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Going on a Raufarhólshellir lava cave and whale watching tour in Iceland is an epic way to experience jaw-dropping nature, spot amazing wildlife, and have an adventure you'll never forget!
Witness the vividly colored walls of Raufarhólshellir cave and get the chance to see the magnificent humpback whales, minke whales, harbor porpoises, seals, or white-beaked dolphins.
On this tour, we’ll take you on two of the most exciting Icelandic experiences - lava-caving and whale-watching combo! Each tour will last for approximately 3 hours. We’ll start the day by picking you up from Reykjavík and heading straight to our first destination, Raufarhólshellir Cave, where we’ll kick off our caving excursion.
After that, we’ll take you to Reykjavík, where you will have approximately half an hour to rest between the tours. You can enjoy your lunch if you have it with you. But if you didn’t take lunch, don't worry—you’ll have the opportunity to buy food on the whale-watching boat.
The whale-watching tour begins at 13:00. You’ll meet our expert guides, who will take you to the prime locations for spotting the whales. All you need to do is keep your eyes open and enjoy the breathtaking experience!
Lava tubes are natural formations that result from the volcanic activity. Raufarhólshellir cave, formed by a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, is one of the longest lava tubes in Iceland, stretching 4,500 feet (1,360 m).
The tunnel is spacious, allowing you to walk comfortably without the need to crawl. Some parts of the cave feature special walking paths and footbridges to make walking easier.
We’ll enter through a narrow entrance and slowly go deeper into the cave, exploring breathtaking rock formations on our way. The most magical view is the walls of the tube. You’ll notice that those are naturally dyed in various shades of red, violet, and turquoise (straight from a fairytale!). This phenomenon occurs due to the minerals accumulating on the walls.
Throughout the entire tour, our experienced guides will share the rich history of the cave, highlight its most impressive features, and ensure your utmost safety!
Iceland is among the best places in the world to watch the whales. In the second part of the tour, we’ll take you on a boat tip to witness those mesmerizing sea creatures up close. Our boats are equipped with both outdoor and indoor viewing areas to ensure the best experience.
Our guides are specially trained to locate marine wildlife and will take you to the best spots based on the sea conditions and the season. This is your best chance to witness those ocean giants!
You’ll be able to see various species of Icelandic whales, including the majestic humpback whales (known for breaching and showing their tails when they dive!).
Additionally, we might spot some curious dolphins, adorable seals, and vibrant puffins (if it's puffin season). If something interests you, don’t hesitate to ask questions!
Our experts will be happy to share insights about the lives of all those fascinating marine creatures.
These are two separate tours and if one of the tours gets canceled, the other will still be available for you to join.
Whale-watching tour
Keep in mind that the season and weather conditions significantly impact the variety of marine species we can spot on each tour. Rest assured, we carefully consider these factors to ensure you get the most out of your experience!
We are dedicated to offering eco-friendly whale-watching experiences that respect the whales' natural habitat. Our skilled captains maintain a safe distance from these majestic creatures to ensure they are not disturbed.
All relevant information for the tour can be found in our snorkelling handbook.
Yes, you can bring a camera, but we recommend to have a waterproof one if you want to have it in the water with you.
If you plan to drive and meet us on location, the meeting point is at the Silfra car park, in Thingvellir National Park.
GPS: 64°15’23.508″N 21°6’58.676″W
Note that the National Park charges a small parking fee of 500 ISK.
We kindly ask you to be at the Silfra car park 15 Minutes prior to your tour starts.
Our guides normally have an underwater camera and usually, take photos during the tour. If you are interested in photos please let your guide know before you go into the water.
You can then buy the photos from your guide at the end of the tour, for a price of 2990 ISK, which includes all the photos from that day. Kindly note that photos cannot be guaranteed. Our customer’s safety and wellbeing is our first priority, and therefore the guide will focus on snorkelers as a priority when in the water and will be taking photos when everyone is comfortable.
No. Unfortunately, glasses don’t create a seal between your face and the mask. We recommend wearing contact lenses instead.
You are not able to participate in the snorkelling tour if you are pregnant.
Yes, the tour is directed in English and therefore you need to be able to understand English to participate.
Some snorkelling tours match with a dive tour, and then you will be in the same area at the same time. You will, however, be in separate groups with separate guides, and won’t be in the water exactly at the same time.
You need to be more than 12 years old. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian booked on the same tour.
You need to know how to swim independently. Because of the dry suit sizes, there are height-weight limitations. The minimum height is 150 cm, and the minimum weight is 45 kg. The maximum height is 200 cm, and the maximum weight is 120 kg.
All participants must have read and followed directions in the Snorkeling in Silfra Handbook
Yes, you must be able to swim independently without a lifejacket, and you must be comfortable in the water.
When snorkelling in Iceland you will be wearing a dry suit, hood and gloves made of neoprene, along with fins, mask and snorkel. This equipment will make it not only possible but also very enjoyable, to stay in the water despite the low temperature. It is a fantastic experience.
No, you don’t need any previous experience to snorkel, but it is important that you can swim independently and that you are comfortable in the water.
Please wear or bring some long underwear and some warm socks. Wool or fleece is the best material to wear. You will be wearing your long underwear and warm socks under the dry suit.
We provide dry suits so that your body stays dry, and you will also wear undergarments to keep you warm. We use high-quality neoprene dry suits from Waterproof International and O´Three. But it is good to know that there is always a small risk that water can enter the dry suit. This is not dangerous but can feel a little cold, so we recommend you bring a spare set of clothes and a towel, just in case. Kindly note that your hands and face will get wet, which is completely normal and not actually that cold.
We provide an undergarment and neoprene dry suit from Waterproof and 0’Three. We also provide a neoprene hood and neoprene wet gloves to protect your head and hands from the cold. You will also be given fins, mask and snorkel.
Our client to guide ratio is one guide for every 6 snorkelers.
The water temperature is 2-4 degrees C (35-37 degrees F) all year round. The water comes from the Langjökull glacier which keeps it nice and cool, and very refreshing!
We use high quality neoprene dry suits from Waterproof International and O´Three.
The tour takes places at Silfra Fissure which is located in Thingvellir National Park.
Yes, there are 2 toilet facilities at Silfra. However, we don’t recommend that you use them for changing, as it can result in long queues.
Sometimes fish venture into Silfra from Þingvallavatn lake, but they will quickly swim back, as they don’t like chilly glacier waters. However, there is plenty of colorful seaweed, including a bright green variety known as “troll hair”, which makes the fissure unlike anything on the surface.
The cave systems in Silfra can be up to 60 m deep. However, your dive in Silfra will be from about 7 to 12 m, and the maximum diving depth that is permitted is 18 m.
