Vatnshellir Lava Cave Experience, Snæfellsnes Peninsula

4.5 (14 reviews)
Follow an expert guide through an 8,000-year-old lava cave at the foot of the Snæfellsjökull stratovolcano.
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B
Barbara K.
May 27, 2025
Very interesting tour of caves. Very informative. No bathrooms on site, which is clearly marked by sign. Free bathrooms less than 5 minutes away at lighthouse... Read more
Holly
Holly R.
Mar 19, 2023
This was another awesome tour! So breathtaking and awe inspiring once inside. Our guide was awesome! I think his name was Andre.
Allison
Allison G.
Oct 17, 2022
Driving around Iceland you see plenty of lava fields but seeing what lava does underground is amazing!
Dave
Dave K.
Oct 04, 2022
Our tour guide was informative and provide us with a safe and pleasurable experience. He was great at answering our questions and was very knowledgeable about... Read more
S
Suzanne D.
Oct 01, 2022
I found it really interesting to compare a lava cave to a limestone cave. Our guide, Andre, did a very nice job of explaining what we... Read more
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Overview

Venture into the subterranean landscapes that inspired Jules Verne with this exploration of the Vatnshellir lava cave that's perfect for everyone from adventurous adults to curious kids. Located within Snæfellsjökull National Park, this 8,000-year-old geological wonder was formed by a river of rapidly cooling lava near the base of the mighty Snæfellsjökull stratovolcano. Grab a helmet and flashlight and descend via a series of staircases to reach the cave floor, where you'll follow your expert guide through otherworldly chambers and tunnels as you learn more about the area's dramatic history and geology.

Highlights

  • Start your adventure in Snæfellsjökull National Park, known for its volcanic landscapes
  • Explore the 8,000-year-old Vatnshellir lava cave with the help of an expert guide
  • Retrace the fictional journey from Jules Verne's "A Journey to the Center of the Earth" 
  • See fascinating geological formations and learn about the region's dramatic volcanic activity

Know before you go

Duration
1h
Recommended for
5 years old & up
Group
Small group

What you'll do

This West Iceland adventure starts when you make your way into Snæfellsjökull National Park (located about 2.5 hours from Reykjavík) and meet your guide and the rest of your group near the base of the ancient Snæfellsjökull stratovolcano. You'll be equipped with a helmet and a flashlight, and given a quick safety briefing by your expert guide. Then it's time to start the careful descent down two spiral staircases to reach the 8,000-year-old lava tube's floor. 

Follow your guide through the winding interiors that stretch over 650 feet (200 m) and reach depths of over 115 feet (35 m), and marvel at streaks of red, green, and purple minerals that decorate the rocky interiors. Hear how the hollow tube was formed by a rapidly cooling river of lava from the nearby Purkhólahraun craters, and why this region of Iceland is so geologically active even today. 

You'll also discover how the neighboring stratovolcano was the inspiration behind Jules Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth," and you'll have plenty of time to admire the otherworldly cave walls and remarkable rock formations as you snap plenty of photos. After 45 minutes exploring, you'll make the return climb to your starting point and continue your West Iceland journey on your own.

Start times

  • Daily
    11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm

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Travelers often mention

Summarized by AI based on kimkim traveler reviews

Knowledgeable Guides

Many reviewers praised the guides for their knowledge and ability to explain the history and geology of the lava cave. Guides were highlighted for making the tour informative and enjoyable. (7 mentions)

S
“Our guide, Andre, did a very nice job of explaining what we were seeing.”  — Suzanne D.
Ann
“The lava cave was interesting & our guide was terrific.”  — Ann E.
Dave
“He was great at answering our questions and was very knowledgeable about the geology of the area.”  — Dave K.
Impressive Cave

Many reviewers found the cave impressive and awe-inspiring, mentioning it was breathtaking to see the underground effects of lava. (3 mentions)

Allison
“seeing what lava does underground is amazing!”  — Allison G.
R
“you see the untouched rocks that have fallen it blows your mind that you are inside a lava cave”  — Ruth R.
Fun and Entertaining

Reviewers frequently mentioned the tour was fun and described the guides as having a good sense of humor, which added to the enjoyment. (3 mentions)

Erin
“This was a fun stop”  — Erin B.
Trish
“Our guide was not only informative but very entertaining.”  — Trish A.
Short but Worthwhile

The tour was described as short but worth seeing, providing a good balance of information and enjoyment in a limited time. (2 mentions)

A
“Short tour but definitely worth seeing!”  — Alain G.
Safety Emphasis

The guides were noted for being uncompromising about safety, ensuring a safe and pleasurable experience for all participants. (2 mentions)

Rahul
“was uncompromising about safety”  — Rahul S.
Dave
“Our tour guide was informative and provide us with a safe and pleasurable experience.”  — Dave K.
Educational Experience

The tour was described as an excellent learning experience, especially about the lava caves' formation and characteristics. Some reviewers mentioned their children were very interested in the details. (1 mention)

Erin
“really interesting to see”  — Erin B.

Traveler reviews

14 total ratings, 14 with reviews
4.5
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.6
Guides, Drivers and Staff
5.0
Transport
4.7
B
Barbara K.
Boston, MA | Reviewed on May 27, 2025
Very interesting tour of caves. Very informative. No bathrooms on site, which is clearly marked by sign. Free bathrooms less than 5 minutes away at lighthouse museum. It wasn't a problem, but it was unexpected. Read more

Very interesting tour of caves. Very informative. No bathrooms on site, which is clearly marked by sign. Free bathrooms less than 5 minutes away at lighthouse museum. It wasn't a problem, but it was unexpected.

Tips for future travelers

Schedule an extra 20 minutes to go to the bathroom at the lighthouse museum. There are not a lot of restrooms in that area of the peninsula.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
J
Jennifer D.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Oct 13, 2024
Not very extensive spaces but very cool to experience Read more

Not very extensive spaces but very cool to experience

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
A
Alain G.
Mobile, AL | Reviewed on Jul 26, 2023

Short tour but definitely worth seeing!

Rahul
Rahul S.
the United Arab Emirates | Reviewed on Jul 09, 2023
The experience of going into the lava cave and learning all about it from our guide Irina was excellent. My 17-year old daughter was very interested in the details and kept talking about it afterwards. We really enjoyed the experience and found Irina to be excellent - she had great knowledge, was uncompromising about safety - but had a good sense of humor and made it fun. Read more

The experience of going into the lava cave and learning all about it from our guide Irina was excellent. My 17-year old daughter was very interested in the details and kept talking about it afterwards. We really enjoyed the experience and found Irina to be excellent - she had great knowledge, was uncompromising about safety - but had a good sense of humor and made it fun.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Erin
Erin B.
Mansfield City, CT | Reviewed on Jun 20, 2023
This was a fun stop and really interesting to see Read more

This was a fun stop and really interesting to see

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Holly
Holly R.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 19, 2023
This was another awesome tour! So breathtaking and awe inspiring once inside. Our guide was awesome! I think his name was Andre. Read more

This was another awesome tour! So breathtaking and awe inspiring once inside. Our guide was awesome! I think his name was Andre.

Tips for future travelers

A few low spots but mainly extremely large inside the caves. A couple tall flights of stairs to go down (and up) into the caves.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Allison
Allison G.
Oak Ridge, TN | Reviewed on Oct 17, 2022
Driving around Iceland you see plenty of lava fields but seeing what lava does underground is amazing! Read more

Driving around Iceland you see plenty of lava fields but seeing what lava does underground is amazing!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Dave
Dave K.
Gastonia, NC | Reviewed on Oct 04, 2022

Our tour guide was informative and provide us with a safe and pleasurable experience. He was great at answering our questions and was very knowledgeable about the geology of the area. He did not rushes through and we had plenty of time to take photographs.

S
Suzanne D.
Lakewood, CO | Reviewed on Oct 01, 2022
I found it really interesting to compare a lava cave to a limestone cave. Our guide, Andre, did a very nice job of explaining what we were seeing. Read more

I found it really interesting to compare a lava cave to a limestone cave. Our guide, Andre, did a very nice job of explaining what we were seeing.

Tips for future travelers

This is a good activity to do on a bad weather day since it is underground. As the information will tell you, there are no restrooms here so stop at the Visitor Center nearby.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Trish
Trish A.
Gastonia, NC | Reviewed on Sep 23, 2022
One of my favorite activities! Our guide was not only informative but very entertaining. Read more

One of my favorite activities! Our guide was not only informative but very entertaining.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide.

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Chat with our local specialists and let us help you customize your trip with experiences like this.

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