Víðgelmir Lava Cave Tour, the Largest Lava Cave in Iceland

A guided walk through Víðgelmir, the largest known lava cave in Iceland, in the Borgarfjörður area of West Iceland. A fitted walkway and feature lighting make this an easy, family-friendly way to see a lava tube from the inside.

• Walk through Iceland's largest known lava cave
• A fitted walkway and lighting make it accessible and easy
• Learn how the cave formed from a lava flow around 1,100 years ago
• Suitable for most ages and fitness levels
• Helmet and headlamp provided

Your day, stop by stop

1Cave entrance at FljótstungaMeet your guide and get fitted with a helmet and headlamp.

The entrance sits on farmland at Fljótstunga in West Iceland, about two hours from Reykjavík. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your tour time. Your guide fits you with a helmet and headlamp, and warm clothing and footwear are your own.

2Main lava tube passageWalking along the fitted walkway into the cave.

A fitted walkway leads into the cave and connects several large chambers formed by the lava flow, keeping the walk level and easy underfoot. The tour is rated 1 out of 5 for difficulty. Víðgelmir is the largest known lava cave in Iceland.

Difficulty · easy, rated 1 out of 5

3Great halls and lighting featuresPassing chambers lit to highlight the cave's colours and shapes.

Feature lighting picks out lava formations such as lava stalactites and, closer to the entrance in winter, ice formations that build up from meltwater. The cave stays at a constant cool temperature all year.

4Far end of the caveThe turning point of the walk.

The walk turns around at the far end of the cave, where your guide explains how the lava flow formed the tube about 1,100 years ago. Very young children may be asked to turn back before this point, depending on group positioning.

About the Víðgelmir lava cave tour

Víðgelmir is the largest known lava cave in Iceland, formed by a lava flow from a nearby crater around 1,100 years ago. The tour follows a fitted walkway through several large chambers, with lighting placed to show off the cave's colours and formations, from lava stalactites to ice formations near the entrance in winter.

The walking itself is easy and rated among the gentlest of Iceland's cave tours, thanks to the walkway, so it suits most fitness levels and works well for families. Very young children may need to turn back before the final stop, and parents are asked to stay towards the back of the group.

The cave sits at Fljótstunga in the Borgarfjörður area of West Iceland, about a two-hour drive from Reykjavík. It stays a constant, cool temperature underground all year, so warm clothing is worth having even on a warm day outside. Some visitors combine it with a shuttle from Húsafell Bistro rather than driving directly to the cave.

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