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Ice Cave Tour by Vatnajokull Glacier | Departure from Jokulsarlon
Join this tour to experience the extraordinary beauty of an ice cave in winter. With a local guide, you'll explore hidden spaces on a glacier hike near Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe.
This is the highest rated ice cave tour in Iceland, so book now to secure your spot. Just choose the time which fits your schedule and make your way to Jökulsárlón Café, beside the famous glacier lagoon in Southeast Iceland. You can make a day of it, and enjoy the glacier lagoon area, taking pictures of the floating icebergs. Reserve early as this tour is very popular and is likely to sell out.
At the start of the tour, you will drive with your group to the cave which has been specially chosen for its dazzling structure. The drive itself is exciting, as you will be traveling in a modified monster truck.
When you get there, you'll have a short walk through the landscape to the cave where you can learn about the mighty Vatnajokull glacier from your knowledgeable guide. Thick socks and warm layers will come in handy today.
Ice caves are rare phenomena that form naturally. The ice caves are a long time in the making. Each fall, after the meltwater of spring has begun to freeze, local guides from the area hunt for new ice caves. This is why the location of the caves change every year and every ice cave is unique and newly formed.
The structure and condition of the caves can vary greatly each year. Our guide decides which cave to visit every day depending on safety and weather conditions.
There is extremely limited availability for this popular tour. Reserve now you if you want to see this incredible natural attraction. Check availability now by choosing a date.
Quick facts
- Available: Nov. - Mar.
- Duration: 2,5 hours
- Activities: Caving, Sightseeing, Ice Caving
- Difficulty: Easy
- Minimum age: 8 years.
- Languages: English
- Highlights: Jökulsárlón,
Jökulsárlón is Iceland’s most famous glacier lagoon. Conveniently located in the southeast by Route 1, about halfway between the Skaftafell Nature Reserve and Höfn, it is a popular stop for those travelling along the South Coast or around the Ring Road of the country.
Geography
As a glacier lagoon, Jökulsárlón is a lake that is filled with the meltwater from an outlet glacier. In this case, it is Breiðamerkurjökull, a tongue of Europe’s largest ice cap, Vatnajökull.
It stands out, however, due to the fact that it also fills with icebergs breaking from the glacier, some of which tower several stories high.
These icebergs, other than their scale, are notable for their colouration. Although they are, as expected, largely white, most are also dyed electric blue in part, with black streaks of ash from eruptions centuries past.
When the icebergs finally make it across the lagoon, they either drift out to sea or wash up on the nearby shore. Because of the way they glisten against the black sands of Breiðamerkursandur, this area has been nicknamed ‘the Diamond Beach’.
In spite of being a rather recent formation, Jökulsárlón is the deepest lake in the country, with depths of 248 metres (814 feet). With a surface area of 18 square kilometres (7 square miles), it is also growing to be one of the largest.
History
Jökulsárlón has not been around since Iceland’s settlement; it only formed around 1935. This was due to rapidly rising temperatures in the country from the turn of the twentieth century; since 1920, Breiðamerkurjökull has been shrinking at a dramatic rate, and the lagoon has begun to fill its space.
Today, the expansion of Jökulsárlón is accelerating. In 1975, it had less than half its current surface area.
In the relatively near future, it is expected that the lagoon will continue to grow until it becomes a large, deep fjord.
Though a dark omen for Iceland’s glaciers and ice caps in general, the retreat of Breiðamerkurjökull has resulted in an incredibly beautiful, if temporary, site. This has not been overlooked by Hollywood.
Jökulsárlón has been featured in the James Bond films A View to Kill in 1985 and Die Another Day in 2002, 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and 2005’s Batman Begins.
In 2017, Jökulsárlón was enveloped into the Vatnajökull National Park, thus it is now fully protected by Icelandic law.
Wildlife
Because of the wealth of herring and capelin that the tides bring into the lagoon, Jökulsárlón is somewhat of a hot-spot for Iceland’s wildlife.
In summer, it is a nesting site for Arctic Terns; stay well away from their nesting area, as these birds are notorious for the fierceness with which they protect their eggs, dive-bombing the heads of any they see as a threat. Skuas also nest on the lake’s shores in this season.
Seals can be reliably spotted here throughout the year, swimming amongst or else hauling out on the icebergs. Jökulsárlón provides them with a safe haven to rest and socialise, especially considering the waters of southeast Iceland are renowned for their population of orcas.
Vatnajökull,Vatnajökull glacier is the largest glacier in Europe, covering 8% of Iceland’s landmass.
It is the central feature of the Vatnajökull National park, found in the south west of Iceland, a popular spot for activities like glacier hiking from Skaftafell, boat tours in the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, and ice caving tours between November and March.
Facts about Vatnajokull
Vatnajökull has a surface area of approximately 8,100 square kilometres (3127 square miles); though it is rapidly shrinking due to climate change, its recession is not quite as advanced as at other glaciers, such as Langjökull and Mýrdalsjökull. In parts, it is a kilometre deep (over three thousand feet), and its average thickness is around half of that.
Vatnajökull also holds the tallest peak in Iceland beneath its ice; Hvannadalshnjúkur is 2,200 metres tall (7,218 feet). It also conceals some of the most active volcanoes in the country, the most notable being Grímsvötn, Öræfajökull and Bárðarbunga.
Volcanic activity in the region has occurred on and off throughout the centuries, and many geologists believe that several eruptions are overdue. If their calculations are correct, it would mean significant volcanic activity for Vatnajökull over the scope of the next half-century.
Depending on winds, this could result in worldwide consequences in terms of air-travel, agriculture and the general climate.
The glacier boasts over 30 outlet glaciers, which are channels of ice that flow out of ice caps but remain constrained on the sides of the valley. The major outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull include Dyngjujökull in the north, Breiðamerkurjökull, and Skeiðarárjökull to the south. To the west, one can find the outlet glaciers Síðujökull, Skaftárjökull and Tungnaárjökull.
Numerous rivers run out of Vatnajökull, making up some of the greatest glacial rivers in Iceland. The most notable are:
Tungnaá (west)
Köldukvísl (west)
Þjórsá (west)
Jökulsá á Fjöllum (north)
Skjálfandafljót (north)
Jökulsá á Brú (northeast)
Jökulsá í Fljótsdal (northeast)
Jökulsá í Lóni (south)
Hornafjarðarfljót (south)
Jökulsá á Breiðamerkursandi (south)
Skeiðará (south)
Núpsvötn (south)
Hverfisfljót (south)
Skaftá (south)
Vatnajokull National Park
Vatnajökull National Park was established in June 2008 and has slowly grown to include more and more areas. The park now covers an area of 14,141 square kilometres (5,460 square miles), 14% of the country. It is the second largest national park in Europe.
Rivers divide the highland plateau to the north of the park. The volcanic table mountain Herðubreið towers over this particular region, along with volcanoes Askja, Snæfell and Kverkfjöll.
The canyon Jökulsárgljúfur was carved out by glacial floods centuries ago. At the upper end of the canyon, you'll find Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Further north, the horseshoe-shaped canyon Ásbyrgi is believed to have formed when Óðinn's eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, stepped his foot down from the heavens.
East around Snæfell, one can find wetlands and ranges, home to roaming herds of wild reindeer and abundant birdlife. Steep mountain ridges make up the south side of Vatnajökull, where outlet glaciers crawl onto the lowlands. The sandy plains of Skeiðarársandur also lie to the south, and the glacial river Skeiðará runs through this vast desert.
One of Iceland's most visited landmarks in the National Park is the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, which sits at the base of the outlet glacier Breiðamerkurjökull. Here, large icebergs that have broken off the glacier float across a vast lake before ending up in the Atlantic Ocean, or washed ashore on the nearby Diamond Beach.
This is one of the best seal-watching spots in the country.
The Future of Vatnajokull
The volume of Vatnajökull reached its peak around 1930 but has since been in a steady process of decline. Because of rising levels of global temperature, Vatnajökull has on average lost about a metre (three feet) of its thickness annually over the past 15 years.
If temperature levels continue to rise, the glacier could be all but gone nearing the end of the next century, leaving only small ice caps on top of the highest mountain summits.
Efforts are being made to prevent what some say is the inevitable, with reforestation projects going on all around the glacier, a proven method of cooling the area. Time will tell how successful they are.
Vatnajokull and Jokulsarlon in Popular Culture
The beauty of Vatnajökull National Park has not gone unnoticed by those in film or television. Many famous scenes have been shot here, starting with James Bond: A View to Kill in 1985. Other notable films with scenes here include Batman Begins, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and James Bond: Die Another Day.
Most famously, however, many places in Vatnajökull have been used in the HBO Series Game of Thrones, north of the Wall. The Wall itself is constructed with CGI using shots of the glacier.
BreiðamerkurjökullBreiðamerkurjökull is the glacial tongue that extends from southern Vatnajökull and into the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón, creating the icebergs that define this beautiful landmark.
Breiðamerkurjökull is constantly retreating, breaking and melting, causing the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon to increase in size; it is less than a century old, but already the deepest lake in Iceland.
This glacier tongue provides the lagoon with all of its enormous icebergs, which perpetually break from off its tip and tumble into the waters. Here they float for about five years until they are small enough to make their way towards sea. When they finally do escape the lagoon, most join the countless smaller ice chunks that adorn the nearby Diamond Beach.
Breiðamerkurjökull is beset with enormous cracks and crevices, and since it's virtually impossible to tell exactly when the next big block of ice will break from it, people should admire this enormous glacier tongue from a great distance.
Departure time : 08:30, 09:30, 11:30, 13:00, 14:40, 16:00.
This tour departs from Jökulsárlón café which is about 390 km east from Reykjavík, Just by the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón
Crampons (if conditions call for such equipment)
Helmet
Local, English speaking guide.
Transportation
What to bring:
Clothing and outerwear suited to rainy or chilly weather (waterproof recommended)
Camera
Hiking shoes
Good to know:
For activities like ice caving, jeans are not recommended because denim, once wet, will spread moisture and take a long time to dry, leaving the wearer extremely cold!
Video
Reviews
English
Gema Alonso
Impresionante. El viaje en el camión por el glaciar, muy muy suave, algo difícil de imaginar con las condiciones de hielo y desniveles. Nuestro guía muy amable y siempre atento, guía/conductor/ fotógrafo todo en uno. La cueva no fue la de las imágenes pero de un azul precioso, y además hicimos una parada de camino en el lago donde se rodó la última de Juego de tronos. Muy completo el tour.
Caitlin Zuschlag
When you book the tour, you need to request Halli Henson! If he’s not your tour guide, ask for a refund!!!! Read below for details surrounding the BEST tour we had while in Iceland: We toured the glacier lagoon when we got there and it was unbelievable. The ice was so blue that pictures didn’t do it justice. We even saw seals in the water. We took a ton of pictures and then headed to the cafe. I got coffee and my boyfriend got a Red Bull and we shared the world’s best ham sandwich on white bread. I went to the bathroom and ate shit on the ice. Everything was ice! Well yeah I guess that makes sense. It was a glacier. Anyway we got to the meeting area and apparently we were the last ones because as soon as we got there we left to get into the super jeep. The tour guide took our Red Bull and coffee. What a waste of like $2,300. The tires on the jeep were ridiculous. This thing was bad ass. It fit 15 total people including our guide. We get in and there were orange helmets on the seats with lights on the front of them. There was operatic sounding Icelandic music playing on the speakers. After everyone was in the tour guide starting mimicking the falsetto operatic music on the speaker for a few seconds and shouted. I tricked you! I changed the song to me and you didn’t even notice! Everyone started cracking up. This tour guide already seemed awesome. He was gigantic with long hair and a long thick beard. Turns out he weighs 297 lbs and must have been at least 6’4”. His laugh was hilarious. It sounded like a cartoon Viking. We put on the helmets and we started moving. After a few seconds of driving on the road the tour guide (named Halli Henson) announced we’d be going off-roading. The helmets really came in handy because I smashed my head on the ceiling like 6 times. The tour guide asked where everyone was from and he kept replying “Oh me too!”. There was a couple from France, one from Philadelphia, and one from China. We got to the Vatnajökull ice cave in about 40 minutes and Hallie took out a box of crampons (lolololol) and told us to put them on. My boyfriend (who’s late for everything
Corissa Walls
This trip was AMAZING! We had Halli and he was funny, knowledgeable and took great pictures! He definitely made our experience. Definitely best tour guide we had the entire time we were in Iceland!
Angela Kim
Had a wonderful experience crossing this off our bucket list, including our journey to and back from the ice cave in a monster 4WD over the slopes with a fun guide...talk about adventure! The ice cave itself was quite small and it was the only one we visited. It would have been perfect if we had seen at least one more ice cave bigger in size. Nevertheless, still a must-do when in Iceland for a once in a lifetime experience and some epic photos!
Danielle Brunow
What an excellent adventure! Our guide (mother duck) was a hoot and made the experience for us. Highly recommend (and suggest taking the first tour of the day; the place is flooded after that time with other companies).
Gill Cowley
Omg. It was an incradible journey for us just to get to Jokulsarlon lagoon but we made it through horrendous snow. The car park was packed. We wandered along the lagoon and took photos of the frolicking seals. The we went to the coach and met our amazing viking of a guide. We felt so safe with him. We were driven in an enormous jeep like vehicle onto the glacier in a white out. But somehow found several ice caves which he personally had excavated earlier in the season. Incredible knowledge and so funny. Loved every minute. Thank you for a very safe and eventful experience.
Keith Kuspira
I am very disappointed in this tour. I can absolutely understand that natural conditions cannot be controlled for however instead of exploring a save, we explored a very small crevasse with some exposed ice surfaces. The crevasse was no more than 8-9m long, 2-3 m high and maybe 2 m wide. Not worth the money at all to be perfectly honest. If you choose to attend this tour, demand you actually get to go to a cave and not a glorified hole in the ground. 1 star.
Joule
Von der Buchung bis hin zur Besichtigung der Eishöhle hat einfach alles gepasst! Der "Warteraum" ist ein umgebauter Bus, der wirklich sehr liebevoll und gemütlich eingerichtet ist. Dort gibt es gratis Tee und Kaffee zum aufwärmen. Die Fahrt zur Eishöhle selbst war schon ein Highlight und hat sehr viel Spaß gemacht. Unser Guide War sehr freundlich, hilfsbereit und lustig, der immer bemüht war die Gruppe durch Wissen über den Gletscher zu unterhalten. Die Eishöhle selbst war unbeschreiblich schön dieses Jahr (Februar 2019)! Sie war zwar recht klein, aber auf die Größe kommt es bei diesen vielen wundervollen Blautönen nicht an. Wirklich sehr beeindruckend! Und die Guides erklären einem wirklich viel zum Gletscher und der Höhle und helfen einen gute Bilder zu machen :) Kleines Highlight war auch eine gebaute Eisrutsche :) Die Tour ging auch etwas länger! War uns auf jeden das Geld WERT!
Julien Strauß
Von der Buchung bis hin zur Besichtigung der Eishöhle hat einfach alles gepasst! Der "Warteraum" ist ein umgebauter Bus, der wirklich sehr liebevoll und gemütlich eingerichtet ist. Dort gibt es gratis Tee und Kaffee zum aufwärmen. Die Fahrt zur Eishöhle selbst war schon ein Highlight und hat sehr viel Spaß gemacht. Unser Guide War sehr freundlich, hilfsbereit und lustig, der immer bemüht war die Gruppe durch Wissen über den Gletscher zu unterhalten. Die Eishöhle selbst war unbeschreiblich schön dieses Jahr (Februar 2019)! Sie war zwar recht klein, aber auf die Größe kommt es bei diesen vielen wundervollen Blautönen nicht an. Wirklich sehr beeindruckend! Und die Guides erklären einem wirklich viel zum Gletscher und der Höhle und helfen einen gute Bilder zu machen :) Kleines Highlight war auch eine gebaute Eisrutsche :) Die Tour ging auch etwas länger! War uns auf jeden das Geld WERT!
angie brenton
This was an excellent tour. Jokulsarlon is a must see!!! Loved it. Our guide Ferna ( not sure if that was correct) (also known as Mother Duck) made it amazing. Knowledgeable, fun, easy going, awesome!!!! Please forward this to him. He may or may not remember us but we came sun jan 27. “Mom” and the beard guy and my daughter. The website for guide to Iceland is great, easy to use, well laid out. Everything worked. Olafur was very helpful in answering questions and follow up with helpful tips. Thank you!!! Awesome trip
Martyn Ainsworth
This tour is a must !! We arrived early for the first tour of the day and was greeted by a guide to Iceland rep who took our names and asked us to head towards the waiting area which is an old bus converted into a little cabin with seating, wood burner and hot drinks which was welcomed on a very early and cold start. Not long before the start time we were asked to crew the super jeep which was as described (huge) and luckily for me I got the chance to ride up front which was great and nice additional birthday treat. We then headed up onto the glacier, which was around 40 minute but with spectacular views as the sun rises. The guide was great, can’t remember his name but he was full of knowledge and advice and great addition to the tour. There were handful of caves but he was taking us to the cave which is the most blue although it was pretty small. We arrived and first there, we lifted up with helmets/crampons whilst he went to dig out the entrance due to snowfall the night before had blocked the entrance. Before long we hiked around 100 metres to the entrance, stepped/slid down and there it was, an ice cave as blue as you could imagine, just like pictures. It was spectacular and made my Iceland trip in all honesty. We were in the cave for around 30 mins then more tours arrived and space was limited so we began to head back. We stopped half way en route back for shots of glacier and mountains in the sunrise which was nice then finishing touch. All in all the tour was great and well worth the money. The guide was knowledgable and friendly. The ice cave was exactly as described. Would be nice to have bit longer there or maybe a second cave as was very small once other tours arrived and space became very limited.
Kinga Hegedus
The weather was great on the day we had the tour planned. As soon as we got out of the car we were greeted by one of the guides. He checked our names of a list and told us to wait. They have turned a bus into a coffee corner where you can sit by a fireplace on cozy benches covered with furry blankets. That was the first thing hinting that it was going to be a nice tour. After everyone has arrived we got in the car and were driven to the glacier lagoon. We had the most amazing guide (I think his name is Fannar)!!! He told us a lot of things about icelandic culture, customs and interesting facts about the place we were going to visit. He told us local stories, jokes and even played us some icelandic music. None of us expected such passion from a guide. You just knew that he loved his country. When we got to the caves he offered to take pictures of everyone. I have to mention that he has really good photography skills as well! The trip back was just as much fun! In conclusion: It was one of the best trips I have ever had!!!!
Dana Liu
Unfortunately we didn't get to walk through large ice caves, it was more like going to see 3 different ice tunnels at the surface. Biggie was a great guide though, helping everyone to take pictures.
Tamara Marynczak
Great experience, really worth it. Additionally, weather was perefect, blue sky and sun. Our tour guide was funny and his adorable daughter played as a good assistant. The ride itself from the lagoon to the cave was also incredible. Amazing landscapes and on the way back the sunset.
Pauline Belbeoch
During our trip to Iceland, we did all of our activities via Guide to Iceland (Whale Watching, Ice tour, Dog sledding). Everything was excellent. The landscapes were wonderful like we have never seen before. The tour guides really know their jobs and mad this trip even better. The Ice Cave activity is definitely something that you would not do everywhere. It could not have been better. I highly recommend all those activities.
lynn
Our tour was easy and comfortable. The caves wasn’t exactly the same as the video posted,our tour guide explained its nature works so every season is different but we went into two little blue ice caves and they were still amazing
lynn
Our tour was easy and comfortable. The caves wasn’t exactly the same as the video posted,our tour guide explained its nature works so every season is different but we went into two little blue ice caves and they were still amazing
Austin Moore
Absolutely amazing! Simply incredible experience where describing it in words will not do it justice. See it for yourself!! Tour guide was also incredible! Highly recommended!!!
MyName
One of the best tour ever, the place to be pickedup from is Great, had the time to take a local soup in the café before the meeting, nice crew, and an excellent guide, caves were just incredible, loved it so much
aman arshad
This ice cave tour to Vatnajökull was the highlight of my entire trip. When I had initially booked the tour, I had the pickup time set for the afternoon, but after a last minute issue popped up, I asked if I could reschedule my tour for an earlier time. I got a response almost immediately and was able to schedule my time for an earlier availability. Although, it took me almost six hours to get to the pick up spot from Reykjavic, it was completely worth the travel. The tour guide, Athi, was waiting for my girlfriend and myself to arrive and we hit the road the moment we got there. I'm happy that we got there during that time slot because we were fortunate enough to have him as our guide. Athi had a true understanding and passion for the ice caves and his jokes made the bumpy drive upto the caves barely noticable. The ice caves were a magnificent sight to behold and pictures could never do it justice. It is something one has to see in person to truly grasp its beauty. I highly recommend it to anyone travelling to Iceland, just remember to dress warm (Thick socks, gloves, and many layers) and also drive slow on the roads.
Lucie Sophia Bondi
This tour was definitely the highlight of our stay in this beautiful country. We we completely blown away by the natural beauty. And our guide was very funny, caring and very kind. Perfect! Thank you
Mandie A Snyder
I would highly recommend this tour! Our tour guide told us information along the drive to the glacier through speakers on the van. Our vehicle was the only company that was using chains when driving on the ice, so that made us feel alot better. Once on the ice, our guide was quick to point out unique features in the glacier, as well as take time with everyone to ensure we all had a great experience and had all of our questions answered. He also offered to take some of our family photos and made sure everyone was safe and together. While we didn't get the opportunity to visit the "big cave" due to the warm weather, my family of 4 still felt this was money & time well spent. Standing on the frozen glacier and peering into the ice is an experience you cannot begin to describe adequately!
Christoff
Our tour guide "Biggy" (if I remember his nickname correctly) was very informative and gave us quite a broad overview of the glacier, ice caves and history of the region. It was a short trip from the cafe to the glacier, and the tour itself was an amazing experience. We had enough time to take photos (even though it was raining), and he even helped us get the best photo possible (i.e. with none of the other tourists in view). We also got to see the first ever "Guide to Iceland"-witnessed "Glacier Geysir" - a fountain of clear water shooting from the ice right above the caves. Initially, we considered Natural Ice Cave in Myrdalsjokull Glacier by Katla Volcano, and also Skaftafell, but I am glad we have chosen Vatnajokull. I would definitely recommend this to any traveler who want to experience both the glacier itself, and the caves. Expect around 1.5 hours of fun and excitement :)
Michael Jeremy Melnik
The best part of my trip to Iceland! I wish I had gotten the name of my guide because he made the tour even more excellent. He had worked on the crew of Interstellar and Game of Thrones and gave me an idea of where certain scenes were filmed near where we were. On the ride back he let me sit in the front because I had gotten nauseous on the way there as it is very bumpy. He told the whole group a lot about the culture and was very open to any and all questions for those desiring to ask. He even played Staralfur by the Icelandic band Sigur Ros on the ride back which is one of my favorite tracks from my favorite band. The weather was spectacular for my tour this past week in January. First sun I had seen since being here and it was beautiful when shining off the glacial ice. I can't speak for how this tour would be in worse weather, but I think it would still be quite worth it. The two caves we went into were rather small, but the weather in Iceland had been pretty off this January so they might be bigger in other parts of the season, I am not sure. Still they were quite cool to travel in, and being on the glacier in the first place is worth the price of admission. Highest recommendation!
Zhi Qu
The ice caves themselves are amazing. However, most of the time during the trip were spent on the superjeep which wasn’t very comforting. Considering the price we paid for this tour, I would recommend ice walk over this simply because of the amount of time you get to actually spend on the ice.
Robert Curetean
The tour photos on the site do not reflect the actual tour. You do not get to go to the larger caves as the photos show here on the website. Nevertheless, the two ice caves we visited were gorgeous and a kind of beauty I have never seen in my life. The guide was also very friendly towards people and even helped us take great photos. He provided a nice atmosphere on the road too. Due to the fact that the caves are small, I do not think this tour is worth the price I paid for (150 EUR) . Sure, it's a great experience but I feel like the photos on the website misinform the customers into believing that it's a big ice cave when it's actually not.
Bruce Ryan
Had a great time in Iceland. Did the Ice Cave Tour by Vatnajokull Glacier. Our guide was great. He was knowledgeable about the glacier and said this was his first tour. He had us all laughing at times and gave us a good history lesson about Iceland in general. As far as the cave tour , was very,very disappointed.We rented a car and drove 5 hours from Reykjavik then got a hotel room for the night. The so called "cave" was not what your reviews looked like. You should take it down, it was nothing like where we were. We could only walk in one direction and then had to turn around and walk right back out. It was more like a crevasse in the glacier. I had high hopes on being in a cave.... Not worth the money at all. Then had to drive back to Reykjavik. Should take the video down, was like false advertising. Sad, this was suppose to be the highlight of the trip.
Stefan Tomic
The tour is ok if u do not consider the cost. Taking the price into account is not worth at all. Especially that we went into 2 extremely small caves which are not advertised in the pictures. Guide was really good and friendly, so that he compensated for not so attractive caves. For me it was more interesting to stand in the ice and walk on the glacier than spending one minute in some small ice cave. I could barely exit the second one carrying big backpack.
Catherine White
Had a great time! Plenty of time at the caves and exploring after, the guide was friendly and helpful, would recommend to anyone looking for a fun adventure.
Chris Rodkin
Tour was fantastic...guide was friendly and knowledgeable! Unfortunately the weather was unseasonably warm so the large cave was flooded. Had to visit some smaller caves but the tour was still well worth it. Definitely a must do if you are coming to Iceland!
Samuele Ruzza
The Tour was amazing! The weather was very bad (heavy rains) but our guide (I think he was Fannar) succeeded in finding for us a free cave which was not flooded! He was very well prepared, kind and entertaining! Good job! We were there on 3rd January and it was the last tour of the day. Very recommended!
USTraveller
Highly recommended tour. The tour guide took us to 3 different caves, helped us to make some beautiful pics and gave us a good history of Iceland. Well worth the money.
Evelyne Aguilar
It was a great experience, definitely worth the time and money. Everyone I interacted with from guide to iceland was extremely nice. Our tour guide was really funny while sharing information about the area and the cave. Plus he gave us great tips on how to take cool pictures inside the cave. I would definitely recommend this activity.
Muhd 'Azizul Hakim Bin M Rusli
One of the best experiences I had in Iceland! Even the tour guide was very entertainig and allow us enough time to take pictures. Had an awesome time there!
Inge Smeers
We had a great time on this tour. Our guide was very knowledgable and also a super kind and funny guy. He gave us lots of tips to make great photographs and even played photographer a few times.
Mate Zabaglo
If you spend your money and time to come to this country it would be a shame if you didnt see some glaciers or ice caves from inside. On this tour we got to ride this monster truck, all along we had transport to the entrance of cave, there was minimal hiking involved which is a shame. Ah those colours and shapes, experience of a lifetime. Got a guide called mother duck, really likeable character with vast amount of knowledge. As there is minimal physical activity involved I would recommend this over glacier hiking to those who want something lighter.
Rebecca J Darby
We had a wonderful experience on our ice cave tour. We were able to visit three different ice caves, and the tour guide was kind enough and patient enough to take photos for everyone in the group. We got extremely lucky with the weather as well, which just added to the overall experience. A great day, and highly recommended. Thank you!
Megan DeMorris
The tour was great! Due to the fact that caves change and some fill with water, we went to two smaller caves that were both amazing. Our guide was fantastic and had so much knowledge on glaciers and everything that goes into them. Everyone was very helpful and kind.
Martim Lobao
David Mao
Great experience! Our guide, a guy who goes by Mother Duck (ask him why if you meet him) is super friendly and knowledgeable about the glaciers and Iceland as a whole. We saw two caves on our tour. They were both fairly short but very interesting! It was a bit quick, but we had enough time to look around and take pictures. This goes without saying—the caves are constantly changing, so don’t expect what you see in the pictures!
Dylan Xuan
Great& patient guide and amazing scenery, strongly recommended!
lesley kwok
The tour was great! We visited two caves and the guide was very nice and responsible.
Yahira Marquez
The guide was awesome but the tour was not as great as I expected. It was very short once outside of the vehicle and wasn't the cave that was pictured nor was it similar in size. It was considerably smaller. If people are taking long taking pictures, the guide should say something.
Kevin Van Leer
Our tour was absolutely incredible! Sven was the best guide we could have hoped for and the glacier was amazing. We went during a time slot with a perfect sunset and we got some beautiful pictures. We highly recommend this tour!
Mirek
It was very nice and extraordinary experience. Unfortunately the Tour did not fulfill all my expectations. Generally it was very short. We spent most of the time in a car instead of caves. Too much boring, suitable rather for pensioners.
mohammed khuram ijaz
My wife booked this tour last minute and It was one of the most incredible and memorable things we did in Iceland. The chaps were very welcoming and offered coffee etc and the tour guide (Oli?) was just out of the world! He gave an amazing commentary about the film locations, the glacier and the lagoon and the ice caves themselves. He also gave an insight into the Icelandic culture and belief system which was incredible. You cannot imagine what it feels like to be standing on so much ice and then descend into the ice caves underneath. We will definitely do this tour again when we come back. Thank you so much to the team for looking after us and making it memorable. Easily money well spent. Our tour date was 13/Dec/18 at 13:00.
Alexis
Oli was super kind and told us a lot of interesting facts about iceland and ice caves. The caves were so incredibly blue, amazing! Oli helped taking pics of us. Overall experience 10/10. Don't hesitate and take this tour, is worth every penny. Our tour date was on 9th Dec at 9:30.
Ellen Lu
The tour was lots of fun and our tour guide (Kali?) was hilarious. He was experienced and gave us lots of tips for quality pictures. My only wish was that we could have done more walking/hiking out in the open
DANJUN XU
Excellent ! All the staffs are warm, especially the coffee station in the bus at the meeting point. The tour was excellent, the tour guide (named Hali?) took us to visit 2 caves. He is very much experienced, helpful and know how and where to take nice photos. He even took photos for every single tourist! 5 stars service! Thank you!
Naian Feng
this was my fourth time of participating ice cave tour and have to admit that I had the best experience ever. We joined the first group on the day and arrived in the cave before everyone else. Also, we did a long walk on the actual glacier and it was just breathtaking while we saw sunrise above the glacier lagoon in the east ahead. Caves are very blue and ice was crystal clear. Because it was in the morning. We had quite a lot of time to take photos and enjoy ourselves. Our guide Oli( I suppose this is his name) was supper nice and helpful with everything. Fantastic experience and definitely recommend.
Mirtw Gerogiannaki
Perfect experience. We were in Iceland in October 2018. The tour was perfect. Guide was so nice. He wanted to give us all the info about what we saw. Thank you very much guide to iceland!
Alma Dinsmore
Had an amazing time. Our guide, Piggi, was wonderful and it was absolutely gorgeous.
Johanna Dykstra
This tour was awesome, breathtaking, the tour was great, a native Icelander! He made sure everyone got plenty of photos.
Michael L Guard
This was a highlight of our time in Iceland and something you simply cannot do on your own. The trucks are specially designed to ride on the glacier. They make it very safe; however, you must know that there are great risks driving on glaciers with crevices and ravines. They did a superb job. I would recommend highly.
Emily Brooke Zercher
This was truly an amazing and fun experience! Kalli, our tour guide, was such a gem of a human and had such a wonderful outlook on life- He was incredibly knowledgable about the glaciers and kept us laughing throughout the tour. Would definitely recommend booking a tour :)
Katerine Deschamps
Really nice experience! I was expecting biggest ice cave, since we have visited small tunnel cave, but still, the color was amazing, the guide was really nice, the truck transportation was funny and the walk on the glacier was really cool! I totally recommand it! The 9h30 in winter was perfect since we had the sun rise in front of us, beautiful!
Mina Lee
It was aswome. We went beutiful blue ice cave. Also the guy who guided tour was so nice and kind. I highly recomend this tour for everyone.
Brooks Biggs
We had an amazing experience with our ice cave...err crevasse tour! The guides were fun and informative! Probably our most favorite part of the trip!
Amy Li
Ice caves are amazing! A wonderful experience for my parents.
Aine Connerton
Such a good trip! Ice caves are beautiful!
Christine Chen
Wow! All the guides were down to earth, funny, and eager to answer questions about not only the glacier/ice cave tour but also about Iceland! They were all eager to help take pictures as well. Awesome (and easy) experience to get up close to the glacier/ice cave.
Marta Schantz
What an amazing glacier! Our guide Ole was awesome, he was down to earth and funny once you got him talking and answering questions. The tour itself spent a lot of time getting to the glacier, its not easy to get up there! And we spent a pretty short but meaningful time on the ice itself. We went through one ice "cave" (actually just part of the glacier with a hole you can walk through) and got lots of amazing photos. I wish we could have spent more time on the glacier to walk around and explore, we stayed pretty close to just the ice cave itself. No matter what, such a jaw-dropping and surreal experience. Very cool!
James
Absolutely beautiful! Words and pictures do not do it justice. This is a MUST-DO tour and definitely worth driving from Reykjavik - although I'd recommend staying closer so you have more time to hit all the other attractions. Tour guide was energetic, informative, and fun. We had a blast!
Jerome
One word : WOW ! This was so amazing. The trip and the guide are awesome and the caves so wonderfull! My head and my camera are full of pictures and magnificient souvenirs
Indra Wood Lusero
We absolutely loved this experience!! My spouse and I brought our teenagers, who aren't easy to please, and they were impressed and amazed as well. Our guide was helpful, knowledgable and amusing. He acknowledged that part of what made our tour great was the great weather. And indeed it was a beautiful day!! We drove there and back from the Fludir area, so it was a long journey and we all agree it was worth the drive! We would definitely do this again.
Stephanie Forestell
We had an unforgettable tour experiencing the ice caves with our guide, Halli. A truly stunning spectacle of nature, Halli encouraged us to be mindful in our experience, examining the “micro” beauty of the caves - where ice bubbles have been fossilized for thousands of years. The colours did not disappoint, as it was truly awe worthy. I am so grateful for the experience we had. I would absolutely book this tour again. We were guided on a short hike across the glacier where we could revel in the beauty of the mountain top, before entering the bright blue caves. In addition to the cave itself, Halli also did a great job of sharing the history, mystery, and other worldliness that encaptures the heart of Iceland!
Mahalee
It was an amazing experience. It was expensive but totally worth it! I would highly recommend this tour!
Juta Juska
It was amazing experience. Definitely worth it. And our tour guide
Sarah Calderbank
Mythri Shenoy
Claire Heigho
We had an amazing time on this tour! Our tour guide 'Oli' was knowledgable and had a good sense of humour too! Would recommend it to anyone wanting a bit of adventure!
Danielle Massaro
This tour was magnificent and completely surpassed our expectations! We saw once in a lifetime views and the ice cave was incredible! Our tour guide “Oli” was knowledgeable, kind, and ensured our safety. I highly recommend this tour. Worth every penny! 5 stars!
Mateusz Wojcik
Lovely! Recommend it, one of best experiences in Iceland, guides are funny and local
Apoorv Gupta
It was a great experience visiting these magnificent caves. Our tour guide was very communicative and excited to take us on the tour. We enjoyed it thoroughly. However, I think it was more like a tunnel than a cave, it would have been great if we could have seen a larger cave.
Tessa Gallagher
We had a great time with our tour guide "Funner" (we don't know how to spell his beautiful icelandic name). He was very knowledgeable and kept everyone in the group safe and comfortable! I would definitely recommend this tour if you are in South Iceland in winter!
Molly MCCORMICK
We had a girls' trip to Iceland and booked the Ice Tour as one of our adventures. 'Mother Duck' Fennar was a fantastic tour guide. He provided lots of anecdotes and interesting facts about Iceland. You could really tell how proud he is of his beautiful country, which made the adventure so much more satisfying. He took good care of us as we ventured through the cave and on the glacier, and made sure we all got through it safely. Would strongly recommend this to anyone considering the tour, and would do it again in a heartbeat!!
Shock Gootle
Sebastian Reingold
L Eve Mic
Amazing! Our guide “mother duck” was funny, knowledgeable, and full of all sorts of interesting facts about Iceland. We had phenomenal weather which made the experience unforgettable. Highly recommend!
John D'Alessandro
Celia Chan
It was a pleasure experience. My tour was the last day of the available season. The original ice cave that we were planning to go got flooded; however, new location got setup right away. Lucky that we checked our email. Tour guide was funny, friendly and professional. He told us a lot of information about the ice cave, environment and also some movie filming stories such as GOT and interstella. And we got some times to take photos.
Lenny Tanziln
The guide (i am sorry i didn't get his name) is a nice and informative person. The cave is smaller than we expected, but that's nature and still it was an experience for us. Ridding the monster truck also fun experience. Tips : book the earliest tour (08.30) if you want to avoid crowds.
James Horg
Guide was awesome; he was fun, entertaining and informative. It was an cool experience seeing and walking on the glacier, definitely not something you get to do every day. The caves were interesting, but much smaller than I was expecting. I still feel it was totally worth the money. I would recommend trying to go on a sunny day as the sunlight helps the caves light up with that surreal blue color.
Kate
So...we really enjoyed the tour. But it was almost a disaster. Apparently, they had changed the meeting location 3 weeks beforehand but failed to notify us until 2 days before via email. I was on holiday so didn't check my email. We showed up at the original meeting location for the 11:30am tour and someone was waiting for us to tell us to drive 40 minutes to the other meetup location and said we could get on the next tour at 1pm. We show up at the other meeting location and are told by tour guides that they're fully booked and they can't take us. We call The Guide to Iceland HQ for help, and the woman we spoke to basically blew us off and said the tour guides had to figure it out. We can "send an email" if we want a refund. Luckily for us, the tour guides were awesome and one of the guides worked overtime to take just the 4 of us out so we could see the cave. 5 stars for the tour guides, 1 star for customer service from the people in the office.
Mandi Ruch
Our tour guide was awesome, showed us great places to take pictures and suggested a great place for lunch. It was a bummer cause the weather was cloudy and we didn't see the bright blue ice caves like in the pictures, but still totally awesome. Would for sure recommend!
John Mucera
Awesome especially since it was the last day of the tour. Our guide T was fun talkative and extremely knowledgeable about the glacier. Fun time all around
Kristie E
Excellent guide and tour! Very knowledgeable and friendly. The day we did the ice caves our day was perfect, blue skies and clear. We were surprised about the temperature in the glacier, very mild and comfortable. The tour was amazing and we would definitely do it again using this company.
Max Cawley
Fantastic! Funny and knowledgeable guide, incredible blues, much fun had all around.
Melissa Larson
All aspects of this tour receive five stars. Some logistical problems arose from travel delays which were handled efficiently and professionally. I was impressed with the flexibility and excellent communication from Guide to Iceland to ensure all members of my group were able to experience this tour. The tour itself was incredible. Safety and comfort of participants was paramount. The short hike to the cave gives a great view of the Svinafellsjokull glacier as well as of the glacier field it once covered, and the murain it created. The cave was easily accessed and once inside, the myriad of things to see inside the ice and on the cave floor was captivating. Our guide was very knowledgeable and engaging. Playing the song " Dirty Paws" by Of Monsters and Men on the drive back to the meeting point was a special touch which further embeds this experience in my memory. The drive alone to Jokulsarlon is worth it. The cafeteria at Skaftafell is excellent. Highly recommend this tour and would definitely book other tours with this tour group.
Eva Schram
Stuning landscape and truly exceptional company. I would like to take this tour over and over again. The Glaicer and the cave was truly stunning. Thanks to our over qualified guide Addi. One of a liftime experience!
Dayna Rojewski
This tour was an amazing experience!! Our tour location and cave changed the night before due to flooding in the original cave. Instead of cancelling, our guide (Fie) had found another cave that was awesome and not crowded. We were the only ones in this cave and on the glacier for hours (8:30 tour). Fie was very friendly and knowledgeable. She also took wonderful photos of my husband and me! This company goes above and beyond to make sure that you have a great, safe time!
Kayla Brow
My husband and I highly enjoyed our tour with Vania (I hope that’s how you spell it!) he was very personable and easy to speak to and ask questions. He was very knowledgable of the area and glaciers. There was a change to our location and it was communicated with lots of warning and easy instructions to follow. These tours are pricey but it was a lot of fun and you’re in Iceland to experience it! Definitely recommend this tour.
Simona Basti
My experience was great! Iceland is expensive...we all know it, but I seriously think this experience is worth it every penny! I was there with my partner, our guide, Swan (hope that’s the right short cut for his name :)) was friendly, descreete and on time... he was a great company, the ice cave were amazing, safe and the short trekking easy and enjoyable! I booked the early morning experience and I think it was the best choice cos of tourism! It cannot be “intimate” and the reason why is obvious, but it is enjoyable and if you are there, you are not for being in a rush ;) Absolutely recommended!
Eric Muljono
Very well run from start to finish. Our guide was knowledgable and showed us 2 ice caves. Too bad the weather has started getting warm so the ice is melting, preventing us to venture deeper into the caves. Overall a great experience.
Lyndsay Rose
The tour guide was great! Was slightly disappointed that we weren't able to go to the larger, bigger cave as planned (due to flooding), but that was out of our control. If you are skeptical I would just call ahead to see if they are touring the smaller or larger cave that day. It was a beautiful day regardless and seeing the glacier was awesome!
Amanda
Liem Yau Chun Eugene
Cave was beautiful but smaller than expected, seems the inner side is blocked due to flooding. And the cave was packed with people, although tour guide was great and with awesome 4WD driving skills, it's pretty pricey with the size of the cave and the crowds.
Marisa Allen
Cave was beautiful but packed with people. The vans drive right up to the opening of the cave so there is no portion of this tour that includes a glacier walk. Tour guide was great. It's expensive for the size of the cave, the crowds, and the time on site, but on par with other tour companies, and the ability to change your reservation is key with unpredictable winter weather. Use the restroom at the N1 prior to arriving at glacier lagoon. The lagoon facilities are far too small for the crowds they host.
Kevin Gerner
Our tour guide, Sven, was absolutely phenomenal. He was engaging the entire drive, shared a ton of interesting Icelandic facts (he even was an extra in Game of Thrones), and gave great advice about things to do and see in Iceland. The cave was absolutely breathtaking; Sven made sure everyone was able to get all the photos they wanted, and helped show how to get the best lighting/angles in the cave. What an absolutely fantastic experience, and well worth the price!
Ann-Marie D
Our tour guide, “Biggie Smalls”, was exceptional! He definitely made the experience that much better! My partner and I came in the middle of February, and although the weather wasnt favorable during our trip, it turned out to be a beautiful, cold, but sunny day. I recommend booking an early morning tour to beat the crowds. The ice cave was smaller than I expected, but some areas appeared to be closed off, possibly because of the weather. Nonetheless, we managed to capture photos of the majestic beauty of the ice cave. We also got to hike afterwards to the “top” of the glacier that feeds into Jökulsárlón lagoon. Pretty pricey, but I was pleased with my experience.
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