The Raufarholshellir Lava Tunnel Tour from Reykjavik

Descend into another world on this fascinating tour into Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel, one of the longest and best-known caves in Iceland. Walk the path the smouldering hot lava created thousands of years ago. This tour is perfectly suited to anyone with a sense of adventure and a passion for the gems of the natural world.

You’ll be picked up in Reykjavík and driven south, in the direction of the town of Hveragerði where you’ll find the cave. Raufarhólshellir is estimated to be around 1360 metres, making it the fourth longest cave in Iceland.

Once there, you’ll be equipped with a protective helmet and a headlight. Your professional guide will lead you down into the tunnel and to its unique rock formations. As you traverse the tunnel, your guide will tell you everything about the cave’s geology and Iceland’s volcanism.

You’ll navigate the cave’s halls in comfort on the recently constructed footbridge which will lead you to various viewing platforms. That way, you’ll be able to marvel over the unreal range of colours of the cave’s walls caused by minerals churned up in the eruption that created the cave.

If you visit the tunnel in the winter, when frost engulfs the land, you’ll find the cave decked with dazzling ice formations that hang from the ceiling and rise up from the ground. As the light hits them, they sparkle and become iridescent when the colours of the lava rocks appear from under the ice.

The cave was formed in an eruption east of the mountain range Bláfjöll some 5,000 years ago. Flowing hot lava moved beneath the surface until the stream ceased and the rock cooled. What was left was this long cave which gets up to 30 metres wide and 10 metres high. You'll spend around an hour inside the cave itself.

Don’t miss this fascinating opportunity to explore the secret world under your feet. Lace up your boots and join this family-friendly tour. Check availability by choosing a date.