Blue Ice Cave Experience (Full Day)

by North Tides · Ice caves · Glacier hiking · Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón

5.0· 40 Google reviews of the operator
  • Fine on your own
  • Eco-certified
  • Self-guided

from €270.88 per person

Next departure: Thu 22 Oct

Book Thu 22 Oct · €270.88Other dates
Blue Ice Cave Experience (Full Day) — North Tides
Blue Ice Cave Experience (Full Day), photo 2
Blue Ice Cave Experience (Full Day), photo 3
Blue Ice Cave Experience (Full Day), photo 4
Blue Ice Cave Experience (Full Day), photo 5
Blue Ice Cave Experience (Full Day), photo 6
Blue Ice Cave Experience (Full Day), photo 7
Blue Ice Cave Experience (Full Day), photo 8
Blue Ice Cave Experience (Full Day), photo 9

1 / 9

  • Duration

    6 hours

  • Difficulty

    Moderate

  • Season

    Sep – Apr

  • Pickup

    Meet at the start point

  • Starts at

    Glacier Adventure Basecamp

    Hali 2, Suðursveit

  • Departs

    10:00

  • Minimum age

    14

  • Cancellation

    Cancelling costs 5% of the price within 180 days of departure.

About this experience

This tour takes you hiking to a natural ice cave and exploring the winter glacier in Vatnajökull National Park. In winter, the glacier enters a deep freeze, with crystal blue ice and amazing sub-glacial features becoming safe and accessible. In our usual style, we take an extra step- hiking a bit farther than most- to reach more remote locations and ensure a quieter experience. To keep it personal and immersive, the tour is run in a small group of no more than 8 people.

  • Price: 32.900 ISK
  • Trip length: 5 – 6 hours
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Hiking distance: ~ 8 km
  • Max group size: 6
  • Minimum age: 14

This tour starts at the Glacier Adventure basecamp in Hali. From here, we will take a 4x4 journey of approximately half an hour towards the glacier. Depending on the cave location and terrain, expect to hike for up to 1 hour to reach the ice cave.

Upon arrival, we will slow down our tempo to appreciate one of nature’s great marvels: the splendor of an ice cave carved by glacial meltwater. Time taken inside the cave depends on the group, weather/terrain conditions and the size of the ice cave, but this is usually from 45 – 90 minutes.

We will use the remaining time to explore the glacier and visit other natural features such as arches, tunnels and moulins.

NOTE: The glacier is a dynamic, natural environment and ice caves change from year to year. The above itinerary is subject to change depending on the safety and accessibility of ice caves and glacial features. At North Tides, we will do all we can to show you the absolute best that Vatnajökull has to offer on the day of your tour. We cannot guarantee cave aesthetics or size. Whilst pictures from previous years give an idea of what we aim to showcase, exact locations cannot be replicated.

When venturing into the Icelandic wilderness during winter, it is essential to be properly prepared with regards to clothing and equipment. We reserve the right to refuse participation (without refund) to those who arrive without the correct equipment.

Description from the operator, North Tides . Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Included

What we provide:

  • 4x4 journey to the glacier
  • Certified glacier and ice cave guide
  • Glacier gear (crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet)
  • Head torch

Good to know

  • Warm clothing
  • This should include at least two layers on the legs (warm baselayer + hiking pants) and 3 layers on top (baselayer + fleece + jacket), plus extra raingear if the forecast requires. It is advisable to bring one extra warm winter jacket which you can put on top of everything when we are not hiking.
  • Hiking boots
  • These should be warm and sturdy enough to wear with crampons. NO TRAINERS/SNEAKERS.
  • Hat and gloves
  • It is best to choose a hat which is not bulky and will fit under a helmet.
  • Backpack to carry extra layers and food
  • Food & water

This tour is rated as moderate difficulty. This difficulty should be taken in the context of winter hiking trips i.e. this is a moderately difficult winter hiking trip. When compared to a summer coach tour, this trip would be rated very challenging.

Participants can expect to hike between 5 and 8 km in snow and wind, across rocky and uneven terrain. This tour is not suitable for very unfit people. 

Cancellation for this tour

Cancelling costs 5% of the price within 180 days of departure. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.

If the weather cancels this tour

Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is melt-water or unstable ice after a warm spell — the guide decides on the morning, and a cave can close for days. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

  1. 1North Tides decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
  2. 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
  3. 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.

What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until the cutoff shown above, the operator's policy after that.

Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →

Why this one and not the cheaper one?

The nearest cheaper Ice Cave Sólheimajökull Experience - Meet on location from Glaciers and Waterfalls is €131 — €140 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

North Tides · €271Glaciers and Waterfalls · €131
How long it runs6 hours4 hours
Changing your mindNot statedFree until 24 h before
How hard it isModerateChallenging

The €140 buys you 2 more hours out. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.

Who this is not for

  • Not for families with children under 14 — the operator will not take them, even with a parent.
  • Not available in summer; the operator runs it roughly September to April.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

North Tides is one of 204 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →

What travellers say about North Tides

Read all 40 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 5.0/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

  • Thai Luong

    ★★★★★ · 4 weeks ago

    Had a great time with Rory. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and had a great itinerary for our group of 4. His route is his own, so we didn't see a single other soul on the excursion. We did the longest excursion he offered and it was cool to kayak and then climb a glacier. It was accessible even for our friend who had never kayaked before. You don't need to be in terrific shape, but being somewhat in shape (able to carry a 20lb pack for 30 minutes) is recommended! It was a one of a kind experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

  • Heather Nicholds

    ★★★★★ · 2 months ago

    We had such a wonderful time kayaking amongst the icebergs! The views were incredible, and we had a nice leisurely 2 hour paddle round the lake, which we had entirety to ourselves. Rory was a fantastic guide, very kind to accommodate our timing and make sure my dad would be able to manage the trip. He is super knowledgeable, has a nice relaxed pace, and very safety-conscious. Highly recommend taking a trip if you can book a time!!!

  • Jody Andrade

    ★★★★★ · 3 months ago

    Rory is an excellent guide. We were the only people on the water and glacier. We kayaked among icebergs and then to top it off, he led us on a gorgeous hike to the edge of and onto the glacier. Surpassed our expectations and then some.

  • Johnny LI

    ★★★★★ · 6 months ago

    Rory is a great tour guide with glacier knowledge. We spent great time in the full day ice cave tour which is a small group tour(6 people). We started from some ice cave which other normal tours will not come. And then in the afternoon, we go head to the stunning crystal blue ice cave. And avoid high peak time and enjoy the cave photo shooting. 🫡👍

Reviews from Google · updated 21 Oct 2026

Read before you book

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Ice caves — questions people ask

When can you visit an ice cave in Iceland?

Natural blue ice caves open from around November to March, when the glacier is cold enough for the meltwater tunnels to be safe. They form under Vatnajökull near Jökulsárlón, and the caves change every year. Two exceptions run all year: the Katla ice cave near Vík, which is dark ice striped with ash, and Into the Glacier at Langjökull, a man-made tunnel. If you want the glowing blue photos, come between November and March.

Can I do an ice cave tour as a day trip from Reykjavík?

Only the Katla cave. The South Coast and Katla ice cave tour (/experience/22559/) is about twelve hours from Reykjavík and back. The blue caves at Vatnajökull are five hours' drive each way, too far for a day, so operators sell them as two- or three-day tours (/experience/6131/, /experience/7358/) with a night near Jökulsárlón. If you are self-driving, stay in the Höfn or Skaftafell area and book the Crystal Ice Cave tour (/experience/17337/) from there.

Is the Katla ice cave as good as the blue ice caves?

Different, not worse. Katla's cave under Mýrdalsjökull is black and white, layered with volcanic ash, and open all year. It will not give you the glowing blue tunnel photos from Instagram; those are the Vatnajökull caves, November to March only. What Katla gives you is a shorter super-jeep drive from Vík (/experience/22558/) and availability in summer. If you are here between November and March and can reach Jökulsárlón, choose blue. Otherwise choose Katla.

Are ice caves safe?

With a guide, yes. Operators inspect the caves daily and cancel when meltwater, warm weather or ice movement makes them unsafe, which happens most often in November and March at the edges of the season. You wear a helmet and crampons and stay with the group. Never enter a glacier cave on your own. If your tour is cancelled for safety, you get a full refund or another date, and most operators try to substitute another cave first.

Hotels

Where to stay for this tour

From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Skaftafell, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

All hotels in Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón →

  • One checkout, any number of operators

  • Rankings are not for sale

  • 203 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted

  • If it falls short, we fix it

Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €14 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.

from

€270.88 per person

Book Thu 22 Oct · €270.88