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Learn how to easily plan your dream trip to Iceland with helpful guides and tips!

4 Best Ice Caves in Iceland (+ Best Tours To Visit)

July 17, 2022 //  by  Iceland Trippers //   Leave a Comment

Are you looking to visit the best ice caves in Iceland? We have been to Iceland many times throughout the years. We love this beautiful country and the wild lands crafted by fire and ice. Because Iceland is our favorite place to travel to, we know a lot about it. We have found some of the best things to do including the best ice cave tours in Iceland.

As you may guess, ice caves are found within glaciers. What you may not know though is that glaciers are actually formed by fallen snow rather than from frozen water.

Over time, the weight of snow and gravity compresses the snowy layers. In doing so, air is expelled from the snowmaking sheets of smooth ice. The smooth, pure glacier ice is then able to absorb every other color in the spectrum except for blue. In turn, the ice is marbled with a shockingly bright range of blue hues.

We highly recommend taking an ice cave tour to experience the magic within. Stepping inside of an ice cave almost feels like stepping into a dream. The icy hallways are marbled with blue and black. Over years, the icy hallways shape and shift into wondrous sculptures. Above, below, and all around ice becomes a painting all around as you step into a glassy blue cavern. We couldn’t keep from our jaws from dropping in wonderment the whole time.

It’s no wonder that you want to visit the amazing ice caves in Iceland. And right about now, you probably want to get to the point. Where are the best ice cave tours in Iceland? Let us delay no further. We’ll include all of our favorite blue ice caves in Iceland along with the best crystal cave tours too.

Best Time of Year to Visit Ice Caves in Iceland

Hands down, the best time of year to visit ice caves in Iceland is in the winter. From mid-November until mid-March, the caves in Iceland can be explored with the helpful use of a guide. And trust us, these icy passages are totally worth the effort.

Can you visit Iceland caves in the summer? Nope! There are not any ice cave tours in Iceland during the summer because ultimately, it is not safe.

Ice caves are found within Iceland’s ancient glaciers. In summer when the temperatures are much warmer, these glaciers melt! Icy rivers begin to flow in, under, and around the large ice caps. Even more, warmer temperatures cause glaciers to crack, fissure and calve. With so much heat, the glaciers become unpredictable causing unsafe conditions. You wouldn’t want to be caught inside an ice cave in the summer!

However, exploring ice caves in the winter is an amazing experience. During those cold months when the icy temperatures return, the ice becomes very compact and stable, making it perfectly safe to explore an ice cave with a tour guide.

Can You Visit Ice Caves in Iceland on Your Own?

As cool as exploring an ice cave in Iceland on your own sounds, it is never advised. In fact, it is quite dangerous.

Like we said before, glaciers are melting! Due to global warming and the changing temperatures of the season, the glaciers are not always in a solid state. That is why ice caving in Iceland should only be done with a guide.

The guides have training and knowledge allowing them to handle any unpredictable happenstances that occur on the ice. Careful precautions should always be taken while exploring Iceland caves. That is why tours will also provide you with the necessary safety gear needed to walk into an ice cave, such as crampons, ice axes, and helmets.

Manmade vs Natural Ice Caves in Iceland

There aren’t many manmade ice caves in Iceland. In fact, currently, only one exists. This famous manmade ice cave is located a bit closer to Reykjavik in Langjokull of South West Iceland.

After 4 years of work, Iceland opened its first ever manmade ice cave. The smoothly cut icy hallways range from cloudy colors of white to shockingly bright colors of blue. This manmade ice cave isn’t just for exploring though, you can rent it as a party venue too. Lined with wooden beams and LED-lit ice, a small room within the ice cave hosts weddings, parties, and sometimes even concerts.

Although you can visit manmade ice caves in Iceland, they aren’t quite like the real thing. These crafted ice passages look more like a rectangular hallway of ice.

Although we much prefer to see the natural sculptures crafted by time, water, and the freezing cold; there is no doubt that the manmade ice caves in Iceland are an awesome feat.

Best Ice Cave Tours in Iceland

The best ice cave tours in Iceland exist mostly in the south end of the country. Although ice caves can be visited on a day trip from Reykjavik , we highly suggest doing ice cave exploring as part of a larger trip to the South coast. The main ice cave tours in Iceland are offered in the Vatnajokull National Park, one of Iceland’s three national parks.

Seeking out an ice cave tour will bring you to Iceland’s diverse south coast, a land shaped by fire and ice. Because a few of the best blue ice caves in Iceland are a little bit further away from Reykjavik and Vik, we recommend they be visited as part of a road trip around Iceland’s Ring Road, Route 1 .

The best place to stay in the South coast near Iceland ice caves will be the small fishing village of Vik. Amazing waterfalls , black sand beaches , enchanting geothermal hot springs , and glaciers are all within a 5 hour drive from Reykjavik. There are plenty of things to see and do on the Reykjavik to Vik drive which makes the drive worth all the effort it takes to get there.

Katla Ice Cave Jeep Tour and Glacier Walk

One of the best ice cave tours worth the money in the southeast of Iceland is the Katla ice cave tour and glacier walk from Troll Expeditions. In a fun and exciting journey, this tour will guide you over the ice cap that rests over the mighty Katla volcano.

First, start the morning in the fishing village of Vik. Grab a cup of Skool Beans coffee then, board a jeep to an epic blue glacier tour in Iceland. We love the jeep ride through the beautiful mountain scenery to the base of the Myrdalsjokull Glacier. It was so much fun and was the perfect way to get hyped up for the adventure.

Once you arrive at the glacier, that is when you strap the crampons to your feet and helmet to your head. After that, a knowledgeable guide will take a small group to explore the ice cave.

The whole tour only takes about 3 hours and can be done as a larger trip to Iceland’s south coast. We also have more great tips on fun things to do in Vik .

Click here to Book: From Vik : Katla Ice Cave Jeep Tour and Glacier Walk by TrollExpeditions

Skaftafell: Ice Cave Tour and Glacier Hike

The best ice cave tour in Iceland near Skaftafell is the Troll Expedition led, Skaftfell Ice Cave Tour and Glacier Hike . Located in the Vatnajokull National Park, this is a great tour for anyone looking for great stops along Iceland’s Ring Road, Route 1 .

Walk over Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajokull on this tour. Glacial hiking experts will take you on a short journey from the base of Falljokull up to one of the blue caves in Iceland.

We loved marveling at the breathtaking ice formations found within these glass-like blue ice caves near Hof. They are so beautiful and so, so undeniably dreamy.

There are great accommodations in the nearby town of Hof, just a 15-minute drive away from the Vatnajokull National Park. The whole tour takes about 4 hours, leaving plenty of time to visit the nearby glacial lagoon of Jokulsarlon. So bundle up and get ready for one of the best ice cave tours in Iceland.

Click here to book: Skaftfell Ice Cave Tour and Glacier Hike from TrollExpeditions

From Jökulsárlón: Crystal Ice Cave Day Tour

Another one of the great blue ice cave tours in South Iceland is the Crystal Ice Cave Day Tour from Arctic Adventures . Local guides search for new ice caves to explore every fall, bringing you to the best glacier caves in Iceland.

Start the day by meeting at the Cafe by Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon , just 40 minutes east of Skaftafell. At Jokulsarlon you’ll see an epic glacier lagoon.

Here at Jokulsarlon, giant icebergs drift lazily across the lagoon until they meet the rough waters of the Atlantic sea. Icebergs are then churned into ice chips that cover Diamond Beach. Seals call this place home, and on a good day, you’ll even see them playing in the waters. Jokulsaron is known for its incredible reflections of the rugged ice of the Vatnajokull glacier.

From the Jokulsarlon meeting point, a well-trained guide will outfit everyone with glacial gear to explore Iceland’s nearby crystal caves within Europe’s largest glacier. A small group is then transported a short distance away to begin the icy journey on Vatnajokull Glacier.

With only a short 15-minute walk, the tour will reach the mouth of the miraculous glassy blue caves. There is about 40 minutes allotted to explore, feel the magic of the crystal ice caves and take epic photos. The total experience lasts about 3 hours.

Click here to book: From Jokulsarlon: Crystal Ice Cave Day Tour by Arctic Adventures

Húsafell: Langjökulll Glacier Ice Cave Tour

Finally, it is time to talk about the best tour for visiting the manmade ice caves in Iceland. Book the Langjokull Glacier Ice Cave Tour led by Arctic Adventures to explore Iceland’s handmade glacial caves.

This tour will depart from the town of Husafell in South Iceland. From there, you will be transported via shuttle bus to the Glacier Base Camp of Klaki. Then, a specially-modified truck will take passengers over the rugged glacier to the cave entrance.

Walk through the handcrafted hallways and be amazed at the bright blue ice all around. Pass through the ‘Tunnel of Love’ to reach the chapel room. It is lined with wood accents and chunky blocks of ice lit from behind with glowing LEDs.

Stay in Husafell at Hotel Husafell for great nearby accommodations. After the tour, check out other things to do in Husafell like horseback riding , the Krauma hot springs, hiking, and cycling. Stay for the incredible light show in the sky. We think Husafell is one of the great places to see the Northern Lights from!

Click Here to Book: Husafell: Langjokull Glacier Ice Cave Tour led by Arctic Adventures

Make the trip to Iceland in the winter to experience the magic of Iceland’s snow-covered months. Witness the awe-inspiring Northern Lights dancing in the sky, wander through incredible crystal blue ice caves, and dip in the hot geothermal waters of Iceland’s enchanting hot springs. There is so much beauty to see in Iceland’s winter tundra.

Don’t worry; if you haven’t visited Iceland in the winter we have some great tips for you. We’ve even included an Icelandic winter bucket list too.

Now, it is time to have your own amazing trip to the land of fire and ice. We hope these tips on how to visit Iceland’s blue ice caves help make a perfect adventure. So pack the bags, grab a warm coat and go on the ultimate holiday to Iceland. Be safe and have fun!

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Katla Ice Cave Tour in Iceland

Incredible ice cave and glacier adventure tour.

Tour description

Experience the magic of Iceland! The Katla Ice Cave Tour in Iceland brings you on an excursion to the ice caves, blue glaciers, black sand beaches, world-famous sights, and so much more. Explore Iceland’s landscape by jeep and by foot on this unforgettable guided tour.

3 – 4 hours

Availability

All year round, based on condition

2 – 12 persons per guide

The minimum age for this tour is 12 years old

Difficulty level

Licensed ice cave guide, super jeep transport & all required glacier safety equipment.

What to bring

Warm clothing (according to the weather), hat, and gloves. Hiking shoes or snow boots (required). 

Keep in mind

This tour might not be suitable for people who are sensitive to motion sickness, or suffer from a back injury. More details on this can be found in our FAQ section below.

Tour Highlights

• Stops at 1-2 Natural Ice Caves based on the conditions of the glacier
• Adventurous Super Jeep Excursion
• Experienced Local Guides
• Off-the-Beaten-Path Experience
• Small Tour Group
• Visit to Private Black Sand Beach
• Hike through unique glacier area.

Depart from Vík

Meeting location.

ABOUT THE KATLA ICE CAVE TOUR IN ICELAND

Looking for the best ice cave tour in Iceland? Get ready for an unforgettable experience with our unique Katla Ice Cave Tour and Glacier Excursion.

You’ll experience many natural wonders on our ice cave tour, including an ice cave in 800-year-old Katla glacier with black, white, and blue ice, a visit to a private black sand beach where you would be all alone without crowds, and a super jeep ride through iconic film set locations. There’s never a dull moment, so expect to see many more exciting highlights along the way!

OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH ADVENTURE

This is no ordinary sightseeing tour! Our trusted local glacier guides will take you well beyond the usual tourist spots and show you pure Iceland – a magnificent side of Iceland’s nature that very few visitors will ever experience!

At Katlatrack, we pride ourselves on offering a truly offbeat experience that shows you the real Iceland rather than the overrun tourist hot spots. South Iceland is home to some of the most magnificent scenery that Iceland can offer, and it is also our home. Our local knowledge makes us one of the only tour companies who can offer Iceland ice cave tours all year round. 

EXPERIENCED LOCAL GUIDES

As locals, we are fiercely proud of our home, and we love to share the story of our landscape, its history, its hidden gems, and its fascinating tales! We also appreciate how unpredictable and potentially how dangerous this landscape can be. Each and every Katlatrack guide is both highly trained and highly experienced in all weather conditions – both on the road and inside the ice caves.  

As locals, we know this landscape inside out, and we can easily switch to a ‘Plan B’ location if the current conditions are unfavourable or unsafe in any way. We also reserve the right to cancel the tour if the conditions are simply too dangerous. Your safety comes first at all times!

ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE

This is not an adventure for those who are claustrophobic (or scared of the dark!), but it is most certainly a once in a lifetime experience for those who have endless curiosity and the desire for exploration running through their veins! 

We can’t wait to show you Iceland our way, so pack your warmest winter layers, your camera and your snow boots or hiking shoes and book this tour today. We’ve saved a seat in the jeep for you!

SCHEDULE – ICELAND ICE CAVE DAY TOUR

Our day begins at the katlatrack meeting point in vik..

From here, our small group will climb into the super jeep and head high up into the mountains for an exhilarating ride towards the glacier. Along the way, you’ll get to admire the distinctive green mountains and many other spectacular sights, tones, and textures as we make our way through the glaciers and ice formations.

The first stop is at the front of Kötlujökull – the Katla outlet glacier.

Kötlujökull is actually part of the famous Mýrdalsjökull glacier – the fourth largest glacier in Iceland. Your safety is paramount at all times on a Katlatrack tour, so we will pause here and your glacier guide will fit you up with some loan equipment (a helmet, headlamp, and crampons) and provide you with a full safety briefing.

From here, it’s a fun short (20-25 minutes based on the weather conditions) glacier hike across the ice to explore your natural ice cave!

You’ll marvel at the magnificent colours and textures inside the ice cave, and the crazy shapes and crystal ice will leave you in awe. Your Katlatrack guide will share the history of the Iceland ice cave and explain how it was formed. You’ll learn how the volcanic eruptions of the Katla volcano caused the ash and sand to combine with the ice, to form the incredible shades of black and blue that appear almost like ‘dragon glass’. There will be plenty of ice cave photo opportunities, and plenty of time to ask questions and learn all you wish to know about these magnificent icy structures.

After some time in the cave and its surroundings, we’ll take another short glacier walk as we hunt for secret waterfalls and hidden glacier canyons

You may have heard that visiting an ice cave is a “ Once in a lifetime experience ” – this couldn’t be more true, and we love nothing more than sharing this very unique experience with our guests! Iceland’s ice caves are constantly shifting and changing with the seasons, so the caves that you will experience on your glacier tour will never exist in the same form again. We are always scouting the glacier ice for new and hidden caves, so we know exactly where to find the most spectacular (and the safest) ice caves to show you on our tours. Some of these caves are on private land that can only be accessed with a Katlatrack guide, so it is also possible that your tour will include a visit to a secret ice cave. Based on the weather and depending upon the current conditions on the glacier we will do our best to show you some hidden gems of the glacier.  

After our ice-caving adventure, we’ll head back to the super jeep

…for our next destination as we drive through the actual film set from Star Wars Rogue One . You’ll see exactly where the opening scenes were shot as your guide shares all of the behind-the-scenes details. We then take in some more filming locations on our way home, as we visit the film sets of some other favourites, such as Transformers, Noah, and Oblivion . Along the way, you will also enjoy some other memorable sights from the comfort of the jeep, including the historical promontory of Hjörleifshöfði (named after one of the first Viking settlers in Iceland), the distinctive Reynisdrangar sea stacks, and of course, the beautiful local area around Vik .

Finally, our jeep then takes an exciting detour

…through the wild terrain onto a private black sand beach. You will already be very familiar with Iceland’s most famous black sand beach, Reynisfjara , and we definitely recommend that you explore this beach in your own time. However, in true Katlatrack style, we prefer to take you off the beaten path on our tours.   Therefore, we will visit a lesser-known black sand beach

JOIN THE BEST ICE CAVE TOUR IN ICELAND!

Reviews of katlatrack ice cave tour.

Such an amazing time! Our guide was AJ (Aron), and it was so great to hear history, facts, and folklore from a genuine local to the area! The ice cave tour itself was awesome, and I would definitely recommend it to everyone!”

–  Anon

“We booked the Katla Ice Cave Tour and we are so glad we did. It was the highlight of our trip to Iceland. The weather was perfect and the area is simply beautiful. It’s like being on another planet. What an amazing feeling to go inside Ice that could be 600-800 years old. Our guide Besie was awesome. He was a wealth of information and so proud of his country and heritage. Thanks, Katlatrack. We will be back.”

–  Herster

“Our guide Bessi took us on a fantastic trip which can best be described as a mix of the lunar landing, monster truck joyride, geology/history lessons with some good old storytelling thrown in. We chose the Fast Track Ice Cave tour – awesome!”

–  Thornblad

KATLA ICE CAVE TOUR– FAQ

Have more questions about our unique ice cave tour? Find out everything you need to know in our FAQ section here.

What do I need to wear on this tour?

The beautiful country of Iceland is known for it’s chilly and often changeable weather – so dress accordingly! We recommend dressing in layers to suit a wide range of weather conditions. Your best bet is to wear a light t-shirt, a fleece jacket, and a waterproof top layer/windbreaker. 

For bottoms, lightweight long cotton pants with waterproof pants on top. We advise against wearing jeans, as these can get cold and heavy when wet. 

We also recommend bringing sunglasses and sunscreen (even if it’s cloudy) to help you brave the glacier glare. Sturdy hiking boots or snowshoes are also recommended to help you navigate the often rough terrain. For safety, we will outfit you with essential glacier gear, including crampons to fit your boots.

What if I suffer from motion sickness?

When we say “an exciting super jeep ride” it means an off-road adventure on rough terrain. Unfortunately, some people have real trouble with bumpy rides. Usually, we suggest those clients who gets car sick easily to sit in the front seat, so they can look straight ahead at the horizon.  Motion sickness pills are available over the counter, consult a professional before taking them. Ginger or peppermint candy also relieve queasiness, we suggest bringing with you.  If you get motion sick easily, and it takes a while for that awful feeling to pass, then we do not recommend joining the tour.

What if I suffer from reduced mobility or back pain?

If you’re worried about being “too old” to go to an ice cave tour, don’t. Many seniors do enjoy hiking well into their 60s, 70s, and even 80s. Our ice cave tours are great outdoor activity that any age group can enjoy. It’s a light physical activity, which does not require skills of being in the mountains, but you must be able to walk over uneven terrain for 30-60 minutes. If you worry about falls or other risks, walking sticks could help to provide extra support and stability, we suggest you consider bringing with you.

Our tours are not recommended for guests with severe back pain. We do not recommend it to anyone who has a significant back or neck issue, as the jeeps are bouncy and most of the tours are on a rough terrain on dirt roads with potholes.

What if I suffer from claustrophobia?

We understand that the fear of being in small spaces is really challenging for some of us. If you’re concerned about claustrophobia, please contact us at  [email protected]  and we will give you up to date information about the size of the cave. Usually, the ice cave is spacious and open and should not be an issue to stop you from exploring one of wonders of Iceland.

Can I bring my camera on the ice cave tour?

Yes! We highly recommend that you bring your camera so you can conduct your own ice cave photography tour! There are so many amazing sights to see along the way. Bringing a tripod and extra batteries is also a good idea as well. If you are worried about water damage, we suggest bringing a dry-bag with you. 

Why are drones not allowed on this tour?

For safety and privacy reasons, we kindly request that drones not be flown during our tours. The operation of drones may interfere with the enjoyment of others and pose potential hazards to both people and wildlife. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Where is the meeting location?

The meeting point is in Vík, next to the OB gas station in Vík. The address is Austurvegur 16, 870 Vík. You can find us on Google Maps under Katlatrack.

Can I bring my children on this tour?

Children aged 12 years old and above can take this tour.  If you have younger children, please take a look at our Fasttrack Ice Cave Tour or our Custom Tours (there are no age restrictions on custom tours).

How many ice caves do we get to see?

On this particular Iceland ice cave adventure, you’ll get to see 1-2 naturally-formed ice caves, plus several world-famous glaciers, waterfalls, landscapes, and even the original film sets of multiple well-known movies. Every tour is a bit different, as the glaciers and caves re-from over time. We’ll take you to some off-the-beaten-path caves you won’t find on any other tour.

What are crampons?

Safety first! Crampons are spikes that attach to the bottom of your hiking boots to help you to walk on the ice without slipping and sliding. They are included in the tour package and our trusted guides will attach the metal spikes for you.

Do I need to bring my own glacier gear and crampons?

Nope! You just need to wear a set of warm clothing fit for the weather – preferably, multiple layers – plus sturdy hiking shoes. We will outfit you with the rest of the glacier hiking gear that you need. 

Do I need to bring lunch with me on the Katla ice cave tour?

You are welcome to bring along your own drinks or snacks, but we recommend that you have lunch either before or after the tour.  You will find some very nice restaurants next to our meeting point.

Where can I learn more about Iceland’s famous ice caves?

Want to learn more about Iceland’s history and how the ice caves came to be? Check out our Iceland Travel Blog for all the info you need to know about ice caves, Iceland, the best tours, and even more Iceland adventures!

BROWSE RELATED ICELAND ICE CAVE TOURS

Find the best ice cave tours in Iceland from Katlatrack adventures! Browse our most popular glacier and ice cave tours below.

FAST TRACK ICE CAVE TOUR

If your trip is short and action-packed, seeing an ice cave may seem like it would be impossible for you to have on your agenda, but with us, it was never so easy!

VÍK – ONE HOUR EXPRESS

Give us one hour and we’ll show you our home town like no one else can. We promise that you won’t see Vik like this with any other tour company. 

Private Ice Cave Tour

If you prefer to explore Iceland on your own schedule, or with your own group, our Private Ice Cave Tours are a unique and special way to experience one of Iceland’s greatest natural wonders.

Austurvegur 16 870 Vík Mýrdal

[email protected] +354 849 4404

Fast Track Ice Cave tour

Katla Ice Cave tour

The Best of Vík tour

The Hidden Mountains tour

Custom tour

About Katlatrack

Volcano Apartments

OUR LICENCE

Kennitala: 5802150840

VSK: 122174

WE ARE EXCELLENT

Privacy Overview

CRYSTAL BLUE ICE CAVE ADVENTURE

VISIT THE CRYSTAL ICE CAVE

Tour information, good to know, meeting point, join us and visit the largest glacier in europe spectacular scenery – amazing ice formations., what to expect:.

• A ride in a super jeep
• Tour to Europe’s largest glacier
• Spectacular Scenery – Mountain View
• Suitible for anyone who is in moderate physical shape
• Amazing photo opportunities

The Crystal Blue Ice Cave Adventure is an adventurous trip, off the beaten path, on which you experience the forces of Icelandic nature. We depart from the Glacier Lagoon every day at 9:30 and 14.00, driving off-road to Iceland’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull. During the scenic drive in our special super jeeps, we will see the best of the amazing glacial terrain .

When we get to the ice cave, we will provide you with the right equipment, and guide you as we enter this magical blue world . Our guides are very professional , experienced, and know ice caves inside out – You are in safe hands.

After approximately an hour of exploring the caves, we head back to Jökulsárlón.

Perfect for:

• Small and large groups
• Families with children
• Private tours
• Solo travellers

Tour information:

Available: Oct. – Apr. Duration: 2.5-3.5 hours Activities: Super Jeep, Sightseeing, Ice Caving Difficulty: Easy Minimum age: 8 years. Languages: English

Pickup information:

Departure time : 09:30. 14:00, Glacier Lagoon – Jökulsárlón

Please be at the tour start location in good time before departure. If  you need assistance finding it, seek guidance in your Hotel’s reception  or contact your tour provider directly.

• Guided tour into an ice cave in Vatnajökull glacier
• Drive in a super jeep from Jökulsárlón (Glacier Lagoon) to Vatnajökull glacier and back
• All equipment

What to bring:

• Warm clothing and outerwear suited to rainy or cold weather (waterproof recommended)
• Sturdy shoes for walking/hiking
• Refreshments (especially water)
• Hat & gloves
• Camera (Optional)

Jeans are not recommended for ice cave tours. Denim absorbs moisture easily and takes a long time to dry, so take care to choose fabrics that will keep you warm and comfortable throughout the day.

We meet at:

Glacier Lagoon – Jökulsárlón

• Departure time: 09:30 & 14:00
• Departure location: Jökulsárlón
• Duration: 2.5-3.5 hours
• Difficulty level: Easy
• Group size: 16
• Available: Sept. – April

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Best Iceland ice cave tours (Tips + photos)

Last updated on November 1, 2023 by Claire Robinson - this article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I get a small commission ( more )

For most travelers, the visit of an ice cave in Iceland is the highlight of their winter trip.  This is why many want to make sure they visit the “right one”. Below is my guide to help you choose the best Iceland ice cave tour option for you, depending on your criteria (location, access, time, groups..). I wish you a magical experience!

Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Iceland:

My favorite platform to rent a car in Iceland: DiscoverCars

The unmissable boat tour: Whale Watching

Fun activity: Swimming in Silfra Fissure

My favorite places to stay:

• Reykjavik: see best rated hotels – e.g. Vintage Boutique Hotel
• Lake Myvatn: see best rated hotels – e.g. Hotel Laxa
• Vik area: see best rated hotels – e.g. Hotel Vik i Myrdal

What is the best ice cave in Iceland – short answers

Best iceland ice cave tours – short answer.

In the rest of the article, I will try to answer all your questions about ice cave tours with photos. But if you just want a quick answer to which one to choose, here is my opinion.

• Know that caves are living things, they are different each Winter
• Ice cave tours do fill up, so book ahead of your trip
• If you are on Winter self-drive road trip, I would choose a Jokulsarlon Tour by Guide to Iceland. Tours depends on what caves open each year. Sometimes you can visit both a blue and a black cave – see details about the cave
• Another option for a blue cave: check out program and availability
• If you want a day trip from Reykjavik , I want to warn you that it will be a lot of driving. The caves are not close to the capital and after the main road, you still have to get to the glacier in a 4WD – If you don’t want to drive, the best is to do a 2 day trip along the South coast which includes a cave – See the multi day tour options

Iceland Ice caves in Summer:

You have only 2 options in Summer :

• There is one natural cave that may remain accessible in Summer, depending on the weather conditions – tour departure is from Vik – It is at the Katla volcano under the glacier Myrdalsjökull, but it is a either black ice cave or a very small blue ice cave (summer conditions can be very limiting) – see details and availability  
• or you can visit the man-made ice tunnel of Lagnjokull. It does not have the beauty of a natural ice cave, but you will get under 40m of ice and snow and discover the glacier – book your tour here

Is it worth it?

The answer is yes, if you don’t get your expectations too high by looking at professional photos. There are 2 main things to remember:

• Ice caves disappear every Summer and they look for them at the beginning of Winter. Some may have the same name because they remain roughly at the same location, but caves are never the same from one season to the other 
• A lot of impressive photos you will see were taken by professional that will do crazy things to get WOW shots with angles making things look bigger. Most ice caves are smaller than what you imagine when you see those photos. Plus like for the northern lights, the colors are more vivid on photos.

That does not mean it is not an exceptional experience. Because it is. I strongly recommend it. Walking under the ice, touching it, discovering the shapes and colors created by nature. It is one of my favorite memories. I think this is one of the best things to do in Iceland in Winter ( see my best-of list ).

To give you an idea of the dual cave visit in Jokulsarlon, this is my short video. I am not very good at filming inside, but it does give you an idea…

What are my options in Summer?

Natural ice caves are only accessible in Winter, mostly between November and March.

There is one natural cave that may remain accessible in Summer, depending on the weather conditions. It is at the Katla volcano under the glacier Myrdalsjökull – see details and availability In Summer, your only other option to get under the ice is the Ice Tunnel under Langjokull. It is a man-made structure. To natural work of the water and some of the blue is created by lighting behind the ice… but it is still interesting in my opinion. The drive on the glacier with the 4WD truck offers stunning views. And you get to walk under 30 to 40m of ice in the deepest parts. No WOW moments, but a great adventure.

Book your tour here

More photos after the planning tips.

Planning Tips – How to visit an Iceland ice cave 

Best time – when are ice caves accessible  .

• Natural ice caves are only accessible in Winter 
• The traditional season is from November to March
• Why? – Glaciers are here year round but move. The weather needs to be cold enough so that the ice, and the caves, are stable enough to safely enter.
• You have only 2 options in Summer: one natural black cave and a man-made tunnel – see paragraph above for info

Location  – Where are they? How far are ice caves from Reykjavik?

• There are no ice caves very close to Reykjavik
• They all require several hours of driving on Road 1 and then some time on a 4WD excursion to the glacier
• The most famous caves are around Jokulsarlon. Reykjavik to Jokulsarlon is a 5h drive and then there is at least 45min with the 4WD.
• Road closures can always happen due to snow and wind – check out the status on road.is

Need to rent a car in Iceland?

• Compare prices on my favorite platform:   Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
• Prefer a  compact car  for the narrow streets in villages
• Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind! 
• Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

See all my tips

Visit tips – Can you visit ice caves on your own? 

• No, it is not possible to visit ice caves on your own – they are difficult to access and require safety gears and people to keep you safe
• However you don’t have to book a trip from Reykjavik. If you are doing a road trip around Iceland, you can book your visit from Vik or from Jokulsarlon, directly joining the 4WD part.
• As you can see below, you need a super jeep and someone who know where the road is (the road gets way worst after the sign) to be able to reach the cave.

Visit tips – Are ice cave tours safe? How are the visits?

• The tours will only start when the weather conditions are cold enough for stability – For some caves they remove part of the ceiling and replace it with wood to increase safety.
• Everyday the situation is assessed in terms of temperature but also for the driving conditions to reach the cave
• You are provided with equipment to get inside the cave: spikes, helmet and flashlight. However people tend to leave the flashlights on and they may stop working so I recommend you also bring your own small flashlight
• Most tours are very easy – you drive up to the entrance – no walking required
• But a few tours are combined with glacier hiking, make sure to pick a tour that suits your fitness level

If you are organizing a road trip in Iceland in Winter, check out my guide to facilitate the planning: 

Plan your dream trip in Iceland thanks to my guide

• 6 maps to easily plan your itinerary
• 75+ pre-selected locations
• GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
• Winter tips to make the most of your time
• 115+ original photos to help you choose

Glacier caves – What can I expect? Why is the ice blue or black?

Visits are weather dependant.

Your tour operator will keep in touch on the day of tour. Conditions may not be suitable to visit the cave but they will only know at the last minute. Your tour may be impacted by wind, storms and if it rains a lot for a few days. This is the case for many things in Iceland in Winter. You have to come to your trip with the mindset that:

• every single thing you have the chance to see, because conditions are good, is a bonus point 
• but knowing that you will not see everything

Access to the caves – difficulty

Every year the expert teams try finding the caves. Entrance will look different depending on the cave. Some will have high ceilings while for others, you will have to bend. In the black cave I visited, the entrance was easy, but for those who wanted to explore further you had to ramp a little on our knees.

Overall they set it up so that it is not too difficult to access. In a blue cave I visited, they even shaped a staircase so that access was easier!

How do they form?

The ice caves are actually glacier caves. Ice caves are formed when meltwater runs under or through a glacier. It melts the ice creating a cavern. In Iceland, they are 2 main reasons for water to run:

• surface water melting in Summer and drained into crevasses
• ice under the glacier melting because of geothermal warmth. 

The color blue

First of all, a lot of pictures show very vivid colors. I took photos with 2 cameras and the results are extremely different on my pictures. But I can tell you that even though it is not as vivid, it is still pretty amazing and really blue!

So why is it so blue?

In a glacier, the ice is thicker and denser, as it has been compressed. It absorbs all colours of the spectrum except the colour blue, so that’s what you can see. 

The color black

I really enjoyed the black cave I visited. Sadly, I have not been able to take a picture of what the ice really looks like up close. So you will have to see it for yourself. It looks like a very shiny stones with incredible painting like waves. It is also difficult to explain. The black is due to the volcanic ash mixing with the ice. We are, after all, on volcanic land.

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Jokulsarlon Ice Caves in Vatnajokull – natural + easy access

The most famous ice cave tours are from Jokulsarlon. This is because the location itself is famous, so this is an easy departure point to the caves in the Vatnajokull glacier.

You will see articles about the famous Crystal cave. Note that this cave has disappeared. Every year, they are looking for new caves. Sometimes they are similar to previous years, but sometimes they are completely different. Tour companies tend to pick impressive professional photos and beautiful names to make you book.  You will not see what those photos show you. However it is still worth it!

You will find the departure points from the few companies running tours on the Jokulsarlon carpark. From there you will climb aboard a monster 4WD vehicle and head to the glacier. Ice cave tours do fill up, so book ahead of your trip.

Tours normally take 3h (drive + visit + drive back)

Guide to Iceland Jokulsarlon Ice cave Tour

This is the one I opted for. It is a small group tour. Only 2 companies go to the found caves. If conditions permit you will visit both a blue cave and a black cave. This is why I love it!

See details about the tour and availability

“Blue diamond, Sapphire and Crystal” caves

The Blue Diamond and Crystal caves are 2 famous caves near Jokulsarlon. The most famous ice cave photos were taken there. But the original caves have disappeared.

The tours claiming those names take you to new caves which have formed in the area. Every year will be a surprise, maybe another giant one will form. Who knows? Just don’t be stuck with the idea of seeing one with a specific name.

You can check out this one and this one

From Reykjavik

Note that if you are not driving, day trips from Reykjavik would be extremely long. I recommend booking a 2 or 3 day tour which include an ice cave. This is combined with the waterfalls, the black sand beaches and the Diamond beach.

See options

Where to stay in Iceland?

My favorites:

• Reykjavik , capital city:   see best rated accommodations  – or  my article on where to stay
• Selfoss , between Golden Circle and South Coast: see best rated accommodations
• Vik,  near waterfalls and glaciers:  see best rated accommodations
• Höfn , gateway to the East fjords:  see best rated accommodations
• Egilsstadir , between fjords and North Iceland:  see best rated accommodations
• Reykjahlid , for the wonders of Lake Myvatn:  see best rated accommodations
• Akureyri , capital of the North:  see best rated accommodations
• Grundarfjordur , on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula:  see best rated accommodations

Other ice cave tours

Skaftafell ice cave – hiking required.

At the Skaftafell national park you can combine a glacier hike with the visit of a cave. This is great for a complete experience of a glacier. However the ice caves tend to be smaller and not as impressive. The group is small and the tour takes around 4 hours. You need a minimum of fitness to be able to enjoy this activity.

Check out details

Vik / Katla ice cave

From Reykjavik or Vík you join a tour to the Katla ice cave (sometimes refer to the Secret ice cave).

This cave is normally accessible all year. You will enter at the edge of the glacier rather than on it. The cave has a mix of color, but a lot of black since it is at a volcano. Part of it does not have a roof, so it feels less like a cave. You may see a small blue cave. In Summer, conditions vary greatly.

Learn more and book

Langjokull Ice Tunnel – available all year “Into the glacier”

Another “ice activity” you can enjoy both in Winter and in Summer is the Langjokull ice tunnel. Just be aware that it is a completely different experience from the ice caves.

• The tunnel has been carved by man into the glacier (over 14months) and reaches a depth of 40m under the surface
• The tour will guide you through tunnels and into chambers. They have displays along the way to teach visitors about glaciers and the impact of the climate change
• It can be visited on a day trip from Reykjavik (often combined with the Vidgelmir lava tube and the Hraunfossar waterfall )
• You will reach it from Husafell inside a large 4WD truck driving to and on the Langjokull glacier
• It is easy to walk inside
• The tunnels are smooth and the ice does not look the same as in the natural cave. It has not been carved by water.
• There is a crevasse in the glacier that you can see from under – not something you can experience normally!

You can book your visit directly from Husafell – Get your ticket here

Or you can book a day trip from Reykjavik –   check out program and book

Here are a few pictures from my tour:

Want to see more – the best of Iceland in Winter:

• Best things to do in Iceland in Winter – read article
• 35 pictures of Iceland in Winter – read article
• 7 Iceland waterfalls in Winter – read article
• Tips for visiting Iceland in Winter –  read article
• Planning an Iceland Winter Road Trip – read article
• Iceland Winter itinerary suggestions – read article
• Driving in Iceland in Winter – read article

Planning a trip to Iceland in Winter

Check out my travel guide to help you plan:

And keep track of your own trip!

Want to see more of ICELAND IN WINTER

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3 unforgettable ice caves in Iceland and where to find them

Often called the land of fire and ice, Iceland is home to black sand beaches , volcanoes, and glaciers. When these two elements come together, they create incredible ice caves that are a must-see for any adventurous visitor to Iceland. Here’s a closer look at how these natural wonders came about and how to visit the best ice caves in Iceland.

What are ice caves, anyway?

In Iceland, ice caves are technically glacier caves. The ice in glacier caves is usually an intense blue, thanks to the dense nature of glacial ice that absorbs all the other colors on the spectrum. But it can also be shades of green, white, brown, or black—or any mix of these colors, depending on the depth of the ice and surrounding environment.

Despite looking like sturdy land masses, glaciers are constantly on the move because of the massive weight that shifts the earth around them. Changing temperatures, volcanic activity, and flowing rivers around the glacier cause the ice to perpetually melt and reform, reshaping the glacier and carving out the glacier caves that travelers can visit.

These ever-changing conditions mean that each visit to an Iceland ice cave will be unique. The same ice caves may not always be there for you to explore depending on the weather conditions for the year; old favorites in past seasons may become inaccessible while new ice caves are discovered.

Vatnajökull ice caves

Vatnajökull National Park is located on the southeast coast of Iceland, about five hours’ drive from Reykjavik and is home to the largest glacier in Iceland—the Vatnajökull glacier —which covers 8 percent of the island nation's landmass. With many outlet glaciers, Vatnajökull ice cave tours usually start from Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon , Skaftafellsjökull , or Fláajökull glacier .

Many ice caves can be found every year during winter in the Vatnajökull glacier–the Crystal Ice Cave is the most well-known and consistent ice cave in Iceland, forming in roughly the same location over the last decade. Carved by a glacial river, it got its name from its vivid blue ice interior that resembles a crystal dome.

In past seasons, other Vatnajökull ice caves named for their distinctive features could be found here–Waterfall, Blue Diamond and Northern Lights are some examples. They have since closed, but new and unique ice caves may open in upcoming seasons.

You can take a short half-day small group ice cave tour to see the Vatnajökull ice caves–you’ll want to stay at least one night at hotels like the Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon in Oraefi or Milk Factory in Hofn for convenience as it's a bit too far from Reykjavik for a day trip. Or take a longer two-day tour to see some of Iceland’s other sights along the way. Adventurous folks can consider an ice climbing tour .

Katla ice caves

Katla is one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes and is located on the south coast, about a 45-minutes drive from the village of Vík . The Katla ice cave can be found in the Kötlujökull glacier and is one of the few ice caves in Iceland that can be visited throughout the year, even during the summer.

While the ice in the Katla ice cave is not as blue as the Vatnajökull ice caves, its blue and black ice due to the ash from the volcano is still otherworldly and ethereal—great for photo ops and breathtaking videos. (Star Wars fans might recognize the Katla landscape from its feature in the movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story .) Nearby, Sólheimajökull on the Mýrdalsjökull glacier is popular for a glacier hike .

You could do a Katla ice cave tour as a day tour from Reykjavik as it’s just a two-hour drive away. But given the many scenic sights along Iceland’s south coast like the black sand beach of Reynisfjara , abandoned plane wreck at Sólheimasandur , and majestic waterfalls Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss , we highly recommend staying overnight at the Grand Guesthouse Gardakot in Dyrholaey or taking a full-day tour that covers all these highlights.

Langjökull ice cave and ice tunnels

Langjökull Glacier —which translates to the "long glacier"—is the second largest glacier in Iceland and sits about three hours away from Reykjavik. It has both natural ice caves, as well as man-made tunnels that are around 3,000 feet above sea level and can be visited all year round.

The natural, blue-black Langjökull ice cave is found on the east side of the glacier and in quite a remote area–it typically involves taking a ride on a specially modified Super Jeep to the base camp, followed by a thrilling snowmobile ride over the glacier to get to the entrance of the ice cave.

The Langjökull man-made tunnels, called "Into the Glacier," are located on the west side of Langjökull glacier, high up on the glacial ice cap. They were dug in 2010 to study the insides of the glacier; it took 14 months to remove over 7,000 tonnes of aquamarine-colored ice, and today, you can explore five chambers.

Langjökull Glacier is located just off Iceland’s famous Golden Circle near Húsafell and contributes to the flows of the iconic Gullfoss waterfall and the hot springs at Geysir . Take a day tour from Reykjavik or a tour that lets you warm up in hot springs after your icy adventure.

Best time to visit Iceland’s ice caves

The best time to visit Iceland’s ice caves is from November to March during the cold winter months when the ice is more frozen and stable for visitors, though there are a couple of ice caves that are accessible throughout the year. Iceland’s ice cave tours are popular and are best booked in advance, but be prepared to reschedule due to unforeseen weather conditions.

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Ice cave tours of Iceland

• Ice caving included with all packages
• Tours led by certified guides
• Stays in Reykjavík and travel by bus
• Choice of any start and end date

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Active Iceland Fire and Ice Expedition

Experience glaciers up close and walk in the footsteps of lava.

Active Iceland Fire and Ice Expedition with Northern Lights

Immerse yourself in jaw-dropping natural beauty

South Iceland Winter Wellness with Ice Caving

Unwind in blissful spas, experience ice caving and chase the aurora

Active Christmas Adventure with Blue Lagoon

Chase the Aurora, tour the iconic Golden Circle, and soak up festive vibes in Reykjavík this Christmas

Fire & Ice Christmas Adventure with Blue Lagoon

Discover the magic of Iceland’s natural wonders over Christmas.

South Iceland Winter Delights - Small Group Adventure

Witness South Iceland’s top sights in their winter costume on this guided tour

Showing 7 of 7 trips

About our Iceland ice cave tours

• Get an ice cave tour as standard, along with other activities
• Customize your trip with extra days in Reykjavík
• Secure your package today with just a 5% deposit
• Have access to a 24/7 helpline once you arrive in Iceland

Don’t take our word for it

See what hundreds of fellow travelers have to say about their trips with Iceland Tours.

FAQs about ice cave trips in Iceland

What are ice caves in iceland.

Ice caves are hollow spaces underneath Iceland’s glaciers. Ice caves form during the warmer spring months , when running meltwater carves out mini caverns that freeze when temperatures drop again.

By their very nature, ice caves, or ice tunnels, are temporary and never quite the same year after year. Their size and position shifts depending on the activity under the glacier during the warm season.

You can safely visit an ice cave in Iceland on a guided tour. Their bright blue walls are mesmerizing and a sight you won’t easily forget!

Where are there ice caves in Iceland?

You’ll find natural ice caves under many of the bigger glaciers in Iceland. For example, Katla ice cave lies beneath Vatnajökull in the southeast.

There are the ones you can visit on an ice cave tour, but there are dozens more that appear and disappear every year. Many of Iceland’s largest glaciers have smaller outlet glaciers, or tongues, where ice caves form and icebergs are born.

Read our guide to ice caves in Iceland for the full lowdown.

What is the best ice cave tour in Iceland?

It’s hard to visit a glacier ice cave in the Land of Fire and Ice without having an unforgettable time.

Because the ice caves are seasonal and move from year to year, there’s no one definitive ice cave tour. That said, you’ll probably see the most spectacular ones at Vatnajökull glacier and Langjökull.

When are ice cave tours in Iceland?

Most ice caves are only open in the winter, from December to March. This is the time of year when it’s safest to visit the glaciers, as the ice cave walls are frozen solid.

At other times of year, you can still join other ice-focused activities such as glacier hiking, snowmobile tours, and kayaking at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon .

Find out what else there is to see and do in Iceland in winter . Or read these month-by-month guides:

• Iceland in December
• Iceland in January
• Iceland in February
• Iceland in March

Is it safe to tour ice caves in Iceland alone?

If you want to explore an ice cave, you’ll need to join a guide-led tour.

The caves form underneath glaciers and shift position from year to year. So there’s no way you should enter an ice cave without a local guide who knows their stuff.

When you book an ice cave excursion through Iceland Tours, you’ll always get an experienced, trained guide and the right safety equipment for the whole activity.

How cold does it get in ice caves?

Of course, an ice cave is made of frozen water. This means the walls of the cave stay at least 0°C (32°F), although the air inside will probably be a few degrees warmer.

We recommend wrapping up warm and bringing a few extra layers, just so you can stay nice and comfy throughout your ice cave tour.

Do I have to buy a vacation package to see ice caves in Iceland?

All of the Iceland trips featured on this page include an ice cave tour as standard. If you’re looking for an activity to add to your existing itinerary though, you can check out our day tours .

You might want to combine ice caving with other activities such as lava caving and kayaking. Take a look at these Iceland adventure trips for more inspo!

What else can I see on an ice cave vacation package?

If you visit Iceland during ice cave season, you can see a whole bunch of wonderful wintry sights. Follow the Golden Circle route and stop off at the ice-frosted Gullfoss waterfall . And watch steam erupt out of smooth, blue ice at Geysir .

Winter is also the best time to spot the Northern Lights. The longer hours of darkness give you more chances to hunt them down than in the summer.

You could also head along the south coast and check out epic Icelandic waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss . Then there’s Reynisfjara black sand beach and Reynisdrangar sea stacks.

Keep going east and you’ll hit Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in Vatnajökull National Park. Whichever part of Iceland you focus on, you’ll not be short on spectacular nature.

Read this guide to the top things to see and do on Iceland's south coast for more information on these top attractions.

What’s the accommodation like on a trip to Iceland?

When you book a vacation package with Iceland Tours, you have 3 levels of accommodation to choose from:

• Budget – Guesthouses or farmstays run by locals, with shared bathroom facilities
• Comfort – Hotel rooms of around 3 stars, with your own bathroom
• Quality – Hotel rooms of around 4 stars, with your own bathroom

For all the details on the accommodation types we offer, check out our Iceland accommodation guide .

Can I choose which date my vacation starts?

Yes, you can start your trip on any date you like! This is one of the main bonuses of booking a vacation package with Iceland Tours.

You’ve also got the option to add extra days in Reykjavík to the start or end of your trip when you book online. You’ll be able to add even more activities and experiences too, so you can get the max out of your trip.

Can I add extra activities to my Iceland vacation package?

You bet! At checkout you’ll be shown which extra activities are available for each day of your vacation. We’re talking things like kayaking at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, or having a relaxing dip in the Blue Lagoon .

Of course, if you feel like you just don’t have enough time to fit in everything, you can add extra days in Reykjavík to your trip at checkout. Then you’ll be able to book any excursions that depart from Reykjavík for those days.

When should I book my flights?

Start by taking a look at the different Iceland ice cave tour packages we offer above. This will help you work out how many days you need for your trip.

Once you’ve found a package that takes your fancy, simply book online and wait for the confirmation. Once you receive this by email, you’re all ready to book your flights with the airline of your choice.

For more info on the booking process, see how to book with us .

Can you tell me what to pack for an ice cave tour in Iceland?

When you arrive for your ice cave tour, you’ll be given all the gear you need to keep safe and comfy. This includes crampons, helmets, and ice picks.

You should pack the following for your tour and the rest of your trip:

• Warm layers, such as a thermal undershirt
• Waterproof jacket

If you’re wondering what else you need to take with you, check out our packing guide for an Iceland winter trip .

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Latest articles

Sustainability In Focus: Un Deputy

We’re excited to announce the visit of Amina Mohammed, the fifth Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, to Into the Glacier. This significant event emphasizes the urgency of addressing climate change and its impact on our treasured natural wonders.  Joined……

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Deep within Iceland’s frozen landscapes, a beacon of hope shone brightly. Into the Glacier was honored to host a Pink Ribbon event, casting a radiant pink hue over the world’s longest man-made ice tunnel this October. Beyond the captivating illumination,……

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Winter Ice Cave Tours

Blue Extreme  Ice cave tour

The Crystal Ice Cave at Sunset

6-8 hour Ice Cave Excursion to the MOST BEAUTIFUL Ice caves in Iceland today

Glacier hike and ice caves . Real Blue ice cave adventure.

Day tours to the Crystal cave

Our ice cave tours in iceland

Crystal blue Ice cave Discovery Tour 

Beautiful 3 hour ice cave tour to the best ice cave available each winter. 

This one is suitable  for the whole family.

Blue extreme ice cave tour

Extreme beautiful combination of and ice cave tour and a glacier hike to our hidden glacier treasures  . 5 to 7 hours. Max 10 in each tour. 

Book your Ice cave tour with local tour operator

Best ice cave  each winter, this is our office :) we love taking you there.

Here are some photos from our ice cave  tours

Glacier Travel  is a small local ice cave tour company in iceland operating ice cave tours from the famous glacier lagoon . We provide  ours service in the glacier national park area guiding you to the most stunning ice caves in the area. We specialize in Ice cave tours in Iceland Our guides are well trained local people which know the ice caves and our stunning nature incredible well. Our aim is to provide high quality and personal ice cave guide service in each tour we take and we put our customers in seat number 1.

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Glacier Travel ehf Hlíðartún 37  Iceland Phone:003548639600 Email:[email protected]

ICE CAVE TOURS

Free cancellation, electronic voucher, best price guarantee.

Prepare to embark on an otherworldly adventure as you join one of Iceland’s renowned ice cave tours .

Delve deep into the heart of the country’s majestic glaciers , where a world of ethereal beauty awaits your discovery.

Led by seasoned guides who are experts in navigating these icy realms, these tours offer a truly immersive exploration of Iceland’s frozen wonders . As you venture further into the glacier’s icy depths, you’ll be greeted by a mesmerizing display of shimmering ice formations and breathtaking crystal-blue hues that seem to dance in the light. Towering ice walls rise around you, adorned with intricate sculptures carved by nature’s hand over centuries of frozen evolution. From delicate ice stalactites to imposing ice pillars, every corner reveals a new marvel, a testament to the unparalleled beauty of Iceland’s glacial landscapes.

Whether you’re an avid adventurer seeking thrilling outdoor escapades or simply a nature enthusiast yearning to witness the splendor of the natural world, an ice cave tour in Iceland promises an experience like no other . You will be awestruck as you embark on this unforgettable journey into the heart of nature’s icy marvels .

Our Bestsellers

KATLA ICE CAVE TOUR FROM REYKJAVÍK

• Mesmerizing Katla ice cave
• Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls
• Professional guide
• Pickup/dropoff in Reykjavik

INTO THE GLACIER – FROM REYKJAVÍK

• Unique man-made ice cave
• Langjökull glacier, the second largest glacier in Iceland
• Guided tour
• Pickup/dropoff in Reykjavik City

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• 7 Hours 30 Minutes
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The Katla Ice Cave Tour

On the Katla Ice Cave Tour, you will enter a world of dramatic landscapes and blue ice caves. Departing from the town of Vík , this tour takes you on to journey of green mountains, blue ice caves, and black sand dunes. Led by local guides, you will discover the wonder of these hidden gems on the Icelandic South Coast. This ice cave tour is available year-round.

This is a meet-on-location tour only. If you want to explore the Katla Ice Cave on a day tour from Reykjavík, check out the South Coast & Katla Ice Cave Tour .

After meeting up with your guide and group in Vík, you will embark on a journey to the mountains. Traveling by Super Jeeps , you will be able to explore the remarkable landscape found in the Icelandic highlands.

You’ll start by visiting an ice cave that features blue ice . In this stunning ice cave, you can explore the black, white, and blue ice that forms naturally inside the cave. After visiting the cave and taking plenty of photos, you’ll venture into the stunning green mountains in the highlands. You will get plenty of opportunities to photograph and marvel at this amazing sight.

Before returning to Vík, you’ll visit one of Iceland’s most stunning black dune beaches . Led by local professional guides, you will leave this tour with plenty of fond memories and photos and fun and interesting facts you can only learn from a local.

Frequently Asked Questions

The meeting point is in Vik.

Check-in is in the grey building of Katlatrack Base and Black Crust Pizzeria, next to the yellow OB gas pumps. The address is Austurvegur 16, but please note that Google Maps is pointing to the wrong location – it’s better to search the Katlatrack.

Please note that you must be ready on location 15 minutes before the start of your tour.

This tour is also available as a full day tour from Reykjavík: South Coast & Katla Ice Cave Tour .

Note that with transfers from Reykjavík this is a full day tour of up to 10-12 hours.

Yes, for safety reasons this tour has an age limit of 12 years.

This tour is led by professional, expert guides who know the area well. You should never enter an ice cave by yourself.

Safety always comes first, therefore the operator of this tour reserves the right to cancel the tour if conditions are not right. In case of cancellations, you will be offered to go on another tour, if possible, or get a full refund.

You should bring your warmest clothes and winter layers, gloves, hat and of course your camera.

Good hiking shoes or snow boots are essential for this tour.

All safety equipment needed for the ice cave tour will be provided to you on the tour.

The maximum number of guests on this tour is 12.

Reservations can be canceled 48 hours prior to departure without penalty. Cancellations received less than 48 hours prior to departure are non-refundable.

Cancellations must be submitted in writing to [email protected].

Please be mindful of possible time zone differences. Iceland is in the GMT time zone and cancellations must be submitted at least 48 hours before departure in Icelandic local time (GMT).

If you do need to cancel your tour, we recommend that you contact us as soon as possible.

Meeting point in Vík:

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Price from 39.900 ISK per person.

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Love Exploring

29 Amazing Caves Around The World You Can Actually Visit

Posted: May 11, 2024 | Last updated: May 11, 2024

Subterranean spectacles

Some of the most amazing spectacles in this world are hidden deep underground, beneath rocks, sea, and even ice. Many house cool attractions, some have a fascinating history, while others are simply mesmerizing to look at.

Read on to see 29 of the world's most incredible caves and caverns you can actually visit...

Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, USA

Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park is the world’s longest known cave system. It’s at least 400 miles (644km) long (an additional eight miles/13km was added in 2021), but there’s so much more that hasn’t even been explored. It’s easy to visit and free to enter the park, but you must pay for the cave tours (book in advance in summer).

Postojna Caves, Slovenia

Postojna Caves is Slovenia’s largest cave system, which spans over 12 miles (19km), with a quarter of that open to the public. You can walk the route, but there’s also a miniature train (opened in 1872) for a relaxing exploration of 2.2 miles (3.7km). Look out for the creepy, almost translucent olms, or “baby dragons," in the exhibition aquarium.

Hotel Marhala, Tunisia

Want to sleep on a Star Wars set? Then make like R2D2 and head to Hotel Marhala in Matmata, southern Tunisia. Some people in the Berber-speaking town still live in these traditional 'troglodyte' caves. Don’t expect luxury accommodation, this is the very definition of basic.

Luray Caverns, Virginia, USA

While there are plenty of reasons to visit Luray – huge caverns, an incredible lake, ceilings that are 10 stories high – the main reason is to hear the world’s largest musical instrument. The Stalacpipe Organ makes music by gently tapping stalactites. Buy your tickets in advance.

The Door to Hell, Turkmenistan

It’s not exactly a top tourist attraction, but Turkmenistan’s Door to Hell is pretty fascinating. Officially called the Darvaza crater, it was caused by a Soviet oil rig drilling into a natural gas cavern in 1971 and has been burning ever since. Take an off-the-beaten-track tour to visit while you still can, as it's been reported that the Turkmenistan president wants to extinguish the fire (natural gas is an important resource for the country).

Marble Caves, Chile

The Shell Grotto, Kent, England, UK

Mendenhall Ice Cave, Alaska, USA

Ice caves appear and disappear each year in Alaska's retreating Mendenhall Glacier and are notoriously difficult to reach. You can take a six- to eight-hour overland trek on a dangerous, unmarked trail or you can kayak across the ice lake (only for experienced cold water paddlers) and take a shorter hike. The glacier is around 13 miles (21km) from the town of Juneau.

Grotta Palazzese, Italy

The view at Grotta Palazzese restaurant is nothing short of perfection. It’s built into a natural cave overlooking the Adriatic and the sunsets are as gorgeous as you’d imagine. Alas, there are reports of the restaurant experience not matching up to its surroundings. You can’t just grab a drink here and the cheapest meal (not including wine) will set you back around $212.

Tham Khao Luang Cave, Thailand

This huge and peaceful mountain cave temple filled with statues of Buddha is in the Phetchaburi province of central Thailand. It's only around 100 years old and was built in the reign of King Chulalongkorn. When the sun is shining, the light beams onto the stone and makes for a colorful sight. Just watch out for the pesky monkeys on the steep walk there.

Neptune’s Grotto, Italy

The Ape Cave, Washington, USA

Washington’s Ape Cave is particularly interesting because it’s essentially a tube formed by lava. There are two options when you’re exploring. The upper cave is hard work, with some scrambling involved, and is 1.5 miles (2.4km) long. If you’re not a very experienced caver, try the lower one which is a one-way route that's less than a mile (1.6km) long. One more thing: don’t touch the walls, they’re covered in ecologically important slime.

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, USA

Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico is home to the Hall of Giants. It’s 4,000 feet (1,219m) long, 625 feet (190m) wide and 350 feet (106m) high, and it's the second-largest cavern in the world. You can explore the Natural Entrance Trail and the Big Room Trail on your own, but to venture further you need to join a ranger-led tour.

Blue Grotto, Italy

Fingal’s Cave, Scotland, UK

Waitomo Caves, New Zealand

You visit Waitomo Caves for one reason: the glowworms. You have to queue for a long time to get into the caves, but the boat trips are worth the wait, or if you're happy to get wet and climb through the caves you can explore on a rubber tube. Photos and taking videos is prohibited, so sit back and take in the luminescent light.

Batu Caves, Malaysia

Only a few miles outside of Kuala Lumpur, the Batu Caves are an important part of Malaysian history and culture. There are four caves to explore but the Temple Cave is the largest and most popular. They're also rumored to have trapdoor spiders in them – a species that literally creates trap doors in the ground using soil – so watch your step.

Gran Cenote, Mexico

Cenotes (pronounced 'sey-no-tes') are natural sinkholes of various sizes – some are subterranean but others are flooded with sunlight because the roofs has long since caved in. Gran Cenote is on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, a limestone landscape famous for its cenotes. Here you pay an entry fee and you can swim, snorkel or go scuba diving. It gets crowded, so come early.

Antelope Canyon, Arizona, USA

Antelope Canyon in the Navajo Nation is the work of hundreds of years of sandstone erosion. There are two canyons to explore (Upper and Lower) and they're accessible by guided tour only. Go early to get the best photos and book your tour in advance.

Carnglaze Caverns, Cornwall, England, UK

Phraya Nakhon Cave, Thailand

Phraya Nakhon Cave in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park is spectacular in its own right, but it's the little pavilion bathed in light inside which really makes it special. Want to visit? You've got quite the trek ahead of you: a boat ride, 1,450 feet (442m) of uneven and steep steps, then a slippery pathway into the cavern. Start early; the light in this beautiful cave looks best in the morning.

Vatnajökull, Iceland

A result of the geothermal heat that Iceland is famous for, the Vatnajökull ice caves are a spectacle that wouldn't look out of place on a film set. Each summer, new crystal blue ice caves are formed in Europe's largest glacier and in the winter months they can be safely explored.

Ik Kil, Mexico

Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes, Germany

Remouchamps, Belgium

Remouchamps in the province of Liège in Belgium is hiding an incredible secret. This is where you'll find the world's longest subterranean river. After a half-a-mile (0.8km) walk exploring the passageways and cathedral cavern, you'll hop in a rowboat for a peaceful trip along the water. The caves were used in the Second World War as a shelter.

Indian Echo Caverns, Pennsylvania, USA

Nerja Caves, Spain

In Spain's province of Málaga , these caves are home to famous rock paintings from the Paleolithic period (not open to the public), as well as the largest stalagmite in the world. You can visit on a self-guided tour – walk, drive or take the little 'train' from Nerja – or book an exclusive evening access tour.

Son Doong Cave, Vietnam

The world’s largest cave, Son Doong, was only discovered and first explored in 2009. If you’re lucky enough to visit the cave in remote Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, you’ll find the longest stalactites in the world, limestone cave pearls and an underground rainforest. You can visit the cave on a four-day expedition from February to August, but tours must be booked well in advance.

Reed Flute Cave, China

The aptly named Reed Flute Cave, near Guilin in southern China, is so-called because of the reeds that grow in the area that are used to make flutes. The caverns are lit with brightly colored rainbow lights and collectively this place is known as the 'palace of natural art.' There are inscriptions here from as far back as the Tang Dynasty (AD 792).

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Iceland is open for travel: check volcano updates here

• Language/Currency EN Language EN English DE German FR French CN Chinese $ USD ISK ISK $ USD € EUR CA$ CAD £ GBP

Ice Cave Tours

Into the Glacier Ice Cave Tour

"Into the Glacier" Ice Cave Tour

Visit ice tunnel in langjökull glacier.

Explore the second-largest glacier in Iceland from the inside! This journey takes you on a guided tour in a monster truck to the entrance of the Langjokull Ice Cave. The man-made tunnel in Langjökull glacier is the largest of its kind in the world. We’ll explore the tunnels for one hour, stopping at the built-in chapel. Venture deep into the heart of Iceland’s Ice Age not far from Reykjavik!

Meet your tour guide on location or at a pick-up point in Reykjavik. Select your preferred option when you book.

• 8 Wheel Monster Truck
• Glacier Exploring
• Langjökull - Iceland's 2nd largest glacier
• Hraunfossar (from Reykjavik only)
• Barnafossar (from Reykjavik only)
• Deildartunguhver (from Reykjavik only)
• Entrance Fee to the Ice Cave
• English Speaking Driver Guide
• All Necessary Equipment
• Free WiFi on Board Your Bus
• Pick-up & drop off from Reykjavík (optional)

What to bring

• Warm clothes
• Waterproof/warm coat
• Suitable footwear

Tour Snapshot

• Travelers' Choice 2023
• Expert Guides
• Best Price Guarantee
• Fast & Secure Payment
• No Booking Fees
• Free Cancellation

Please Select When Booking:

• From Husafell
• From Reykjavik
• From Klaki Basecamp

Meet us at Husafell

With pick up from Reykjavik

Meet us at Klaki basecamp

This tour departs from the glacier edge and offers guests the chance to venture into a giant, 953sq/km glacier upon Iceland’s second-largest glacier, Langjökull. Tourists from all over the world are drawn to the vast endlessness of pure white in Iceland. What is seemingly infinite is just a fraction of the dramatic landscape on the island. Experience the remoteness of an Ice Cap glacier that is home to the new Langjokull Ice Cave. This man-made ice cave high on Langjökull is Iceland’s newest attraction and your chance to enter a world of glacial ice.

With a stunning surrounding environment and informative guides, this tour offers a unique experience for the whole family to enjoy!

Note: We cannot guarantee that the actual view during your visit will match the photographs since ice caves are a natural phenomenon that undergoes constant change. How they look may vary depending on the season, time of the day, lighting, and other factors.

Meeting point

You can meet us at Husafell Center all year round.

During summer you can also meet us at Klaki Basecamp which is located closer to the glacier. Please note that the road leading to Klaki is a gravel road, so a 4x4 vehicle is recommended. Detailed driving instructions will be available on your ticket upon booking.

Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time.

Pick-up Information

This tour is also available as a day tour, with pick-up in Reykjavík. Please select the option you prefer in the booking widget.

For those who have chosen to be picked up in Reykjavík, the pick-up time is stated on your voucher that you will receive upon booking. Picking everyone up can take up to 30 minutes, your patience is greatly appreciated!   Available pick-up points:   Arctic Adventures’ pick-up list .

What is a Super Jeep?

A Super Jeep is a highly modified vehicle equipped with 38" to 50" tires and a robust suspension system, uniquely designed to handle Iceland's diverse terrains and conditions. Dive deeper into the world of Super Jeep Tours .

What is the difference between 4x4, SUV, Super Jeep and Super Truck?

A 4x4 is a vehicle with four wheels that drive together, suitable for mild off-roading. An SUV is a spacious vehicle designed for light off-roading and various terrains. A Super Jeep is a heavily modified vehicle, built for challenging terrains with features like large tires and snorkels. A Super Truck is a large vehicle modified like a Super Jeep but designed to carry up to 58 passengers. Explore the distinctions in our Super Jeep Tours section.

Are Super Jeeps safe?

Yes, Super Jeeps are designed and modified to handle the challenging terrains of Iceland, ensuring safety during tours. For a secure adventure, check out our Super Jeep Tours .

How is it best to be ready for a pick-up for a tour with Arctic Adventures?

This is a great question. We ask all participants to be ready from the start of the pickup time indicated. This is because you may well be the first pick up of the day. Please be at your assigned location at the start time that you chose when booking the tour.

Here you should wait for your guide.

Have your email and phone number listed with us so we can contact you if we run into any trouble finding you.

View our   pick-up locations   in Reykjavík.

Can I drink alcohol before or during Arctic Adventures tours?

Before and during activities on the multi-day tours consumption of alcohol is prohibited. If we suspect that a participant is intoxicated, we will prohibit them from joining the activity.

After the activities of the day are finished, you are welcome to have a drink and relax.

Do you offer any family friendly tours, for younger children?

Yes, we do. Langjökull Ice Cave is a magical experience, the tour has no minimum age and is a wonderful option for the whole family. Whale Watching with our partner company Elding has been a favourite with families traveling with young children, these guys have a great success rate in seeing whales (upwards of 98% in the summertime).

Another option would be the Landmannalaugar Safari on this tour you get to explore parts of the Icelandic highlands and bathe in natural hot springs. Most of our super jeep tours  are also suitable for children over the age of 6 years old. If you would like a nice and relaxing experience we would also recommend the Golden Circle & Secret Lagoon tour .

Can the itinerary for the tour change?

Your safety is our number one priority! Keeping this in mind, Arctic Adventures reserves the right to adjust the itinerary and/or take different routes depending on conditions. Please read more information in our  cancellation policy .

Is there a guide on each Arctic Adventures tour?

Yes, there is a specially trained and certified guide on each of our tours. The only exception to this is for our   self-drive tours .

All of our tours are guided in English.

Can the guide advise if I am eligible for rescheduling the tour and/or a refund?

No, for all your questions and concerns you would need to contact our customer service.

What type of power outlets are used in Iceland? Do I need to bring an adapter?

The standard in Iceland is 230V and 50Hz and we use F-type power sockets and plugs, so you might have to bring an adaptor if you are visiting from UK, USA, Canada or other countries using a different voltage, Hz or plugs.

How are the tours rated in terms of difficulty?

Our tours are split into four different categories that help participants to understand what to expect from the tour. The categories are Easy, Moderate, Challenging and Demanding. Each tour is rated making it easier to find tours that suit you.

For further information about the   difficulty ratings   and descriptions.

How does carbon offsetting work?

We’ve partnered with the Kolviður Fund in a new carbon offsetting program, which passengers can select to participate in at the time of booking.

The Kolviður Fund   is the oldest, most respected carbon offsetting program in Iceland. With your support, one tree will be planted in special Kolviður forests in Iceland to carbon offset your tour with us.

Kolviður forests are strategically planted to absorb the maximum amount of CO2 and the forests are protected for a minimum of 60 years. During their lifetime the trees absorb carbon and store it in their root system, trunk, and branches. Trees also prevent soil erosion and maintain storage of carbon in the soil.

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Ice Tunnel & Glacier Snowmobile

2 Day South Coast, Ice Cave, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon Tour

Katla Ice Cave (Under The Volcano) Tour

Contact us for more information about this tour.

Arctic Adventures offers pick up service from selected Reykjavík pick up points. Note that you can always update your pick-up / drop-off location through our customer portal: https://my.adventures.is You can press the login button in your confirmation email for an easy login to the customer portal. If you experience an error with logging into the customer portal or can't find your booking, please contact us on Facebook Messenger, or send us a message here below. Chat with us on Facebook Messenger

Take in the breathtaking sights of Iceland with Utah tour group

By dick jensen & alan mckay tours | posted - may 6, 2024 at 11:30 a.m., (dick jensen & alan mckay tours).

Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes

There are so many reasons to add Iceland to your travel itinerary next year.

For one thing, it's covered in natural wonders. Due to its abundance of both volcanoes and glaciers, Iceland's nickname is the "Land of Ice and Fire." You can spend your days hiking, climbing, soaking or swimming, depending on where you go.

The country also has a rich and storied cultural history with the Vikings settling there in the ninth century.

And then there are the northern lights, or aurora borealis — the green, red and purple lights that swirl across the sky in the northern hemisphere. This atmospheric phenomenon is something you've likely only seen pictures of, but seeing it in person is something you'll never forget. Thanks to its geographical location, Iceland is one of the best places to do it.

"There's a reason travelers chase the elusive northern lights — ask anyone who's seen them, and they'll tell you it's a breathtaking experience," Stefanie Waldek writes for Travel + Leisure magazine .

The best time to see the northern lights is in the fall, winter or spring, but Waldek says that solar activity peaks around the fall and spring equinoxes. So, booking a trip in March or September increases your chances of catching a glimpse of the show.

When you book with Dick Jensen & Alan McKay Tours , you'll get a chance to see and experience many of these things and more — and you won't believe the price.

Here's what's on the itinerary

Dick Jensen & Alan McKay Tours' Iceland tour covers multiple different must-see stops over seven days. The trip starts with a historical walking tour of Reykjavik, where you'll see the famous Hallgrimskirkja church. Just before you head to the airport on your final day, you'll take a dip in the popular Blue Lagoon to end your trip on a high note. The Iceland tour is $2,999 per person when you travel with a companion — and it includes round-trip, nonstop airfare!

In between that first and last day, here are a few of the other activities you'll enjoy in the Land of Ice and Fire:

• Eat Icelandic rye bread, made by using geothermal heat.
• Take a beautiful boat ride through Glacier Lagoon.
• Visit the Lava Museum.
• Witness the only live lava show in the world.
• See breathtaking waterfalls, geysers and national parks.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. To see the full itinerary, visit https://www.djamtours.com/iceland .

Dick Jensen & Alan McKay Tours makes bucket list dreams come true

To make worldwide travel affordable for as many people as possible, Dick Jensen & Alan McKay Tours has worked hard to craft exceptional travel packages that offer the biggest bang for your buck.

Here's how they save you money: The agency purchases blocks of airfare 11 months before the departure date to ensure the best deal on international airfare. Their group contracts also save people a lot of money — and since it's a family-run business with low overhead and many automated processes, they pass the savings on to you!

The Iceland tour is $2,999 per person double occupancy, including round-trip, nonstop airfare. Here's everything else that's covered with that price:

• Airport transfers
• Accommodations at the Storm Hotel and Hotel Kria
• Breakfast at the hotels
• Activities listed on the itinerary
• Private charter bus

You'll be hard-pressed to find a more value-packed offer for the price!

Refer a friend and save even more

In addition to their excellent prices, Dick Jensen & Alan McKay Tours offers a referral program to help you save even more money. For every referral from you that books with them, you get $100 and your referrals get $50 off the price as well. And you don't have to go on the trip to get your $100 reward! Visit the referrals page for more information.

Save a spot on the next available Iceland tour

Right now, the 2024 Iceland with Northern Lights tours dates include Sept. 22–28, Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 and Oct. 6–12. To see the northern lights, you'll want to book in September or October, so act fast before these spots fill up! The recent volcano eruptions won't affect any of the sites on this tour.

In the meantime, you can browse the list of other upcoming trips Dick Jensen & Alan McKay Tours offers. In addition to Iceland, the agency also offers expertly guided tours through Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Pacific, the Middle East and even Antarctica. Visit their website to view upcoming travel itineraries and plan that next great trip today!

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Discover Le Havre, Where Impressionism Was Born

The movement was named for a seascape Monet painted in this often-overlooked city, France’s largest seaport. But it has a museum full of Impressionist canvases, intriguing architecture and a new energy.

By Elaine Sciolino

As the fog of dawn lifted one morning in mid-November 1872, Claude Monet looked out the window of his hotel room in the French city of Le Havre and furiously painted his vision of its industrial harbor. He flung his brush with quick strokes and played with the water, stretching it with rays of color.

In one sitting, he created “Impression, Sunrise,” a painting of a vivid orange sun with its reflection shimmering in the sea.

In 1874, Monet, who grew up in Le Havre on the Normandy coast, included the painting in an exhibition of 30 artists’ work organized in response to the Paris Salon, an annual showcase of academic art. The critic Louis Leroy denounced “The Exhibition of the Impressionists” and mocked the title of Monet’s painting. “An impression, I’m sure,” he wrote. “I thought to myself, this has made an impression on me so there must be impressions somewhere in there.”

Impressionism was born.

This year, France is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the movement. In Paris, the Musée d’Orsay is exhibiting 130 works from and related to the 1874 exhibition and offering a one-hour immersive tour with virtual reality headsets. It is sending 178 other works to more than 30 museums throughout France.

The Musée Marmottan , which owns “Impression, Sunrise,” has agreed to lend it to the Orsay until July for its exhibition “Paris 1874: Inventing Impressionism” and to the National Gallery in Washington where the exhibition travels in September.

But to discover a fresh and unexpected view of Impressionism requires a visit to Le Havre, France’s most important seaport and its most underappreciated big city.

Snubbed by tourists

Once there was a direct New York-to-Le Havre route on the French Line, whose luxury cruise liners pampered rich Americans with fancy suites and fine French cuisine. Le Havre was their first point of entry into the Old World.

But in more recent times, cruises and tour operators preferred to take their passengers to the Normandy beaches and to charming, quaint Honfleur on the other side of the Seine estuary, rather than to gritty Le Havre. Even today, many Parisians have never visited.

“It used to be that people who came from Le Havre rarely admitted it,” said Édouard Philippe, the mayor of Le Havre and a former French prime minister, in an interview. “People made fun of them. A bit like how people from New Jersey got used to being made fun of because they lived on industrial land that was less beautiful than New York. That all changed. Le Havre is now in fashion.”

To prove his point, he picked up a coffee mug with an intersecting L and H — the new emblem of Le Havre that adorns products — like T-shirts and tote bags — sold throughout the city.

It’s worth a trip to Le Havre just to visit the Musée d’Art Moderne André Malraux , which opened in 1961.

With its white walls, steel frame and floor-to-ceiling glass facade that gives a view out to the sea, the museum allows visitors to revel in the light — luminous and somber — produced by the fickle weather of Normandy. A second-floor balcony that looks out over the museum’s outdoor esplanade and the sea adds to the feeling of openness.

“There was a desire from the beginning to make the museum open to the great spectacle of the changing elements outside,” said Géraldine Lefebvre, the museum’s director.

MuMa, as it is called, has arguably the most important collection of Impressionist paintings in France outside the Musée d’Orsay ( Rouen’s Musée des Beaux-Arts makes the same claim). MuMa’s collection is also home to some of the world’s most famous paintings from the Fauvist movement that followed. And unlike the gridlocked Orsay, MuMa is always gloriously undervisited.

“Go to the Orsay, and then come here,” said Ms. Lefebvre. “We battle a little with Rouen, but in terms of the numbers of works and their quality, we are No. 2.”

Ms. Lefebvre has studied and written about Monet’s “Impression, Sunrise.” She worked for a year with Donald Olson, a Texas State University astronomer and physics professor who used topographical, meteorological and astrological studies to calculate the precise date and time of its creation. According to Dr. Olson, she said, Monet painted it at 7:35 a.m. on Nov. 13, 1872.

The Hotel de l’Amirauté, where Monet stayed when he painted “Impression, Sunrise,” is long gone — replaced by a modern apartment building with a bar-bistro and a gift shop on the ground floor.

Ms. Lefebvre and I visited the site, and she captured the scene: “It was winter; the temperature was freezing. The wind was blowing from the west. The light was just coming up from the sea. The moment the sun came up, he worked in one great burst of energy.”

Rebuilt after World War II

Le Havre is not an ancient city like Paris. When the French king François I created the port of Le Havre in 1517, priority was to create “un havre” — a harbor — that would serve as both a military site to protect France from invaders and a commercial port to open Paris to the world. The city was an afterthought.

Trade exploded over time. Wealthy merchants built grand homes in the coastal town of Sainte-Adresse, northwest of Le Havre.

In August 1944, the British Air Force rained bombs on the city and its inhabitants; 2,000 civilians were killed, 80,000 were left homeless and more than 80 percent of the city was destroyed.

In the 1950s, the French architect Auguste Perret , working with a tight budget and on a deadline, oversaw Le Havre’s reconstruction. A master of precast concrete, he used the cheap, plentiful material to build 150 residential blocks with identical modular frames, a rectangular grid system of streets, and wide sidewalks and boulevards. All the apartments had central heat and modern appliances.

The buildings once were considered ugly. At first glance, they all look alike; then you discover that the concrete came in different shades — creamy beige, gray, taupe, khaki, terra-cotta, ocher — and that the geometric columns and beams were finished with varying patterns and textures (from mottled stone to a smooth velvety feel).

“My concrete is more beautiful than stone,” Perret said. “I work it, I chisel it.”

Perret’s geometric architecture has aged well, and midcentury design is now chic. In 2005, Le Havre was the first example of French Modern architecture to achieve UNESCO World Heritage classification , cited as a model of urban experimentation and reconstruction. (Visitors can take a guided tour of a model apartment in a Perret building .)

Perret’s St. Joseph’s Church , completed in 1957, three years after his death, soars to 350 feet and resembles a small-scale New York City skyscraper. Concrete columns rise to angled buttresses and an octagonal cupola. The steeple is lined with more than 12,000 panes of stained glass.

Inside the church, Philippe Mariette, a retired architect who knew Perret, told me to look up at the reflections from the colored panels that dance on the unadorned walls. “No matter how many times I lift my head, I am always astonished,” he said.

A transformed city center

Le Havre has undergone an architectural transformation in recent years. In the center of town is Le Volcan , a partly underground complex designed by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. It consists of a volcano-shaped theater and a smaller crater converted into a library — with quirky seating pods that are great for kids. On the waterfront is Les Bains des Docks , a swimming complex and spa with pools, hammams, Jacuzzis and solariums designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel; inspired by ancient Roman baths, it is covered in 32 million tiny mosaic tiles. Nearby is the Docks Vauban , a mall with a cinema, restaurants and high-end boutiques.

There is one place in Le Havre that captures the city in time. The Maison de l’Armateur , the mansion of a family of shipowners-merchants and now a museum, is one of the city’s only surviving buildings from the 18th century, with a facade sculpted in Louis XVI style.

Wedged between tall buildings on the quay facing the port, where fishing boats and ferries are moored, it is designed like a tower around an octagonal light shaft and skylight, with rooms on five levels, including the ground floor, where a warehouse and stables were located. The house contains living quarters, a study, portraits, cabinets of curiosities, a library, a map room and a kitchen — all evoking the daily life of the bourgeoisie.

A garden where Monet painted

In the summer of 1867, while visiting his aunt in Sainte-Adresse, Monet painted “Garden at Sainte-Adresse,” which now hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

“People know Sainte-Adresse because of the painting,” said François Rosset, a longtime resident who is president of its heritage association. “It’s a formidable vehicle for our town.”

Years ago, Sainte-Adresse refused to give up its independent status and become part of Le Havre. But a three-mile pedestrian and biking trail along the waterfront connects the town and the center of Le Havre. Part of the town was destroyed during the bombings, but many of the old estates on the outskirts were untouched.

Monet’s aunt’s house, which is privately owned, stays empty for much of the year. The main gate to the garden entrance was open on the day I visited. An employee on the grounds let me in for a peek at the site, with its red brick house with white shutters. .

Hubert Dejan de la Bâtie, the mayor of Sainte-Adresse, has dreams of buying and renovating the house and transforming the area into a tourist attraction.

“Maybe I can’t do as well as Giverny,” he said in an interview, referring to the house where Monet lived for 43 years. “But Monet spent his childhood in Le Havre, and maybe we can do a second center for Monet tourism here. We just have to make the project sexy.”

The train from Paris to Le Havre takes approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes. One-way tickets start from an average of €16 (or about $17) when booked in advance through SNCF Connect .

Hôtel Vent d’Ouest Le Havre is in the city center, across the street from St. Joseph Church, a four-minute walk from the harbor and a seven-minute walk from Le Volcan. Cozy and refined country-style décor. Rooms start at €117.

Hôtel Mercure Le Havre Centre Bassin du Commerce , an ultramodern hotel with décor inspired by the port’s containers, is centrally located only a 15-minute walk from the Maison de l’Armateur and MuMa, and a 10-minute walk from the railway station. Rooms start at €98.

Le Bistrot des Halles offers authentic French cuisine in a charming retro setting, with walls decorated with old metal advertising signs. A favorite of locals (about €20 per person for lunch).

Les Fauves , a cafe and restaurant at MuMa, serves versions of French classics and creative desserts in an upscale room with views of the water (about €20 to €30 per person for lunch).

Elaine Sciolino is a contributing writer and former Paris bureau chief for The New York Times, based in France since 2002. Her newest book, “Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love With the World’s Greatest Museum,” will be published in 2025. In 2010, she was decorated a chevalier of the Legion of Honor, the highest honor of the French state.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

Caves in Iceland

Glacier Caves in Iceland

Crystal cave, katla ice cave, thrihnjukagigur cave, vatnshellir cave, leidarendi cave, raufarholshellir cave, vidgelmir cave, lofthellir cave, mariuhellar caves, gjabakkahellir cave.

What kind of caves are there in Iceland, and where exactly can you go caving? What is the difference between ice caves and glacier caves, and are they available to visit all year round? Read on to find out everything you need to know about caves in Iceland.  

Iceland is filled with caves of all sizes and shapes. Caves are important in Icelandic history, as many of them have served as shelters for people or animals in harsh winters. Some caves in Iceland are still used as sheds, or barns, for sheep.

Iceland is situated on top of a ‘hot spot’ on Earth, where there are dozens of volcanoes, craters and hot springs. Many lava tubes from the volcanoes have turned into caves, some of the craters have cracks that reveal hidden caves and some of the hot springs are even situated within caves. One example is Grjótagjá, famed for a love scene from Game of Thrones, but it is, unfortunately, not possible to bathe in it.

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Essentially, there are four kinds of caves in Iceland: Lava caves, glacier caves, ice caves and man-made caves. The best thing to do on a rainy day in Iceland is either to go swimming or caving!

For any caving experience in Iceland, you will need a helmet, a headlight and some warm and sensible clothing. There are many caving tours to choose from, all of them include helmets and a headlight.

Following are descriptions of some of Iceland’s most beautiful and popular caves.

The most famous caves in Iceland these days are the glacier ice caves. The difference between glacier ice caves and ice caves that have nothing to do with glaciers is that ice caves are bedrock caves that contain ice all year round, whereas glacier ice caves are formed within the ice of a glacier.

When you come to Iceland you may want to see a natural blue glacier cave, but they are only accessible during wintertime, from approximately mid-October until March. They may open slightly later due to weather conditions, and some operators only take glacier cave tours from November. Glacier caves are often simply called ice caves, but there are also ice caves that may not be inside glaciers - so always make sure to read the description of your ice cave tour so you know what to expect.  

Glaciers  are constantly moving or crawling, so glacier caves are therefore not permanent and vary in size and shape each year. Most of them are unstable and can collapse and can, therefore, be very dangerous to enter. Most glacier caves start forming by water running through or beneath the glacier or due to geothermal heat from volcanoes beneath the ice.

The most known glacier caves in Iceland are formed because of geothermal heat, such as Kverkfjöll glacier caves in Vatnajökull. They were measured to be 2.8 km long with a vertical range of 525 metres in the 1980’s!

If you want to see a glacier cave whilst you are in Iceland, it is best to get in touch with a guide that knows where current glacier caves can be found. They can be hard to find and off the beaten track, your most likely bet is to find them in  Vatnajökull glacier , the largest glacier in Europe!

Top Ice Cave Tours

• See also: Ice Caves in Iceland | The Ultimate Guide .

The Crystal Cave is a natural glacier ice cave that has appeared year after year in Vatnajökull glacier since 2011. Like is mentioned above, the glacier caves always vary from year to year, and are only accessible at the coldest time of the year, that is between November and March.

This cave can only ever be entered with a guide, as glacier caves are dangerous and constantly shifting their appearance. You'll be provided with crampons, a helmet with a headlight and possibly even an ice axe before entering the cave.

Although the cave's size, both in height and width, changes yearly, visitors are guaranteed views of blue ice, lined with beautiful patterns of black sand and air bubbles. 

This  Glacier Ice Cave Tour by Vatnajökull goes to the Crystal Cave when it's accessible.

Another natural glacier ice cave, that is actually accessible all year round, is found near the volcano Katla. However, this is a much darker cave, with predominantly black ice, although blue ice can also be seen.

In fact, there are several small caves accessible here, making this a labyrinth of ice and water to explore. 

• Find Katla Ice Cave Tour | Departure from Vík here.
• Find Katla Ice Cave Tour | Departure from Reykjavik here.

The crater Þríhnjúkagígur, east of the Blue Mountains in Southwest Iceland offers the unique experience of exploring the  inside of a volcano .

The volcano has been dormant for the last 4000 years and shows no sign of activity, so you are safe to descend right to its bottom. Reminiscent of a citadel and vibrant in colours, Þríhnjúkagígur offers a fascinating adventure into the earth.

Through the crater's opening, you will enter a humongous magma chamber, one of the most amazing natural phenomenon of its kind.

• Book a tour Inside the Volcano here.

Vatnshellir cave  is found on Snæfellsnes peninsula and is only accessible on a guided tour. To enter it one needs to go down a circular staircase and once down, there is a 200-metre long cave that’s very wide and has a high ceiling.

It is necessary to dress warmly and wear gloves because inside the cave it is cold. The guided tour takes about an hour.

• Book a Snæfellsnes 2 day tour with Vatnshellir cave, whale watching and hot spring  here.

One popular cave that’s not far from Reykjavík is  Leiðarendi cave . Leiðarendi cave is a lava tube located in the Tvíbollahraun lava field, close to the Blue Mountains, about a 25 minutes drive from Reykjavík.

Leiðarendi is notable for its incredibly diverse and colourful scenery and is considered a prime example of an Icelandic lava tube.

A distinctive feature of Leiðarendi is the various lava flakes that have fallen from its walls and roof, due to frost and erosion. The cave walls are polished by lava streams and filled with stalagmites, stalactites and other fascinating formations. In winter you are likely to see glistening natural ice sculptures in the cave, adding further beauty to the already otherworldly scene.

Beware that there is some climbing and crawling necessary when going through this cave.

Various  caving tours  can take you to Leiðarendi, but you can also explore it on your own if you have good hiking boots, helmets and head torches. The helmets are very necessary due to the low ceiling in parts of the cave. Please go through the cave respectfully, and do not leave your name in the ceiling.

• Book a  cheap tour to Leiðarendi  from Reykjavík here.

Raufarhólshellir is very near Reykjavík and is the fourth-longest lava tube in the country. This is a very accessible cave, there's no need to crawl through parts of it as it is from 10-30 metres wide (33-99 feet) and up to 10 metres tall (33 feet). 

The ground is uneven though, so always do take care when walking through and watch your step.

Three gaps in the ceiling where it has caved in bring in a lot of beautiful light, making the cave very atmospheric and perfect for photographs. Those gaps can also provide beautiful ice and snow sculptures in wintertime.

You can explore this cave on a standard 1-hour tour, with or without a pick-up from Reykjavík, or go on a more extreme 3-hour hike.

• Find Lava Tunnel Tours to Raufarholshellir Cave here.

Víðgelmir cave is situated near the town of Reykholt, in west Iceland. It's not too far from the Hraunfossar waterfalls, and can easily be combined with a day tour around that area.

Víðgelmir's beauty mainly lies in its size and the spectacular colours on the inside, that can now be fully enjoyed due to a lighting system that's been expertly installed in specific locations.

There are two large openings in the north end of the cave, and the cave itself is 1585m long, with the largest part of the cave being 15,8m tall and 16,5m wide - resulting in this cave being the largest of its kind in Iceland.

• Book Víðgelmir Cave Explorer tour here.

Lofthellir is a lava cave in North Iceland, situated in the lava field of older Laxárdalshraun.

The Lofthellir lava cave is renowned for having some of the largest, most varied and most beautiful ice sculptures of any lava cave in Iceland and spectacular lava formations as well.

• Here you can book a Caving tour to Lofthellir from Akureyri .

Búri cave is situated on the Reykjanes peninsula and was only discovered in 2005. It quickly became very popular, and in 2014 access to the cave was closed temporarily to protect the site.

Búri's size is 10 metres high, 10 metres wide in its largest chambers and 1 kilometre long. At its innermost section, there's a 17-metre deep vertical pit, made from a lava fall, the deepest lava pit on earth.

The entrance is narrow but once you enter you'll be inside a vast chamber where you can marvel at the cave's spectacular ice sculptures and formations. The ice sculptures are at their most marvellous in winter but the cave used to be accessible during all seasons before its closure.

Having climbed the cave's ice slope you'll go through a rocky tunnel about 700 metres long. Thereafter the floor is relatively flat all the way to the lava pit. 

The closest caves to Reykjavík are Maríuhellar in Heiðmörk Nature Reserve, about a 15-minute drive from the city centre. Maríuhellar caves are three in total and popular for locals to bring their kids to.

The most obvious one is Urriðakotshellir cave that’s close to the main road. It’s a large open lava tube in a large grassy lava opening and inside there is a small gap where you can see through to the sky. 

The cave Gjabakkahellir is also considered a prime example of an Icelandic lava tube, offering breathtaking sights with its many beautiful lava formations and ice sculptures.

Gjabakkahellir—a.k.a. Helguhellir or Stelpuhellir ('Girl cave')—is a lava tube, located in the area of Þingvellir National Park that was formed around 9000 years ago.

You can access that on your own, just be sure to bring the right equipment, i.e. good hiking boots, warm clothing and a helmet with a head torch.

Top Lava Cave Tours

Did you enjoy our article about caves in Iceland? Are there any caves missing from this article that you think we should add? Tell us in the comments.

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