Private Crystal Ice Cave Photography Tour

A private ice cave photography tour into a natural blue ice cave on Vatnajökull glacier, with a certified glacier guide and photography help. Early access means you get the cave largely to yourselves before the day's other groups arrive.

• Private group of up to 6 people, with your own guide
• Early start, ahead of the larger ice cave tours
• A certified glacier guide who also helps with photography
• All safety and glacier gear included
• Super Jeep transport onto the glacier

Your day, stop by stop

2Super Jeep to the glacierA short drive onto Vatnajökull glacier by Super Jeep.

Your guide drives you onto Vatnajökull itself, well beyond where a regular car could go, in about 20 to 30 minutes by Super Jeep.

Time here · 20–30 minutes

3Hike to the ice caveA walk across the glacier to the cave entrance, with crampons fitted.

A walk of about 30 minutes across glacier terrain to the cave entrance. Your guide fits crampons, a helmet and a harness before the walk in, and explains what to expect inside. Ice axes are provided too.

Walking · about 30 minutes over glacier terrainFacts · helmet, harness, crampons and ice axe provided

4Inside the ice caveTime in the cave for photos, with help from your guide.

You spend an extended period inside the blue ice cave, around 2 to 3 hours, with your guide helping with camera settings, tripod positions and angles. Bring a tripod and spare batteries, as cold weather drains them quickly.

Time here · around 2–3 hoursTip · bring a tripod and spare batteries; cold weather drains them quickly

5Hike back and return driveWalk back to the Super Jeep and drive back to the parking lot.

You walk back to the Super Jeep and drive back to the parking lot at Jökulsárlón.

About the private ice cave photography tour

This is a private version of the classic ice cave tour, built around photography. Because it is a small, private group, your guide can slow down at good angles, help set up shots, and let people spend longer in a spot they like, rather than moving a large tour group through on a schedule.

The day starts early at Jökulsárlón, with a Super Jeep ride onto the glacier followed by a hike to the cave entrance. Inside, the ice glows blue where the light comes through, and the shapes of the cave change from season to season and even week to week as the ice melts and shifts. You get several hours in and around the cave before the hike back out.

Ice caves like this only form and stay safe to enter in winter, so this runs roughly October to April depending on conditions. It is graded easy to moderate: no climbing experience is needed, but there is a walk over glacier terrain and some uneven ice inside the cave, so a reasonable level of fitness helps. Bring extra camera batteries, since cold drains them fast.

• Transport from and to Reykjavík
• Waterproof jacket and trousers rental
• Hiking boot rental
• Hat

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