic eruptions in the past. This is one of the features that we think makes it unique. We do not know of any other ice cave in the world with this feature.
What makes Crystal Ice Caves and the Katla Ice Cave Tours similar:
- Both Katla Ice Cave and the Crystal Ice Caves are naturally formed ice caves. This basically means that they are not man-made and form naturally each year.
- Since both ice caves are formed naturally they can be different between years and months.
- Both tours include a Super Jeep Ride to get to the ice caves.
Yes, Katla Ice Cave is absolutely safe to visit and safety is always the number one priority. To visit Katla Ice Cave you have to be in company with a certified glacier guide. Guides in Iceland have to take part in extreme training to become certified as glacier guides. The guides are always monitoring the ice cave and the surrounding area making sure that it is completely safe and secure for travelers to visit. Like said above, safety is the number one priority of our tours and the tours are immediately suspended if there is any change in activity of the volcano or if the glacier is not 100% safe.
Yes, sturdy boots are absolutely necessary. You will get crampons on the tour and the crampons can only fit over sturdy boots. That is why it is necessary to wear the sturdy boots.
Other glacier equipment will be provided on the tour so you do not have to think about that.
Wear waterproof and warm clothes. We recommend that you wear layers since it can actually be warm, both inside the Super Jeep and when you start walking to the ice cave. However, the glacier can be wet and it might also start raining or snowing all of a sudden and you don’t want to be wet and cold on the glacier.
Some might be thinking what not to wear on the glacier so I wanted to add a few words on that too. Do NOT wear jeans. Denim absorbs moisture and can become dangerously cold if it gets wet on the glacier.
The Super Jeep ride is not difficult even though it can be bumpy. You will be driving in a specially modified super jeep that can easily drive this bumpy road and in my opinion it is a great experience. Seeing the volcanic landscape on the way and then the glacier, is simply a very beautiful sight even though you take a few bumps on the way.
The Katla Ice Cave tours usually have a minimum age of 6 or 8 years old so if you have younger children, unfortunately you can not participate in the tour. However, sometimes this can be changed on a private tour, so reach out to us if you have a request for a family trip to Katla Ice Cave.
The Katla Ice Cave tours can be different in summer and winter. We have visited multiple times in all seasons and we actually always like it, even though the ice cave does not always look the same.
During winter time the ice cave is bluer and more stable. The ice cave also stays the same for a longer period of time. If you see a recent photo of the ice cave from a winter trip and you are arriving a few weeks later, it is very likely that you will see a similar ice cave.
During summer time you will see more of the black volcanic veins in the ice cave. The ice cave is also changing faster since the weather is warmer and the glacier melts a little bit.
Like said above, all seasons are beautiful at Katla Ice Cave, but they can be a bit different.
Only professional Super Jeeps can handle the bumpy road to the glacier. When on a tour you will be with a certified glacier guide that knows the glacier and ice cave inside out. The guide will have monitored the volcanic activity, and movements of the glacier to make sure that the tour is completely safe.
It is not allowed to visit Katla Ice Cave on your own as it can be extremely dangerous due to crevasses and constantly changing conditions on the glacier.
Most Katla Ice Cave tours lasts for 3 hours. This includes getting ready for the jeep ride, getting ready with the glacier equipment, driving to the glacier, walking to the ice cave, exploring the ice cave, and the super jeep ride back to Vík. Here is a sample itinerary of what the 3 hours will look like:
- Meet your Glacier Guide in Vík 10-15 min before departure
- 40 min Super Jeep Ride
- 10-15 min walk to the ice cave
- 60 min ice cave exploration
- 10-15 min walk to the super jeep
- 40 min Super Jeep ride back to Vík
Please note that the exact timing here above can change slightly but we always try to stay on schedule!
This is the Katla Ice Cave Part of each tour. You can also choose tours that depart from Reykjavik. On those tours, the Katla Ice Cave part will always be the 3 hours including the itinerary here above.
If your tour is cancelled because of weather or glacier conditions, you will of course get a full refund. If you are flexible we will also offer you to reschedule the tour later during the day (if weather allows) or the next available day.
If a tour is cancelled, we will notify you immediately by email and text as soon as the decision is made. Due to the rapid and unpredictable nature of Icelandic weather and glacier conditions, we sometimes only know at the last minute, but rest assured, we will inform you the moment we know.
If you choose to get a refund, we will make the refund right away – within the same day.