Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
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Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
My trip
Talk to a local
Raufarhólshellir is a 1,360-metre lava tube in South Iceland, the fourth-longest in the country, about 30 minutes' drive from Reykjavík. It can only be visited on a guided tour, run daily all year, and the standard walk through the cave takes about an hour.
Raufarhólshellir formed about 5,200 years ago in the Leitahraun eruption, when lava kept flowing underneath its own cooled crust and then drained away, leaving a long, hollow tube behind. At 1,360 metres it is the fourth-longest lava tube in Iceland, and one of the roomiest. The main passage is up to 30 metres wide and around 10 metres high, so the standard tour involves no crawling or squeezing, and most people do not find it cramped.
Near the entrance the roof has fallen in at three places, and daylight drops through the openings in columns. Further in, a footbridge and walkway run through the first part of the tunnel, and lighting built into the cave picks out the reds, yellows and greens that minerals and heat left in the rock. It photographs well, so bring a camera. In winter and spring, ice formations build up on the floor near the entrance.
The main tunnel is about 900 metres long. At the far end it splits into three smaller tunnels with lava falls and other formations, which only the longer adventure tour reaches. Because much of the cave is dark and the floor beyond the walkway is loose, uneven rock, all visits are guided, with helmets and lights provided.
Route 39 passes right over the cave, and its closeness to Reykjavík has made it a film location as well as a day-trip stop: scenes for the 2014 film Noah were shot here.
There are two ways to see the lava tunnel, an easy walk on the walkway or a long scramble to the far end.
A guide matters here: many of the small details in the rock are easy to walk past without someone pointing them out.
The cave sits on its own in the lava, but there is plenty within a short drive.
A warm jacket and boots with good grip are needed in any season. The cave is cold all year, and even summer days can be chilly in Iceland.
The visitor building at the entrance has toilets and a small shop. There is no café on site; the nearest food options are back toward Reykjavík or in Þorlákshöfn.
Most visitors see Raufarhólshellir on a day trip from Reykjavík, since the capital is only about 30 minutes away. If you want to stay closer, Hveragerði is the nearest town, with hotels, guesthouses and a campsite, and Selfoss is a little further on.
No, independent entry is not allowed. All visits are guided, with helmets and lighting provided.
The cave is 1,360 metres long, which makes it the fourth-longest lava tube in Iceland. The main tunnel is about 900 metres.
No. The passage is up to 30 metres wide and around 10 metres high, and the standard tour stays on a walkway and footbridge.
The standard tour takes about an hour. The adventure tour to the end of the cave takes three to four hours.
About 30 minutes' drive, making it one of the most convenient lava caves to visit from the capital.
Yes, it stays cool all year, so bring a warm layer even in summer.
Yes, tours run all year, and ice formations near the entrance are often a winter highlight.
Tours and trips that include Raufarhólshellir, booked directly with a local travel agency in Iceland.
DAY TOURRaufarholshellir Lava Tunnel TourFrom 8,900 ISK per person
DAY TOURRaufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel TourFrom 14,900 ISK per person
DAY TOURGolden Circle & Raufarholshellir Lava TunnelFrom 25,990 ISK per person
DAY TOURLava Tunnel & Silfra Snorkeling Tour from ReykjavikFrom 34,990 ISK per person
DAY TOUREvening Lava Tunnel & Northern Lights TourFrom 25,990 ISK per person
