Ice Cave Day Trips from Reykjavik
If there is one interesting attraction to visit in Iceland in winter, it is the ice caves. I show you the best tours to visit these amazing places.
![Ice Cave Day Trips from Reykjavik](https://res.cloudinary.com/hello-tickets/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto,w_1300/v1665026485/q05ttj2v7gf6ltbn39cl.jpg)
Ice Caves | ©Eric Lo
Ice caves are formations that are created in Iceland's glaciers during the winter. They are a unique attraction that I recommend you include in your itinerary of things to see and do in Reykjavík as they remind you of the power of nature.
During the excursions to these caves you will have the opportunity to learn about the most important geological aspects that make this phenomenon possible. The tour inside the caves will leave you with a lot of pictures that you will keep forever in your memories, definitely one of the best tours in Reykjavik to see and enjoy.
1. Three-day excursion to the Golden Circle and the Blue Ice Caves
![Iceland's Golden Circle| ©wandereringJ](https://res.cloudinary.com/hello-tickets/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto,w_768/v1665021967/post_images/Reykjavik%20-%20134/%20Snorkeling/geiser-islandia-circulo-dorado_Cropped.jpg)
Of course the Golden Circle is one of the experiences you can't miss if you go to Iceland. To get to know it better you can take a trip to the Golden Circle and a tour of the Kerid Crater in Reykjavik. In this case I propose a three-day trip to see some of the wonders of the Golden Circle and other similar landscapes.
On the first day you will visit the Golden Circle, Thingvellir National Park from Reykjavík, Geysir and the Gullfoss waterfall. On the second day you will travel to the most impressive waterfalls on the south coast, as well as have the opportunity to see the black sand.
You will have to wait until the third day to visit the majestic ice caves of the Vatnajokull National Park, which are formations that can only be seen in Reykjavík in winter, as they are re-formed every season.
Details of interest
- Price: From 563 euros per person.
- Duration: 3 days trip.
- Means of transport: All transfers are by minibus with all facilities included.
- Advantages of this tour: Pick up and drop off in Reykjavík is included, regardless of your location. You have two breakfasts included and accommodation for two nights in shared double rooms. The bus you will travel on has wifi service included. Also included is all the professional equipment for the ice cave tour. A professional guide is included who will let you know all the details about the caves.
- Disadvantages of this tour: Lunch and dinner are not included in the booking on any of the days. This tour is not wheelchair accessible. Children under the age of eight are not allowed to participate in this experience. Although the pick-up and drop-off is from Reykjavík, it will probably not be directly at your hotel, but at a specific point.
2. Sólheimajökull Glacier Tour
![Solheimajokull| ©murtica27](https://res.cloudinary.com/hello-tickets/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto,w_768/v1665024973/post_images/Reykjavik%20-%20134/Costa-sur/51994534364_3555b30333_o_Cropped.jpg)
This icy adventure will take you to the glacier tongue Sólheimajökull, a place where you can see a snowy landscape and a couple of beautiful waterfalls that are definitely one of the most impressive on the island. At Sólheimajökull you can learn to walk on the ice while getting to know the glacier inside and out.
Although one of the main attractions of this walk is not the caves but the glacier itself, it is an extreme experience to see the ice formations around and inside the glacier itself.
In this experience you will learn how to climb the glacier using all the elements at hand, from straps and harnesses to crampons and ice axe. This is an activity only suitable for Reykjavik in winter, when the ice caves are fully formed.
Details of interest
- Price: From 119 euros per person.
- Duration: This experience can last approximately 10 hours.
- Means of transport: Fully equipped bus that picks you up from your hotel and back.
- Advantages of this excursion: Pick-up and drop-off service from the hotel in Reykjavík is included. Specialized equipment for the glacier tour is included. Also included is the expert tour guide who will take you to learn everything you need to know about these glaciers.
- Disadvantages of this tour: Drinks and meals are not included. Children under 8 years old are not allowed to participate in this experience. Minimum shoe size to fit crampons for hiking is 35 EUR.
3. Super jeep tour to the Katla ice caves
![Katla Ice Caves| ©Scott Hill](https://res.cloudinary.com/hello-tickets/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto,w_768/v1665025941/post_images/Reykjavik%20-%20134/Cuevas-de-hielo/va6v41a_Cropped.jpg)
This eleven-hour walk will be enough time to see much of the wonders that the south coast of Iceland has to offer. The tour begins when your guide picks you up at your accommodation in Reykjavík or directly in the town of Vik. Once in Vik, you will get into the super jeep and take the country road.
On this country road you will see breathtaking scenery along the entire south coast. Along the way you will see glaciers of all shapes and sizes, but it will be at the Kötlujökull glacier that you will get off to enjoy one of the best ice caves you will see in Iceland.
An experienced guide will take you inside these caves, which only form in winter. After the tour of this natural wonder is over, you will continue your way back to Vik where you can stop to admire the spectacle of the Skógafoss waterfall. Another interesting place to see on your tour is the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap.
Interesting details
- Price: approximately 150 euros per person.
- Duration: The trip takes around 11 hours from Reykjavík.
- Means of transport: If you choose to be picked up in Reykjavík or Vik the first transport will be an equipped minibus. Once you arrive at the meeting point you will board the super jeep.
- Advantages of this tour: It is an experience for everyone. A professional tour guide is included and will take you inside the glacier to get to know it from the inside. You have wifi throughout the tour to the ice caves. All safety equipment and crampons for walking on the ice are included.
- Disadvantages of this tour: The minimum age to participate in this tour is 6 years old, so it is not suitable for children under this age.
4. Guided experience to the Langjökull ice caves
![Langjökull ice caves| ©Florian Seiffert](https://res.cloudinary.com/hello-tickets/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto,w_768/v1665026058/post_images/Reykjavik%20-%20134/Cuevas-de-hielo/37367288286_6c83bc3a27_o_Cropped.jpg)
On this full day tour you will have the opportunity to see the wonders of Europe's second largest glacier, Langjökull. On a 40 minute tour you will climb with your tour guide to the top of the Húsafell glacier and later you will be able to enter the interior of the glacier from the top.
The exploration will last approximately two and a half hours, during which you will be able to visit the full extent of the glacier and listen to the commentary of the guide who will accompany you on your experience.
The time you spend inside the ice cave will depend on the conditions of the cave and if the guide says it is safe to stay inside for the time stipulated for the excursion. During the tour you will also be able to see the crystal clear glacial water lagoon Hraunfossar.
Details of interest
- Price: From 193 euros per person.
- Duration: Approximately eleven hours from the time you are picked up at your accommodation to the end of the experience.
- Means of transport: If you choose the option of being picked up from your hotel, then you will travel in a minibus with all comforts on board. To get to the glacier on board of a specialized truck to go on ice.
- Advantages of this tour: All activities are included and a professional guide will show you around. All fees and taxes are also included, as well as handling fees.
- Disadvantages of this tour: Food and beverage prices during the tour are not included. This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users and is not suitable for people with limited back conditions.
5. Two-day tour to the Vatnajökull Ice Caves and the South Coast
![Reykjavik Coast| ©GYU](https://res.cloudinary.com/hello-tickets/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto,w_768/v1665024359/post_images/Reykjavik%20-%20134/Tour-avistamiento-ballenas/146_5_Cropped.jpg)
During this two day tour to the south coast from Reykjavik you will see much of the wonders that nature in Iceland has to show you. From black sandy beaches to breathtaking waterfalls, and the highlight of this trip, which is why I highly recommend it, a visit to the blue ice caves.
This is one of the most impressive phenomena in the world and occurs under the largest glacier in Europe, the Vatnajökull. In these caves you will have the opportunity to appreciate the blue colour that is imprinted on the ice walls.
In addition, this two-day tour is ideal to enjoy the best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland from Reykjavík. You will also visit the Jokulsarlon Lagoon, one of the best lagoons to visit from Reykjavík, being the only glacier in Iceland.
Details of interest
- Price: You can find this experience for approximately 400 euros per person.
- Duration: The whole tour could take around two days of travelling and seeing interesting sights.
- Means of transport: The whole tour takes place on board a bus properly equipped with all travel comforts.
- Advantages of this tour: Pick up of each passenger from their respective accommodation is included. Included is a professional guide who will teach you everything you need to know about the ice caves and the rest of the landscapes you will see during the trip. Breakfast and one night's accommodation is included, as well as the safety equipment necessary to do the whole tour on the ice. Included in the price is the entrance fee to Skaftafell National Park. You can leave some of your luggage in the luggage storage room at no extra cost.
- Disadvantages of this tour: Refreshments, snacks, lunch and dinner are not included during the trip. Trekking boots are not included, although you can request to rent them during the trip if you don't bring your own. It is not wheelchair accessible and the itinerary may change according to availability at each location due to weather conditions. You can take a maximum of 24 suitcases with you.
6. Snowmobile ride to the Langjökull Ice Caves
![Snowmobiling on Langjökull Glacier| ©Haukur Herbertsson](https://res.cloudinary.com/hello-tickets/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto,w_768/v1665020497/post_images/Reykjavik%20-%20134/tour-moto-nieve/25562553702_5d74fd5f5e_o_Cropped.jpg)
I think there is no better way to experience the Langjökull glacier than to embark on one of the best snowmobile tours in Reykjavik. On the experience you will have the opportunity to go and see the glacier and the ice caves inside it. To get to the site you will travel by super jeep, while the tour of the glacier will be done by snowmobile.
This tour lasts approximately ten hours, so you will need a whole day to visit this place and enjoy it to the fullest. You will be picked up from Reykjavík and driven to the second largest glacier in Europe, Langjökull.
Before you get on the snowmobiles you will receive a basic induction on how the snowmobile works and what you have to do during the tour. After you've been around long enough, you'll enter the ice caves, a unique spectacle that you can only get in Iceland.
Interesting details
- Price: This experience costs approximately 300 euros per person.
- Duration: You can do this tour in about 8 to 10 hours.
- Means of transport: From your location in Reykjavik to the glacier, the transfer is completed by super jeep. Once on the glacier, the ride is by snowmobile.
- Advantages of this tour: All the necessary equipment for the glacier tour is included, as well as a basic lesson on how to drive the snowmobiles. An experienced guide is at your disposal and you can ask him everything you want to know about the tour and the ice caves. Local taxes and transfer to and from Reykjavík are included.
- Disadvantages of this tour: The tour is not suitable for children under 8 years old. Not suitable for pregnant women and people with back problems. Not suitable for wheelchair users.
What will I see on this type of tour?
![Gullfoss| ©Nickspix](https://res.cloudinary.com/hello-tickets/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto,w_768/v1665024242/post_images/Reykjavik%20-%20134/Tour-avistamiento-ballenas/Gullfoss_from_the_Air_Cropped.jpg)
Of course the main reason for you to do this type of tour is to see the ice caves that form in winter when the fresh water freezes due to the cold temperatures. This type of phenomenon is unique, which makes the landscape change every winter.
Depending on the type of tour you take to the ice caves, you will generally learn how to visit Iceland's best glaciers, see and visit Iceland's best waterfalls that are part of the rugged landscape and above all see lots of snow and ice along the way.
You will also have the opportunity to see glacial lakes and other natural phenomena that are part of Iceland's winter landscape. If you choose tours of more than one day, you'll probably be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights from Reykjavík.
Tips for an Ice Cave Tour
![Hiking boots| ©Baihaki Hine](https://res.cloudinary.com/hello-tickets/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto,w_768/v1665026182/post_images/Reykjavik%20-%20134/Cuevas-de-hielo/pexels-baihaki-hine-4314202_Cropped.jpg)
- No matter what time of year you visit Iceland, always pack warm clothes, warm trousers, waterproof jackets, closed-toe shoes, sunglasses, hats, scarves and other things that will keep you warm.
- If you want to avoid renting hiking boots for some ice activities, I recommend that you bring your own.
- If you are going with children, make sure that each experience tells you beforehand the minimum age for your child to participate. Many activities do not accept children under the age of six for their own safety.
- Pay close attention to the safety rules in each of the experiences you attend. Remember that ice caves are temporary formations, so the safety conditions of each one can change within minutes.
Why is it advisable to take an ice cave tour?
![Inside an ice cave in Iceland| ©Jon Vidar Sigurdsson](https://res.cloudinary.com/hello-tickets/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto,w_768/v1665026288/post_images/Reykjavik%20-%20134/Cuevas-de-hielo/8236867283_120f367a6d_o_Cropped.jpg)
If you like adventure tourism and come to Iceland believing that it's a country where you can have all the adventure you want, then you're right. But you should always exercise caution when sightseeing in this country. Its climatic and geographical conditions are a bit dangerous, especially for tourists.
In that sense, you need to make excursions to the most inhospitable places with people who know the place. Even more so during the winter period, when the wind blows and temperatures drop considerably, I recommend that you do not venture out on your own.
In addition to the safety issue, it is important that you go to each of the places accompanied by a person who is an expert on geological issues and Icelandic history, so that he or she can give you all the information you need to know about each of the sights.
Frequently asked questions
How long am I going to be inside a cave?
A full day excursion to the ice caves lasts between 9 and 11 hours, but the descent into the cave will only take 15 minutes, during which you can enjoy the rare beauty of an impressive ice cavern.
What is included in a day trip to an ice cave?
In addition to taxes, fees and other charges, you can add a pick-up and drop-off at your hotel. Otherwise, you will have transport to and from Reykjavik. Some day trips include visits to Langjokull Glacier and Hraunfossar.
What should I bring to an ice cave experience?
The most important thing to bring is sturdy hiking boots and warm clothing. And definitely take a camera with you on this experience as you will be able to capture the inside of the cave with once in a lifetime photo opportunities.