Katla Ice Cave Extended Tour from Vík

About 4 hoursGroup: Small groupModerate, good fitness neededSuper Jeep from VíkAge 6+ summer, 8+ winterAll year

Guest in a blue ice tunnel in the Katla ice cave

Group at the ash-striped entrance of the Katla ice cave

Guest on the black ash glacier with Hafursey mountain behind

Super Jeep and group below a snowy mountain

Group walking across the dark glacier ice

This is the longer version of the Katla ice cave tour from Vík. You ride by Super Jeep to the edge of Kötlujökull glacier, walk into the Katla ice cave, and then keep going: the guide leads you further across the glacier to look for ice canyons and small meltwater waterfalls that the three-hour tour does not reach.

Super Jeep across MýrdalssandurWalk to the glacierInside the Katla ice caveExtra time on the glacier

Katla ice cave
Extra time on Kötlujökull glacier
Ice canyons and meltwater falls
Super Jeep across Mýrdalssandur

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.

1Meet in VíkCheck in at the ice cave meeting point next to the Vík Inn on Víkurbraut, at the east end of Vík, 20 minutes before the start.

Check in at the ice cave meeting point next to the Vík Inn on Víkurbraut, at the east end of Vík, 20 minutes before the start. Parking is free. The guide checks your clothing and shoes and hands out any gear you rented when you booked.

Read our Vík í Mýrdal guide →

Super Jeep across MýrdalssandurThe Super Jeep drives for about 40 minutes over the black sands of Mýrdalssandur, past Hafursey mountain, where scenes of Star Wars: Rogue One were filmed.

The Super Jeep drives for about 40 minutes over the black sands of Mýrdalssandur, past Hafursey mountain, where scenes of Star Wars: Rogue One were filmed. The guide talks about Katla, one of Iceland's most active volcanoes, which lies under the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap ahead of you.

Read our Katla guide →

Walk to the glacierFrom the jeep you walk for about 20 minutes over ash and gravel to the glacier edge.

From the jeep you walk for about 20 minutes over ash and gravel to the glacier edge. Here you get a safety talk and put on your helmet, headlamp and crampons.

Inside the Katla ice caveThe guide leads you into the ice cave, through tunnels of blue ice striped with black ash from old eruptions.

The guide leads you into the ice cave, through tunnels of blue ice striped with black ash from old eruptions. There is time for photos while the guide explains how the cave formed and why it changes shape every season.

Read our Katla guide →

Ash-covered ice formations on Kötlujökull

Extra time on the glacierThis is what the extended tour adds.

Guide pointing out features on the glacier

This is what the extended tour adds. Instead of heading straight back, you spend more time on Kötlujökull, looking for narrow ice canyons, meltwater streams and small waterfalls inside the ice. It is a good choice for photographers and anyone who wants a quieter, longer visit.

6Back to VíkYou walk back to the Super Jeep and ride back to Vík.

You walk back to the Super Jeep and ride back to Vík. Reynisfjara black sand beach is about 10 minutes' drive away if you want to see more of the coast afterwards.

Read our Vík í Mýrdal guide →

About the Katla ice cave extended tour

Katla is a large volcano hidden under the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap. On its eastern side the Kötlujökull glacier holds an ice cave that can be visited all year, because the ice is thick and covered in volcanic ash. The ash gives the cave its look: bright blue ice with black stripes from eruptions over hundreds of years.

The extended tour follows the same route as the three-hour tour to the cave, then adds about an hour on the glacier. The guide looks for ice canyons, meltwater channels and small waterfalls, so each tour is a little different. Expect more walking on uneven ice, which is why the operator asks for a good level of fitness.

The ice changes every year and sometimes within a season. The guides choose the safest cave and route on the day, so what you see may look different from the photos.

Make it your own

Optional extras, at extra cost

Hiking boots
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof trousers
Hat and gloves set
Neck warmer

Included

Super Jeep transport from Vík to the glacier and back
Certified, English-speaking glacier guide
Helmet, headlamp and crampons
Small group

Not included

Transport to Vík (drive yourself)
Drinks and snacks
Hiking boots and waterproof clothing (available to rent)

What to bring

Hiking boots with ankle support (or rent them when you book)
Warm base layer and a fleece or wool layer
Waterproof jacket and trousers (or rent them)
Gloves and a warm hat
Water and a snack

Good to know

Duration: about 4 hours from Vík, including the drive
Minimum age, according to the operator: 8 in winter and 6 in summer
Children need a child seat for the jeep ride. The jeeps have no Isofix anchors
Good fitness is needed for the extra walking on the glacier
Arrive 20 minutes before the start. Free parking at the meeting point
Vík is about 2 hours 30 minutes' drive from Reykjavík
Jeans are not suitable for glacier activities
Meeting point: Ice cave meeting point next to the Vík Inn, Víkurbraut, 870 Vík
Open the meeting point in Google Maps

Questions people ask

What is the difference between this tour and the three-hour Katla ice cave tour?

Both go to the same ice cave by Super Jeep. The extended tour adds about an hour on the glacier with the guide, looking for ice canyons and meltwater waterfalls, and needs a better level of fitness. If you want the shorter version, see our Katla Ice Cave Tour from Vík.

Can I visit the Katla ice cave in summer?

Yes. The Katla ice cave is one of the few ice caves in Iceland that can be visited all year.

Can children join?

Yes. According to the operator, children must be at least 8 years old in winter and at least 6 in summer. A child seat is required for the jeep ride, and the jeeps have no Isofix anchors.

How fit do I need to be?

You walk about 20 minutes each way to the glacier and then spend extra time on uneven ice with crampons. You should be comfortable walking for a few hours on rough ground.

Will the cave look like the photos?

Not exactly. Ice caves change every year and sometimes during a season. The guide picks the safest cave and route on the day.

Can I get to Vík without a car?

If you are staying in Reykjavík and have no car, our Katla Ice Cave & South Coast tour includes pick-up in Reykjavík.

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From36,464 ISKPer person