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Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel Tour from Reykjavík

Name: Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel Tour from Reykjavík
Brand: Iceland Travel Guide
SKU: 88782
Price: 14900 ISK
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.0 (1 reviews)

About 3 hoursGroup: Small groupEasyBus from ReykjavíkAge 3+All year

5.0(1 review)

Red, purple and yellow lava on the tunnel wall

Walkway through the lava tunnel below an opening in the roof

Lit walkway and coloured walls in the lava tunnel

Snow below a skylight in the tunnel roof

Daylight coming through the roof of the lava tunnel

A half-day lava tunnel tour from Reykjavík. The bus takes you to Raufarhólshellir, where you spend about an hour walking inside a 5,000-year-old lava tube with a guide, helmet and headlamp.

ReykjavíkRaufarhólshellir lava tunnelCollapsed roof entranceLava tube walls

Return bus from Reykjavík, about 30 minutes each way
Guided walk inside one of Iceland's longest lava tunnels
Built paths and a footbridge, no crawling
Helmet and headlamp included
The whole trip takes about 3 hours

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.

1Departure from ReykjavíkBoard the bus at BSÍ bus terminal, or be picked up at your hotel about 30 minutes before.

You board the bus at BSÍ bus terminal, or be picked up at your hotel about 30 minutes before. The drive is about 30 minutes each way, and the whole trip takes about 3 hours.

Read our Reykjavík guide →

The lava tunnel's reception building on a winter evening

Briefing and gearGet your helmet and headlamp and meet your guide.

Your guide gives a short safety talk and hands out a helmet and headlamp before you walk to the cave entrance.

Included · helmet and headlamp

The collapsed entranceWalk down into the tunnel where the roof has fallen in.

Light pours in through holes where the roof collapsed, and in winter ice formations can build up here. A footbridge, built paths and some stairs lead you over the rough lava floor. Water drips from the roof, so wear a waterproof jacket.

Walking · built paths, a footbridge and some stairsTip · water drips from the roof, so wear a waterproof jacket

Deeper into the lava tunnelColoured lava walls in a tunnel up to 30 m wide.

Raufarhólshellir formed about 5,200 years ago in the Leitahraun eruption, when lava kept flowing under its own cooled crust and then drained away, leaving a long hollow tube. At 1,360 metres it is the fourth-longest lava tube in Iceland, and one of the roomiest, up to 30 metres wide and about 10 metres high, so the standard tour involves no crawling or squeezing. It can only be visited with a guide. At points your guide may ask you to switch off your lights to see how dark the cave is.

Tunnel · 1,360 m long, up to 30 m wide and 10 m highCrawling · none

Read our Raufarhólshellir guide →

5Back to ReykjavíkThe bus takes you back to Reykjavík.

About the lava tunnel tour from Reykjavík

Raufarhólshellir is one of the longest lava tunnels in Iceland, about 1,360 m long, up to 30 m wide and up to 10 m high. It formed around 5,000 years ago, when a lava flow from the Bláfjöll mountains crusted over on top while the molten lava inside kept flowing and drained out, leaving a hollow tube.

The guided walk takes about an hour. Built paths and a footbridge cover the roughest parts, and there is no crawling, but you do walk on uneven ground and some steep stairs. It is cold, damp and dark inside all year, so dress warmly.

Light falls into the first part of the cave through collapsed sections of the roof. In winter, ice sculptures can form here, and in summer the colours of the lava walls are the main sight.

This version includes the bus from Reykjavík, so you do not need a car. The whole trip takes about three hours, so the morning departure leaves the afternoon free.

Included

Return bus from Reykjavík
Guided tour in English
Helmet and headlamp

Not included

Lunch

What to bring

Warm clothes
Sturdy shoes
Waterproof jacket

Good to know

The trip takes about 3 hours in total, with 55–60 minutes inside the cave
Departures from BSÍ bus terminal at 9:00, 13:00 or 20:00 (see the booking calendar). If you choose hotel pick-up, be ready outside from 8:30 for the 9:00 tour or 12:30 for the 13:00 tour
At BSÍ the bus waits at the back of the terminal with a "The Lava Tunnel" sign; pick-up buses are marked "Tour Pick-up"
Minimum age is 3
Easy walking, no crawling, but uneven ground and stairs
Open all year; it is cold and wet inside, so dress for it
No refund if you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour

Questions people ask

Where is the pick-up?

The bus leaves from the back of BSÍ bus terminal, with a "The Lava Tunnel" sign in the window. If you choose hotel pick-up, be ready outside your hotel from 8:30 for the 9:00 tour, or from 12:30 for the 13:00 tour.

Is the cave suitable for children?

Yes, from age 3. The paths are built, but there are stairs and uneven ground, so small children should be comfortable walking.

Do I need to crawl?

No. You walk the whole time on paths and a footbridge.

How cold is it inside?

It is cold and damp all year, with water dripping from the roof. Wear warm clothes and a waterproof jacket.

Is it good for people with limited mobility?

It is not recommended if you have trouble with balance, uneven ground or steep stairs.

Is lunch included?

No. The trip takes about 3 hours, so on the 9:00 departure you are back in Reykjavík around midday.

Reviews

Reviews from travellers who took this tour. A local reads every review before it is shown.

5.0Based on 1 review

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More beautiful in real life

This tour was even better than I thought. The pick up in the morning was very smooth and easy and the short ride up to the lava cube was scenic and enjoyable. Had seen some photos of the cave and some people said that it looked nothing like it, but I thought it was even more beautiful in real life than on the pictures!
Would go again on this tour.

Robert E. · March 2025

From14,900 ISKPer person