Crystal Ice Cave Tour
by Arctic Adventures · Ice caves · Super jeeps · Glacier hiking · Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón
- Beginners welcome
- Fine on your own
- Good with teenagers
Would this be cheaper direct? No — we sell at Arctic Adventures'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.
More photos of Crystal Ice Cave Tour
22 photos from Arctic Adventures. Tap any one for the full-size original.
Duration
2 hours and 30 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Season
Sep – Apr
Starts in
Hornafjörður
Meeting
Meet on location
Languages
EN, DE, IS, FR, DA, ZH, ES
Departs
09:30, 13:00, 16:00
Minimum age
6
Cancellation
Free until 24h before
About this experience
Trip difficulty: 2/5, easy.
Tour Highlights:
- Guided visit to the ice formations of Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet of the mighty Vatnajökull
- Group size limited to 14 guests per guide
- Super Jeep ride from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon to the ice cave
- Short walk to the cave with all glacier safety gear included
Experience an ice expedition on Vatnajökull Glacier, conveniently starting from the famous Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
Each autumn, meltwater and winter forces carve new ice canyons and caverns into the glacier. These change every season – their size, shape and colour can vary from deep blue to lighter white tones depending on the weather and snow cover, making each visit unique. Our expert team constantly evaluates conditions to choose the best site for the day.
From Jökulsárlón, board a specially modified Super Jeep for a scenic, off-road ride (~30 minutes) to the glacier’s edge. From there, take a short walk of around 15 minutes each way over uneven ground. Your certified glacier guide provides a safety briefing and all necessary glacier gear (helmet, headlamp, crampons) and leads you safely along the glacier.
You’ll have time to look around, take photos and learn how the ice canyons and caverns form and change from year to year. Because this is a natural wonder and a popular area, you should expect to share the cave with other small groups – this is not a private experience – but your guide will do their best to give you space for photos and to enjoy the atmosphere.
Disclaimer: All day trips are undertaken on the responsibility of its participants. Arctic Adventures does not assume any responsibility for accidents which are caused by its customers or can be traced to there own actions. Participants have to sign a waiver before undertaking all trips stating that they realize that all outdoor activities carry an inherent risk.
Description from the operator, Arctic Adventures. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Where you go
- Meet us at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
- Vatnajökull Glacier
- Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet of Vatnajökull
Included
Certified, English-speaking guide
Super Jeep ride from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon to the glacier
All necessary safety gear (helmet, glacier crampons, headlamp)
Guided visit to the glacier ice of Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet of the mighty Vatnajökull
Group size limited to 14 guests per guide
Not included
Transportation to/from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon (e.g. from Reykjavík)
Good to know
Warm, waterproof outwear, gloves
Sturdy hiking boots (no sneakers, heels)
Camera
- The minimum age to participate is 6 years old
- Sturdy, close-toed footwear is required
- The tour is rated as easy, but guests must be comfortable walking for ~15 minutes on uneven terrain each way
- Glaciers are always changing. Each year new unique ice canyons and caves are formed in different locations. We visit one ice feature per tour, and the site visited may vary depending on conditions. Some ice features are larger or more striking than others, but each is unique and chosen for your safety and the best possible experience on the day.
- The tour is weather and condition dependant. Guest safety is our highest priority, and tours can be altered or cancelled if conditions are deemed unsafe by National Park Authorities. Late cancellations or itinerary adjustments may be unavoidable - please accept our gratitude in advance for your patience & cooperation.
- Ice caves are seasonally accessible, and only when conditions are safe. In the event of unfavourable conditions, we will notify you by email if the tour is cancelled.
- Jökulsárlón is a busy area. We recommend allowing plenty of time to find parking, and check in at least 15 minutes before your scheduled tour.
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 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.
- 1Arctic Adventures 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.
- 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.
- 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 Perlan Ice Cave, Northern Lights Planetarium & Golden Circle Tour from BusTravel Iceland is €107 — €47 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.
| Arctic Adventures · €154 | BusTravel Iceland · €107 | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it runs | 2.5 hours | 10 hours |
| Getting there | You make your own way | Picks you up |
| How hard it is | Easy | Very easy |
On everything we can measure, the BusTravel Iceland tour is the better buy. The €47 is not buying anything we can point to, so unless you want this operator in particular, take the cheaper one.
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
- Children under 6 cannot join this one.
- 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
Arctic Adventures 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 Arctic Adventures
Read all 5,129 reviews on Google →Operator rating 4.6/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
This was a phenomenal trip with AMAZING sights. Our tour guide was informative, friendly, and easy to listen to. You will learn a lot and see nature at its greatest. We absolutely loved this tour and would recommend it to anyone. The car ride is comfortable and there is wifi as well! Shout out to our tour guide, Magnus (I hope I’m spelling his name correctly), who told us some hilarious stories.
★★★★★ · a month ago
I spent six days on a bus tour around Iceland with a professional guide. It was an excellent opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of Iceland's breathtaking nature while also learning about the country's history and the everyday lives of its people. Iceland's landscape and animals are truly unique, featuring magnificent waterfalls, geysers, whales, seals, puffins, volcanoes, glaciers, and mountains. Every day brought new and unforgettable experiences. Of course, none of this would have been possible without our guide, Viko. He not only drove the bus safely but also shared fascinating stories about Icelandic history, culture, and way of life. He was willing to tailor the itinerary to our group's interests and wishes, making the experience even more enjoyable. I am very grateful for his professionalism, knowledge, and enthusiasm in interpreting Iceland's natural and cultural heritage. He played a key role in making this tour such a memorable experience.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
I did the Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik. Such an amazing tour and one of the highlights of my trip to Iceland! Our guide, Erik, was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much interesting information about Iceland throughout the day. We visited some of the country’s most beautiful sights, including stunning waterfalls, Vik, black sand beaches, and other breathtaking stops along the South Coast. The pickup process was simple and organized, making the day completely stress-free. The scenery was incredible from start to finish, and Erik helped make the experience even better with his knowledge, friendliness, and enthusiasm. If you’re visiting Iceland, the South Coast is a must-do, and I highly recommend taking this tour with Erik as your guide!
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
A Fantastic Trip: Review of 3-Day Golden Circle, Ice Cave and Glacier Lagoon Absolutely incredible experience with Arctic Adventures and the guide Hjalti Bjornsson. The pick up from the bus stop was easy and the instructions were super clear. Be aware that they are extremely punctual at every stop. Do not be late by even a minute. We saw so many sites and the weather was perfect for most of the days. Our guide even took us on some stops that were not in the itinerary, but ones he thought were interesting and on the way, like the power plants and some other glaciers. The bus ride was very smooth with plenty of room and the seats were comfortable. The itinerary was well thought out with a great mix of light walking about 3 - 6 miles per day depending on how much you wanted to walk to each site. Some sites like the glacier Skaftafellsjokull (optional) were further away (4 ish miles), while others were much closer (1000ft). The hotel was situated in a beautiful location with sheep everywhere and interesting rock formations. The hotel was very comfortable with hot water and plenty of space to spread out. Our guide was extremely friendly and knowledgable. I would highly recommend this trip for anyone between the ages 10 - 70. However, this might not be the best experience for those with mobility issues as there is walking to some of the best sites.
Reviews from Google · updated 13 Sept 2026
Read before you book
- How tour cancellations work in Iceland, and what we backOperators cancel when the weather makes a tour unsafe, and we back that every time. Here's what happens to your money, and what counts as a cancellation.
- Katla's ice cave is the practical pick; the crystal caves are the prettier oneKatla ice cave near Vík versus the Vatnajökull crystal caves at Jökulsárlón. Season, how you get in, what the ice looks like, and which suits your trip.
- Iceland tours by month — what actually runs September to April and May to AugustNorthern lights and ice caves are a winter product. Puffins and the Highlands are summer. Here's what's actually for sale in each month, and what isn't.
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.
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.
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Pairs well with
Everything here goes into the same basket and the same single payment, however many operators it comes from.
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