Glacier Ice Cave Experience, Golden Circle

4.2 (13 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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Zoe
Zoe C.
Sep 13, 2025
Glacier caves are ever changing and disappearing at a rapid rate. Well worth a visit while you still can. The journey to the cave was so... Read more
Gaia
Gaia B.
Sep 06, 2025
This was great. Our guide was a hoot. And he explained everything very well.
Mike
Mike D.
Sep 03, 2025
The hike to the cave was a little challenging but still fun. I felt safe. The explanation of the cave was good.
Scott
Scott C.
Aug 18, 2025
Great experience. The ride to the cave is its own adventure, especially the roller coaster. It's fun to walk on the glacier, view the cave, eat... Read more
M
Matty R.
Aug 17, 2025
Awesome experience going into ice cave and hiking up a glacier. Our guide was fun and knowledgeable.
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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, 12 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

13 total ratings, 13 with reviews
4.2
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.5
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.8
Transport
4.3
Kip
Kip R.
Memphis, TN | Reviewed on Sep 13, 2025
Ok … first things first. Our guide (Martin) was terrific. Absolutely brilliant! Provided good education on the glacier and geography. He just nailed it and made the experience worth it. I’ve never walked on a glacier before so it was a nice experience to get up close and personal with one; scenery is pretty. Now, what you need to know is it’s about a 30-40 min drive to glacier (30-40 minute return as well). The hike is moderate, not difficult … saw all ages out there. However, you do... Read more

Ok … first things first. Our guide (Martin) was terrific. Absolutely brilliant! Provided good education on the glacier and geography. He just nailed it and made the experience worth it. I’ve never walked on a glacier before so it was a nice experience to get up close and personal with one; scenery is pretty. Now, what you need to know is it’s about a 30-40 min drive to glacier (30-40 minute return as well). The hike is moderate, not difficult … saw all ages out there. However, you do need to be able to climb the equivalent of a few flights of stairs. The cave itself was a bit of a disappointment … more like a large ice cubby. It was interesting in the sense that you get to walk into a block of ice and see all the layers … but the hike in/out experience takes just about 60 minutes or so. I was expecting more of a spelunking experience … this is not that! And that may be exactly what you’re looking for … and, if so, you’ll be delighted.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Zoe
Zoe C.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Sep 13, 2025
Glacier caves are ever changing and disappearing at a rapid rate. Well worth a visit while you still can. The journey to the cave was so much fun with some great photo ops and information of the area. Read more

Glacier caves are ever changing and disappearing at a rapid rate. Well worth a visit while you still can. The journey to the cave was so much fun with some great photo ops and information of the area.

Tips for future travelers

This was not terribly physical and would highly recommend to those who may not be in exceptional shape, but must be able to walk up some hills.

Quality of Experience
Very informative and beautiful
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our driver and guide was great and entertaining
Transport
Fun and easy
Gaia
Gaia B.
Reno, NV | Reviewed on Sep 06, 2025
This was great. Our guide was a hoot. And he explained everything very well. Read more

This was great. Our guide was a hoot. And he explained everything very well.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide had had quite a career path. He was an interesting person.
Transport
Mike
Mike D.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Sep 03, 2025
The hike to the cave was a little challenging but still fun. I felt safe. The explanation of the cave was good. Read more

The hike to the cave was a little challenging but still fun. I felt safe. The explanation of the cave was good.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
It would have helped if South Coast Adventures had a sign in the parking lot. I was expecting a storefront and was surprised they just parked and expected us to find them.
Lisa
Lisa D.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Aug 18, 2025
Enjoyed our guide and the experience. He explained the history of the glacier and took us in the ice cave. Much smaller than I expected but nonetheless a great experience. Read more

Enjoyed our guide and the experience. He explained the history of the glacier and took us in the ice cave. Much smaller than I expected but nonetheless a great experience.

Tips for future travelers

Bring layers, especially rain pants and jacket. It's a wet environment so be prepared. They provided the crampons which were quite useful.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Scott
Scott C.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Aug 18, 2025
Great experience. The ride to the cave is its own adventure, especially the roller coaster. It's fun to walk on the glacier, view the cave, eat ice from the glacier. Our driver was friendly and knowledgeable. Read more

Great experience. The ride to the cave is its own adventure, especially the roller coaster. It's fun to walk on the glacier, view the cave, eat ice from the glacier. Our driver was friendly and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
M
Matty R.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Aug 17, 2025
Awesome experience going into ice cave and hiking up a glacier. Our guide was fun and knowledgeable. Read more

Awesome experience going into ice cave and hiking up a glacier. Our guide was fun and knowledgeable.

Tips for future travelers

Not a good idea for those that struggle with balance.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
D
Dave Z.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Aug 13, 2025
Guide was great, but the actual size of the remaining interior was disappointing and unlike the advertised photos. Read more

Guide was great, but the actual size of the remaining interior was disappointing and unlike the advertised photos.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
jacquelyn
jacquelyn P.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Aug 12, 2025
We had a great time with our guide-this is not to be missed!! Absolutely breathtaking Read more

We had a great time with our guide-this is not to be missed!! Absolutely breathtaking

Tips for future travelers

Bring extra water proof gloves

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Loves the stories -the bumpy ride and the Icelandic dance at the end
Transport
Jenna
Jenna F.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 29, 2025
This was incredible!!! The entire thing from the drive to the glacier, the hike up the glacier and exploring the ice cave was an experience. We loved this excursion so much. Read more

This was incredible!!! The entire thing from the drive to the glacier, the hike up the glacier and exploring the ice cave was an experience. We loved this excursion so much.

Tips for future travelers

There is a bit of hiking involved in this excursion, but the guide goes at a good pace to keep the group together and you are given crampons for your boots.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Mark was fantastic! He was funny, knowledgeable and made this experience awesome.
Transport

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