Iceland Ice Cave Tours: Explore the Blue Heart of Glaciers
Ice caves, predominantly found near glaciers, are spectacular formations birthed through a combination of running water and geothermal heat. As light passes through the dense blue ice, colors in the red spectrum get absorbed, presenting us with breathtaking, translucent blue caverns.
Most ice caves in Iceland undergo a metamorphosis with the seasons. Summer witnesses their melting, only for winter's embrace to sculpt new ones. As temperatures plunge, the ice solidifies and any water inside recedes, making the caves more stable. However, it's essential to know that not all ice caves are safe. Due to Iceland's occasionally warm and rainy winters—particularly on the southeast coast—ice caves might become unstable. Our experienced guides at Iceguide constantly assess each cave's condition. or flooded.
There are three main areas where you can go on an ice cave tours Katla, Skaftafell and Breiðamerkurjökull. Most ice cave are only operated during the winter season but Katla is operated during the summer.
Katla Ice Cave Tour (starting from Vík)
Availability: All year
Experience the raw power of Icelandic nature with an unforgettable journey to the Katla Ice Cave. Operating year-round, this tour departs from the Troll Expeditions meeting point at The Vik Inn in Vík.
Your adventure kicks off with a 40-minute bumpy ride across the Icelandic wilderness in a specialized 4x4 Super Jeep. As you travel toward the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, your guide will share captivating stories about the Katla volcano, its history of eruptions, and the unique geology of the South Coast. Upon arrival at the glacier's edge, you will embark on an easy 20-minute hike across a striking black-ash desert. The contrast of mossy green mountains against the coal-black sand and glacial rivers creates an otherworldly landscape. While the path is relatively even, the loose volcanic sand makes for a slightly more demanding walk.
Vik
3 Hours
Easy
All YearCrystal Blue Ice Cave (starting from Jökulsárlón)
Availability: October- April
Ice caves are stunning natural phenomena and a must-see for anyone visiting Iceland during wintertime. Before you know it, you’ll be standing inside an ancient glacier that holds a natural blue ice cave with different shades of blue colors and formations.
The structure and condition of the ice caves vary greatly each season. Our guide decides which cave to visit every day, depending on safety and weather conditions. You might be lucky enough to visit other formations, such as ice tunnels and crevasses that are made out of blue ice.
Super jeep from Meeting PointBlue Ice Cave & Glacier Hike (starting from Skaftafell)
Availability: October - April
Join us for an unforgettable glacier hike and ice cave exploration on one of Vatnajökull’s stunning outlet glaciers. This tour combines glacier walking with the rare opportunity to step inside a naturally formed ice cave—known for its striking blue tones and sculpted walls. A 20-minute walk brings you to the edge of Falljökull, one of the most visually striking outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull. Along the way, your guide will point out visible signs of glacial retreat, including exposed bedrock, moss lines, and a meltwater lagoon. A highlight of the tour is the visit to a natural ice cave—an incredible opportunity to step inside and experience the deep blue ice from within, offering a rare view into the glacier's constantly evolving structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Transport is included in all of our tours. Participants should use our transportation to the tours location.
Yes — but check age limits on each tour. Some easy walks allow kids 8+, others require 10–12+ depending on the terrain. If your kid is adventurous, dressed warm, and not prone to licking glacial walls, they’ll be fine.
- Base layer (shirt and long johns) synthetic or wool.
- Mid layer such as fleece jacket,thick wool garment, primaloft jacket or similar. Second midlayer can be added for colder days. Hiking pants, fleece or softshell or similar.
- Waterproof breathable jacket like Gore-tex jacket and pants or similar.
- Light and thin quick drying pants. Wind resistant.
- Waterproof clothing on rainy days.
- Headwear and gloves.
- Socks, synthetic or wool.
- Good hiking boots are essential.The boots should be high enough to provide good ankle support
- Tennis shoes or sneakers are not appropriate shoes for this trip!
- Winter time in Iceland can be very unpredictable. Temperature in the south east coast of Iceland during the winter time is usually between -5 celsius to +5 degrees. The rule of thumb is always 3-4 layers.
- Small backpack (Can be handy to carry camera, rain gear and all extras)
We make sure your tour to our Ice Caves is extremely safe by monitoring each cave every day. We constantly check the thickness of the roof and make sure you will have a safe and enjoyable time in the Ice Caves.
Ice caves are not easily accessible and their situation needs to be monitored by professional. You should go with an expert guide.
Only when the weather goes full Iceland (which happens). Heavy rain, high winds, or unstable cave conditions can cancel or reschedule your tour. If a tour gets cancelled, you will generally be offered a chance to rebook.
Absolutely. You can find day tours and multi-day tours departing from Reykjavík that include ice caves. . The most popular tours are the South Coast & Katla Ice Cave from Reykjaík (open year-round) and the 3-Day South Coast & Golden Circle winter tour. Pickup is usually included from major hotels or designated bus stops, and tours come with all necessary gear.
24/7 Customer Service. Call Us Anytime!
You can call us just about anytime. Our customer service team works around the clock. You can reach us by phone anytime, except from 10 pm and 6 am on Saturday and Sunday nights, Icelandic time. Contact info@troll.is or call us at +354 519 4455 and our dedicated team will help you out.
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