Small Group Ice Cave, 2h 30m
2 hours 30 minutes · Glacier Trips
Small-group tour with gear.
from $195 per person Check availability →
Blue Ice Cave, 3 Hours
From Jökulsárlón: Vatnajökull Glacier Blue Ice Cave Tour
from $195 per person
Check availability →Opens the live booking page with current dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Meeting point
- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Boat Tours and Cafe
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Ice cave season
- roughly October to April, conditions permitting
- Run by
- Ice Explorers
Overview
This three-hour excursion from Jökulsárlón packs a super jeep ride, a glacier walk and time inside a natural ice cave into a single outing. It starts at the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Boat Tours and Cafe, where you meet your Ice Explorers guide and climb into one of the largest custom super jeeps in Iceland. The drive toward Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, takes roughly 45 minutes, and the guide fills it with talk of how ice caves form, how volcanoes and glaciers interact, and local culture.
The caves visited are entirely natural, which means they change with the seasons and the weather. On any given day the group may enter a cave right at the glacier's edge or hike a stretch on the ice to reach one, so total walking ranges between 1 and 4 km depending on conditions. Before going in, the guide runs a safety briefing and hands out helmets and crampons or micro spikes, plus a harness if needed. Inside, the ice shifts from brilliant blue to emerald green and sometimes black. Travellers should be in good health and comfortable with walking.
The tour works for anyone happy to make their own way to the meeting point and handle a few kilometres on foot. Anyone wanting more time on the ice can look at the operator's longer Ice Cave and Glacier Exploration tour, which runs 5 to 6 hours and combines the cave with a glacier walk. Hotel pickup is not part of this tour; you make your own way to the meeting point.
From$195 per person
Duration3 hours
Rating4.6 from 973 reviews
What's Included
Included
- Transportation in a 4WD
- Guide
- Helmets
- Crampons/micro-spikes
- Safety harness if needed
Not Included
- Pickup or drop-off at your accommodation
- Clothing
- Shoes
Itinerary
- Meet at JökulsárlónMeet your guide at the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Boat Tours and Cafe, the starting and ending point of the tour.
- Super jeep driveRide approximately 45 minutes by jeep or SUV toward Breiðamerkurjökull while your guide explains the landscape.
- Ice cave explorationSpend about 100 minutes at the glacier with a photo stop, guided tour, sightseeing and walking, entering a natural ice cave.
- Return driveDrive roughly 45 minutes back by jeep or SUV to the meeting point.
GearIncluded
GuideIncluded
What To Expect From The Tour
A few practical points shape how this tour goes, from what you wear to how much walking is involved.
- Dress warmly. Ice Explorers recommends warm, preferably waterproof clothing and sturdy hiking boots. Rain pants, rain jackets and hiking boots are available to rent at the meeting point. Travellers who arrive inappropriately dressed may be required to rent gear or, in extreme cases, denied participation for safety reasons.
- Walking distance. Expect to walk from the parking area to the glacier and cave entrance, about 1.5 km each way, with total walking between 1 and 4 km depending on the day. Crampons or micro spikes and helmets are provided. Good health and comfort with walking are the stated requirements.
- Bring a camera. A camera is on the operator's list of things to bring. Several reviewers describe having plenty of time to look around and take photos, with one describing taking photos at leisure across several caves. Another mentioned a guide who was happy to take photos for the group.
- Group feel. One reviewer reported a group of 13 people. Several reviews describe guides who give the group ample time to look around rather than rushing. The tour runs in English, though one reviewer noted a guide who also spoke Spanish.
- Guided Vatnajokull Ice Cave, 3 Hours$164
- Crystal Blue Super Jeep Tour$168
- Crystal Cave Super Jeep, 2.5 Hours$168
- The Original Ice Cave Tour$176
- Small Group Ice Cave, 2h 30m$195
- Frozen Wonders Small Group Trip$195
- Blue Ice Cave, 3 Hours (this tour)$195
- Manage expectations. The operator is upfront that the glacier changes constantly, so caves may not match photos taken months or years earlier. One reviewer noted the caves and tunnels were smaller than the advertised images, while another said the tour turned out completely different from what was expected and yet was still a great experience.
- Timing and season. The tour is billed at roughly 3 hours, though the operator says it can run between 2.5 and 3.5 hours depending on conditions and the group. Ice caves are a winter phenomenon, and which cave you visit depends on what has formed that season.
Common issues. The main friction point is expectations versus reality: the booking page warns that caves constantly evolve and may not look like older photos, and some reviewers confirm the caves and tunnels were smaller than advertised images. A few travellers also felt clearer information on cave size and time spent inside would help. Hotel pickup is not included, and you must arrange your own transport to the meeting point at Jökulsárlón. Clothing and shoes are not provided, so underdressed travellers may face rental costs or, in extreme cases, exclusion from the tour.
Common Questions
Is Hotel Pickup Included?
No. Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation are not included, and the tour begins at a set meeting point, the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Boat Tours and Cafe. You need to arrive there on your own. Check the booking page for the exact meeting details.
What Is Included In The Price?
Transport by 4WD super jeep, an English-speaking guide, helmets, crampons or micro spikes, and a safety harness if needed are all included. Past travellers describe the guides as knowledgeable. Not included are accommodation pickup, clothing and shoes.
How Difficult Is The Walking?
Walking from the parking area to the glacier and cave entrance is about 1.5 km each way, and total walking varies between 1 and 4 km on the day. The operator asks that participants be in good health and comfortable walking. Helmets and traction gear are provided before entering the cave.
What Should I Wear And Bring?
Wear warm, preferably waterproof clothing and sturdy hiking boots, and bring a camera. Travel insurance and weather-appropriate layers are also on the operator's list. Rain pants, rain jackets and hiking boots can be rented at the meeting point if needed.
Can I Cancel If My Plans Change?
Yes, you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Note that the operator's cancellation policy also applies if you are denied participation for being inappropriately dressed. Check the booking page for full terms.
Will The Ice Cave Look Like The Photos?
Possibly not. The caves are 100% natural and change constantly with seasons and weather, so they may look different from pictures taken months or years before. The operator commits to taking you to the best cave accessible at the time of your visit. One reviewer said they saw more than they expected even though the caves were smaller than the advertised images.
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