Description
Summary
Description
Trade the cruise deck for a super jeep on this private Lofthellir Ice Cave tour from Akureyri cruise port, pairing a 3,500-year-old lava cave with the mighty Godafoss Waterfall. This guided shore excursion is ideal for cruise passengers and private groups who want an off-the-beaten-path day among ancient ice caves and volcanic scenery.
Booking this private tour means the super jeep, expert guide, and all cave equipment are reserved just for your party. Your English-speaking guide provides a helmet, headlamp, and sturdy boots, and shares the geology and folklore of the region as you travel.
Your day begins with pickup at the Akureyri cruise port, where your guide meets you and sets off toward Lake Myvatn. The first stop is Godafoss Waterfall, where glacial water tumbles 39 feet (12 meters) over a curved lip 98 feet (30 meters) wide.
Godafoss earned its name, the waterfall of the gods, around the year 1000, when Iceland's lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði is said to have cast his pagan idols into the churning water after declaring Christianity the country's official religion. Today, its sweeping horseshoe curtain is among North Iceland's most photographed sights.
From there, you head into the volcanic outback around Lake Myvatn, a landscape shaped by a fissure eruption more than 2,000 years ago. You pass pseudocraters, the Ludentarborgir Crater row, and the slopes of Hverfjall, as the paved road gives way to a bumpy track toward Mt. Hvannfell.
After a 30-minute walk across a field of ropey lava, you reach the entrance to the Lofthellir Lava Cave. You crawl through a short, narrow opening into a cave famed for the finest natural ice sculptures known in any Icelandic lava tube.
Inside, your guide leads you for at least an hour among towering ice formations, where the only sound is water dripping onto the frozen floor. The temperature hovers near freezing, heightening the otherworldly atmosphere of this hidden underground realm.
Once you resurface, you retrace the lava field and return to your super jeep for the scenic drive back. Your guide watches the timing closely so you reach the Akureyri cruise port comfortably before your ship departs, with refreshments provided along the way.
Make the most of your day in port with this private Lofthellir ice cave and Godafoss super jeep tour from Akureyri, a rare chance to explore ancient ice caves few travelers ever see. Check availability now by choosing a date.
