Ice cave tours of 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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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
• Wooly hat
• Gloves

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