Lava Tunnel Tour (Back to Back)

by Iceland Panorama Tours · Lava caves · Volcanoes & lava · Airport transfers · Reykjavík

5.0(2) · operator on Google
Lava Tunnel Tour (Back to Back) — Iceland Panorama Tours

Would this be cheaper direct? No — we sell at Iceland Panorama Tours's own price and take our commission from them, not from you. What you get here is one checkout across operators, one confirmation, and one place to change or cancel it. If you ever find it cheaper on their own site, tell us and we will match it or explain why we cannot.

  • Duration

    3 hours

  • Difficulty

    Moderate

  • Season

    All year

  • Languages

    EN

  • Departs

    08:00

  • Cancellation

    Free until 24h before

About this experience

The Lava Tunnel Tour at Raufarhólshellir offers a rare opportunity to explore one of Iceland’s longest and most impressive lava tubes, formed over 5,200 years ago. This guided adventure leads you through a subterranean world where you can walk the literal path of ancient molten lava and witness the inner workings of a volcanic eruption. The tunnel’s vast interior is illuminated to showcase award-winning lighting that highlights vibrant, rainbow-colored mineral deposits and unique rock formations. Near the entrance, natural skylights created by collapsed sections of the ceiling allow columns of light to stream in, while winter visits often feature spectacular natural ice sculptures.

Description from the operator, Iceland Panorama Tours. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

  1. Pick-up at Reykjavik
  2. Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel
  3. Drop-off in Reykjavik

Included

  • Professional and experienced driver
  • Comfortable private vehicle
  • Pick-up and drop-off in Reykjavik
  • 60-90 minutes of waiting time at Lava Tunnel

Not included

  • Entrance ticket to Lava Tunnel (must be booked separately)
  • Additional waiting time beyond the included 60-90 minutes at Lava Tunnel
  • Additional stops or detours (unless pre-arranged)
  • Gratuities (optional)

Good to know

  • Valid ID (passport or national ID)
  • Booking confirmation (printout or digital copy)
  • Lava Tunnel booking confirmation (printout or digital copy)
  • Camera or smartphone for photos
  • Personal necessities (e.g., medications, snacks)
  • Total Duration: The Lava Tunnel Tour is a focused subterranean adventure that typically lasts 3 hours including transfers from Reykjavik. The total driving distance is approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) round-trip, with a pure driving time of about 1 hour without stops.
  • The total duration of the tour may vary depending on road conditions, weather, and the amount of time spent at each location. Flexibility is recommended to ensure the best possible experience.
  • Please ensure you receive a confirmation email, ticket, or receipt containing all the necessary details of your booking. Double-check that your travel dates, pick-up/drop-off locations, and passenger information are correct. If you do not receive a confirmation, kindly contact us as soon as possible to verify your reservation.
  • Iceland’s weather can be highly unpredictable, often changing rapidly throughout the day. We recommend dressing in layers so you can easily adjust to temperature shifts. A warm base layer, an insulating mid-layer, and a waterproof and windproof outer layer are ideal. Sturdy, comfortable walking shoes with good grip are also advised, especially for exploring outdoor sites. Don’t forget to bring gloves, a hat, and a waterproof jacket to stay comfortable in case of rain or strong winds.
  • The tour is accessible to travelers with mobility issues; however, some areas may have uneven terrain and are not ideal for wheelchairs. Travelers must be able to get in and out of the vehicle with minimal assistance and should be comfortable with moderate physical activity, including walking and standing for extended periods. For any special requirements, please notify us in advance so we can make the necessary arrangements.

Cancellation for this tour

Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. 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 wind on the ridge or a change in eruption activity — civil protection decides, not the operator. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

  1. 1Iceland Panorama Tours 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 1 day before departure, 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 Vatnshellir Lava Cave Tour from Summit Adventure Guides is €42 — €18 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

Iceland Panorama Tours · €60Summit Adventure Guides · €42
How long it runs3 hours0.8333333333333334 hours
Changing your mindFree until 24 h beforeFree until 4 h before
How hard it isModerateEasy

The €18 buys you 2.2 more hours out and free cancellation up to 24 h before. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.

Sold out on your date?

Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.

Who this is not for

  • Priced per vehicle, so it is poor value for one or two people and good value for four or more sharing.

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

Why we list it

Iceland Panorama Tours is one of 154 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 Iceland Panorama Tours

Read all 2 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.

  • Niel Blanca

    ★★★★★ · 5 months ago

    Great Northern Lights Tour Experience! Booked through Iceland Panorama Tours and everything was smooth from start to finish. The website was easy to use, and the booking process was quick and clear. The tour itself was amazing—friendly and knowledgeable guide, comfortable transport, and well-organized itinerary. They really made an effort to find the best spots, and we were lucky to witness the Northern Lights in all their beauty. Overall, a very professional and memorable experience. Highly recommended if you’re visiting Iceland!

  • Rain Jay

    ★★★★★ · 5 months ago

    Had the best Iceland experience, thank you to Iceland Panorama Tours and to our amazing tour guide ❤

Reviews from Google · updated 13 Sept 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.

No reviews yet from our travellers on this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Lava caves — questions people ask

Which lava cave near Reykjavík is the easiest to visit?

Raufarhólshellir, sold as The Lava Tunnel, thirty minutes east of the city. It has a lit walkway and a one-hour guided walk (/experience/32545/ meet on location, or /experience/222055/ with pickup), so no crawling and no head torches. It runs all year. Viðgelmir in West Iceland is longer and quieter, an hour and a half away, and Leiðarendi is a proper caving trip with helmets and scrambling.

What is the difference between a lava cave and an ice cave?

A lava cave is a tunnel left when a lava flow drained out thousands of years ago; it is rock, permanent and open all year. An ice cave is a meltwater tunnel in a glacier, usually only safe November to March, and rebuilt by nature every year. Lava caves show colours in the rock, ice stalactites in winter and total darkness. Ice caves show blue light. If you are here in summer and someone offers a natural ice cave, ask which one.

Is lava caving suitable for children and older people?

The Lava Tunnel, yes. The main walk is on a flat walkway with lights and handrails, and children of most ages manage it. Viðgelmir has a good path too. Leiðarendi and the caving combos (/experience/268/) involve crouching, uneven floors and some scrambling, so the operator sets a minimum age; check the tour page. Anyone with a bad back or knees should stick to the walkway caves.

What do I wear in a lava cave?

It is around zero to four degrees inside, whatever the weather outside, and floors drip. Wear a warm jacket, closed shoes with grip and long trousers. The operator provides a helmet with a head torch where needed. For caving trips, wear clothes you do not mind scraping on rock; gloves help. The Lava Tunnel is easier on clothing, but it is still a cold, wet cave, not a museum.

  • One checkout, any number of operators

  • Rankings are not for sale

  • 153 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted

  • If it falls short, we fix it

Pairs well with

Everything here goes into the same basket and the same single payment, however many operators it comes from.

from

€60 per vehicle

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