Highlights
- Crystal Ice Cave
- Professional Photographer on the tour
- Private tour
- Early access to the ice cave before other tours arrive
- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
- Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier
- Vatnajökull Glacier
- Super Jeep ride
- Glacier Hike
- Vatnajokull National Park
Season
Winter: September – April
Meeting Point
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon Parking Lot
Duration
5 hours
Starting Time
7.30 am
Group
Private group: 1-5 people
Larger groups – additional cost per person
Price
ISK 150,000 per group (1-5 people)
$ 1,080 / €1,005 / £860
About Tour - Private Crystal Ice Cave Photography Tour
This is the ultimate glacier and ice cave photography tour in Iceland. an extraordinary experience crafted for photography enthusiasts aiming to capture exceptional shots for their portfolios both within and outside the glacier. Throughout the journey, we’ll explore one or more ice caves, dedicating ample time to refine your skills within these icy chambers. Guided by our expert photography mentor, you’ll learn invaluable techniques such as bracketing, panoramas, optimal model placement, and configuring settings that are attuned to the cave’s distinctive ambiance.
Included
- Professional & Certified Glacier Guide
- Photography instructor
- Early access to the Crystal Ice Cave before other tours arrive.
- Glacier Equipment: Headlamp, Helmet, Harness, Crampons, and an Ice Axe
- Glacier Hike on Vatnajokull.
- Super Jeep Ride up to the glacier.
- All Safety Equipment.
- Pick up from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
What to bring
- Camera & Lenses – ideally you want an ultra wide angle, mid range and macro lens for this shoot.
- Winter clothing
- Gloves
- Hat
- Wind & Waterproof jacket
- Warm layers for freezing conditions
- Hiking boots with good ankle support
Recommended accessories for photographers:
- Tripod
- Extra camera batteries
- Remote shutter release – this will help to prevent camera shake
Good to know
- This is a private tour – the price is per group of 1-5 people.
- If you have more people joining the tour, there is extra price per person – see booking engine.
- While arriving early at an ice cave doesn’t guarantee sole occupancy, it significantly enhances the possibility of encountering fewer fellow visitors. This is because most companies don’t commence operations until 9 am or later.
- Ice caves are a constantly evolving marvel of nature. Every year, existing ones melt away, making room for new formations. The images you come across on our website or social media at any given moment may not perfectly reflect your actual tour experience. This dynamic nature ensures each encounter is exclusive and memorable.
- The tour entails approximately 1-1.5 hours of hiking in total. The terrain is relatively flat yet adorned with rocks, making it a moderately easy endeavor for individuals with average fitness levels.
- The meeting point is at the parking lot next to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
Itinerary
Meeting Your Guide
Your guide will be waiting for you at the Glacier Lagoon parking lot within Vatnajokull National Park. Be aware that this meeting point is a 5-hour drive from Reykjavik, so consider staying at a closer accommodation.
Arriving 15 minutes ahead of your scheduled tour time is recommended. This will allow you to use the restrooms, as there won’t be facilities at the glacier. Look for your guide across from the restrooms in the bus parking area. You’ll spot our 4×4 vehicle. Departure is precisely at 8am, so timeliness is crucial to ensure you don’t miss the tour. This schedule ensures ample cave time before larger groups from other companies arrive.
4×4 Jeep Adventure to Vatnajokull Glacier
Starting from the Glacier Lagoon parking lot, you’ll board one of our sturdy 4×4 vehicles for the expedition towards the glacier. Approximately 10 minutes into the ride, we’ll veer onto an F-Road, embarking on a slightly rugged journey towards the glacier. The drive to the glacier parking lot will span about 20-30 minutes. During this scenic drive, your guide will regale you with the area’s history, offering insights as you traverse a captivating expanse of an age-old glacier landscape.
Hike to the Ice Cave
Upon reaching the glacier parking lot, your guide will initiate the distribution of essential equipment for the excursion. This encompasses crampons, an ice axe, a harness, a helmet equipped with a headlamp, and hiking boots if they were rented. Once all participants are outfitted, you’ll embark on a 30-minute hike to the glacier’s edge. The hike is generally manageable for most, involving a stroll on predominantly flat terrain, albeit with a touch of unevenness. Your guide will set a comfortable pace, ensuring that you have the freedom to savor the journey while they navigate the route.
Arriving at The Crystal Ice Cave
As you reach the edge of the glacier, a colossal cavern with a flowing river beneath will greet your gaze – the magnificent realm of our Crystal Ice Cave. This cavern, also known as the Sapphire Ice Cave, boasts a unique character each year, transforming in shape, location, and size. This dynamic evolution is driven by the natural melting and reformation that occurs during the summer months. This guarantees an unparalleled encounter each time you step inside, as no two days are alike.
Before venturing into the cave, your guide will assist you in donning crampons if required. Not all caves mandate their use, as some lie beneath the ice atop rocky terrain. This aspect can vary year by year. Once you’re equipped with crampons, your guide will walk you through safety protocols for cave exploration. It’s crucial to grasp and adhere to these guidelines, addressing any queries you may have before entering.
Exploring The Crystal Ice Cave
Stepping into the ice cave is an ethereal experience that often transcends reality for most adventurers. Your eyes will gradually adapt to the ethereal azure walls, revealing the concealed splendor within. On a fortuitous day with clear skies, you might even witness the sun’s early rays painting the cave walls with its gentle touch—a moment of pure enchantment.
Guided by your expert, you’ll delve deeper into the ice cave, where they’ll capture you against the backdrop of the most captivating vistas and angles. Armed with countless journeys into these caves, they possess unparalleled expertise in ensuring you’re presented in awe-inspiring photographs. This allows you to relish the cave’s wonder without any concern.
While immersed in the ice cave’s allure, your guide will impart insights into its genesis and composition. You’ll spend around 2-3 hours exploring the cave’s chambers, which often comprise multiple sections leading deeper into its heart—though this can vary across years. Once everyone has savored their photographic memories and the experience, we’ll exit the cave, retracing our path back to the glacier parking lot.
Returning to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
The tour culminates with a leisurely hike back to the glacier parking lot, followed by a scenic 30-minute drive returning to the Glacier Lagoon. Here, you bid farewell to your guide, departing with cherished memories of an extraordinary day within the breathtaking expanse of Vatnajokull National Park.
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