Iceland is famous for its natural miracles, including glacial mountains, hot springs, majestic waterfalls, and beautiful landscapes all around the country. Over the years, it has become a popular destination for another miracle, known as the Ice Caves. Iceland has a wide variety of ice groves that allow exploring in a unique context.
Ice cave tours of Iceland take you through serene landscapes and awe-inspiring sites. It takes you through the auspicious lands, mountains covered with green moss, lunar surroundings, and sights of glaciers. These ice cave tours also combine with Northern Lights, snowmobiling, glacier hiking, sightseeing at the South Coast, and more.
If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience while in Iceland, these ice cave tours are for you.
1. Katla Ice Cave
The Katla Ice Cave is one of the few ice caves globally, with a bright and shining internal structure. The best thing about this ice cave is that it is accessible all year, so you can visit this natural ice cave during the summer as well. This tour is for those who want to experience a fascinating natural phenomenon, a cave covered in black ice.
The Katla ice cave tour lasts for three hours and departs from Vik. The tour requires minimal effort, and anyone above eight can join this tour. The self-drive day tour is operated in small groups which means . Unlike other blue and crystal ice caves of the country, Katla is a covered with black ice. It has become prominent as the Dragon Glass ice cave after its mention in the Game of Thrones series. Located in the Katla volcano, the Katla ice cave has an uncanny appearance. Only a slight amount of light reaches into them and displays unforgettable color combinations. As mentioned, departure begins from Vik in south Iceland, famous for its black sand beach. The tour would proceed towards the no-mans-land on a super jeep. Your destination is at Katla volcano situated under the Kötlujökull glacier, an outlet of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Mýrdalsjökull is the fourth largest glacier of Iceland.
The Katla ice cave is situated in South Iceland. Driving through the volcanic sand plains takes approximately 45 minutes. The guide would assist you with the equipment and throughout the journey. During the tour, you would relish activities like glacier hiking, hiking, a super jeep tour, and visiting the ice cave. You would also come across attractions like Vík í Mýrdal, South Coast, Mýrdalsjökull glacier, and Katla volcano.
You should wear ankle support hard soul boots for hiking. Don’t forget to wear warm clothes as the first layer, and waterproof clothes as the second layer. Take a hat, gloves, and camera for the visitation too.
2. Crystal Ice Cave
Hide in the freezing cold of the Crystal Ice Cave and be transported into a world of blue. Witness mind-blowing shades of icy blue in this awe-inspiring, once-in-a-lifetime experience that will have you feeling like you’ve walked into a storybook. With over 150 ice sculptures and crystal blue ice unlike any other in Iceland, the Crystal Ice Cave is one of the most spectacular attractions you’ll encounter on your trip.
The crystal ice cave tour lasts for three hours. It is moderate in difficulty level for tourists. Meant only for small groups, this tour happens between November and March. Tourists depart from Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon for this tour. This is a self drive tour which means that you will meet up with your glacier guide at Jokulsarlon, around 5 hours drive from Reykjavik.
The journey towards the Vatnajökull glacier begins from Jokulsarlon in a super jeep. Once you reach the foot of the glacier, you start walking towards the ice caves.
Vatnajökull crystal ice cave appears blue in the light and situated close to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Even this ice cave experiences seasonal shedding every year. Therefore, revisitors would always relish new differences.
It is renowned as Vatnajökull glacier’s Anaconda Ice Cave because of its unbelievably long and cylindrical structure. It is also a famous cave in southeast Iceland. The clearness of the ice gave the name to the tunnel. You would require a certified guide for covering this tour safely.
The cave sometimes experiences rain and strong winds during the winter season. The caverns flood with water and become dangerous to enter. Because of this it is extremely important that you only visit this ice cave with a professional glacier guide that knows the area.
Guides have to revisit the crystal caves every year because their structure changes. You would also require a helmet and crampons for ice walking. The tour would include activities like glacier hiking, a super jeep, and visiting the ice cave.
The Vatnajökull glacier, Breiðamerkurjökull, Jökulsárlón, and the South Coast would be among the highlights. The small group, including the tour leader, cannot include more than fourteen persons.
3. Crystal Ice Cave & Northern Lights from Reykjavik
This combo tour with the northern lights and the crystal ice cave is the perfect tour if you want to make the most of your day during winter in Iceland. Experience the northern lights like never before! Explore Iceland’s beautiful countryside and witness the breathtaking aurora borealis show with our northern lights tours. Whether you’re looking for a family adventure or a romantic escape, we’ve got you covered! Once you combine the magical aurora with a crystal ice cave tour, you couldn’t ask more!
The tour lasts for 14 to 16 hours and happens between November and April. The tour will take you along the south coast of Iceland and cover attractions like Seljalandsfoss, Northern Lights, ice cave visitation, Vatnajökull glacier, Jökulsárlón, Svínafellsjokull, Breiðamerkurjökull, South Coast, and the extraordinary Diamond Beach. The activities would include a super jeep ride, sightseeing, ice caving, glacier hiking, and Northern Lights hunting. It will begin with an early morning drive towards the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon while relishing South Coast highlights.
After arrival at the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, you will view the flipping and floating icebergs. Under rare circumstances, you can even sight seals. After that, you would proceed to walk towards the Diamond Beach. The beach is renowned for the view of icebergs from a black sand beach. The tour would proceed towards the majestic ice caves. It will end with a scheduled stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall and viewing the Northern Lights.
The red, green, and white flutters in the black sky make an amazing view. The Seljalandsfoss waterfall adds more to the picture of Aurora Borealis, especially during winters. During this season, it is completely lit up.
You should wear waterproof clothing as a second layer and warm clothes as the first layer. Other essentials include hiking shoes, a hat, gloves, and a camera.
The tour pickup starts from 7:30, and you return to Reykjavik slightly after midnight. It requires a minimum group of two people. Visiting the ice cave and glacier is manageable by experienced and beginners.
4. Blue Ice Cave & Glacier Hike in Skaftafell
Join the Glacier Hike Tour in Skaftafell with a visit to a blue ice cave. You’ll explore virgin landscapes and be surrounded by incredible mountains. Participants will also learn about Iceland’s geography, geology, history, and biodiversity, all while trekking on the world’s largest glacier. This tour is perfect for anyone who wants to experience the rugged beauty of Iceland.
The Blue ice cave & glacier hike tour departs from the Skaftafell terminal. It takes four hours to covers and happens between October and April. The hiking expedition is easy to cover but requires a minimum age of eight years. The self-drive day tour happens in small groups. The Blue ice caves offer curvatures and challenging landscapes. The cave is inside the Vatnajökull glacier and hiking through it gives memories to remember.
Travelers and admirers would find the glacier hike and the Skaftafell blue ice caves accessible. The structures and formations of the ice caves are utterly different during every visit. They are formed as a natural phenomenon when the glacier is cut through the river.
Unlike other ice caves of Iceland, the structure of these caves forms during every season. The formation changes place depending entirely on the design. So, the caves become mysterious to even revisitors. The blue ice caves are situated on the Vatnajökull’s tongue. The latter is the largest European glacier and also home to Hvannadalshnúkur, the tallest peak of Iceland. Even though the blue ice caves are accessible, they can be hard to reach, and require a hike on the glacier. Therefor it is extremely important that you do not go alone on the glacier and try to find them. Always have an experience glacier guide with you.
Skaftafell is also renowned for Iceland’s national reserves. So, you get to witness beautiful sights even from the starting terminal. The attractions covered on this tour would include Vatnajökull glacier, Skaftafell, Svínafellsjökull glacier, Hvannadalshnúkur, and Vatnajokull National Park.
On this tour you will experience activities like glacier hiking and ice cave visitation. Every guide can tag with a group of not more than six people.
5. Katla Ice Cave & South Coast Sightseeing
On this incredible trip to the south coast of Iceland, experience what it’s like to walk on an ice sheet millions of years old. One of the most fabulous attractions in South Iceland is the Katla Ice Caves experience. Walk through a vast cavern lit with the glow of the white ice and see the dragon glass ice formations up close. It is a must-visit activity!
The Katla ice cave & South Coast sightseeing tour takes eleven hours to cover. It is available all year long and departs from Reykjavik. The pickup day tour happens in small groups.
Katla caverns are famous for their dragon glass ice. It is located within the bowels of the active and mighty Katla volcano. The Kötlujökull glacier was formed by the Myrdalsjökull glacier, which covers this volcano.
The appearance of Katla ice caves is black because only a slight amount of light enters it. Whenever it does, the ice shines with a blue and black combination. It is renowned as the Dragon Glass ice cave because of its appearance.
During the tour, you will not only visit the natural ice cave, but you will also cover attractions on the south coast. This includes beautiful locations like Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, and Eyjafjallajökull.
Skógafoss is a majestic waterfall surrounded by a brown-green landscape. The natural sight is situated in Skógar.
Seljalandsfoss is also a 60-meter high waterfall in Iceland renowned for a hidden cave behind it. You can take memorable snapshots from the cave from different angles. The natural sight originates from the Seljalands river. Seljalandsfoss is made entirely of glacier water coming through the Eyjafjallajökull volcano glacier.
Since this tour includes a pick up in Reykjavik, it means that you will arrive back in Reykjavik in the evening. If you have rented a car and want to self drive the South Coast, you can add the Katla Ice Cave to your itinerary as well. Visit the Katla Ice Cave on your self driving trip to make it extra memorable.
Don’t forget to wear waterproof and warm clothes, outdoor shoes, gloves, and a hat. Taking a camera on tour is optional.
6. Snowmobile & Ice Cave Tour from Reykjavik
The snowmobile & ice cave tour departs from Reykjavik. It is easily covered in eight hours. The tour is available all year long for small groups. You’d have a great day snowmobiling around the Langjökull glacier, and you’d even get to see a natural ice cave. For this journey, we recommend wind sheeters and hiking boots. The minibus pickup would commence in Reykjavik.
Langjökull is renowned as the “white or long” glacier, as it is Iceland’s second-largest glacier. It has a thickness of 500 meters and a length of 953 km2. Its height above sea level is 1,450 meters.
The Langjökull glacier is on the west side of Iceland highlands and incorporates two dormant volcanoes. The natural ice caves situated at this place also depict other patterns and colors. The cave formations depend on the lava leaks. Your ride will move towards Gullfoss waterfall, located in the Golden Circle. After that, you would tour on a super jeep to reach the foot of the glacier. The Langjökull glacier ice caves would be the next destination through the snowmobile. After learning more about the ice caves from the guide, you would go back to the Langjökull glacier. Snowmobiles are permitted to licensed drivers and require proof. However, it doesn’t demand an international driving license.
The two significant attractions of the tour include Langjokull and Gullfoss. It will also have a super jeep, snowmobiling, an ice-cave visit, and a glacier experience. It is suitable for solo travelers, groups, and families.
If you have rented a car and are self driving the Golden Circle, you can also join this snowmobile tour from Gullfoss waterfall.
7. Into the Glacier Ice Cave
The into the glacier ice cave tour is a day tour from Reykjavik which takes around eleven hours to cover. It is available all year long and departs from Reykjavik. It requires no minimum age and requires minimal efforts to cover, so it is the ideal day tour for families.
The tour takes travelers through the wonders of Langjökull glacier. As mentioned earlier, it is the second-largest glacier in Iceland. It is commonly renowned for snowmobiling due to its extra-long structure. But you don’t have to be an adventurer to enjoy the magnificence of this ice cave! Visitors will be greeted with jaw-dropping sights and stunning landscapes. Even super jeep lovers admire the stretched ice landscape. Besides this, you can even relish glaciers walking at this place. The ice cave that you will be visiting on this tour is the only man made ice cave in Iceland. It houses a chapel wherein several weddings have happened over the years. It also features lighting, designated seating areas, and benches.
On this tour you will also visit Húsafell. This tourist hub houses beautiful lakes, a swimming pool, and a golf course. It is a hotspot of resting and rejuvenating, especially for self-drive tourists. Besides these magnificent places, you would also visit Barnafoss and Hraunfossar waterfalls. The crystal clear and pure water from the waterfalls doesn’t require treatment before drinking. The water is clear because it arrives from the lava rocks.
Join this day tour for a full day of adventure with your friends and family.
8. 2-Day Blue Ice Cave & South Coast
The two-day blue ice cave and South Coast tour is the perfect tour if you want to make the most of your 2 days in Iceland. The tour will take you to all the best locations on the south coast of Iceland as well as to the crystal blue natural ice cave. This is a winter tour and is available between October and March. The tour has no minimum age limit, so it is ideal for families to join. The tour is operated in small groups and departs from Reykjavik.
The 2 day tour includes some of the most popular attractions of Iceland. Be one of the lucky few to explore the south coast of Iceland in just two days. With this tour, you’ll get to see everything from all-time favorite attractions like Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Skógafoss waterfall, Vatnajökull National Park, and the blue ice cave. You’ll also go Northern Lights hunting in the evening for a chance at some of the best photographs you’ve ever taken!
On the second day, you get to explore southern Iceland attractions. These include the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, the Diamond Beach, and Reynisfjara black sand beach. Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon is known as Iceland’s crown jewel created by the melting of glacial waters. The water arrives from Breiðamerkurjökull, situated at the tongue of the Vatnajökull glacier. The visit to the Diamond Beach and Reynisfjara black sand beaches would be as thrilling and awe-inspiring as the lagoon.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall is renowned for its walk behind cave – you can walk behind the waterfall. Most travelers find Skógafoss waterfall to be one of their top visits in Iceland, and you will get to see why on this tour.
After reaching Vatnajökull National Park, you would experience Skaftafell glacier hiking. Vatnajokull is the largest European glacier. The hike happens at Skaftafell Nature Reserve with an experienced glacier guide. Skaftafell has been a top spot movie like James Bond, Interstellar, and TV series like Game of Thrones. The visuals from the Svínafellsjökull glacier in Skaftafell are unforgettable.
The ice that you will be hiking has black lava veins and lava ashes on the glacier. The hike ends at the blue ice cave, wherein even revisitors would find a change in the structure during every visit. Next, you will proceed with Northern Light hunting.
9. 3-Day Blue Ice Cave, South Coast & Golden Circle
Want to see the best and most beautiful things Iceland has to offer? This 3 day tour that will take you to the Golden Circle and the South Coast is the perfecttour for tourists who wish to see the most iconic natural sites in Iceland. Discover Iceland’s natural beauty in just three days and have memories that will last a lifetime.
This tour is ideal if you want to make the most of your 3 days in Iceland with viewing all the best locations in three days. If you only have 2 days, you can check out the 2 day tour above.
The 3-Day Blue ice cave, South Coast & Golden Circle tour is available between October and March. The small group pickup tour is easy to cover and departs from Reykjavik. The tour would include spending time at glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, glacial lagoons, national parks, and ice caves. Under reasonable weather conditions, you can even hunt the Northern Lights. As the tour would include more stops, therefore, the duration of spending time would decrease.
After pickup from Reykjavik, you would visit the Thingvellir National Park. It is on the way to the Golden Circle and a UNESCO world heritage site. Unlike any other place on the earth, you can see two tectonic plates diverging from each other. Walk between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates that are moving away by roughly 2 cm every year. Thingvellir also has Iceland’s largest natural lake, home to a diverse range of fish and bird species. It also holds a great historical significance for Icelanders as their first parliament was established here in the 9th century, where Viking lords met every summer. The next stop is the Geysir geothermal area. It has hundreds of steam holes, geothermal pools, and erupting geysers. Finally, you get to view the Strokkur Geysir in action, flashing up to 15-20 meters.
Day one will end with the visit to Gullfoss waterfall, renowned as Golden Falls. During summer, you can view black and brown rocks, green landscapes, and water flowing through the gorge. During winters, the rocks and landscapes get covered with snow.
On day two, you will explore the South Coast, Vatnajökull glacier, Skaftafell, Vatnajökull National Park, and the Northern Lights. You would experience the Skaftafell glacier hike at the Vatnajökull National Park.
On the last day, you would cover the blue ice cave, Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, Reynisfjara black sand beach, the Diamond Beach, and Dyrhólaey cliffs. At these destinations, you will explore crystal ice cave, black sand beaches, glaciers, fallen icebergs, and more.
The three-day tour includes sightseeing, glacier hiking, Northern Lights hunting, and a visit to the blue ice cave.
10. Snowmobile into the Glacier
Get the most authentic Icelandic experience possible with a snowmobile tour into the glacier. Fly across vast expanses of a glacier on the back of a powerful machine. It’s like you’re on an ice planet. These are the perfect opportunity to go off the beaten path and enjoy Iceland’s pristine wilderness.
The snowmobile journey into the glacier is accessible all year. It leaves from Reykjavik and lasts eleven hours. The pickup day tour is designed for parties of medium size. You get to ride a snowmobile on the best glaciers of Iceland. Additionally, you visit the Hraunfossar & Barnafoss waterfalls. Besides this, the key attractions of the tour include the Langjökull glacier, the ice cave at the Langjökull glacier, and Húsafell.
Your tour will begin with a minibus ride from Reykjavik to west Iceland. Then, after arriving at the glacier’s foot, you will board a super truck. It will take you to the base camp for snowmobiling and visiting the ice cave. A single snowmobile can accommodate two people. However, riders should be older than eight years. We would recommend helmets and hiking boots with the snowmobile.
After reaching the ice caves through the snowmobile and exploring it, you will proceed back towards Húsafell. The tour includes at least 30 minutes snowmobile ride to travel towards the cave and explore the breathtaking structures and colorful shapes.
The ice cave of Langjökull glacier is trendy among tourists. It encompasses lovely benches, state-of-the-art feature lighting, and many ice structures.
During the tour, you will experience snowmobiling, sightseeing, glacier views, and visiting the ice caves. The tour is operated in a bus with maximum capacity of around 20 people. As mentioned earlier, snowmobiling requires only a national driving license. The rider should be seventeen years old and have proof of license. Adult supervision is required for accompanied children that are eight years or older.
Hopefully this article will help you find the best ice cave tour for your trip to Iceland. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact our travel experts at info@icelandtravelguide.is
