Vatnajökull Ice Cave Tour: Blue Ice and a Glacier Walk in Iceland

• Top choice Skaftafell Blue Ice & Hike from US$167 Duration4 hours^[1]Rating4.62 from 848 reviews^[1]GuideLive tour guide: English^[1]CancellationFree up to 24 hours before^[1] Check availability
• Vatnajökull Glacier Hike from US$106 Duration4 hours^[4]Rating4.71 from 1,357 reviews^[4]GuideLive tour guide: English^[4]CancellationFree up to 24 hours before^[4] See this tour
• Ice Cave & Glacier Hike from US$162 Duration4 hours^[5]Rating4.53 from 1,962 reviews^[5]GuideLive tour guide: English^[5]CancellationFree up to 24 hours before^[5] See this tour

What a Vatnajökull ice cave tour involves

Vatnajökull is the ice cap that gives this part of Iceland its scale. It has a surface area of approximately 8,100 square kilometres (3,127 square miles) and is the largest glacier in both Iceland and Europe.^[7] The ice averages 380 metres thick, and in places it is almost a kilometre deep.^[8] Under the ice sit several volcanoes, and the three most famous subglacial volcanoes under Vatnajökull are Grímsvötn, Öraefajökull and Bardarbunga.^[9] The national park around the glacier was inscribed on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites on 5 July 2019.^[10]

An ice cave tour here is really two experiences in one outing: a walk on the glacier with a guide, and time inside a cave that meltwater has carved beneath the ice. The blue is not a trick of the light. Glacier ice is compressed snow, and the pressure squeezes out the air bubbles that would otherwise scatter white light, so thick, clean ice reads deep blue. Caves are temporary features, shaped and reshaped each winter by water draining under the glacier, and no two seasons look quite the same.

Where Vatnajökull ice cave tours start

Most ice cave tours on this stretch of the south coast leave from Skaftafell, inside Vatnajökull National Park, or from the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon further east. Skaftafell is about 327 km (203 miles) from Reykjavík by car via Route 1, a drive that takes approximately 4.5 hours.^[3] From Skaftafell to Jökulsárlón the direct drive is 35.4 miles (57 km) and takes about 50 minutes in normal traffic.^[11] Both places sit on the Ring Road, so a self-drive trip slots in neatly between Reykjavík and the east.

Skaftafell is the hub for guided glacier walks, with a visitor centre, marked trails and a car park where groups meet. Skaftafellsstofa Visitor Centre opens 10-17 in January and February, 9-17 in March to May, 9-19 in June to August, 9-18 in September and October, 9-17 in November, and 10-17 in December.^[12] Parking at Skaftafell is subject to a regional fee, with a passenger car of 5 or fewer seats charged 1,110 ISK.^[6] Arrive with time to spare before your start time rather than rushing the last few minutes.

Jökulsárlón, the glacier lagoon, is the other base and deserves an hour or two of its own. Icebergs calve off Breiðamerkurjökull and drift out towards the sea past Diamond Beach. The lagoon's amphibian boat tour lasts 30-40 minutes.^[13] If you come this far, plan the lagoon and the ice cave either side of your tour so you are not watching the clock.

Blue ice and dark volcanic grit inside a cave under Vatnajökull

What the glacier walk is actually like

Skaftafell's glacier walks usually head onto Falljökull, a striking outlet glacier of the vast Vatnajökull ice cap.^[14] From the car park the path climbs through low birch scrub and gravel before the ice appears ahead of you, a rumpled white tongue with blue shadows in its folds. On clear days Hvannadalshnúkur, at 2110 m (6900 ft), stands above the skyline to the east.^[15] The first steps in crampons feel clumsy, and then you stop thinking about them. Guides lead around crevasses and pick the line for the day.

Trips are graded by how much walking and climbing they involve. Mountain Guides lists a minimum age of 8 years old for its easy glacier hikes, and more difficult glacier walks may have a higher minimum age.^[16] Read the listing you are booking carefully before you commit, and tell your guide about any fitness worries when you meet the group.

The ice has a story too. Icelandic outlet glaciers have retreated exceptionally fast since the year 2000, and their mass loss is among the highest recorded in the world.^[17] Walking through a landscape that is visibly changing gives these tours a quiet weight, and guides are usually glad to explain what you are looking at. Ask questions as you go; the pace leaves room for it.

Choosing between the Vatnajökull ice cave tours

Prices and durations vary a little by operator and starting point. Skaftafell: Blue Ice Cave & Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull is from US$167, rated 4.62 from 848 reviews, and limited to 12 participants.^[1] Skaftafell: Blue Ice Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull is from US$106 and rated 4.71 from 1,357 reviews.^[4] Skaftafell: Ice Cave Tour and Glacier Hike is from US$162, rated 4.53 from 1,962 reviews, and also limited to 12 participants.^[5]

From the Jökulsárlón side, the Vatnajökull Ice Cave Guided Tour is from US$164 and rated 4.25 from 2,171 reviews.^[18] If you would rather spend longer on the ice, Jökulsárlón: Glacier Hike to a Remote Ice Cave is from US$285 and runs with a small group limited to 8 participants.^[19] The listings here allow reserve now and pay later, and free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, so compare that before you commit.^{[1][4][5][18]}

Getting there, and where to stay

Skaftafell sits just off the Ring Road, about 327 km (203 miles) from Reykjavík, a drive of approximately 4.5 hours.^[3] That makes a long day trip from the capital and a much easier stop if you are already working your way east. Almost everyone drives. Fill the tank before the long stretches between Hvolsvöllur and Höfn, and keep an eye out for sheep, sudden fog and single-lane bridges.

For accommodation close to the ice, Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon is a four-star superior hotel located a stone's throw from Skaftafell, with 125 rooms and amenities including complimentary parking, electric car charging points, a gym and a wellness spa.^[20] There are also campsites and guesthouses in the Skaftafell and Hof area, and a couple of farm stays further along the coast. Winter nights fill up, so book early if you want to be near your meeting point.

If you would rather not drive yourself, guided trips run from Reykjavik. The Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach Tour is from US$232 and listed as 14 hours.^[21] Longer options exist too, such as the 2-day South Coast Iceland blue ice cave and Jokulsarlon tour from US$704.^[22] Overnight trips mean you see the lagoon and the cave without racing back to the city in the dark.

What to wear for a Vatnajökull ice cave tour

Glacier weather changes quickly, so think layers rather than one thick jacket. Start with a thermal base layer, add a fleece or light down mid layer, and finish with a waterproof shell. Waterproof over-trousers are worth packing. Gloves, a hat and sunglasses matter more than they sound, because snow and ice are bright even under cloud. Sturdy boots with ankle support are the one item not to skimp on.

Bring a small backpack, water and a snack, and keep your camera somewhere you can reach without peeling off your gloves. The walking itself is slow and steady rather than athletic, with plenty of stopping while the group takes photographs and your guide explains the ice. A thin pair of liner gloves under thicker ones is a small luxury on a cold day.

Ice caves are natural spaces rather than built attractions, so what you see depends on how the winter's meltwater has behaved and on the guide's judgement on the day. Come with an open mind about exactly which cave you will stand in, and let the glacier set the terms.

When to book and how the season works

Timing matters more than anything else. The ice caves in Vatnajökull are only accessible during winter months, from November and usually throughout March, depending on the weather.^[2] Plan your dates inside that window if a cave visit is the point of the trip, and keep a spare day in case weather closes the road or changes the plan for the day you booked.

Winter dates sell fast around holidays and weekends, so booking ahead makes sense. The Skaftafell blue ice cave and glacier hike allows reserve now and pay later and free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, which makes early booking a low-risk decision.^[1] If your trip falls outside winter, the Katla Ice Cave is one of the few ice caves in Iceland that can be visited year-round.^[23]

Plan your ice cave day

1. Check the season

   Ice caves in Vatnajökull are only accessible during winter months, from November and usually throughout March, depending on the weather.^[2]

2. Drive to Skaftafell

   Skaftafell is about 327 km (203 miles) from Reykjavík via Route 1, a drive of approximately 4.5 hours.^[3]

3. Sort out parking

   Parking at Skaftafell is subject to a regional fee, with a passenger car of 5 or fewer seats charged 1,110 ISK.^[6]

4. Meet your guide

   The tour runs 4 hours with a live tour guide in English; check availability to see starting times.^[1]

5. Dress for the ice

   Waterproof shell and trousers, warm layers, gloves, a hat and boots you can walk in.

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