Raufarhólshellir is the fourth-largest and the most visually enjoyable lava cave in Iceland. Join a guided tour where an expert guide will lead you through the 1360-m (4,461-ft) long lava tunnel. Explore rainbow-colored walls and stunning rock formations. A thrilling adventure below the earth, Raufarhólshellir is just a 30-minute drive from Reykjavik.
Raufarhólshellir is a fairytale-like lava tunnel found in the South West of Iceland, only 30 minutes driving from the capital on the road to Þorlákshöfn. Surrounded by moss-covered lava, mountains, and craters, it lures visitors all year round.
The cave is heavenly info form and color, and walking through it is a truly magical experience.
Raufarholshellir Cave is the fourth largest lava tube in Iceland, measuring 1360 m (4,461 ft) at length and 10-30 m (33-98 ft) wide depending on where you are standing.
The ceiling is high (up to 10 m/33 ft), making the cave one of the best caves to visit if you have ever experienced claustrophobia. The average thickness of the lava ceiling is about 12 m (39 ft).
This geological wonder shouldn’t be visited without a guide or a lava cave expert. Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel Small Group Tour is one of the most budget-friendly experiences you can have in Iceland and our expert guides make sure to keep you safe and informed at all times.
The tour takes place only about an hour from Reykjavik so you can easily join the tour on a half-day mission out from the city.
The history of Raufarholshellir Cave starts with a volcanic eruption in the Bláfjöll Mountain Range about 5,200 years ago. The eruption, which is often referred to as the Leitarhraun eruption, created the scene you see today and with it an 11 km (7 mi) long crater row.
Lava tunnels are natural canals that form when active flowing magma starts to harden creating a thin lava crust on top. This lava crust then thickens as more lava flows and results in the formation of the lava tunnel roof. The hot running lava continues to flow through, but the roof stays solid.
When visiting the cave you'll be following the path of the lava, which flowed through the site a few thousand years ago.
Joining a tour to Raufarholshellir is a truly unique experience!
GPS Coordinates: 63.959753° N 21.312831° W
Raufarholshellir is located right off Route 39 which runs off the Ring Road. It's only about 41 km (25 mi) away from Reykjavik.
There are two ways of going about visiting Raufarhólshellir. You can purchase a pick up from us when booking the tour or you can rent a car and drive there on your own.
The drive from Reykjavík to Raufarholshellir is easy as the cave is located just 30 minutes away from the capital.
Exit the city through Norðlingaholt via road 49 and turn right onto road 1. Continue on this road until you see a sign pointing to Þorlákshöfn, road 39. This is where you make a turn and drive for about 18 km (11 mi). There is a well-marked sign by the parking lot right off the road.
Raufarholshellir can be visited multiple times a day all year round and is definitely one of those tours easy to do even when the weather isn’t perfect. Just remember to dress warm, wear sturdy shoes and if you aren’t used to driving in Nordic winter conditions, you might want to consider getting the pickup service extra.
In winter you can see all sorts of magical icicles and ice formations scattered around the cave, some of them sticking right up from the ground but others hanging from the ceiling, a true winter paradise.
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