The best ice cave tour in Iceland depends on when you travel and where you start. From October to April, the blue natural ice caves of Vatnajökull, reached from Jökulsárlón, are the classic choice. The Katla ice cave near Vík runs all year and is the easiest natural cave to add to a South Coast trip, and from Reykjavík you can reach Langjökull, with a natural cave in winter or the man-made Into the Glacier tunnel all year.
See all ice cave tours with prices and a comparison table
The short answer: which ice cave tour is best?
Here is our quick guide, based on the ice cave tours we sell. Prices are "from" prices on our tour pages and can change.
- Best for blue ice (October to April): the Crystal Ice Cave tour from Jökulsárlón, about 2.5 hours, from 21,890 ISK, age 6 and up.
- Best all year and in summer: the Katla Ice Cave tour from Vík, about 3 hours, from 23,666 ISK.
- Best day trip from Reykjavík: the Katla Ice Cave and South Coast tour, about 12 hours with the main waterfalls and Reynisfjara, from 36,508 ISK.
- Best for families and groups: the Private South Coast and Katla Ice Cave tour, your own guide and vehicle from Reykjavík, from 160,000 ISK per group, age 6 and up.
- Best for small groups and more time on the ice: the small-group Vatnajökull ice cave tour, 5–6 hours, up to 8 people, age 14 and up.
- Best with young children all year: Into the Glacier from Reykjavík, a man-made tunnel on flat ground, age 6 and up.
- Best for the whole South Coast in one go: the 2 Day South Coast tour with ice cave, with Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach and a night in a hotel.
The four kinds of ice cave in Iceland
Ice caves are not all the same, and this is the main thing to understand before you book. Our ice cave tours visit four different places.
Natural blue ice caves in Vatnajökull. These are the deep-blue caves you see in most photos. They form in the outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier, near Jökulsárlón and Skaftafell. Meltwater carves them in summer, and they are only visited in the cold months when the ice is firm. Each winter the guides find and check new caves, so the cave you visit will not look exactly like last year's photos.
The Katla ice cave. This natural cave is in Kötlujökull, an outlet of Mýrdalsjökull, above the Katla volcano. Black bands of volcanic ash run through the ice, so it looks darker and more dramatic than the blue caves. Tours run all year from Vík.
Natural ice caves in Langjökull. Langjökull, Iceland's second-largest glacier, is the closest big glacier to Reykjavík. In winter, tours drive up the ice in modified monster trucks or ride snowmobiles to a natural cave.
Into the Glacier, the man-made ice tunnel. Also in Langjökull, this tunnel was dug into the glacier and opened in 2015. It is about 500 m long and takes you around 25 m below the surface. Because it is man-made, it is open all year.
When are ice caves open in Iceland?
Natural ice caves are only safe when the glacier is cold enough to hold its shape. Our Vatnajökull ice cave tours run from about October to April, with the most reliable conditions from November to March. Langjökull's natural caves are visited roughly from November to March or April. The start and end dates move a little each year with the weather.
The Katla ice cave and Into the Glacier are the two options for summer. Both run all year, so the answer to "can you see ice caves in Iceland in summer?" is yes, but not the deep-blue Vatnajökull caves.
After a fatal ice collapse on Breiðamerkurjökull in August 2024, Vatnajökull National Park brought in stricter rules for ice cave tours, including a daily risk assessment of each cave. On any given day a cave can be closed if the guides judge it unsafe, and your tour then goes to another cave or is moved.
Vatnajökull ice caves: the blue ice from Jökulsárlón
Almost all of our Vatnajökull ice cave tours start at the Jökulsárlón car park, about 5 hours' drive from Reykjavík. A super jeep takes you onto the glacier moraine, and you walk the last part to the cave with crampons and a helmet. There is no hotel pickup on these tours, so you need your own car or a multi-day tour.
This is how the tours differ:
- Crystal Ice Cave tour (family friendly): about 2.5 hours, three departures a day, up to 14 guests per guide, a short walk of about 15 minutes each way. From 21,890 ISK, age 6 and up. The easiest way into a blue cave.
- Vatnajökull Ice Cave tour from Jökulsárlón: about 2.5–3 hours, small groups, from 23,900 ISK, age 8 and up, minimum 2 people.
- Crystal Ice Cave photography tour: about 3 hours with a photography guide and edited photos of you in the cave afterwards. Good if you want pictures without carrying a tripod. From 25,000 ISK.
- Extreme Blue Ice Cave: 5–6 hours, 2 to 10 people, one or two caves plus ice canyons, with harness and ice axe. Age 7 and up, from 36,900 ISK.
- Small-group Vatnajökull ice cave tour: 5–6 hours, 2 to 8 people, a longer glacier walk and a quieter cave. Age 14 and up, from 36,900 ISK.
- Skaftafell Ice Cave and Glacier Hike: starts at Skaftafell and combines a glacier walk with a natural ice cave. Age 8 and up, from 18,621 ISK.
The Katla ice cave: open all year, near Vík
Katla is the ice cave most people can fit into a normal trip. It is about 2.5 hours from Reykjavík, close to the South Coast waterfalls and Reynisfjara, and it runs in every month. The ice is streaked black with ash from past eruptions, which many people prefer to the blue caves for photos. Read more in our guide to the Katla ice cave, or see all Katla ice cave tours.
From Vík, a super jeep takes you to the glacier edge and you walk about 20 minutes on uneven ground, with crampons and a helmet. The whole tour takes about 3 hours.
- Katla Ice Cave tour from Vík: about 3 hours, from 23,666 ISK (26,252 ISK from November to April). Age 8 and up in winter, 6 in summer.
- Katla Ice Cave family tour from Vík: 3 hours, from 23,990 ISK in winter, age 6 and up.
- Katla Ice Cave and South Coast tour from Reykjavík: about 12 hours, small group of up to about 18, with Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara and Vík. From 36,508 ISK, age 8 and up.
- Katla Ice Cave private tour from Vík: about 3 hours, your own guide, from 175,000 ISK per vehicle for up to 4 people (groups of up to 19).
- Private South Coast and Katla Ice Cave tour: about 12 hours from your Reykjavík hotel, with stops such as Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and Dyrhólaey. From 160,000 ISK per group.
Langjökull and Into the Glacier: ice caves closest to Reykjavík
If you are based in Reykjavík and short of time, Langjökull is the closest. Our Langjökull ice cave tours combine well with the Golden Circle.
In winter, the Ice Cave and Glacier tour in a monster truck starts at Gullfoss and takes 3–4 hours, from 24,900 ISK. It is open to children from age 4, which makes it one of the most family-friendly natural caves. For more adrenaline, the Snowmobile and Ice Cave tour from Reykjavík adds an hour on a snowmobile, with pickup in Reykjavík, from 49,990 ISK, age 8 and up.
Into the Glacier runs all year. The Into the Glacier day tour from Reykjavík takes about 10–11 hours and stops at Hraunfossar and Deildartunguhver on the way, from 38,990 ISK (39,990 ISK in summer). You can also start from Húsafell with Into the Glacier from Húsafell, about 4 hours, from 24,900 ISK. The tunnel has a flat, prepared floor, so it suits people who are less steady on their feet. See all Into the Glacier tours.
Sólheimajökull: ice cave and glacier hike in one
Sólheimajökull, on the South Coast near Skógafoss, is a popular glacier for hiking. The Sólheimajökull Ice Cave and Glacier Hike adds a meltwater cave to a guided glacier walk, from about September to April, depending on conditions, from 22,999 ISK. It is a good choice if you want to spend more time walking on the ice than inside a cave.
Ice cave tours from Reykjavík
If you do not want to drive, you have four good choices from Reykjavík:
- Katla and the South Coast in a day: small-group tour or private tour.
- Langjökull: the snowmobile and ice cave tour in winter or Into the Glacier all year.
- The blue Vatnajökull caves on a 2-day trip: the 2 Day South Coast tour with ice cave visits a crystal ice cave from October to mid-April and Katla the rest of the year, with Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach and a night in a hotel.
- A multi-day winter trip: the 6 Day Ring Road Tour in winter and the 5 Day Winter Package both include an ice cave in Vatnajökull.
Self-drive: combining an ice cave with your own route
Most ice cave tours meet at the glacier, at Jökulsárlón, Skaftafell, Vík or Gullfoss, so they work well on a self-drive trip. Our South Coast and Glacier Lagoon self-drive in 5 days includes a 4×4 from October to April, hotels and two nights near Skaftafell, which puts you a short drive from the Vatnajökull ice cave tours. Browse all self-drive packages.
Book the ice cave for the middle of your stay in the area, not the last morning, so you have a spare day if the tour is moved. Winter driving needs care, so read our guide to driving in Iceland in winter first.
Can you visit ice caves in Iceland on your own?
No. Glacier ice moves and collapses without warning, crevasses are hidden under snow, and caves change every week. Ice caves are only visited with certified glacier guides who check the ice daily and give you a helmet and crampons. Never walk into one on your own.
Ages, fitness and who each tour suits
- Young children (4–5): the Langjökull monster truck tour from Gullfoss (age 4+), or a private tour if you want to set the pace.
- Children from 6: the Crystal Ice Cave family tour, the Katla family tour, Into the Glacier from Reykjavík and the private South Coast and Katla tour.
- Average fitness: you need to walk 15–30 minutes on uneven, slippery ground with crampons. All the shorter tours are fine for most people in fair condition.
- Fit and keen: the 5–6 hour tours on Vatnajökull, with longer glacier walks, harnesses and more than one cave.
- Limited mobility: Into the Glacier has the easiest walking. Ask us before booking a natural cave.
- Photographers: the Crystal Ice Cave photography tour, or a private tour so you are not rushed.
What to wear and bring
Your guide gives you a helmet and crampons, and on the longer tours a harness and ice axe. You bring the rest.
- Waterproof hiking boots with ankle support (rental is available on many tours)
- Warm base layer, fleece or wool mid-layer and a waterproof jacket and trousers
- Hat, gloves and a buff or scarf
- A small bag with water and a snack
- See our Iceland winter packing list for the full list
Prices: what an ice cave tour costs
From our booking system in October 2026: shared tours that start at the glacier cost from about 18,621 to 36,900 ISK per person. Day tours from Reykjavík with the ice cave included cost from about 35,500 to 49,990 ISK per person. Private tours start from 150,000 ISK per group, which is good value for a family or a group of friends. Prices change with the season, so check the tour page for your date.
Tours to book
These are the ice cave trips we recommend most this winter.
- Crystal Ice Cave tour with super jeep: the easy way into the blue ice from Jökulsárlón, October to April.
- Private South Coast and Katla Ice Cave tour: your own guide from Reykjavík, all year, with the South Coast's best stops.
- 2 Day South Coast tour with ice cave: Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach and an ice cave with no driving.
- 6 Day Ring Road Tour in winter: the whole country with an ice cave, a glacier hike and whale watching included.
Questions people ask
What is the best ice cave tour in Iceland?
For blue ice between October and April, a Vatnajökull ice cave tour from Jökulsárlón. For any month, or as a day trip from Reykjavík, the Katla ice cave near Vík.
Can you see ice caves in Iceland in summer?
Yes. The Katla ice cave and the man-made Into the Glacier tunnel in Langjökull are open all year. The blue Vatnajökull caves are only visited from about October to April.
Can you do an ice cave tour from Reykjavík?
Yes. Day tours go to the Katla ice cave with the South Coast, and to Langjökull for Into the Glacier or, in winter, a natural cave by snowmobile. The Vatnajökull caves need a 2-day trip.
How old do children need to be for an ice cave tour?
It depends on the tour. The Langjökull monster truck tour takes children from 4, several Katla and Crystal Ice Cave tours from 6, and the longer Vatnajökull tours from 7, 8 or 14.
Can you visit ice caves in Iceland on your own?
No. Ice caves are only safe with a certified glacier guide who checks the ice every day and provides helmets and crampons.
