Iceland has ruled my travel world – it is honestly one of the most magnificent destinations I’ve visited around the globe with some of the most breathtaking landscapes on this planet. For adventurous hikers like me, Iceland offers endless opportunities for incredible glaciers, highlands and volcano hiking, snorkeling between two tectonic plates in 2 Celsius Degrees glacier lake, witnessing northern lights, soaking booties in gaziers, or exploring the otherworldly beauty of ice caving in Iceland.
Ice caving in Iceland is unique!
The beauty of Iceland dragged us to almost every corner of this country. The allure of Iceland’s natural wonders is undeniable, drawing visitors and hikers from around the globe – we met lots of Americans and Germans. I met the first American who did a full PCT – Pacific Crest Trial extending it to 8000 kilometres! Wild is one of my top 5 favorite movies and it will always have a special place in my heart.
Ice caving in Iceland was my priority on the east coast but to be honest, we were so amazed by the breathtaking landscape of all the natural wonders that we decided to book way more tours than initially planned. Let me guide you on how to choose the best ice caving option in Iceland and how to be well-prepared for this tour.
Where are ice caves in Iceland?
The ice caves wonderland is located in the south and east parts of Iceland. These mysterious glacier formation can be explored either by booking an organized tour or driving yourself stopping preferably at the Diamond Beach near Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Ice caves are located around 330 km from Reykjavik and the most popular area to visit is the ice caves is Vatnajökull National Park.
Top ice caves in Iceland.
There are few places for ice caving in Iceland, located 4-5 hours drive from Reykjavik east direction. They all provide similar experiences.
- Crystal Ice Cave (including a short jeep ride and glacier walk) – located in Vatnajökull National Park – and this is the place I highly recommend exploring. This was the most fascinating part of the island.
- Skaftaffel Blue Ice Cave and glacier walk – located in Skaftafell National Park.
- Katla Ice Cave (under the volcano).
How to reach the ice caves in Iceland?
If you are planning to visit Iceland you should decide whether you wish to explore it on your own or with different tours.
If you are going independently campervan is a great option, you can sleep and cook in it, which would save you lots of money in Iceland. However, with campervan you will not be able to drive outside of the main ring road or cross rivers to explore hidden attractions. For this, you would need a 4WD car, which I can tell you is a great driving comfort for the island.
NOTE – it is possible to go glacier hiking without a guide, but you cannot go ice caving without a guided tour.
There are plenty of options if you prefer to book an ice cave tour from Reykjavik. It’s very popular for the bus tours to bring people to the east coast to explore the glacier landscape. Going with organized tours is extremely popular, affordable and hassle-free way of exploring Iceland among visitors. We were shocked with number of tour buses when we parked our car in the main car parking in Jökulsárlón glacier on the east coast. Hundreds of people arrive every day from Reykiavik to go ice caving, glacier hiking or to take boat tours.
The most popular Ice Cave tours from Reykjavik are:
- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon on a guided full-day trip – where you can explore the amazing south coast of the island and the famous Diamond Beach.
- Katla Ice Cave tour from Reykjavik.
I went to explore Iceland with my good friend, who also loves hiking. We did the famous Laugavegur trail – ranked by National Geographic among top 5 world’s most beautiful hikes. We did it the opposite way – from south to north – which is much more challenging. It took 80 kilometers to hike from Skogar to Landmannalaugar via glaciers and mountains, which normally takes 5 days but we decided to do this in 4. Think twice before you shorten your hike 😉 It was really challenging, although we did it in August and the weather was very supportive (we heard we were very lucky with so little rain and wind we had). A week before our hike – the storm over Laugavegur was so strong they had to evacuate people and close the whole trail completely!
Anyway, if you wish to go around the island there one ring road, tiny but decent. It will take you to the east coast where you can start your ice caving in Iceland. If you plan to explore side roads, you will need to rent 4WD car. My suggestion would be plan your trip in advance, as Iceland is quite pricey! Actually, renting a car is not as expensive as accommodation. In Reykjavik, you can still find decent stays for $120 per night, but not outside of the capital city. I found best options on Agoda.com, we stayed in B47 Hostel, which offers private rooms and doorms. It’s definitely one of the best places to stay, conveniently located 10 minutes walk from the BSI Station – the main Bust Station and the Old Town.
Best places to stay in Reykjavik.
It takes about 45 minutes to get from the main airport in Reykjavik to get closer to the city center, old town or BSI – the main Bus Station, from where most of the tour and local buses departure.
I stayed in B47 Hostel – the place is great! It’s perfectly organized with breakfast, all kitchen and tour facilities and the reception is exceptionally friendly!
Budget-friendly and highly rated:
- Bus Hostel Reykjavik – one of the best stays in Reykjavik (~$45/per person), conveniently situated in the Reykjavík City Center, close to public transportation.
- Amazing Baron’s Hostel 5* Stay – starting from $50/per person in dorms.
For Mid-price stay Grand Hotel Reykjavik 4* is a great option.
You can always find your best stay on Agoda.com.
Best car rental in rekjavik.
Car rental is very popular in Iceland – as there is no public transportation outside of Reykjavik!
Yes, I know it’s strange, but given there’s only one ring road around the island, which is mostly covered with glacier, it’s not that difficult to travel on your own.
However, most of the tours are very well organized to take you to the furthest place of the island to explore all the wonders. And trust me – you want to go and see ALL OF THEM! The island is spectacular and it will exceed your expectations with every step of the trip.
I always use Rentalcars.com, I tried them for years now and they never let me down. They operate in over 60,000 locations across 160 countries. Rentalcars.com offers 24/7 customer service and you can choose best offer from almost all rental companies.
This time it was Europcar, which was very generous upgrading our car to brand new Land Rover Discovery✨✨✨. 4WD car for Iceland is the option as the trip is usually combined with a lot of off-road driving. Discovery was amazing, comfortable and spacious! I couldn’t be happier! I always upgrade to full coverage but it’s good to know the crime rate in Iceland is extremely low.
Which ice cave should I visit in Iceland?
My question number one was which ice cave in Iceland should I visit? Some guides will say Crystal Ice Cave is the one. But the truth is each ice cave is a transient masterpiece.
You should definitely choose Vatnajökull ice caves. First of all, because this is one of the largest glaciers in the world which you can walk on. Secondly, because a tour to Crystal Ice Cave was magnificent! The cave was unreal with deep jewel blue tones. This was the tour I booked.
I suggest booking a tour 2-3 days in advance.
What to wear for ice caving in Iceland?
Generally appropriate gear on a glacier is crucial. Be prepared for varying temperatures, the island is wet and windy. Essential items include sturdy hiking boots and warm clothing (including gloves and a hat). Your tour operator will most likely provide you with crampons to navigate the icy terrain with confidence. Weather conditions in Iceland can be unpredictable – check before your pick-up the tour is going ahead.
When to visit ice caves in Iceland?
The best time to experience ice caving in Iceland is during the winter months, typically from November to March. During this period, the sub-zero temperatures sustain the stability of the ice caves, permitting safe access for adventurers. Remember that the accessibility of specific ice caves is subject to natural factors, such as glacier movement and weather conditions. Therefore, staying informed about current conditions and consulting with local guides is vital for planning a successful excursion.
You can also visit the ice caves in Iceland outside of winter time. We did our ice caving tour in August and it was fabulous!
Crystal Ice cave tour in Iceland.
The tour was organized perfectly. After meeting at the pick-up point (usually the Parking), you are taken on a jeep tour toward the ice cave. During the ride the guide will start telling you the whole story about ice caving and constantly moving glacier. From there you will have to wear crampons and start a short glacier hike to reach the entrance of the cave. This was the tour I booked.
I spent thousands of hours in the mountains, snow and glaciers, but ice caving in Iceland provides a completely different experience. It is truly a magnificent site and you will be amazed by the dramatic icy walls and unique color of the formations.
Places to visit in Iceland.
- Here are a few places you should not miss in Iceland – the whole island is magnificent but these places will really leave you breathless.
- Silfra – Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates – one of the most amazing things I’ve done in my life! You can only do it with a tour – we did it with this one – our guide woman was amazing!
- Golden Circle Classic Day Tour from Reykjavik – we explored every single spot along the Golden Circle and it’s magic!
- Golden Circle with Kerid Volcanic Crater Day Trip from Reykjavik
- Golden Circle and Kerid Crater Afternoon Tour from Reykjavik
- Northern Lights Tour In Iceland from Reykjavik with PRO photos
- Crystal Ice Cave Tour – you got to ice caving in Iceland or take a boat tour at the glacier.
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