Leiðarendi Lava Cave

Basic Information

Iceland is peppered with all kinds of wonderful places from deadly cliffs to heart stealing riffs and from vast lava lands to amazing water. Leiðarendi lava caves are one of those wonders. The Leiðarendi lava caves are a subterranean fantasyland that immediately takes your breath away as you enter them. Amidst the blue mountains, Leiðarendi cave is a lava tube located in a lava field close to Bláfjöll, in southwest Iceland. A 25-minute drive from Reykjavík, Leiðarendi caves are formed by two separate eruptions on the explosive Reykjanes Peninsula. A distinctive characteristic of Leidarendi is multiple lava flakes that, due to frost and erosion, have fallen off its walls and the roof. These flakes reflect the various streams of lava that eventually flowed there through the ages. You will surely have fun in this combination of eternal history and thrilling adventure.

When to visit Leiðarendi Cave

Winters are considered a lively season to visit Leiðarendi cave. In winter you will most likely witness some glistening natural ice sculptures in the cave, which adds further beauty to the already mesmerizing scene. However, it is always recommended to have a professional guide with you when visiting Leiðarendi. When there is snow on the ground it can be extremely hard to find the cave.

Cautions to be Taken

Although hiking truly involves risk due to the dangers of lava caves, they should only be visited with a professional guide. Guides have an understanding of the lava caves inside out, are trained to help in an emergency, and will provide you with all the proper equipment. This is also significant for you to have a sense of safety and enjoy fully with your group. Also, ensure that you have the right equipment for a trip to Leiðarendi cave. Helmet and light are two essentials whenever you are underground as sometimes it can be too dark. Sturdy boots, gloves for protection, and warm clothes are mandatory. The hack is to choose the clothes which leave you unaffected even if they are spoiled because you are going underground. Waterproof clothes always win over normal clothes, as lava rock is porous so, at times, a lot of water trickles through the ceiling.

How to Reach Leiðarendi Cave

There are special tour packages that you can opt for while planning a trip to Leiðarendi caves. Tours are usually offered for small groups of four or eight. Most tours include a pick up from your destination in Reykjavik. If you decide to rent a car and drive there on your own, note that it can take up to 30 minutes from Reykjavik center. Take road 40 and 41 through Garðabær and Hafnarfjörður and make a left turn to road 42 when driving in Hafnarfjörður. After around 6 kilometers drive, make a left turn to Bláfjallavegur, road 417. Drive around 7 minutes on this road until you reach Leiðarendi cave. Check out a map of the route here.

Explore around Leiðarendi Cave

If you are looking to indulge in some other activities on your trip to Leiðarendi cave, then you might want to visit Helgafell mountain. The hike to the mountain is great and the views from the top are breath taking. Hvaleyrarvatn is another beautiful location that not many travelers know about. This peaceful lake in Hafnarfjörður is a favorite among locals and on good weather days you can see people from Reykjavik come here to hike or play on the beach with their children. Kleifarvatn Lake is another great place when visiting the area as well as Krýsuvík geothermal area. Since Leiðarendi Cave is located so close to Reykjavik, it is likely that you will want to visit the capital city as well. The vibrant city located in southwest Iceland has a small population but attracts many people around the world due to its cleanliness and greenery. If you are in the mood for hiking, you can visit Mount Esjan, which is in the vicinity of 10 kilometers of Reykjavík city. The mountain is a key feature of the capital’s skyline which is a breath taker and euphoric. Hiking here can truly be a wonderful experience. The hike to Mount Esjan is not recommended during the winter.

Enriched culturally the city has events like Reykjavík Pride, RIFF (The Reykjavík International Film Festival), The Reykjavík Literature Festival, Culture Night, the Reykjavík Arts Festival, Food and Fun, the Reykjavík Fashion Festival, and the Sónar music festival. So, if you are a wholesome explorer who loves adventure trips like hiking in Leiðarendi cave and like to devour culturally into places, then this experience is for you.