Glacier Ice Cave Experience, Golden Circle

4.5 (52 reviews)
Take an adventurous Super Jeep ride to the Katla ice caves, then don a helmet and headlight to enter the underground wonders.
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Pamela
Pamela W.
Sep 15, 2026
Loved this tour.
H
Holly L.
Sep 11, 2026
Great ride in high clearance vehicle to glacier, fitted with crampons, then followed guide through a trail up the glacier to the ice cave, which was... Read more
B
Bob H.
Sep 01, 2026
learned a lot about glaciers and glacier caves
Kate
Kate F.
Aug 15, 2026
This was AMAZING!
Susan
Susan B.
Aug 08, 2026
Amazing adventure in that super Jeep! The real deal with the crampons on the glacier!
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Overview

This exhilarating ice cave adventure is perfect for travelers looking to experience Iceland's glacial wonders in a short amount of time. It starts in Vík when you meet your expert guide and step into a Super Jeep for a rugged, off-road ride toward the glaciers of South Iceland. Upon arrival, gear up with helmets, headlamps, and crampons, and embark on a short hike to the mouth of a natural ice cave. You'll spend about an hour exploring the cave's interior, marveling at the vibrant colors and intricate ice formations while learning about their creation from your guide.

Highlights

  • Take an adventurous, off-road Super Jeep ride to a secret glacier area near Vík
  • Set off on a short hike through dramatic glacial landscapes
  • Venture deep into the region's ever-changing natural ice caves with an expert guide
  • Learn how the caves get their brilliant blue color and unique shapes

Know before you go

Duration
3h
Recommended for
6 years old & up
Group
Small group, 39 people or less

What you'll do

Your ice cave adventure begins at a meeting point in Vík, where you'll greet your guide and the rest of your small group and set off in a specially designed Super Jeep, heading toward one of the country's most impressive glaciers. The exhilarating 30-60 minute trip is no standard drive—you'll traverse rocky and steep terrain, so it's a bumpy but exciting ride as you pass stunning natural landscapes and follow rugged off-road routes.

Upon arrival at the glacier, you'll be equipped with all necessary safety gear, including a helmet, headlamp, and crampons. After a safety briefing and a run-through of what to expect from the exploration, follow your guide on a short but scenic hike to the Katla ice caves. The route varies daily due to the glacier's dynamic nature, but your guide will make sure you follow the most direct and accessible route along maintained paths and wooden bridges.

As you enter the first cave, keep your camera handy to capture the remarkable colors and shapes of the frozen labyrinth, and listen as your guide explains the science behind the formation of these natural wonders. You'll have around an hour to explore the interiors or one or two ice caves, all under the guidance of your expert guide. At the end of the experience, a short return hike takes you back to the Super Jeep for the return journey to Vík.

Start times

  • Daily
    10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:45 pm, 3:00 pm

What's included

  • Expert local guide
  • Transportation in a Super Jeep
  • 45-60 minutes in the glacier Ice Cave area
  • All necessary safety gear (helmet, headlamp, and crampons)

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Traveler photos
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Traveler reviews

52 total ratings, 45 with reviews
4.5
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.5
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.8
Transport
4.2
C
cathy d.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Oct 04, 2026
This was an interesting experience but should have been marketed as a "walk on a glacier" rather than as an "ice cave". The cave was very shallow (maybe 20 feet). The hike in crampons up the side of the glacier was ok although the weather was uncooperative. Read more

This was an interesting experience but should have been marketed as a "walk on a glacier" rather than as an "ice cave". The cave was very shallow (maybe 20 feet). The hike in crampons up the side of the glacier was ok although the weather was uncooperative.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Robyn
Robyn P.
Saint Louis, MO, USA | Reviewed on Oct 03, 2026
Very unique experience. Landscape was beautiful.
Ice caves were limited and did not fully reflect marketing pictures (some blue ceilings).
Super jeep vehicle was unreliable and not properly maintained.
Parts of the path up to the ice cave access was slippery and steep. Read more

Very unique experience. Landscape was beautiful.
Ice caves were limited and did not fully reflect marketing pictures (some blue ceilings).
Super jeep vehicle was unreliable and not properly maintained.
Parts of the path up to the ice cave access was slippery and steep.

Tips for future travelers

Crampons were necessary but still required firm stomp into ice to keep from slipping.

Quality of Experience
Reliable vehicles and better time management by all guides to efficiently move groups into/out of caves. A lot of standing around waiting on others.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide was resilient through vehicle difficulties. Thankful for the guide from Poland who was able to get our vehicle jump started!
Transport
The vehicle was not properly maintained. They gear shift/transmission did not work properly. Vehicle was in low gear the entire drive to the ice cave area. It did not restart after view point and needed a jump start by another guide's vehicle. The driver had to leave the vehicle running for over an hour while we went up and into the ice cave area.
T
Tom M.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Sep 30, 2026
Again too short of a cave. Pictures indicated that we would be walking through a cave for some distance. It was interesting and beautiful just to short Read more

Again too short of a cave. Pictures indicated that we would be walking through a cave for some distance. It was interesting and beautiful just to short

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Pamela
Pamela W.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Sep 15, 2026
Loved this tour. Read more

Loved this tour.

Tips for future travelers

The wind HOWLS out here and it's very cold and wet. Be sure to plan accordingly.

Quality of Experience
All we wanted and mor4e
Guides, Drivers and Staff
So funny and gave us many interesting facts.
Transport
Loved driving through the glacial beaches.
H
Holly L.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Sep 11, 2026
Great ride in high clearance vehicle to glacier, fitted with crampons, then followed guide through a trail up the glacier to the ice cave, which was beautiful. The ice changes every day due to melt and refreeze, so the cave was pretty small at the beginning of September, but I would still do it again. Read more

Great ride in high clearance vehicle to glacier, fitted with crampons, then followed guide through a trail up the glacier to the ice cave, which was beautiful. The ice changes every day due to melt and refreeze, so the cave was pretty small at the beginning of September, but I would still do it again.

Tips for future travelers

Somewhat physically challenging due to climbing in crampons along a path that sometimes had a rope railing. Guide was very good about telling us where to not go to stay safe.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Charlotte
Charlotte B.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Sep 07, 2026
45 minute rough ride but the experience is cool. Guide was great with all his stories Read more

45 minute rough ride but the experience is cool. Guide was great with all his stories

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Long drive crammed in a car
B
Bob H.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Sep 01, 2026
learned a lot about glaciers and glacier caves Read more

learned a lot about glaciers and glacier caves

Tips for future travelers

be prepared to walk up and down a glaciers w/crampons, we didn't expect for this to be a lot of actual glacier walking. BUT it was fun

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kate
Kate F.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Aug 15, 2026
This was AMAZING! Read more

This was AMAZING!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Susan
Susan B.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Aug 08, 2026
Amazing adventure in that super Jeep!
The real deal with the crampons on the glacier! Read more

Amazing adventure in that super Jeep!
The real deal with the crampons on the glacier!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Cal (? Spelling) was really great!
Transport
Valerie
Valerie S.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Aug 06, 2026
Peter was a SUPER guide! He really showed us a great time...we loved every minute of this! (Even if some of us were scared!) Read more

Peter was a SUPER guide! He really showed us a great time...we loved every minute of this! (Even if some of us were scared!)

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

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