Víðgelmir Lava Cave Experience, Golden Circle

4.8 (28 reviews)
Follow an expert guide along easy-to-navigate paths and walkways as you explore Víðgelmir, Iceland's largest lava cave.
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D
David H.
Jul 24, 2026
Fascinating! Guide was great.
D
Dana F.
Jul 20, 2026
We had done some cave tours and other parts of the world, this was well done and very in
Jennifer
Jennifer Y.
Jul 13, 2026
Great fun to see the cave carved by lava!
Patricia
Patricia T.
Jul 01, 2026
This was a highlight of our trip. I’m so glad we did this tour. The cave was fascinating and the tour guide was very informative.
Durk
Durk P.
Jun 12, 2026
Fun walking in an ice cave.
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Overview

Experience the thrill of caving in a safe and family-friendly way with a guided exploration of Víðgelmir, Iceland's largest lava cave. Located beneath the Hallmundarhraun lava field in West Iceland, this geological wonder stretches for almost a mile underground, with a series of wooden walkways, well-maintained paths, and state-of-the-art lighting built throughout. This 1.5-hour excursion takes you deep underground as you don a helmet and headlight and follow an expert guide through soaring chambers and narrow caverns lined with giant stalactites and stalagmites.

Highlights

  • Explore Iceland's largest lava cave with a guided walk along underground walkways and paths
  • Discover facts about the cave's fascinating geology and Viking history from your expert guide
  • Marvel at the vibrant colors and unusual rock formations illuminated by state-of-the-art lighting
  • Learn more about how the cave was formed by cooling lava from a 10th-century CE eruption 

Know before you go

Duration
1h 30m
Recommended for
All ages
Group
Group tour, 32 people or less

What you'll do

Your lava cave adventure starts when you arrive at the site's visitor center, located about an hour's drive east of Borgarnes and 15 minutes north of Húsafell. Make sure you're dressed warmly and wearing comfortable walking shoes, then grab a helmet and headlight and follow your expert geologist guide and the rest of your small group as you descend into the cave's depths. During this 1.5-hour exploration, you'll traverse purpose-built walkways and paths that make navigating the cave easy even for families and non-hikers.

Glimpse fascinating geological features like stalactites, stalagmites, and lava crystals, and learn about how Iceland's largest lava cave stretches for almost a mile underground and reaches depths of 5,250 feet (1,600 m), with ceilings as high as 52 feet (16 m) in some portions. Your guide will explain how the tube-like structure was formed by cooling lava during a massive volcanic eruption in the 10th century CE, and share stories of its importance throughout the country's human history, including the discovery of Viking Age artifacts now on display at the Iceland National Museum. 

Start times

  • Monday
    10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm
  • Tuesday
    10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm
  • Wednesday
    10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm
  • Thursday
    10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm
  • Friday
    10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm
  • Saturday
    10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm
  • Sunday
    10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm

What's included

  • Professional geologist guide
  • Helmet
  • Headlamp

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Traveler photos
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Traveler reviews

28 total ratings, 20 with reviews
4.8
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.7
Guides, Drivers and Staff
5.0
Transport
4.7
Matt
Matt M.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jul 26, 2026
Was much more informative than I expected, cool tour Read more

Was much more informative than I expected, cool tour

Tips for future travelers

Dress for 32F weather

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
N/A
D
David H.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jul 24, 2026
Fascinating! Guide was great. Read more

Fascinating! Guide was great.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
D
Dana F.
UT | Reviewed on Jul 20, 2026
We had done some cave tours and other parts of the world, this was well done and very in Read more

We had done some cave tours and other parts of the world, this was well done and very in

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Jennifer
Jennifer Y.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jul 13, 2026
Great fun to see the cave carved by lava! Read more

Great fun to see the cave carved by lava!

Tips for future travelers

You will need to be comfortable going up and down stairs to get into the cave - one person in our group looked at the climb down and went back to the ticket area. There is one spot that is tight getting into the cave and could cause someone who didn't like tight spaces to hesitate. It's a short distance to travel and the guides help but you have to be able to manuever the space.

Quality of Experience
Unique thing to see. Used to seeing caves in the US. This is very different
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide was awesome. She knew a ton about the cave, formations and geology of the lava cave/tube
Transport
Short walk with stairs to descend. Safety protocols were very good. Everyone had headlamps to see
Patricia
Patricia T.
Miami, FL | Reviewed on Jul 01, 2026
This was a highlight of our trip. I’m so glad we did this tour. The cave was fascinating and the tour guide was very informative. Read more

This was a highlight of our trip. I’m so glad we did this tour. The cave was fascinating and the tour guide was very informative.

Tips for future travelers

Dress warm and bring warm gloves.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Durk
Durk P.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jun 12, 2026
Fun walking in an ice cave. Read more

Fun walking in an ice cave.

Tips for future travelers

Make sure Gummi knows where the spare tire is.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Michael
Michael H.
Phoenix, AZ | Reviewed on Jun 04, 2026
Tips for future travelers Do not miss this. Very fascinating cave to go through. Read more
Tips for future travelers

Do not miss this. Very fascinating cave to go through.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mallory
Mallory S.
Kansas City, MO | Reviewed on Jun 02, 2026
This was a fun introduction into what a lava cave was. Our tour guide was wonderful and we learned a lot. Definitely worth going to see. Read more

This was a fun introduction into what a lava cave was. Our tour guide was wonderful and we learned a lot. Definitely worth going to see.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
P
Pamela M.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Apr 11, 2026
The tour was interesting and the guide was very knowledgeable and gave a great tour. Read more

The tour was interesting and the guide was very knowledgeable and gave a great tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
N
Natalie S.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Apr 10, 2026
Great experience. I was nervous to go but it was well worth it and not as hard as I thought. Garreth was an amazing guide!! Read more

Great experience. I was nervous to go but it was well worth it and not as hard as I thought. Garreth was an amazing guide!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

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