The Original Ice Cave Tour

Overview

This half-day trip puts you inside a natural blue ice feature on Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, reached on foot with a guide. You meet the team at the main parking area at Jökulsárlón, pile into a modified 4x4 for the ride toward the glacier, then hike on foot with a guide to reach the ice. The blue feature itself shifts through the season, so what you visit might be a cave, a tunnel, or a canyon, and the guide picks the safest and most scenic option that day.

Once you are on the ice, expect vivid blue formations, helmets and crampons provided, and plenty of time for photographs before the return leg. The whole outing runs about 3 hours door to door from the meeting point. The pace is easy to moderate and no glacier experience is needed, just general fitness and warm clothing. The operator markets itself as Iceland's ice cave pioneer with four generations of glacier expertise behind it, and reviewers repeatedly single out the guides for their knowledge and their willingness to take photos and share glacier history.

Itinerary

1. Meet at JökulsárlónThe meeting point is the main parking area at Jökulsárlón, Þjóðvegur, in southeast Iceland. Arrive ready to go, as there is no hotel pickup.
2. 4x4 ride toward the glacierA modified 4x4 vehicle carries the group from the meeting point toward the glacier. One reviewer described the ride as fairly bumpy, which added to the adventure.
3. Guided glacier hikeThe hike to reach the blue ice covers loose rocks and then ice, with crampons and helmet provided. Walking distance varies with conditions.
4. Ice cave or blue ice featureTime inside or around the natural blue ice feature, with the guide choosing between a cave, tunnel, or canyon depending on safety and glacier conditions.
5. Return hike and 4x4 transferThe group walks back and returns by 4x4 to the meeting point, finishing the roughly 3-hour outing.

Common Questions