Iceland is notorious for its absolutely stunning landscapes, with an enormous variety of natural wonders. One of the biggest tourist attractions are the ice caves, which cover a very large part of the country’s surface.

It will definitely make you realize why Iceland is named as such! However, you need to go on a tour with experienced guides that you can trust, and who know exactly where to go to have the best experiences.

We’ve done the “hard” work for you, to bring you the top ice cave tours in Iceland available!

Best Iceland Ice Cave Tours

	Ice Cave Exploration Tour	2 Day Ice Cave & South Coast: Glacier Hike, Jokulsarlon Lagoon & Northern Lights	Ice Cave tour in Vatnajökull
Departure Point:	Jökulsarlon	Pickup and drop-off offered	Þjóðvegur
Departure Time:	10:30 am	8 am	Variety Available
Duration:	4 - 6 hours	2 days	3 hours
Includes:	Ice axe, guided tour, crampons, helmets, safety harness, on-road and off-road transportation	Breakfast, driver/guide, overnight accommodation, all taxes, fees and handling charges, glacier equipmenet, ice cave tour, safety equipment, glacier hike	Transportation, crampons and helmets
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 7 Best Rated Iceland Ice Cave Tours For 2023

1. Ice Cave Exploration Tour
2. 2 Day Ice Cave & South Coast: Glacier Hike, Jokulsarlon Lagoon & Northern Lights
3. Ice Cave tour in Vatnajökull
4. Crystal Blue Ice Cave – Super Jeep From Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
5. Ice Cave & Snowmobile Tour from Gullfoss
6. Natural Crystal Blue Ice Cave Tour of Vatnajökull Glacier
7. 2-Day Tour: Blue Ice Cave, Jokulsarlon, Black Beach, and Waterfalls

Iceland Ice Cave Tour Reviews

1. Ice Cave Exploration Tour

Let’s start off our guide with one of the most popular tours in Iceland: the Ice Cave Exploration Tour. Lasting for around 4 to 6 hours, depending on traffic, hotel location, and other factors, it’s perfect for really seeing ice caves without committing to an entire day.

If you want to instantly travel to what feels like another world, you have to check this one out! From the very beginning, you’ll notice how friendly and professional the guides are. They know a ton about the area, the ice caves, and their history.

Everything seemed seamless, and synchronized within the staff members and the guests on the tour. Your mode of transport will be the infamous Super Jeep, which is a massive Jeep with enormous tires made for traveling through thick snow and on ice/rough terrain!

The seats are very roomy and comfortable – so much so that you may not even want to get out once you arrive! However, the call of adventure awaits!

Once you arrive, you will be given a safety briefing as well as instructions on how to use your tools! They provide you with an ice axe and crampons for your feet, so you can stay upright and confident the entire time you’re out on the ice.

This is absolutely necessary as you’ll be hiking 6 to 10 kilometers on the glacier! However, you’ll make various stops at the cave and crevices to explore and learn about them.

Seriously, what an amazing place! These caves look like you’re in some kind of frozen Atlantis, with electric blue walls and friendly guides to teach you everything you could ever want to know about glacier caves!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

2. 2 Day Ice Cave & South Coast: Glacier Hike, Jokulsarlon Lagoon & Northern Lights

Let’s say you’re really passionate about experiencing glaciers and Iceland in all its glory, and you don’t mind spending more time on venturing outdoors. If that sounds like you, then you have to sign up for the 2 Day Ice Cave & South Coast: Glacier Hike, Jokulsarlon Lagoon, & Northern Lights tour!

As the name would suggest, this is a 2-day excursion which explores Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, view the Northern Lights, and hike around glaciers!

This tour does come with an option for hotel pickup and drop-off, so you never have to worry about transportation at any point in time. Pickup does begin at 8am, so all you have to do is make sure you’re ready to go with warm clothes (layers are best!).

You’ll meet up with the guides, where you’ll see just how friendly and informative they are. They always place safety first, which is crucial when taking travelers of all experience levels to locations that could be risky if proper instruction isn’t taken.

Oh, and we really appreciated how thorough they were with letting us know what the itinerary for that day would be.

You’ll explore the south coast of the country with a pro, experienced guide. They’ll take you through waterfalls, over black sand beaches (make sure to see the basalt stacks here!), and if the weather is right, the phenomenal Northern Lights. This tour also comes with 1 night accommodation, with breakfast included.

The guides always take your physical fitness level into consideration, ensuring that everyone is able to comfortably get from point A to point B.

Overall, if you’re really looking to learn more and experience these glaciers more in-depth, 2 days is the perfect amount of time to do so.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

Other Experiences You May Enjoy:

3. Ice Cave tour in Vatnajökull

If you’re looking for a tour that’s even shorter than the other two, then take a good look at the Ice Cave Tour in Vatnajokull. This 3-hour tour is a great way to spend the morning, trekking through ice caves – something that most people have never even seen!

The guides are highly-experienced, and will take you to the best ice caves available at that time of your tour so it may not be the same one every time.

Not only that, but they’re all skilled in driving through the rough terrain around the caves which just makes the tour that much more pleasant. There’s no need to be nervous – rather, focus all of your attention on the incredible beauty you’re about to encounter!

The humongous 4×4 truck that you travel in is clearly designed for the terrain, too, and is quite comfy! Along the way, keep an eye out because you may see some critters like foxes!

While you drive, your guides will tell you all kinds of interesting facts and anecdotes about the country and the area.

This makes it a great tour for the entire family, from kids to adults. There will be safety equipment provided, and the guides will make sure everyone is wearing it correctly before heading into the caves.

You’ll have plenty of time to see the caves and take photos and videos, and the positive energy the guides have is simply contagious. This makes for a tour that you’ll want to do over and over again!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. Crystal Blue Ice Cave – Super Jeep From Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

If the tour we just covered sounds interesting to you, then you may be interested in this one, as well! The Crystal Blue Ice Cave – Super Jeep from Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is another 3-hour tour that gives you just enough of a taste to see if this is something you enjoy.

Not only that, but it’s a great time for the entire family and perfect if you’ve never done this before. The ice cave that you’re going to explore on this tour is pretty much the most famous ice cave in all of Iceland.

Why? Well, it’s the perfect shape and size for travelers to trek through, but also because of its vibrant turquoise blue colors. From floor to ceiling, these luminous blue walls will encase you in its brilliance.

Choose from either a morning or afternoon departure time; whichever works best for your itinerary.

Hotel pickups aren’t usually included, but there is round-trip transporation from the Jokulsarlon parking lot. On your way there, you’ll ride in the humongous Super Jeep to the glacier, which is in itself a fun experience!

Your guides are great at giving specific instructions and detailed safety briefings to make sure that everyone has a fantastic time. Once everyone has put on their safety equipment properly, you’ll all head into the depths of the magnificent Vatnajokull – Europe’s largest glacier!

As your guide provides you with an educational commentary, you’ll get to walk around inside and take photos.

The cave essentially changes daily a little bit. For example, some people have gone when there was a river flowing through it! Other days, it’s perfectly “dry” and easier to walk through with the sun shining through the ice.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. Ice Cave & Snowmobile Tour from Gullfoss

Let’s throw a bit more adrenaline into the mix with our next tour! The Ice Cave & Snowmobile Tour from Gullfoss not only means you get to explore beautiful ice caves, but also that you’re going to be zooming around in the snow on a snowmobile!

At 4 hours long, the tour is the perfect amount of time to get in some fun while still being able to do other things during the day.

Not only are snowmobiles an absolute blast to drive around on, they also let you travel on roads virtually impossible to pass through by larger vehicles. Snowmobiles offer a more intimate experience of Iceland, with you getting to see terrain that looks like it’s from a different planet.

The guides will meet up with you at Gullfoss, where you’ll first take the infamous Super Jeep up to their base. The Super Jeeps are a great time, with large, comfortable seats and a cool layout inside.

Once you arrive to the base, they will show you how to use the snowmobile and go over safety protocols so everyone can just focus on having a good time.

After everyone feels confident, they’ll answer any questions you may have and then head out for an hour of snowmobiling around at the top of the glacier!

The sights are absolutely phenomenal, and almost relaxing, in a way. After that, you will then go tour an ice cave. All gear provided will keep you warm and safe, so you don’t have to worry about being cold and uncomfortable!

You can expect the tour to take up to 4 hours at times if the road and weather conditions aren’t as favorable, however, usually the weather tends to cooperate.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

6. Natural Crystal Blue Ice Cave Tour of Vatnajökull Glacier

Continuing with our trend of shorter ice cave tours, we have the Natural Crystal Blue Ice Cave Tour of Vatnajokull Glacier. The 3-hour tour may be compact, but they manage to fit a lot in! You’ll learn all about the glaciers, the surrounding area, and of course get to see it up close!

With round-trip transportation from Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon included, it’s pretty convenient to go on this tour.

You may have to get transport from your hotel to the lagoon, but it’s easy to do so. You’ll ride in a massive Jeep from Jokulsarlon to the Vatnajokull base, which is a bit bumpy but still quite comfortable.

The guides are very helpful and will show you all about how to don your safety equipment the right way, as well as show you how to use it. At this time, they’ll also answer any questions you may have.

Once you arrive, you’ll put on all of your equipment, which is some warm gear, crampons, and helmets.

Depending on the season and weather, you may even see some wild animals, like reindeer or sea lions! Not to worry though, the guides will make sure you’re all at a safe distance.

Next, you’ll all walk together on the glacier towards the cave entrance. Enter the depths of this gorgeous, other-worldly cave, where you’ll learn all about its history and how it changes throughout the seasons while keeping the same base.

The guides are very entertaining and often tell funny stories to keep the energy lighthearted. You get the choice of wandering around on your own, or with a guide (we highly recommend touring with the guide as they know all the best spots).

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

7. 2-Day Tour: Blue Ice Cave, Jokulsarlon, Black Beach, and Waterfalls

We can’t forget the hardcore adventurers who are looking for longer tours! If the other 2-day tour caught your attention, we have another great one for you! The 2-Day Tour: Blue Ice Cave, Jokulsarlon, Black Beach, and Waterfalls tour is exactly that.

You’ll start off in Reykjavik, checking out iconic waterfalls, black sand beaches, blue ice caves, and more! This tour does include complimentary pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Reykjavik, which makes it so much more convenient.

Once you’re picked up, you’ll meet your guides and find that they’re very well-organized and professional. Your transportation does include free onboard wi-fi which means you’ll never be out of network.

This is perfect, as you’re sure to want to share your experiences with loved ones, uploading and sharing photos and videos along the way!

The first stop on your excursion is Hveragerdi, passing through charming little villages and the beautiful Icelandic countryside. This town is known for its plentiful greenhouses, and the “Hot River”, which sits in-between the 2 continental plates of Eurasia and America!

This valley has various hot springs and mud pools, too, but people love soaking in the hot river and is the perfect place to relax.

Check out Selfoss and Seljalandsfoss, which is a picturesque, 60-meter waterfall that plummets off the side of a volcano! You’ll also get to see various other waterfalls that are “hidden” from the public eye, including one that was even featured in Game of Thrones!

Explore some more Icelandic attractions, and then settle into the accommodations (with free breakfast!) that come included. The next day starts off with a brief stop in Vik Village, where you’ll get to see the famous Black Sand Beach and rolling hills that surround it.

The Eldhraun Lava Field is quite the sight to see, with moss-covered lava formations to give an alien appearance!

After seeing the 19^th-century Hofskirkja Church, you’ll make your way to the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon with your group. This location is one of the most popular spots in the world to see, and has even been featured in various Hollywood blockbusters.

This tour wouldn’t be complete without seeing the gorgeous Blue Ice Caves! Spend the rest of the afternoon hiking around here and taking photos of the fascinating blue walls and ceilings!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

Iceland Travel Guide

There are many reasons the Land of Fire and Ice has seen an explosion in tourism since 2019. Not only can you see the Northern Lights, active volcanoes, glaciers, and puffins, you can also relax in a geothermal spa and even bake bread inside a pot buried underground.

What you decide to do in this fascinating country is your choice, but you should take the time to do some research before you go. This guide is here to inform you where you can go, what you can do, and how you can get there, because we want you to have the best vacation of your life in Iceland.

Airports & Entry

Most visitors to Iceland arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF). Although Iceland only has a population of 359 thousand people, in 2018 this busy airport handled 9.8 million passengers. Despite the number of visitors, there is only one terminal. You will find the check-in times minimal, with an average 20-minute waiting time at the security check.

Inside the terminal, you will find everything clearly signposted in English. Charging points for cellphones and laptops are provided in the waiting area along with free Wi-Fi.

Strollers are provided for children, and there is a dedicated kids’ play area. The usual selection of food outlets and shops are found on the upper floor of the main building. Manned information stands are located throughout the airport.

It is 30 miles from the airport to Reykjavik, the capital city. The speed limit is 55 mph, but the drive usually takes 50 minutes due to traffic. Shuttle bus services link KEF to the city, which you can book in advance online or pay for at the airport.

Some hotels offer airport collection, and you should ask about that when you book your room. You can, of course, jump in a taxi at the airport, but it will be extremely expensive compared to the airport bus service. Car rental is available at the airport, but it is advisable to book in advance.

Planning Tips

With so many exciting things to do and see in Iceland, you’re guaranteed to have a great holiday. However, things do not always go to plan, so here are 5 tips to help you make the most of your visit.

Tip #1: If you want to see the Aurora Borealis, go between September and March

It’s easier to view the Northern Lights when the sky is at its darkest. In Iceland, the nights are especially long between September and March, but the sky doesn’t grow dark enough to view this magical phenomenon during the summer months. However, do not plan a visit around a full moon, because its light can dampen the impact of this natural light display. The best days to go are around the time of a new moon.

Tip #2: Check out the SolarHam website

If you are especially interested in the Aurora Borealis and want to earn your Geek Badge, check out the SolarHam website. This techy site provides a 3-day geomagnetic forecast, which is useful for aurora hunters to select the best time to view the Northern Lights. The same site provides a satellite map of where the natural light show is right now, so you can look up if you’re near.

Tip #3: Take your time to enjoy all the attractions of Iceland

There’s so much to see in Iceland, it would be a crime not to explore and experience as much as you are able in the time you have. While you are there, do not miss the opportunity to see so many unforgettable natural phenomena in one place. There is nowhere else on the planet where you can see active volcanoes, glaciers, and icebergs, all in one national park.

Tip #4: Book everything in advance, especially in winter

Tourism is on the rise in Iceland, and hotel rooms, tours, and attractions get fully-booked ahead of time.  Don’t miss out on seeing the Northern Lights from the best vantage point possible because all the tours were booked-up before you arrived. Many tours like the ones detailed above offer a 24-hour-in-advance free cancellation, so you take no financial risk booking. Ask about free cancellation when buying your ticket.

Tip #5: Impress your friends with quintessentially Icelandic souvenirs

The budget chain store Bonus stocks many unique Icelandic products, such as Omnom chocolate, Icelandic specialty teas, herbal sea salt blends, and licorice mixed with chocolate. At Bonus, you can pick up great, inexpensive gifts for your friends! Vinbuoin, the state-run liquor store, sells a fine selection of renowned Icelandic spirits, including Iceland’s signature tipple, Brennivin.

And if you like to sort through other folks’ debris for the hidden treasures, a special weekend market is held at Kolaportio in downtown Reykjavik where Icelanders come to sell off their unwanted goods when moving to a new house. You could find anything!

Restaurants & Eating Out

Because of Iceland’s geographical position and climate, vegetables and grains are rare in traditional foods, and many famous dishes focus on preserved seafood or meat. Also, food was scarce in yesteryears, so every part of an animal or fish was eaten. You’ll find many traditional meals involve fish or meat that is salted, smoked, dried, or fermented. Watch out for such culinary delights as baked sheep’s head and fermented shark.

Seafood restaurants are common throughout Iceland, and all serve “fish of the day”, which is usually salmon, monkfish, haddock, or cod. However, if you wish, you can seek out some of the more exotic options. Humar is a kind of lobster caught off the south coast of Iceland, renowned for its tender and tasty flesh.

It is served fried, baked or grilled, though it can also be found as a pizza topping! Plokkfishkur is a fish stew, made to the chef’s specific recipe but usually combining white fish with onions, potatoes, milk, and flour. Harofiskur is a snack you can buy in any grocery store. It is dried stockfish, eaten with butter or straight out of a bag.

Because it is difficult to grow wheat in Iceland, there are many traditional varieties of rye bread, like flatkaka, baked in thin disks on hot stones. One variety of rye bread you should try is rugbrauo, a sweet-tasting, dark bread.

The reason rugbrauo is so interesting for visitors to Iceland is that a common baking technique is to bury a dough-filled pot near one of the many hot springs, such as Fontana Hot Springs, and use geothermal heat to bake the bread. Rugbrauo baked that way is also called hyerabrauo (hot-spring bread).

Icelanders don’t only eat fish and rye bread. Sheep are the most common livestock in Iceland, so lamb is often on the menu. Sheep wander freely around the countryside, eating seaweed, grass, and berries, which tends to make lamb tender with a mild flavor.

Smoked lamb is called hangikjöt and is often served boiled during the winter holidays. Also watch out for varieties of meat you won’t see in most other countries, like puffin, horse, and whale. Despite international concern over puffins and whales, they are still commonly consumed in Iceland.

A meal on vacation isn’t complete without dessert. Popular local sweets include rugbrauosis (rye bread ice cream), pönnukökur (Icelandic pancakes), and snuour (cinnamon bread covered in caramel or chocolate). A dairy product unique to Iceland is skyr.

It is a kind of sour milk cheese eaten like yogurt and often sweetened and flavored with fruit or vanilla.

Nightlife & Entertainment

With long, cold nights throughout the winter, it’s no surprise Icelanders love their nightlife, and much of it is centered where most of the people live—Reykjavik. Because the capital is so small, most of the clubs and bars are within walking distance of one another. In fact, many are along one street, Laugavegur, the commercial artery of downtown.

Most social venues are informal and entrance fees rare. When Icelanders go out for the night, they tend to begin late, and many clubs and bars don’t get busy until after midnight. This is in part because alcohol in bars is expensive, so locals drink at home before setting out.

Many clubs and bars stay open as late as 5 am. Cocktail bars are a recent addition to Iceland’s nightlife, but with the booming tourist trade, they are rapidly expanding.

And don’t worry too much about safety at night. In 2019, the Institute for Economics and Peace in Sydney ranked Iceland the most peaceful nation on Earth for the 12^th year running. Crime rates in Reykjavik are probably lower than anywhere you have ever lived.

Getting Around

Iceland is a small country covering an area slightly smaller than Kentucky. If you wanted to drive from Reykjavik on the west coast to Faskruosfjorour on the east coast, the 425 miles route would take only 8½ hours.

However, because of its small population outside of the capital, you cannot rely on public transport to go sightseeing around the country or reach the best place to view the northern lights. This leaves you with two options: hiring a car or booking a coach tour, like the Golden Circle tour detailed above.

Within the capital and its immediate area, you do have more options: bus, taxi, bicycle, or walk. The public bus service is inexpensive and efficient, and you can ask for help to find the right bus from your hotel reception. Given that Reykjavik is so small a city, taxis are affordable.

If you want a little exercise, bicycle rentals are available in many hotels, and the city is crisscrossed by dedicated bicycle paths. If you decide to walk, make sure you wrap up well. The weather can deteriorate rapidly in Iceland.

Accommodations

Over the past few years, Iceland has seen a huge expansion in tourism. With a 378% increase since 2010, hotel rooms fill up quickly. Through Christmas and summer, hotels are usually fully booked. Since 228 of Iceland’s 359 thousand citizens live within the capital and its immediate hinterland, settlements throughout the rest of Iceland are small and rooms for visitors limited. Most hotels are in the capital.

You will probably find it most convenient to stay in Reykjavik. You will find a broad range of hotels there, it is near the airport, and many of the attractions along with most of the nightlife are found there or nearby. Many organized tours to other parts of Iceland and major tourist attractions set out from Reykjavik, such as most of the Northern Lights tours detailed above.

Within the downtown and central area of Reykjavik you will find a choice of luxury hotels, like the Hotel Borg downtown and The Icelandair Hotel Marina, overlooking the harbor. If you head a little more out of the center, you’ll find more affordable hostels, such as The Capital Inn and Bus Hostel Reykjavik.

There are some popular hotels outside of the capital near to tourist attractions, such as Hotel Skaftafell in the Vatnajökull National Park, which offers spectacular views of Iceland’s largest mountain, or Skyrhusid Guesthouse near Lake Jökulsarion in the south. Wherever you decide to stay, the important thing is to book in advance. If you don’t, you will miss out on the best rooms.

Weather

Iceland is not the place to go if you want year-round sunshine and dry weather. In fact, on 22^nd December there are only 4 hours of daylight, because that is the shortest day. That’s great if you want to see the Aurora Borealis, since it can only be seen during dark nights, but not so good for other sightseeing. In contrast, the longest day boasts 21 hours of daylight, 21^st June.

The “warm” summer period covers June, July, and August, with an average daily high of 55⁰F and a low of 46⁰F. Yes, 55⁰F is their summer high! Summers are short and cloudy. The winter period covers November through March, two months longer than summer, and is cold, wet, windy, and overcast, with frequent snow. The average daily high drops to 35⁰F in January with a low of 27⁰F.

If your main interest is the Northern Lights, you should go anytime September through March, because the sky is dark enough to view those fantastic electromagnetic displays. If the Aurora Borealis does not interest you, you’ll get the warmest weather and longer days from the end of June to mid-August.

Attractions

The Northern Lights are not the only unique and fascinating attraction in Iceland. The Land of Fire and Ice is the best place in the world to see and experience the majesty and power of two extremes in Nature: glaciers and volcanoes. These attractions are all part of what is called the “Golden Circle”. Taking a day tour of the Golden Circle with a guide is a great way to take in all of the best sights.

12 miles from KEF is the world-famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. Here you can laze in pools of hot, milky blue water heated by a lava flow. Nearby stands the Svartsengi Geothermal Power Plant, which uses superheated water from the lava flow to generate electricity and also provide heat for a municipal water heating system.

There are geothermal spas like the Blu Lagoon throughout Iceland, so wherever you choose to stay, you can find one near you and experience the power of molten rock.

If you are there in the winter, be sure to see the migrating whales. To have the best chance of see them, that a whale watching tour. The boat captains know the best places to go to see them.

If ice and Arctic landscapes interest you, head 140 miles east from Reykjavik to Vatnajökull National Park, which is centered on Vatnajökull glacier and the surrounding beautiful landscape. This park covers 14% of Iceland and is filled with glacial rivers and active volcanoes. To fully see it, take a tour of the glaciers!

Vatnajökull glacier empties into the glacial lake of Jökulsarion in the south, where you can see 100-feet-tall icebergs freshly broken away from the glacier. Jökulsarion served as a setting in several major Hollywood movies. On your drive back to Reykjavik, you can see two beautiful waterfalls around Skogar. The first, Skogafoss, is an impressive waterfall and a popular destination for Icelandic day-trippers.

18 miles west of Skogafoss is picturesque Seljalandsfoss waterfall. A path allows sightseers to pass behind the curtain of water as it falls into the crystal-clear plunge pool.

Perhaps one of the most unique attractions is seeing the continental plates splitting apart at Silfra. Here the North American and Eurasian plates are separating. If you are daring you can take a snorkel tour of Silfra and see it for yourself!

If it’s man-made cultural and historical attractions you seek, you’ll find plenty to do and see around Reykjavik. The capital’s earliest history stretches back to 874, but it only became a true city in 1785.

Around Reykjavik, you’ll find an interesting assortment of museums and tourist attractions, like the National Museum of Iceland and the Reykjavik Maritime Museum.

A famous landmark visitors flock to see is the Hallgrimskirkja Church, which is the largest church in Iceland. This unique structure was designed by a local architect to resemble the glaciers and mountains of Iceland.