Katla
Blue ice streaked with black ash, open in every month. The closer of the two, 2.5 hours from Reykjavik.
- Season
- All year
- Tours start in
- Vík
- From
- €158
Ice caves in Iceland
Natural caves of blue ice you visit on a guided tour: Katla in any month, the crystal caves of Vatnajökull in winter.
- From
- €140
- Duration
- 3 to 12 h
- Best season
- Nov to Mar, Katla all year
- Tours compared
- 8
What is an ice cave in Iceland?
In Iceland, an ice cave is a hollow inside a glacier.
The precise word is a glacier cave. Most start as streams of water cutting through or under the ice, and the autumn cold freezes them.
The tours on this site go to natural caves: in the glacier above Katla, near Vík, and in the outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull. Two other attractions use the name, but people built them: Into the Glacier and Perlan.
The ice looks blue because very dense glacier ice lets light travel deep before it comes back out. At Katla, bands of black volcanic ash run through it.
No two winters show the same cave. They change shape every year, and the guides choose the safest one of the moment. That is also why nobody goes in alone.
Which is better, Katla or the Crystal Ice Cave?
Your dates decide most of it.
Between November and March you can choose; from May to September, it is Katla.
Vatnajökull
The Crystal Ice Cave and other deep blue caves, open from about November to March. Further away: 5 hours from Reykjavik.
- Season
- November to March
- Tours start at
- Jökulsárlón
- From
- €144
What is the best ice cave tour in Iceland?
In winter, Vatnajökull. The rest of the year, Katla by super jeep.
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Katla
Ice streaked black by volcanic ash, open every month.
Our pick
From Vík
Katla by super jeep
For most trips with a car: the most reviewed Katla tour, and it leaves the rest of your day free.
From€176See dates: Katla by super jeep
Lowest price at Katla
From Vík
Katla in a small group
For the same trip at the lowest price of the three, in a smaller group.
No car needed
From Reykjavik
Katla and the south coast in a day
For a trip without a car. You are picked up in Reykjavik and stop at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss on the way.
Vatnajökull
The deep blue crystal caves, from about November to March.
Our pick
From Jökulsárlón
A blue ice cave on Vatnajökull
For most trips: a better rating than the most reviewed tour, on more reviews than the two top-rated ones.
Most reviewed
From Jökulsárlón
Guided cave visit from the lagoon
For the most tried option: more reviews than any other tour here, by super jeep.
With children
From Jökulsárlón
A blue cave with children
For families: children can join from age 5, the lowest minimum age of all the tours we compare.
For keen walkers
From Jökulsárlón
A long walk to a remote cave
For a longer day on the ice, with a walk to a more remote cave.
Skaftafell
A walk on the glacier first, then the cave.
Lowest price of all
Near Hof
Ice cave and glacier walk in Skaftafell
For a glacier walk as well as a cave, at the lowest price of all the tours we compare.
Compare in detail
Prices and ratings are read from GetYourGuide. Prices are rounded up. Last checked on 4 Nov.
Every tour here is free to cancel up to 24 hours before it starts.
| Tour | Duration | Starts | Min. age | Rating | From | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katla | ||||||
Most reviewedKatla by super jeepArctic AdventuresKeep in mind: The walls are blue and black, because of the ash. Expect darker ice than in the crystal caves. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
| 3 h | Vík, behind the Icewear shop | 6 years | €176 | See dates: Katla by super jeep | |
Lowest price at KatlaKatla in a small groupGravel TravelKeep in mind: The operator advises against it with heart problems or reduced mobility. What's includedIncluded
Bring
Not suitable with
| 3 h | Vík, Austurvegur 20 | 8 years | €158 | See dates: Katla in a small group | |
No car neededKatla and the south coast in a dayArctic AdventuresKeep in mind: A long day of 12 h, at the highest price of the three. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
| 12 h | Reykjavik, pick-up at 27 stops | 6 years | €249 | See dates: Katla and the south coast in a day | |
| Vatnajökull | ||||||
Our pick for a first blue caveA blue ice cave on VatnajökullIce ExplorersKeep in mind: Not for anyone under 135 cm tall, and the operator advises against it with heart problems or during pregnancy. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
Not suitable with
| 3 h | Jökulsárlón, at the lagoon café | 7 years | €174 | See dates: A blue ice cave on Vatnajökull | |
Most reviewed at VatnajökullGuided cave visit from the lagoonGuide to IcelandKeep in mind: Its rating is the lowest of the four, across a large number of reviews. What's includedIncluded
Bring
| 3 h | Jökulsárlón | 8 years | €147 | See dates: Guided cave visit from the lagoon | |
For familiesA blue cave with childrenIce Walkers ToursKeep in mind: It has far fewer reviews than the others, so its rating rests on less. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
Not suitable with
| 3 h 30 | Jökulsárlón | 5 years | €144 | See dates: A blue cave with children | |
For keen walkersA long walk to a remote caveIce Walkers ToursKeep in mind: The highest price of the four. The operator excludes low fitness and back, heart or breathing problems. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
Not suitable with
| 6 h | Jökulsárlón, main car park | 12 years | €250 | See dates: A long walk to a remote cave | |
| Skaftafell | ||||||
Lowest price of allIce cave and glacier walk in SkaftafellTröll ExpeditionsKeep in mind: The cave now visited is open to the sky, so it feels less enclosed than the others. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
| 4 h | Skaftafell, Tröll base near Hof | 8 years | €140 | See dates: Ice cave and glacier walk in Skaftafell | |
Where are the ice caves, and where do tours start?
On the south coast, east of Reykjavik.
Along the ring road. Tours meet in a village or at a lagoon, and a guide drives you up to the glacier.
Reykjavik, without a car
Where most trips begin
Katla
One tour picks you up in town and adds two south coast waterfalls: Katla and the south coast in a day, 12 h in all.
Ice cave tours from ReykjavikVík
About 180 km, 2.5 hours
Katla
About 2.5 hours from Reykjavik. Tours meet in the village and run all year, from €158.
The Katla ice caveSkaftafell
Further east, on the way
Falljökull
A guided walk on the Falljökull glacier, then a natural cave, in winter. From €140.
The Skaftafell tourJökulsárlón
About 380 km, 5 hours
Vatnajökull
About 5 hours from Reykjavik, so most people sleep nearby. The crystal caves, from €144.
The Vatnajökull ice caves
When is the best time to visit an ice cave in Iceland?
All year at Katla, in winter at Vatnajökull.
From about November to March at Vatnajökull and Skaftafell.
Katla
- January: tours run
- February: tours run
- March: tours run
- April: tours run
- May: tours run
- June: tours run
- July: tours run
- August: tours run
- September: tours run
- October: tours run
- November: tours run
- December: tours run
All year
Vatnajökull
- January: tours run
- February: tours run
- March: tours run
- April: no tours
- May: no tours
- June: no tours
- July: no tours
- August: no tours
- September: no tours
- October: no tours
- November: tours run
- December: tours run
November to March
Skaftafell
- January: tours run
- February: tours run
- March: tours run
- April: no tours
- May: no tours
- June: no tours
- July: no tours
- August: no tours
- September: no tours
- October: no tours
- November: tours run
- December: tours run
November to March
From November to March you can pick any cave. From May to September, only the Katla tours run. October and April depend on the operator and the ice.
Book winter dates early: crystal cave tours can sell out weeks ahead.
How does an ice cave tour work?
A guide drives you to the glacier, and you walk in.
Tours that start near the caves last about 3 to 4 hours. The cave is the highlight, but the ride and the walk are part of it.
Meet your guide
In Vík, at Jökulsárlón or at a base near Skaftafell. Come early: there is gear to fit before you leave.
Ride towards the glacier
A super jeep leaves the main road for rough, bumpy tracks. The ride is part of the trip.
Gear up and walk
Helmet and crampons on, then a walk across the ice to the entrance, behind your guide.
Step inside
Blue walls, ash at Katla, light coming through the ice. Your guide decides how far you go, depending on the cave that day.
Who can go on an ice cave tour?
No experience is needed, but you should be reasonably fit.
Each tour lists who it does not suit.
Children
From age 5 on the tours we compare. Each tour shows its own minimum age.
Fitness
You walk in crampons on uneven ice. Moderate fitness makes it comfortable.
Pregnancy and health
Some operators advise against these tours during pregnancy, as the jeep ride is off-road. Several tours list heart or back problems.
Always with a guide
Never walk into an ice cave on your own: walls and ceilings can fall without warning.
What should you settle before booking?
Where you sleep, a spare day and what you wear.
Where you sleep
Near Vík or Jökulsárlón, a 3-hour tour leaves the rest of your day free. From Reykjavik without a car, Katla and the south coast in a day takes 12 h.
A spare day
Operators can cancel or move a tour for weather or safety, so avoid booking on your last day in the area.
What you wear
Warm layers, a waterproof jacket and boots with ankle support. The helmet and crampons usually come with the tour.
Is an ice cave tour worth it?
Yes, if you want to stand inside a glacier, and only with a guide.
Choose your season first: the blue crystal caves only open in winter.
Which ice cave in Iceland is the best?
There is no single best. The crystal caves of Vatnajökull are the bluest, in winter only; Katla is the one you can visit in any month.
See the full comparisonAre ice caves safe in Iceland?
No cave is risk-free: walls and ceilings can collapse without warning. In August 2024, part of a cave collapsed during a tour at Breiðamerkurjökull, and one visitor died. Go only with a guide and, if you can, in the cold months, when steady cold makes the ice stronger.
Can you visit an ice cave without a tour?
No. A guided tour is the only way to reach the Katla cave, and at Vatnajökull you should never enter without a glacier guide and safety gear.
Which ice cave is closest to Reykjavik?
Of the natural caves we compare, Katla: tours meet in Vík, about 2.5 hours away. The Vatnajökull caves are about 5 hours away. Two built attractions are closer: Perlan, in the city, and Into the Glacier, about 2 hours away.
Ice cave tours from ReykjavikHow much does an ice cave tour cost?
Between €140 and €250 among the tours we compare. The long days, with transport from Reykjavik or a long walk, cost the most.
Do you need tickets for an ice cave?
You book a guided tour rather than a ticket, because entering a cave without a trained guide is unsafe. Every tour we compare includes the guide and the safety gear.
How cold is it inside an ice cave?
Around 0 °C (32 °F) all year. In winter the entrance can feel colder, because of the icy wind.
What should you wear to an ice cave in Iceland?
Warm layers under a windproof, waterproof jacket and trousers, sturdy boots with ankle support, a hat and gloves. Skip jeans: denim takes in water and gets heavy and cold. Skip a heavy ski coat too: it makes you sweat, and the sweat chills you once you stop.
Can you visit an ice cave in Iceland in summer?
Yes, at Katla, where tours run every month. Vatnajökull's natural caves are full of water then and cannot be entered.
Can you cancel an ice cave tour?
Yes. Every tour we compare is free to cancel up to 24 hours before it starts, and operators move or cancel tours themselves when the weather is unsafe.
Are there small-group tours?
Yes. Small-group tours set a limit, for example 12 people per guide. Katla in a small group is one of them, at Katla.
In which language are the tours guided?
In English, on all the tours we compare. Each tour's page on GetYourGuide lists its languages.
Where to start?
Pick your cave by your dates.
Then compare the tours that start near where you sleep.
