28 Jan Best Ice Cave Tour in Iceland: 5 Stunning Options from Reykjavik
While the ice caves are located all throughout the country, thankfully there are a vast array of ice cave tours originating from the capital city of Reykjavik. For reference, Reykjavik is just 45 minutes northeast of Keflavík International Airport. Therefore, I have listed below the BEST ice cave day tour options from Reykjavik in Iceland. This means that every one of the tours listed below includes pickup from Reykjavik. Yay for convenience!
There are also a variety of other tour options available in Iceland, for example two day tours along the southern coast as well as tours all around the Golden Circle.
Contents:
1) Best Ice Cave Tour – Western Iceland
2) Best Ice Cave Tour – Southern Iceland
3) Best Ice Cave Tour – Golden Circle Combo
4) Best Ice Cave Tour – South Coast Combo
5) Best Ice Cave Tour – Northern Lights Combo
6) General Ice Cave Information
7) BONUS: Top Attractions in Iceland
1) Best Ice Cave Tour – Western Iceland
First up on the list of the best ice cave tour in Iceland options is the From Reykjavik: Into the Glacier Ice Cave Tour. The tour heads to Langjökull Glacier, which is the second largest glacier in Iceland. For reference, the Langjökull Glacier is located in western Iceland, just a bit northeast of Reykjavik.
Price, Time, and Pickup
You need to budget approximately $270 per person for the tour. Furthermore, the tour lasts around 11 hours. They do offer pickup from hotels within the capital city of Reykjavik. However, be aware that buses cannot drive on all roads within the city. Please confirm the pickup location with the tour company if needed.
Furthermore, the tour includes a truck ride on Langjökull Glacier, entrance to the ice cave and tunnels, a guide, and all necessary equipment. On the other hand, no meals are included.
Itinerary: Best Ice Cave Tour – Western Iceland
First, head to Husafell once all tour customers are picked up in the morning. Husafell is where you get ready for the ice cave, which includes meeting the guide and putting on warm overalls. Second, hop aboard a glacier truck and enjoy the ride to the cave entrance.
Third, get ready for the main highlight of the tour. Enter the ice cave and marvel at its wonder. Listen to the guide’s storytelling and informative facts while also appreciating all of the unique features of the cave, including the human-made Langjökull Glacier Tunnel.
Link to tour booking: From Reykjavik: Into the Glacier Ice Cave Tour.
Voyager Sculpture along the coast in Reykjavík
2) Best Ice Cave Tour – Southern Iceland
The Katla Volcano Ice Cave Tour from Reykjavik is another one of the best options for an ice cave tour in Iceland. However, the Katla Volcano Ice Cave is more commonly known as one of the blue ice caves. Just imagine a cavern of ice in beautiful shades of blue. Furthermore, the Katla Ice Cave is located on Mýrdalsjökull Glacier in southern Iceland.
Not only is the Katla Ice Cave one of the best ice cave tours near the southeastern town of Vík in Iceland, but it is also the best “blue ice cave” tours from Reykjavík.
Price, Time, and Pickup
The tour costs approximately $255 per person. Additionally, it lasts around 11 hours. The tour does offer pickup from hotels within the capital city of Reykjavik. However, be aware that buses cannot drive on all roads within the city. If your hotel is on a road they cannot access, then they can pick you up at a nearby pick-up point.
Moreover, the tour includes a scenic super Jeep ride, entrance to Mýrdalsjökull Glacier and the ice cave, all necessary equipment, and an expert guide. On the other hand, food and drinks are not included.
Itinerary: Best Ice Cave Tour – Southern Iceland
First, head to the southern coastal town of Vík from Reykjavik. The bus might have to stop to pick up a few people within Vík as well. Second, the fun part of the tour begins! All passengers get to experience a 30 minute ride in a super Jeep towards the Kötlujökull Glacier. The road is a bit bumpy to say the least. Additionally, Kötlujökull is simply just a portion of the larger Mýrdalsjökull Glacier.
Third, step into the wonder known as the Katla ice cave within the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier in Iceland. This cave is well known for its striking blue colors. If you have ever seen a photo of an ice cave in Iceland, it might have been this one. Moreover, the guide leads you around the cave and offers a bunch of fun facts and historical information.
Link to tour booking: Katla Volcano Ice Cave Tour from Reykjavik.
Basalt rock columns at the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
3) Best Ice Cave Tour – Golden Circle Combo
I love a good combo tour because it allows you to enjoy so many different things all within one booking. Therefore, my next recommendation is the From Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Glacier Ice Cave Tour. You can experience the magic of an ice cave as well as enjoy all of the main attractions within the Golden Circle. Oh, and did I mention the tour also includes snowmobiling?!
The Golden Circle and Glacier Ice Cave Tour is the only tour on the list that is a combination of both a snowmobile and an ice cave tour in Iceland. If you are set on snowmobiling and visiting an ice cave, then this tour was made for you.
Moreover, I recommend you take a look at the best Golden Circle tours in Iceland if you plan to spend another day in the region.
Price, Time, and Pickup
The price of the tour is approximately $300 per person, and it lasts for around 11.5 hours. The tour does offer pickup from hotels within the capital city of Reykjavik. However, be aware that buses cannot drive on all roads within the city. If your hotel is on a road they cannot access, then they can pick you up at a nearby pick-up point. You can also choose to stay the night at a hotel within the Golden Circle to cut down your driving time in the morning / if you do not want a hotel pickup.
Additionally, the tour includes a guide, entrance to Thingvellir National Park, entrance to the ice cave, and all necessary snowmobiling equipment. On the other hand, no food or drinks are provided.
Itinerary: Best Ice Cave Tour – Golden Circle Combo
First, the tour stops at Thingvellir National Park. Here you can see where the Icelandic parliament previously met and even walk in between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Second, enjoy some time to explore Geysir Hot Springs. There is a path around the area, which leads past all of the geysers, boiling mud pits, and fumaroles. Do not miss Strokkur, which is the largest active geyser in the area. It erupts every five to 15 minutes.
Third, stop by Gullfoss waterfall. You can often see a rainbow over the falls, and there is a path that lets you get up close and personal. Fourth, hop aboard a glacier truck that drives for a bit along Langjökull Glacier. Fifth, switch vehicles to a snowmobile. Then let the wind rush through your hair as you zip across the glacier on a snowmobile. Sixth, visit an ice cave on the Langjökull Glacier. Inspect the inside of the ice cave and even walk down the Langjökull Glacier Tunnel. I know, they saved the best for last – what would one of the best Iceland ice cave tour options be without a visit to an ice cave?!
Link to tour booking: From Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Glacier Ice Cave Tour.
Strokkur erupting at Geysir Hot Springs
4) Best Ice Cave Tour – South Coast Combo
Another best ice cave tour in Iceland is the Two Day Blue Ice Cave, Jökulsárlón, Black Beach, and Waterfalls Tour. This tour combines the ice cave with the main attractions along the southern and eastern coast of Iceland. For example, you will stop by majestic waterfalls, a black sand beach, and the most famous glacier lagoon in the country.
Moreover, I recommend you take a look at the best Iceland south coast tours if you plan to spend another couple of days in the region.
Price, Time, and Pickup
You will need to budget approximately $680 per person for the tour as well as two full days in your itinerary. The tour does offer pickup from hotels within the capital city of Reykjavik. However, be aware that buses cannot drive on all roads within the city. If your hotel is on a road they cannot access, then they can pick you up at a nearby pick-up point.
Moreover, the tour includes lodging for the first night, breakfast on the second day, and entrance to the ice cave. On the other hand, lunch and dinner are not provided.
Why not turn the trip into even more of a romantic getaway with your partner and stay at one of the most romantic hotels in Iceland?
Itinerary: Best Ice Cave Tour – South Coast Combo
First, stop by Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi waterfalls. You can walk on a path behind Seljalandsfoss, and you have to enter a small gorge to see Gljúfrabúi. Second, enjoy a quick visit at Írárfoss waterfall.
Third, marvel at the majestic Skógafoss waterfall. You can often see a rainbow at its base. Fourth, the tour stops at Sólheimajökull Glacier where you can walk on the path along the edge of the water. Fifth, the last stop of the first day is at Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach.
Sixth, the second day begins with a quick visit to the southern coastal town of Vík. You can check out some shops or admire the views of the black sand beach from afar. Seventh, enjoy a short visit at Eldhraun Lava Field where you can view lava formations covered in moss. Eighth, appreciate the history of Hofskirkja Church. It has a turf roof and was the last of its kind to be built.
Ninth, stop by the famous Glacier lagoon, aka Jökulsárlón. Walk on a path around the water as you point out all of the largest icebergs in the lagoon that day. Tenth, check out Diamond Beach across the street. While there are no diamonds here, you will see icebergs floating out to the ocean and washed up along the shore. Eleventh, the ice cave part of the tour begins! You board a super Jeep to take you to the entrance of the ice cave, which is located in Vatnajökull National Park. Then follow the guide as you explore the inside of a blue ice cave.
Link to tour booking: Two Day Blue Ice Cave, Jökulsárlón, Black Beach, and Waterfalls Tour.
Icebergs floating along the water at the Glacier Lagoon
5) Best Ice Cave Tour – Northern Lights Combo
Lastly, the Three Day Ice Cave, Golden Circle, South Coast, and Northern Lights Tour is another one of the best ice cave tour options in Iceland. You get a little bit of everything with this tour. For example, you can enjoy all of the main attractions within the Golden Circle as well as along the south coast. Moreover, you stop by the famous Glacier Lagoon, step inside an ice cave, and hunt for the northern lights. What more could you ask for in an ice cave tour in Iceland?
Price, Time, and Pickup
The tour costs approximately $950 per person. Additionally, it lasts for a full three days. The tour does offer pickup from hotels within the capital city of Reykjavik. However, be aware that buses cannot drive on all roads within the city. If your hotel is on a road they cannot access, then they can pick you up at a nearby pick-up point.
Moreover, the tour includes all necessary glacier hiking and ice cave equipment, lodging for two nights, breakfast for two days, and all required entrance fees to attractions. On the other hand, lunch and dinner are not covered.
Itinerary: Best Ice Cave Tour – Northern Lights Combo
Day one includes a few different stops within the Golden Circle: Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, and Geysir Hot Springs. Thingvellir is quite unique due to the fact you can see as well as walk in between the rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Day two includes two stops along the south coast: Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls. You can walk on a path behind Seljalandsfoss to see it from a new point of view, and there is often a rainbow at the base of Skógafoss. Additionally, the second day of the tour ends at Skaftafell National Park with a glacier hike and a visit to the ice cave. Once you put on all of your glacier hiking equipment, a guide will lead you along the glacier for an hour and a half. Then you will enter an ice cave with stunning blue colors. It is truly a once in a lifetime experience.
Day three includes some attractions on the south as well as the east coast: Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach, and Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. Glacier Lagoon is the most famous lagoon in all of Iceland, also known as Jökulsárlón. You can watch icebergs break off from the glacier and float away into the ocean.
During the first and second nights, the tour guides will do everything they can to help you catch a glimpse of the northern lights. This includes tracking them, driving you to a good location for viewing, and more.
Link to tour booking: Three Day Ice Cave, Golden Circle, South Coast, and Northern Lights Tour.
Kayaking around the Glacier Lagoon on a tour
6) General Ice Cave Information
What is an ice cave? Just imagine a cave made out of ice in your mind, and there you have it! There really is not much more of a technical definition. An ice cave is a cave made out of ice (or at least a cave that is made mostly out of ice). How does an ice cave form? In the summer season as glaciers are melting, the meltwater has to flow somewhere. It then digs into the ice and forms tunnels as it flows through and away from the glacier. Some of these tunnels stay in their “tunnel-like” shape and thus form an ice cave.
Arguably, the most popular ice cave in Iceland is the Crystal Ice Cave located in Vatnajökull National Park. For reference, it is also sometimes referred to as the Crystal Blue Ice Cave. The cave has risen in popularity due to the fact the ice appears transparent in some places and holds a striking blue color in others. (Check out tour options number four and five above if you want to visit the Crystal Ice Cave).
If Frozen is one of your favorite Disney movies or Elsa is one of your favorite Disney princesses (or queens), then you must visit an ice cave when you travel to Iceland. You might just feel as though you entered the world of Arendelle.
Where are the Ice Caves Located in Iceland
Ice caves are located in various places throughout Iceland, though generally you can find them in eastern, southeastern, and western Iceland.
First, Vatnajökull Glacier is located near Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in eastern Iceland. Vatnajökull Glacier holds the famous Crystal Ice Cave as well as the Skaftafell Ice Caves. Second, Mýrdalsjökull Glacier is located near Vík in southeastern Iceland. Mýrdalsjökull Glacier holds the popular Katla Ice Cave as well as the newer Askur Ice Cave. For reference, the Katla Ice Cave might be the second most popular ice cave in Iceland. Third, Langjökull Glacier is located in western Iceland, just a bit north of the Golden Circle. Langjökull Glacier holds human-made ice tunnels.
How to Get to the Ice Caves in Iceland
Some of the ice caves mentioned above are only accessible during certain periods of the year, for example the winter season (and possibly the shoulder months of late fall and early spring). However, a few of the best ice caves in Iceland are accessible via a tour all year-round. For example, the Katla Ice Cave in Mýrdalsjökull Glacier and human-made tunnels in Langjökull Glacier are generally always accessible. I say “generally” because conditions can change at any time that render the ice caves inaccessible.
A very important note: you should never enter an ice cave alone. Changing temperatures and conditions can make an ice cave become dangerous at any point in time. Therefore, you should only enter an ice cave in Iceland with a professional guide on a tour. On a positive note, that means you do not have to plan on getting to the ice cave all by yourself. You can easily book a tour (might I suggest one of the five best ice cave Iceland tours mentioned above?) that will provide all transportation needed.
Equipment Needed / What to Wear
First and foremost, your tour should provide you with all necessary equipment for your visit to one of the best ice caves in Iceland. You thus don’t have to worry about the equipment side of things. Though just for informational purposes, your tour might provide you with a mixture of the following equipment depending on the ice cave and current conditions: crampons, boots, helmet, ice axe, etc.
In terms of what to wear when going on a tour to one of the best ice caves in Iceland, I recommend warm, waterproof layers with comfortable yet sturdy shoes. As you can imagine, stepping inside of an ice cave is just about the opposite feeling of stepping inside of a sauna. Prepare for cold weather so that you do not feel cold! Moreover, it is best practice for all of your clothing to be waterproof. Since the roof of the cave is also made of ice, it is very common for water droplets to drop down and onto any unassuming traveler below.
Taking in the views at the Glacier Lagoon
7) BONUS: Top Attractions in Iceland
I know, I just can’t help myself. I HAVE to tell you about a few of the top (aka my favorite) attractions in Iceland, particularly within the Golden Circle and along the south coast. Why those two regions specifically? A few of the tours above enter those regions, so I wanted to highlight some more attractions there if you have additional time to explore.
Top Attractions in the Golden Circle, Iceland
- Thingvellir National Park: park that contains a rift between tectonic plates (and a snorkeling opportunity)
- Geysir Hot Springs: fumaroles, geysirs, boiling mud pits, and more!
- Gullfoss: waterfall with a trail alongside it (if you are lucky, you might also catch a rainbow)
- Flúðir Tarn: lake on top of a mountain
- Kerid Crater: volcanic crater with a small lake at the bottom
Top Attractions along the South Coast, Iceland
- Gljúfrabúi and Seljalandsfoss: waterfall within a gorge and waterfall with a path behind it
- Skógafoss: one of the most majestic waterfalls in all of Iceland
- Seljavallalaug Pool: geothermal pool alongside a river
- DC-3 Plane Wreck: remnants of a navy plane wreckage on the beach
- Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach: black sand beach with basalt rock columns caves and sea stacks
- Vík: coastal town with black sand beaches
- Yoda Cave: shaped like Yoda the cave is
- Laufskálavarða: lava ridge with stone cairns
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Do not miss out on other excursions in Iceland: 5 Best Iceland Tours for Excursions.
Book a separate Golden Circle tour today: 7 Best Golden Circle Tour Options in Iceland.
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