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About Tour

Hop on a super jeep to explore the Katla ice cave on Myrdalsjokull Glacier!

Highlights

  • Scenic Super Jeep Ride
  • Glacier hike on Myrdalsjokull glacier
  • Visiting a natural glacier Ice Cave
  • Epic Landscapes
  • Seljalandsfoss waterfall (From Reykjavik only)
  • Skogafoss waterfall (From Reykjavik only)

Looking for something off the typical tourist track? Then this is the tour for you!

It's time to jump in a Super Jeep, strap on your crampons, and step into the mighty glaciers and ice caves of South Iceland.

 

The Ice Cave Under the Volcano | Myrdalsjokull, Iceland.

 

Prepare for movie-like landscapes and jaw-dropping sights like nothing you've ever done before. We'll hike across the Myrdalsjokull glacier, then visit the amazing blue and black ice cave of the Kötlujökull glacier on Mt. Katla.

Mother Nature has really outdone herself with this one!

This tour is offered either as a meet-on-location tour from Vik or with a pick-up from Reykjavik. Please specify which option you prefer in checkout.

Availability All Year
Duration 3 / 11 Hours
Departs From Vík / Reykjavik
Level Easy Suitable for most people in fair condition.
Minimum age 6 years
Ratio 1:14
Meet on Location Yes
Pick Up Yes

From

174
Per
Adult

Please Select When Booking:

You have selected From Vik

Meet us at Vik

You have selected From Reykjavik

What's included

Included

  • Super Jeep Ride
  • Visit to a Natural Ice Cave
  • Crampons for Walking on Ice
  • All Required Safety Equipment
  • English Speaking Licensed Adventure Guide

What to bring

  • Sturdy hiking shoes
  • Warm clothing
  • Waterproof jacket and pants
  • Headwear
  • Gloves

Not Included

  • Meals (You will be able to buy snacks during the stop at the gas station)

Itinerary

Information

happy explorer visiting Icelandic volcano

Mýrdalsjökull glacier is one of the best-known in Iceland, from which the alluring Kötlujökull glacier originates. Kötlujökull is named after the robust Icelandic Volcano Katla, covered by the glacier. The enormous mass of ice has been slowly crawling down from the volcano mountain, creating some of Iceland’s most impressive natural ice caves. On this exhilarating Super Jeep tour, you will get to explore the wonders of this stunning natural phenomenon. You will see why as soon as you step in!

Once picked up, it's time to move towards glaciers, there will be a stop at the gas station where you could buy some snacks or drinks. The drive starts on the famous Road 1, but soon we will make a turn to what seems like a no man's land. Stunning glaciers and mountains will surround us along the way. The super jeep has no problem taking on the rough and rugged road, but the drive is exciting nonetheless.

We will come to a stop near the roots of the Kötlujökull glacier, and the view that greets us is otherworldly. We will take on our crampons and helmets and take a short walk to the ice cave's opening. We might need to climb a few steps on ladders to the cave entrance. As the natural ice cave constantly changes, conditions can differ on each tour. However, the climb is not challenging at all, and anyone in an average physical condition should be able to climb these steps. It might look adventurous at first, but it is not demanding at all!

Beautiful layers of different colored ice and volcanic ash unfold from the ice as we come closer to the cave, painting impressive stripes in the glacier. Your guide will tell you all about the glacier's history, the ice cave, and the area around it, making the tour educating and exciting all at once.

white super jeep tour in Iceland

When we are back out from the glacier, we will walk around and see if any smaller ice caves are accessible before returning to our super truck. The drive back to Vik is an amazing one, and in wintertime, the sun will start to sit behind the mountains creating a magical wintery sunset. Make sure to bring your camera!

For those choosing the roundtrip pick-up from Reykjavik

If daylight allows us (from the 1st of February until the 15th of November), we will swing by some majestic waterfalls. We’ll stop by the Eerie waterfall of Skógafoss, the inspiration for dozens of folklore tales located in the beautiful Skógar area. We recommend hiking up the right side of the waterfall to see the troll’s face that stares at the waterfall for all eternity after forgetting time and turning into stone, admiring Skógafoss.

We will also stop (all year round) at the stunning Seljalandsfoss waterfall, the one you can walk behind. Seljalandsfoss is located on the Seljalands River, which flows down from the famous volcano, Eyjafjallajökull!

Please note: Due to limited daylight periods, we cannot stop at Skógafoss in wintertime (from the 16th of November until the 31st of January). Only from the 1st of February until the 15th of November do we stop at both of the waterfalls on this tour. The meet-on-location tour (from Vík) includes no other stops but the Ice cave.

Warm clothing is absolutely essential! Please bring warm and waterproof clothing, warm headwear, gloves, and sturdy shoes, as there is no opportunity to rent any clothing items for this tour.

We’ll arrive back in Reykjavik around 8:00 p.m.

If you select the pickup option, our tour guide will pick you up at your chosen meeting location in the city.

If you choose to meet the tour at Vik, our tour guide will connect with you at the bus parking lot behind the Icewear Magasin building (facing the sea) in Vik, South Iceland. The guide will be standing outside in the parking lot in front of the “Ice Cave Bistro / Restaurant in Vik” by a Super Jeep with an Arctic Adventures sign in the front window.

Contact us for more Information about this tour

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Reviews

4.7
Based on 43 reviews

Katla Ice Cave (Under The Volcano) Tour

1- of 43 reviews

Worth doing

Reviewed on January 16, 2022 by dee Review from Tripadvisor

Great superjeep experience! U can actually se the power of this kind of car! Great guide! He answered all questions… the great thing was the fact that we were a small group so he took good care of us.
We saw the caves and we even went up the glacier to visit a small cave

Amazing trip, exceeding expectations

Reviewed on December 08, 2021 by Steve B Review from Tripadvisor

An amazing tour with perfect conditions. We attended this tour at the 10am slot and were very happy we did as there were only 4 of us which made for a very surreal trip on to a glacier whilst it was snowing. Our tour guide was excellent and very informative and patient. We never flet rushed so had plenty of time to look around and take photos. We visited some amazing sections of the glacier and even went through a couple ice caves. Very enjoyable 3 hour trip, and exceeded expectations

Great Value and Friendly Guides!

Reviewed on November 24, 2021 by Anne C Review from Tripadvisor

I spent a lot of time researching tours in Iceland, and settled on Arctic Adventures for the price and experience. They offered excellent value and we would travel with them again. I wish I had driven to Vik and met the tour there. The bus wasn't comfortable and we drove four hours round trip. At the same time, I didn't have to deal with black ice, so that was a plus!

The super Jeep trip was thrilling and the views were spectacular. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the geological history of the area and made the trip particularly fun. On the Arctic Adventure webpage, it states that the caves shift over time, and no particular experience is guaranteed. I understand this, but we weren't able to walk fully into a cave in the way the photos represented. We peered in.

Even so, this was a wonderful experience.

We thoroughly enjoyed our Katla Ice Cave tour

Reviewed on November 11, 2021 by Scott.d.parsons From our post-trip system

We thoroughly enjoyed our Katla Ice Cave tour with our hilarious and down to earth tour guide, who clearly had a lot of passion for the glaciers and his native country. Our group was only 8 people so we were able to explore three different sites including a newly formed ice cave from a few weeks ago which we loved navigating through. The views, weather, time of tour (3ish hours) and information provided to us during the tour were all explemary. I would highly recommend this tour and we would definitely do it again next time we visit Iceland! Thanks a lot 😊 (5*)

If and when we visit Iceland again, we’ll be sure to book with Artic Adventures again.

Spectacular

Reviewed on October 27, 2021 by S0fie2 Review from Tripadvisor

This was a long day, but such an excellent tour. The ice cave was a bit small as it was new, however none the less spectacular. We went in the ice cave in small groups of 2-4 and were given as much time as we needed. The highlight of the tour for my children (12 and 15) was the walk on the glacier to get to the cave. The surroundings were so beautiful and well worth the long bus ride. Our super jeep driver and guide was entertaining and informative and we felt very safe with him. The two waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss we stopped at during the bus ride were also great, but could not compare to the surroundings at the glacier. Before going I had a few questions about the tour and all my questions were answered swiftly by the company.

Disappointing Tour, Not Worth the Cost

Reviewed on October 17, 2021 by HeardItBothWays Review from Tripadvisor

My husband and I took the Katla Volcano Ice Cave Tour from Vik and we were very disappointed with the experience. It wasn't informative and was a poorly-run tour, overall, and most definitely not worth the cost.

The tour started with a "Super Jeep" ride, which is really a van on huge wheels into which they shoved 14 of us during the pandemic. Most wore masks but some did not, and no one was told to wear them. The van was uncomfortable with so many people and I ended up with bruises from being squashed in the last row with 3 other people. The van was so loud that we couldn't hear any of the audio from our guide, so we, unfortunately, didn't get to learn anything on our tour. This continued on the hike itself since we were the last to get out of the last row of the van and ended up towards the back of the hiking line with one other couple behind us.

We travel pretty regularly and take tours often but this is the first tour we've ever taken in which nothing was explained to us about the plan for the tour itself. We didn't know how long we'd be hiking, if/when we could stop for photos, or what the plan was for the cave ahead of time. We felt the hike itself was pretty rushed and no time was really left to take in the view and take any pictures. The cave was much smaller than expected (which was fine, it's nature and we don't expect it to accommodate us) but I'm not really sure why we were sent into a tiny cave with two other people instead of just letting each pair go in on their own since we only had a minute or two in there, max. The cave looks much larger in the photos - be aware, it's only a small few feet of ice cave that fits no more than 2-3 people at a time.

The time at the top was somewhat wasted. Someone who was ahead of us in line started using his drone and we didn't because we didn't think there would be time (and our guide had explained nothing to the group). There would have been plenty of time because our guide actually spent about 10+ minutes giving directions to a couple on our tour while we all waited around and tried to stay out of the way of the next group that had arrived with their guide and started to go into the cave. We were literally standing around in the same spot waiting for our guide.

For the amount we paid ($155 USD per person), it was a real disappointment. We learned absolutely nothing because we couldn't hear our guide and he spent more time giving directions to a couple than addressing the rest of the group.

We informed Arctic Adventures who apologized, thanked us for the feedback, and blamed South Coast Adventure, who apparently ran the tour. They didn't offer any partial refund for the bad experience.

Definitely not recommended.

Disappointed

Reviewed on October 11, 2021 by Dr Ed Review from Tripadvisor

O RR all this was a fun day but it is not what they advertise. The pictures make it look like you are walking into a large ice cave that goes for a long way. They have you wear helmets etc to further make you think you are entering a cave. In reality it is what looks like a man made ice. Ave that goes back perhaps 20 feet. Disappointing to the 6 in my party. The guide was great and informative snd he saved the trip by making it fun but for $155 each it was not what they make it appear to be.

An amazing experience in Iceland!

Reviewed on September 27, 2021 by Brenna and Amir From our post-trip system

We wanted to thank both of the tour guides for best time in Iceland! Everyone was so friendly and plenty of jokes and laughs to go around! From pick up to drop off it was great to talk with everyone and see the lovely scenic views. When we met in the parking lot, the winds were blowing and the skies were very over cast but by the time we got to the glacier, it’s like some Nordic prayers had been answered! The skies opened up and it was an amazing view, from the mountains to the glacier and then an amazing rainbow at the very end! As we talked about on our walk to the glacier, you CANNOT take a bad picture (unless you cover the camera with your finger 😂). We could not have asked for a better time and experience to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary ! Thank you both for such an amazing time and we cannot wait to join you both again in a few years!

A GREAT tour guide is a must!!!

Reviewed on September 27, 2021 by Tham L Review from Tripadvisor

Just 3 gals taking a road trip across Iceland! Booked this tour and had THE BEST guide. Enter Hawk! Yep, That’s the short version of his name. Offered great information, most of which may have been real or BS, but we didn’t care. He had us cracking up and the 3 hours flew by. Hope to see him agin next time! Hawk, we are posting your pictures here for you!!

Wonderful and very unique hiking experience

Reviewed on September 23, 2021 by SVPal123 Review from Tripadvisor

I am very glad I booked the tour. It was a unique experience for me and unlike any outdoor activity I had done before. The ride in a super jeep, The drive through the black sand desert leading up to the glacier, walking on sheets of ice up to and into the ice cave, everything was very unique for me.

The guide was funny and willing to answer the questions. He gave good information and instructions about the use of crampons, how to walk on ice etc.

If the photos you see as part of the tour advertisements are your only criteria to go on this tour, then expect to see a different site when you get there. The face of the glacier keeps changing and so do the ice caves.

The Ice Cave Under The Volcano - Katla Icecave Tour From Vík

Reviewed on September 21, 2021 by Shailesh From our post-trip system

I am glad I was able to book the tour and be a part of it. I joined the tour in Vik. The guide was knowledgeable and funny, gave good info and was willing to answer questions. He provided good and easily understandable instructions to use the helmets, crampons and general instructions about hiking on ice. The tour itself was a very unique experience for me. The highlights being riding in a super jeep through the black sand desert; and hiking over sheets of ice at the base of the glacier leading to the ice cave.

Katla cave adventure

Reviewed on September 17, 2021 by M. Pansare From our post-trip system

Was very fortunate to go on the excursion to Katla Ice cave. Our guide was very professional and knowledgable. He took the time to provide us with a history of Iceland, the cave and volcanoc formations, and their relevance in the chain. The ride from Reykjavik was especially fun in the Superjeep, all the way to the cave base camp. Kudos to Arctic Adventures for devising an excellent trip.

Magical and Beautiful Katla Ice Cave,

Reviewed on June 25, 2021 by chinadoll19us Review from Tripadvisor

This was one of the highlights of my trip to Iceland, Best tour to see beautiful Katla Ice Cave in summer. Words cannot describe the colors of the ice formations on the cave and surrounding rivers and snow and gravel roads to get there. Our driver was a hero. On that day he drove us through rain and slushy ice. You have to walk through the snow to reach the Ice Cave. Literally like a scene from Star Wars. You see the Blue Ice Cave from a far. Magical and Beautiful,

KATLA ICE CAVE - stunning, a must ser

Reviewed on August 15, 2020 by Lorenzo M Review from Tripadvisor

We did the katla ice cave tour from Vik.
It probably was the most wonderful experience we have ever had.
A 40 minute drive in a super-jeep in a lunar environment kickstarted the tour. Then we roamed around on foot at the bottom of thr glacier, walking on ice and volcanic ash. Then we entered the cave. It has wonderful colors. It’s tricky to walk inside so you have to remember yourself to stop and enjoy the moment and don’t just look down at your feet on small wood bridges on a glacial river.
The guide was amazing. Vert funny and loved his sense of humor. Also very explicative about what we saw.
10/10 would recommend, as in the summer this is one of the few ice caves open to tourists. Probably in winter there are more spectacular ones.

Breathtaking views

Reviewed on June 15, 2020 by Craig E Review from Tripadvisor

Our Under the Volcano Katla Ice Cave Tour with Villi was one of the highlights of our trip! From the exciting Super Jeep ride, with a soundtrack to match, to hiking inside the glacier cave, enjoying an Icelandic song sung by the drivers, the breathtaking scenery and sliding down the side of the glacier it was a day to remember!

Interesting and funny Katla Ice Cave Tour

Reviewed on March 12, 2020 by Daniela M Review from Tripadvisor

Our tour guide was knowledgeable and funny. The ice cave was so beautiful. We had enough time to explore the cave on our own for taking many photos. At the end of the tour we had the possibility to slide down the mountain, just sitting in deep snow and sliding. That was really funny. I highly recommend this tour and I am looking forward to booking a tour with Arctic Adventures again.

It is more an adventure than a learning experience

Reviewed on March 12, 2020 by Archie From our post-trip system

Both the tour guides were bold and brazen. They were just dudes having fun which made the rest of us part take in it. The social aspect and the games were what was very exciting. It was less a learning experience and more a crazy fun adventure. Keep hiring these cool dudes. They make these tours less a tour and more an adventure.

Amazing experience

Reviewed on March 03, 2020 by Sanela Arezina From our post-trip system

This was such an amazing experience. Our tour guide “John” ( I just don’t remember his actual name) was absolutely awesome. He took us on a little bit longer walk so we could experience the cave by ourselves and it was absolutely gorgeous! He was so nice, explaining everything to us, answering our questions and making us laugh! On our way back he “made” us slide down the hill to get to our car and that was super fun! Definitely will use this company again!

Totally worth the long haul.

Reviewed on January 07, 2020 by Lisa T Review from Tripadvisor

I must admit, after riding in a bus for hours, I did not enjoy being crammed in the back of a van for a very bumpy ride to the glacier. (It was New Year's Day and I was a bit hungover) But as I stepped out, and looked at the beauty around me, I knew it would be all worth it. Our guides were friendly, hilarious. They kept us safe without taking away from the adventure. Best photos of the trip, hands down.

My favourite tour!

Reviewed on November 21, 2019 by Krishna From our post-trip system

I loved this tour! We had really funny guides for the ice cave (I think one was named Gilly and I don’t know the other one’s name but he was excellent - he had a ponytail and a long beard. He was hilarious and made the drive to the cave and glacier so much fun!). This was a wonderful experience and one of the highlights of my trip!

Great Tour! Great guides!

Reviewed on November 15, 2019 by BethFolsom Review from Tripadvisor

We don't normally do tours of any sort, but we are very happy that we chose this excursion. We got to revisit a few spots we had seen on our last trip to Iceland. But the trip to and through the ice cave was something we would have never attempted on our own. An incredible experience, made even more memorable because of the guides. Kata was our main driver, and she was friendly, informative and entertaining. (and an excellent driver!) We do not remember the name of the guide who brought us through the cave itself, but he was great as well. Walking on ice while equipped with crampons was a new and very positive experience.
It was a long bus ride back, but well worth it. Especially because we did not have to drive in the rain/snow and darkness.

A must do!!!

Reviewed on November 14, 2019 by Mariana O Review from Tripadvisor

We booked this tour from Vik and it was simply perfect!!!
The guide picked us up punctually and we drove for about 30 min. on the road before beginning the adventure of driving in virgin snow. The view was simply breathtaking.
Once we arrived at the volcano we were given a helmet, crampons and safety instructions. Basically to stay together.
It’s a safe and easy trekking for all ages... even for those not in top shape. 😉
The guide was funny, helpful and had wonderful stories.
It’s a small group tour which was great for us, since we were 7 friends.
We’ve done trekking at glaciers and this tour is by far, a more complete experience.
Simply amazing and would strongly recommend it!!!

Not to be missed

Reviewed on November 06, 2019 by Regina H Review from Tripadvisor

Plan for beautiful scenery a long day but well worth it. We get to see some beautiful waterfalls the Blacksand beach acquaint little town. A little off-road adventure and then the adventure begins with the crampons on. Your guide reminds you to be safety minded and he watches you to be sure you’re safe. Information about the glacier is given in the van on the way it to the glacier and all through the glacier they give you information on how the cave with formed. There is only one cave that you walk through to an opening and you’re inside the glacier. Nice photo opportunities. I’m 65 years old and overweight and yet I was able to do the tour safely. Actually this was the highlight of my trip. Iceland is very interesting the people are very nice and I enjoyed Iceland very much the short time I was there. Regina H

One of the best excursions ever

Reviewed on October 28, 2019 by UlstermaninNorfolk Review from Tripadvisor

My 17 year old son and I did this trip to the ice caves. I’ve been to Iceland three times now and I have to say there was something very special about the ice cave. We even saw a waterfall inside the cave. A truly, very special place.

Magnificent Ice Cave Tour

Reviewed on October 23, 2019 by smorrisve0fc Review from Tripadvisor

We chose to go to see an ice cave on our latest trip to Iceland. We took a tour out of Vik which was near our accommodations. It was a half hour drive to the glacier and on the way, our guides gave us information about the area and what to expect when we got there. We got to see a new ice cave as well as the original ice cave. We then climbed a bit more up the glacier and saw a crevasse that was forming. A fun day and a very enjoyable outing!

Great tour visiting the beautiful (melting ;( ) icecaves

Reviewed on October 02, 2019 by Schurfie Review from Tripadvisor

We had a great time at the glacier and ice caves. It is a long journey from reykjavik and we already did southern iceland tour because we wanted to visit black sand beach. So for us most of the journey waz a bit the same except the ice cave ofcourse! Im the beginning of the tour people were a bit confused because our group would split in 3 but we all travelled with the same bus. The tourguides at the glacier were very friendly and funny. Walking on the glacier was exciting but the glacier is melting so fast! Overall we had an awesome day!

This is a MUST DO!

Reviewed on September 19, 2019 by MAM Review from Tripadvisor

Took Katla Ice Cave tour from Vik. Boarded the Super Jeep for a 40 minute very very bumpy ride to the cave. Were given crampons and flashlights. Visited 2 ice caves. It was interesting to hear that the cave was continually changing and would be different the following day. Slightly scary crossing flimsy planks. Beautiful ice caves with beautiful colors. Enjoyed having plenty of time to look around. This was a definite highlight of our trip to Iceland.

Highly Recommend!

Reviewed on August 03, 2019 by megancutter Review from Tripadvisor

This tour was awesome - I would highly recommend!

First, Arctic Adventures was very helpful when my friend and I couldn't find the meeting place where we were supposed to connect with the guide. They called me directly and were able to transfer me to the guide and I was able to meet up with them! I had been worried we would miss the tour and so appreciated this extra effort!

Once the tour began our guide Villy was great! He shared lots of interesting facts and tidbits about Iceland, Vik and the glacier itself.

The ice cave is beautiful! The weather that day was a bit stormy so it was not as breathtaking as it might have been if it were sunny but the cave is still an amazing sight!

Ice Cave Under the Volcano, Katla Ice Cave Tour from Vik

Reviewed on June 03, 2019 by Edward Review from Tripadvisor

This is one tour no tourist should leave Iceland without attending!
Gives us a sense of the power of Mother Nature, and at the same time how humans are causing so much damage with global warming. Highly recommended!

This is the one to go on

Reviewed on April 11, 2019 by fnct Review from Tripadvisor

Our guide was excellent and the other people on the tour were great to be with.

It is really impressive to drive on a glacier to the area of the ice cave. Short hike to the cave and it is just amazing from there. The end had a good twist, that I am sure you will enjoy.

Amazing tour with personable guides that we really connected with

Reviewed on February 16, 2019 by travelchica7 Review from Tripadvisor

We had one morning to do a tour to the Katla Ice Caves close to Vik, and we had a tour booked with a competitor's company. That tour got cancelled last minute, and as we were standing at the tour meeting spot, we scrambled to find an alternative. Arctic Adventures saved the day by fitting us in to their last 2 spots for that morning, and 10 minutes later we were on our way. All I can say is, wow! We had such a great connection with the guides, and they made the trip extra fun for us. I can't speak highly enough of the entire experience, we literally hugged our guide goodbye at the end of the tour. Takk fyrir!! Thank you Arctic Adventures. You saved the day for my husband's birthday!

Spectacular!

Reviewed on February 12, 2019 by Lynn Marie F Review from Tripadvisor

Be prepared for a long day, but it is well worth it. The ice cave was spectacular. Much larger than we expected it to be. Our super jeep driver, Hilgi, was very entertaining. The stops at two waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss were dicey as it was VERY cold and windy and footing was very slippery with ice. But, they are magnificent. I took off one star for the pick up. We stood in the cold for over an hour waiting to be picked up and also got a call asking us to go to another pick up spot after we had been waiting for 45 minutes.

History, Folklore, and Adrenaline!

Reviewed on January 19, 2019 by C_Razzano Review from Tripadvisor

We brought my niece to Iceland for her graduation trip and this was absolutely her highlight! The trip began with a minibus ride out to Vik. Our driver/guide was Yannis, a lovely Greek expat with a big smile and a knack for storytelling. He spent the 2+ hour drive entertaining us with history and folklore about trolls and elves. I learned more about Iceland from Yannis than I did from any of my other tours. As you leave before sunrise, experiencing it across the breathtaking terrain of the south coast is just something you shouldn't miss. We had a literally picture perfect day. I found myself time and again in awe of the beauty around me. Yannis reminded us to take advantage of the bathroom when you have it and we stopped once at a gas station where you can pick up food for lunch and use the facilities. When we arrived at Vik, fortunately we were ahead of schedule. There is a nice large wool outlet store there and some restaurants. If you have time, you can explore them and eat. OR you can also explore the black sand beach and stunning scenery of the town. We managed to do a bit of both.

Next we met up with our cave guide, Magnus or as we eventually called him "Mad Max!" He was simply THE BEST! We climbed up into our massive Mad Max type truck (thus starting to inspire the name) and, after waiting for a couple that didn't show, we were lucky to have a very small group of seven. This gave us a lot more wiggle room in terms of enjoying our time. Max was super friendly, charming, funny and very helpful to everyone on the tour. He answered all our questions and took individual time to make sure each of us were ok and enjoying ourselves. I especially appreciated that he took extra time to look after my sister who was struggling a bit walking in the deeper snow. Inside the caves, he helped with photos and gave tips on getting around and where to go. Our group had great camaraderie and we all worked together to find our way back into the caves, crawling, ducking, and pointing out interesting finds that others might have missed in the dark. We reveled in the moment, recognizing we're in an ice cave on a volcano due to erupt at any moment. Once we finished up inside, we did some hiking outside to find perfect photo spots. One such spot happened to be atop of a small hill... for which Mad Max then created a toboggan for us all to slide down. His positive energy was genuinely infectious. We just truly had such a fun day filled with wonder and laughter and adventure thanks to Yannis and Mad Max.

Cool, and somewhat amazing.

Reviewed on January 12, 2019 by jaidazzles Review from Tripadvisor

Started out early morning, at 8:30 (or was it 8am???). We visited in December, so four hours of daylight... that's something else! :-). The tour guide/driver was giving information almost the enter drive. Just enough talking to past the time, but not too much that it was overkill. He was friendly, and asked kindly that we stick to the time given while off the bus at each stop. He asked everyone to buckle up, on what was a normal bus, the was comfortable enough. Nothing broken in my area. I unfortunately can not remember his name :-(. We arrived at Seljalandsfoss at about 11:20 am. By then it was light out, so we were able to get some good pictures, and see the waterfall. We were also able to walk behind the curtain, but had to rush back to the bus, so be warned your have about 20 minutes to get a good picture, walk/climb behind the curtain, and get back on the bus when there with about 100 other people doing the exact same thing. Next stop was dropping off other visitors from our bus to do a hike on a glacier near the cave we were going to explore. We had about 10 minutes to walk up to this opening and get some pretty shots, then it was off to Vik. There we were able to eat, and visit a black sand beach before heading to the cave in a super jeep. At this point, we got a different tour guide, who was just as informative and friendly, again unfortunately I can not remember his name.

The ride to the cave was about another 30-45 minutes, and was isolating (but in a, wow this earth is expansive kind of way). It was just us and another jeep almost the entire time. They took us to two spots, but both were surprisingly smaller than what we anticipated, though BEAUTIFUL.

The guides in both parts of the visit were helpful, friendly, and informative. It was my friends birthday, and while at the cave (I guess they overheard us talking) sang happy birthday to her. It was actually a really good trip, though you spend alot of time on the bus. I'd still recommend it.

It would be unfair to not mention my experience with Arctic Adventures leading up to the trip. Contacting them, and getting answers to questions is something they HAVE to work on. Whenever I go anywhere, I'll contact a company (even airbnb hosts) with questions before booking. With Arctic Adventures, I'd go days without a reply, and even then, not a fully answered response (my friend never received an answer to a question she asked before heading to Iceland). It was frustrating, and I nearly didn't book for this reason. in contrast, the tour guides were helpful, and answered by my questions, just a shame because they nearly lost business over something that could be easily fixed.

Wet and cold, but LOTS of fun! unlike any other tour in Iceland!

Reviewed on January 06, 2019 by sarakkd Review from Tripadvisor

we drove ourselves from the main city to Vik and met up with the tour group to board their "super van". The guide was not very personable and had very little to say, at all, but he also appeared to not be feeling well. The experience though, was really amazing! We drove out to the staging area, then put our crampons on our hiking boots (waterproof boots, a MUST!!), hard hats on, and I also had hiking sticks with me (from #REI, which I am very grateful for, in retrospect!). We hiked across streams of melting glacier and to the area where we all climbed into the cave. THIS IS NOT FOR THOSE OUT OF SHAPE OR PRONE TO BEING. A FALL RISK... it was the most strenuous adventure we did of our entire trip!
The Ice Cave is a natural one, and the colors, formations are unlike what we experienced in the man made cave in the glacier in the South area. IT was a magical experience to have! It was not at all necessarily safe, as a giant ice formation collapsed almost on top of my 17 year old daughter, we were ALL IN SHOCK! the ice cave is melting, rapidly, and the opportunity to see this will not be here for long.... I DO recommend.

Great tour, a little pricey

Reviewed on November 12, 2018 by elizzyt Review from Tripadvisor

We chose this short excursion after our longer snowmobiling ice cave tour with Arctic Adventures was cancelled a few days before (which we were VERY disappointed about, and not given much information on the nature of the cancellation). I would say that this excursion is definitely a beautiful and worthwhile trip- I got some of the best photographs of our vacation here! The natural ice cave really is amazing and the landscape is breath-taking!

I do think the tour is over-priced for what you get (1.5 hr round trip drive to the glacier in a Super Jeep, about 20 minutes in the small ice cave, and about 15 minute walk around outside). I was hoping there would be more given that we spent about $160 USD on the trip...and we felt a bit rushed out of the ice cave when the next tour arrived after about 15 minutes, which was unfortunate. If we had more time after our first excursion was cancelled, I think the snowmobile trip would have been a better choice with more bang for the buck. Overall, I would say this excursion was a great addition to our vacation and definitely still worth the time and money if you can not fit in a longer tour. Thanks Arctic Adventures for a fun trip!

Amazing Experience

Reviewed on October 23, 2018 by DayTrip304082 Review from Tripadvisor

It was a really good experience to go inside an Ice cave and se the magnificence of the Katla volcano and mýrdalsjökull glacier. I recommend everyone who visits Iceland to do it!

A Prefect Day With Mind-Blowing Katla Glacier Ice Cave, Sunshine, Rainbow And Excellent Guides

Reviewed on August 30, 2018 by Sha L Review from Tripadvisor

I was so lucky to visit Katla Ice Cave in such a beautiful day with sunshine.
In this tour from Reykjavik, we had two guides, one was to drive us between Reykjavik and Vik. And in Vik, we got on a super jeep with a glacier guide to visit the ice cave.

Our guide Siggi was phenomenal. He is such a friendly, considerate, professional and knowledgeable guide. I learned so much about Iceland from him both in nature and culture. We stopped at Skogafoss waterfall on the way to Vik and on our way back we stopped at Seljalandsfoss waterfall. It was amazing view with rainbows and the waterfalls.

We also had an awesome experience visiting Katla Ice Cave with a professioanl, funny glacier guide Jónas who was so kind to take us on a short but thrilling excursion up and down on the hills with his super jeep. He knows a lot about the glaciers, which made the visit meaningful.

Katla Ice Cave was simply amazing to see. I've ever see an ice cave before, and this is my first time to see the glacier ice and layers up-close. Completely mind-blowing! Our glacier guide explained to us why the glacier ice has such unique veins and colors. And we even saw a waterfall running in the middle the glacier ice! We did a short hike between different spots on black sand, it was fun!

Katla is an active volcano and the idea of visiting an ice cave under it sounds so cool. I am so happy that I had this experience.

Highly recommended!

One of exciting tour in iceland

Reviewed on July 06, 2018 by iamface Review from Tripadvisor

Katla Icecave is one of exciting tour & good place in iceland. i love this place & staff + the guide of organized. the cave itself was good for picture, adventure & visit place. a price is bit high but worth. Love & recommended it for sure

Perfect little adventure

Reviewed on May 20, 2018 by P8je Review from Tripadvisor

We booked the Kátla Ice Cave Tour departing from Vík. We really enjoyed it; the trip was adventurous enough, the scenery magnificent, guide Magnus a perfect host with loads&loads - and than some - of information to share and we got to see a beautiful part of Iceland we otherwise would not have seen. The trip to and from the caves with a monstruous truck was unlike anything we’ve ever done. Magnus made it worth our while, not taking the easier parts of the route. The caves themselves were quite unique with layers upon layers of ice and ashes, all carved in beautiful shapes. It’s not a dangerous trip, quite the contrary, but we didn’t know what to expect and were more than pleasantly surprised. If you have the time, you might want to consider booking this trip.

Beautiful Caves

Reviewed on April 02, 2018 by Keggy13 Review from Tripadvisor

We booked the tour by this name -The Ice Cave Under the Volcano - Katla Ice cave tour from Reykjavik with Artcic Adventures (Dragon glass wasn't on the website when we booked).

This is a long day tour as Katla volcano is some distance from Reykjavik but you are made aware of this when booking. Our guide, James stopped a couple of times on the outward trip and once on the return both giving the opportunity to see a gorgeous waterfall - Seljalandjsfoss and Skogafoss. These weren't advertised with the tour so were bonuses and I don't know if every guide will do this.

The superjeep ride from Vik to the glacier was about 50 minutes (each way) and was a real experience. Helki (our guide) was great fun, driving at extreme angles and sliding around on the ice and generally playing up to the audience! After donning the crampons and helmets, you have a short walk to the caves after parking the jeep. We went into three caves, two small and one slightly larger. All of them were beautiful and it was great to see the formations close up. The general scenery was also fantastic. We spent about 50 minutes to 1 hour at the caves and really enjoyed ourselves. We were shattered but happy on our return to Reykjavik.

Katla Ice Cave

Reviewed on March 22, 2018 by Brittany Review from Tripadvisor

Awesome experience! It does take a long time to get there from Reykjavik, but there are several stops on the way for everyone to stretch and sightsee. The guides were great, getting us safely to the cave in superjeeps, the scenery incredible. One very important detail that I think it would be good for AA to share- there is A LOT of water in and around the caves. It was something I wasn't expecting, and being the clumsy person I am, ended up falling knee deep into a pool in the cave, soaking my boots, and socks. So if, like me, you have a tendency to be the model for Murphy's Law, bring a change of clothing. I will say it didn't take away at all from the rest of the cave exploring, but the ride home wasn't as fun wet from the knees down. Thanks for an absolutely awesome day, AA! It definitely was an experience like none other!

Spectacular views, incredibly unique

Reviewed on February 22, 2018 by VacaMyWay Review from Tripadvisor

Went with friends. Wasn’t sure what to expect but we had a great time. We met the guide in Vik (you can start in Reyk, or join up with them in Vik but it’s two different tickets). Spent about an hour in a super Jeep crossing a large debris field formed from years of Katla eruptions. Parked about a 1/4 mile from the caves and walked to two different caves. Absolutely beautiful. The setting is just as beautiful as the caves. I highly recommend the afternoon tour to catch the golden light across the mountains.

If you go in winter wear proper clothes and a decent pair of hiking boots. Nothing strenuous, but a bit of scrambling around both in and out of the caves.

FAQ

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.

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). During the tour, there will be a stop at the gas station where you could buy snacks and drinks.

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.

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.

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