If you are visiting Iceland then forget about the Northern Lights for a moment because we’re about to introduce you to something just as magical… a wondrous world of natural ice sculptures and formations.
Each year ice caves begin to take shape in Autumn and continue to last throughout the winter (November to March). If you’re feeling adventurous and interested in exploring deep inside a glacier you’re in good luck! We managed to find ourselves one of the best ice cave tour guides in Iceland to let us visit the unique caves found in the Vatnajökull glacier.
You may be asking can you visit the ice caves by yourself, but you need to know that ice caves must be treated with the utmost respect. These type of trips are always temperature dependent as not all ice caves are safe to enter. Iceguide.is take away all the worry as they constantly check conditions of the ice caves formed in the Vatnajökull glacier to see which are safe to enter. The other massive benefit of using a tour guide is that you get to view some of the most incredible ice caves that nobody else has discovered. For your own safety and to experience ice caves at their very best we strongly recommend you book with a reputable guide.
The Ice Cave Tour
As we previously mentioned, IceGuide (Óskar) was our chosen ice cave tour guide and we couldn’t have had a better time. Absolutely incredible. We could have stayed there for hours and hours. This really was one of those wake-up moments, it’s not every day you get the chance to explore inside a cave formed by a glacier. Any adventurous people who are looking for a ‘once in a life time experience’ in Iceland, this is for you.
The ice cave tour began at Jökulsárlón, a spectacular glacier lagoon that by itself is worth the drive from Reykjavík. So while you wait for the tour to depart you can take in the breath taking views to excite your anticipation of what’s to come. We were even lucky enough to have seals swim up to us as the edge of the glacier lagoon to say hello! There’s a cafe open all year round with serves some great soup and hot chocolates with a shot of rum to warm you up 😉
We booked ourselves in for the 15:00 slot to allow us time to visit Höfn further up the coast afterwards and to get some photos of Jökulsárlón incorporating the sunset.
After being greeted by Óskar we set off on an exciting off-road adventure across rocky routes and steep hills in a fully kitted out 4×4. With adrenaline pumping and smiles across everyone’s faces, we soon reached the edge of the Vatnajökull glacier.
Time to put on our safety gear before entering the glacier and ice caves. All safety equipment is provided to make exploring the ice caves as safe as possible, which includes crampons, helmet and harness if required.
I’ll let the photos speak for themselves at this point as the ice caves say it all…
Rest assured you are in safe hands and we completely trust IceGuide who not only kept us safe the whole time, but made sure everybody enjoyed themselves in this breath taking experience.
It’s safe to say, the ice cave tour was one of our favourite activities in Iceland with a very relaxed atmosphere where there’s no rush on time spent here. If we get the chance to come back, we will be doing this again. without a doubt.
For more information visit the IceGuide website – www.iceguide.is
Visit their Facebook page for more stunning ice cave tour photos!
**PLEASE NOTE – we received a complimentary Ice Cave Tour courtesy of Óskar at IceGuide, but rest assure all opinions are honest and our own**
Wow stunning photos, you weren’t kidding about how special this is. What a thing to do, I don’t think I’ll be forgetting this post in a hurry!
Thanks Matthew! Please note that most of these photos were taken on an iPhone or GoPro so it shows just how incredible the ice caves actually are.. Definitely a must if you visit Iceland between October – March
Wow. That’s breathtaking. I hope I get the chance to travel to Iceland some time – Beautiful Blogpost! 🙂
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Hi Pamela, make sure you turn that chance into reality. We are so in love with Iceland that we are itching to go back already 😀 The Ice cave tour for us was simply the icing on the cake
Wow, this place is not real, I swear!!! Absolutely beautiful and you guys look like you loved there!!
I promise it’s all real Agness! 😀 We really did love the whole experience, make sure you put it on your list for Iceland
WoW, this is the coolest thing ever! It looks so surreal and magical! What an amazing trip! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Susie! 😀
It looks amazing there! I would love to explore these ice caves!
Melanie @ meandmr.com
Well Melanie, you now know who to contact 😉 Great blog by the way!
So, so glad I read this! Iceland is one of the next international trips we’re planning to do, and of course we’re searching for things to do there besides just the Northern Lights;-) Totally going to book this, thanks so much for sharing!!!
Glad we could be of help Jess! The photos really do not do the ice caves the justice they deserve.. the good news is Oskar @ IceGuide.is has mentioned next year’s Ice caves should be even more special!
Wow, amazing photos, very cool place!
So beautiful! I really wanted to go there someday. love those cave shots.
Those caves will start forming soon and will be ready for tours again in November – March. Well worth visiting as you can see from the photos
Wow, this looks like an amazing experience! Definitely want to try this someday!
Those pictures are just amazing. I just read further up that most of them are from an iPhone. That’s incredible!
I so want to go there.
Most taken from an iPhone and some from a SLR – I may have to make a last minute booking to Iceland again this winter…
Great pictures… very cool!! This place is very Beutiful!!
Thank you!
Wow, this looks amazing! I went in a teeny ice cave when I hiked on Franz Josef glacier in New Zealand, but it was nothing like this. Definitely one to add to my wish list!
Hi Laura, I would never imagine an ice cave to form in New Zealand! Might have to look this up 🙂 The ice caves in Iceland are just incredible and so vast in size too!
Nice pictures, the cave is really amazing!
Amazing photos!
really amazing cave in there
Thanks Walter!
I’m not a cold weather person but this post has me rethinking it. What stunning photos! I would love spending a day exploring these beautiful spots!
Well worth visiting Marie, the caves aren’t too cold, not that you notice anyway.. Truth be told, with a good quality cold weather coat, you should actually end up being nice and warm…just 🙂
Iceland is one of my top destinations to visit! I’m rather afraid of the cold but after reading your blogs, I have to go!
I love your photos.
What a privilege it is to travel to such spectacular amazing places!
Thank you for sharing adam!
Gorgeous photos! Love Iceland!
Thanks Becky, did you manage to visit the ice caves?
Looks amazing. How far from reykjavik is this place & how long is each tour time wise? Going in jan & keen to add this in.
Hi Carys, The drive is quite a long one from Reykjavik. You will definitely need somewhere to stay over night, otherwise you’ll be driving back at night. Ignore what the sat nav may say as unless you are visiting in Summertime, expect any drive to be much longer due to winter road conditions. It is WELL worth the drive however and so glad this is something we chose to do whilst in Iceland. Easy top favourite of everything we did and Oskar at http://www.iceguide.is is well recommended!
Incredible.
Thank you Anna!
Oh my gosh!! these images are so amazing!!