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Have the experience of a lifetime as you witness crystal blue ice unlike any other in Iceland. This tour is a must-see for people who want to witness the country’s bluest, most captivating ice cave in recent years. Get up close and personal to incredible shades of icy blue while you walk into the depths of the mighty Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest Glacier. Grab at the chance to take fantastic photos to make this special ice cave adventure last a lifetime!
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Jökulsárlón Glacier lagoon is a grand natural spectacle. Its visitors are left in complete awe and if there is ever a moment to bring out your camera it is at the moment you visit the lagoon. An outlet of the vast and magnificent Vatnajokull Glacier, called Breiðamerkurjökull, has retreated back from the edge of the Atlantic carving into the soil beneath it and creating a depression. The meltwater from the glacier then started to fill up the depression and the size of the lagoon has been growing rapidly since then. Icebergs constantly break off the glacier's tip (a process known as ‘calving’), floating majestically in the lagoon before they find their way out to the Atlantic Ocean constructing the most magical display for those who visit.
A visit to a naturally formed Ice Cave is a once in a lifetime experience! The astonishing blue glacial ice caves are only found deep inside of glaciers. They formed by the power of meltwater as it travels through the crevasse channels of a glacier, as the meltwater carves out huge tunnels and holes deep inside the ice. When the cold season comes, the caves that the water left behind freeze completely so that they become stable and safe to visit.
The natural light seeping through the dense ice is unique and it gives the cave an adventurous atmosphere. This is definitely a must-see for everyone and especially photographic enthusiasts!
We pick you up at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in a super jeep and drive to the edge of the glacier where we gear up and get ready for the caving. After a short hike (approx. 20-30 mins), we'll arrive at the magnificent ice cave where you will have about 30-45 minutes (depending on conditions) to explore its wonders at your own pace. You will be wearing a helmet so a smaller hat is definitely recommended for it to fit underneath the helmet.
After we have explored the cave we will start making our way back to the location where you were picked up.
We recommend that you spend the night in the vicinity of Vatnajökull because the road and weather conditions can be unpredictable during winter in Iceland.
The Jokulsarlon Ice Cave tour departs from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon which is located 379km from Reykjavik which means, at least, 4.5 hours drive from Reykjavik in best conditions. Staying close to the glacier lagoon for one night, either before or after you visit the ice cave is therefore not a bad idea.
Return time: You will return to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon approximately 2-3 hours after your pick-up.
Check-in is no later than 15 minutes before the tour starts.
Ice caves are ever-changing natural phenomena that are only accessible during winter when the temperature drops well below zero so the water from the rivers that run underneath the glacier freezes and leaves us with this phenomena to explore. Each year new unique caves are formed in different locations. We will visit one naturally formed ice cave during this tour and the cave we visit is chosen based on conditions and safety each time.
Warm and preferably water-resistant clothing along with good hiking shoes are very important so you can enjoy the tour to its fullest.
Please make sure to follow weather and road conditions before you take off – the weather can be very different just out of the city. Safetravel.is gives warnings for the whole country.
The Into the Glacier tour departs from the Glacier Guides booking hut in Skaftafell National Park and is up to 4 hours in duration. After gearing up for our glacier adventure, we jump on a bus for a short drive to Falljökull glacier (approx. 15-20 minutes). This tour is perfect for those looking to try hiking on a glacier, exploring the crevasses and fascinating ice formations as well as experience what it’s like to be inside a glacier ice cave. This tour is rated easy (2 / 5) and no prior glacier experience is needed to participate on the tour. Participants need to be in good walking condition and be able to walk for 1.5 – 2 hours at a low pace with short breaks.
Your guide will take the time to explain to you the scenery that you are seeing and tell you all there is to know about glaciers.
The into the Glacier tour is a combination tour of glacier hiking and ice cave exploring.
The Crystal Ice Cave tour departs from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and is up to 3 hours in duration. A large off-road jeep will take you to an ice cave located in Breiðármerkurjökull Glacier, an outlet glacier from Vatnajökull. This tour offers you the chance to venture inside one of Vatnajökul’s beautiful crystal ice caves and take photos of its picturesque crystal surroundings. You will then jump back on the super jeep which will return you safely back to Jökulsárlón.
This tour is rated easy and no prior glacier experience is needed to participate on the tour. You will not need to walk as much on this tour as it only includes a short walk to, in and around the glacier for up to approx. 20-30 minutes.
This tour doesn’t include much hiking, it includes exploring the ice cave and offers you the opportunity to take photographs from inside the cave. The ice cave is very beautiful, which makes it very popular with many other operators and tourists, for this reason very reason it is therefore likely that you will be sharing the location with other groups.
If you are looking for a tour that combines a visit to an ice cave with glacier hiking then Into the Glacier is the tour for you.
If you are looking for a tour that will take you directly to an ice cave for some great photo opportunities inside an ice cave then the Crystal Ice Cave tour is the tour for you.
Meet on location means travelling to the location of the tour yourself and then meeting our tour guides rather than being picked up and taken to the location.
Jökulsarlon is situated in the South East of Iceland on the edge of a glacier called Breiðamerkurjökull. It is about a 4.5-hour drive from Reykjavik.
The caves are in a constant change so they might look different from what you see in the picture. Air temperature, sunshine, precipitation, geothermal activity, and many other factors cause significant changes in the formation of the ice caves and this process is exclusively controlled by Mother Nature.
We will visit the best available naturally formed ice cave during this tour and the cave we visit is chosen based on conditions and safety each time.
Iceland is known for colourful weather. It can sometimes show you all 4 seasons in one day.
Dressing for this sort of weather can be a challenge so we always recommend dressing in layers. 3 or 4 upper layers are highly recommended such as a light t-shirt (preferably wool) next to the skin, then a fleece or heavy wool garment, topped off with a waterproof windbreaker.
Jeans are not recommended for our trips as they become very heavy, cold and uncomfortable to wear when they get wet.
Lightweight hiking pants, track pants or long cotton pants are best and then wind/waterproof pants over. We also recommend using sunglasses and sunscreen even if it is cloudy due to the high UV and sunlight reflecting off of the glacier.
You will need sturdy hiking boots that fit crampons for the glacier hiking tours. If you do not own a pair then we rent out good hiking boots as well as a waterproof raincoat and trousers.
We recommend bringing your own backpack on our full day or 1/2 day tours. It’s great to carry a small lunch and some extra clothing.
You can bring your camera along, and you should definitely bring one since the setting on the tour is full of amazing, scenic views.
This is, of course, a personal choice, we have often had pregnant women on our trips. We recommend you take a close look at our trip description and difficulty rating, they will hopefully give you a better idea. It is also good to contact your physician, pregnant women’s health can be quite different. Feel free to contact us if you have further questions or concerns.
We do not provide lunch on any of our trips, so we recommend you bring your own lunch (for the longer trips), snacks and a bottle of water (you can refill it on the trip).
Crampons are metal spikes that we attach to the soles of your hiking shoes, these enable you to walk on the glacier ice without slipping.
Yes, there is a specially trained and certified glacier guide on every ice cave tour that we offer.
The Ice Caves in Iceland are truly magical. If you want to learn more about them this information page on Ice Caves will be a great help.
